Some true stories need no fictional treatment. Murder cases, disputed convictions, notorious figures and shocking revelations provide all the drama.
TIMES Entertainment Desk has selected six must-watch documentaries that turn real crimes and investigations into compelling viewing, proving that truth can sometimes be stranger and darker than fiction.
The Jinx
Andrew Jarecki’s gripping investigation centres on Robert Durst, a wealthy New York property heir linked to several deaths and disappearances. Interviews, archival footage and years of research create a disturbing portrait of a man surrounded by suspicion, while Durst’s own words deepen the mystery. Watch on HBO Max.
The Act of Killing
Joshua Oppenheimer asks former Indonesian death-squad members to recreate their crimes. Their disturbing responses expose violence, power and memory. It has an 8.2 IMDb rating and 96% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score. Watch on Amazon Prime Video.
OJ: Made in America
Ezra Edelman examines O.J. Simpson’s rise and fall through race, celebrity, sport, policing and American society. Beyond the infamous murder case, it explores the tensions surrounding Simpson’s extraordinary public life. It holds an 8.9 IMDb rating and 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score. Watch on HBO Max.
Paradise Lost
The murders of three children in Arkansas and the convictions of three teenagers form the basis of Paradise Lost. Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky examine the evidence, investigation and public pressure, offering an absorbing look at crime, justice and doubt. It holds an 8.2 IMDb rating and earned a Primetime Emmy. Watch on HBO Max and Amazon Prime.
The Staircase
After Kathleen Peterson dies falling down the stairs, her husband, novelist Michael Peterson, says it was an accident. The medical examiner disagrees, making Peterson the focus of a murder investigation. The documentary follows his arrest, trial and verdict. It holds an 8.2 IMDb rating and 94% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score. Watch on Netflix.
Evil Genius
A bizarre Pennsylvania bank robbery begins with a man wearing a bomb collar. What seems straightforward soon becomes a stranger story involving murder, manipulation and unlikely suspects. Evil Genius follows the investigation and gradually reveals the crime’s complexity. Watch on Netflix.
