True crime documentaries are a huge business (major bag alert?) and everyone is obsessed. There is something about the drama, tension and intrigue that seems to tickle everyone’s fancy. One thing about true crime documentaries is for sure — there are a lot of them. So, to help you weed out the good, the bad and the cheesy, VALLEY has decided to make a top-five list of the best true crime docs on Netflix right now.
1. “This Is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist”
We are starting off tame with an art heist. There’s not a lot of gore or brutal murders. This true crime event happened in 1990 at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Two thieves dressed up as cops steal millions upon millions of dollars worth of incredible ar — but how do they get away with it? This series will have you on the edge of your seat, staying up ‘til 2 a.m. just to finish it in one go. Rotten Tomatoes gives this a score of 81 percent. If you love crime that isn’t too violent, this one is definitely for you.
2. “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez”
How did Aaron Hernandez go from a beloved NFL player to a convicted murderer? This series examines not just his conviction, but also Hernandez’s life through interviews with family, friends and those involved in the trial. Hernandez was convicted in 2013 after he murdered a close family friend. This series is fascinating because it shows what led him to that point and how those closest to him knew him differently. It has a score of 67 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Football celeb mixed with murder, what could be more exciting?
3. “Abducted in Plain Sight”
This documentary in one word: disturbing. It will irk you to your core and leave you guessing at every turn. For some, that may be exciting, but if not, VALLEY suggests you steer clear. In this documentary, a young girl in the 1970s gets abducted by a close family friend, not once — but twice. As a warning, be aware that are lots of details about sexual assault. Rotten Tomatoes rated this a score of 75 percent. If you’re looking for something that will horrify and intrigue you, give this one a try.
4. The Staircase
This docuseries is absolutely heart-wrenching and leaves you with a bit of a cliffhanger. It covers what could be an accident or a murder. A man’s wife mysteriously dies, and it is up to us to decide what happened. This series gives you all the details from interviews with family, friends, lawyers and insider secrets from the trial. Rotten Tomatoes rates this at 94 percent. If you like trying to figure out mysteries, this docuseries is perfect to leave you guessing.
5. “American Murder: The Family Next Door”
As the most recent documentary on this list, airing in 2020, “American Murder: The Family Next Door,” takes what seems to be the perfect, idealistic American family, and exposes the dark secrets that lie behind closed doors. A mom and her two daughters go missing and the top suspect is her husband. This will make you angry sob and need many tissues. They use firsthand footage and interviews with family and close friends to really clutch you. Rotten Tomatoes gives this an 86 percent. This documentary will make you question everything and everyone, and the ending will leave you speechless.
By the end of watching these, you will think of yourself as a detective and won’t be able to stop. VALLEY hopes you enjoy these dangerously exciting Netflix shows on your next night in. Tweet us what you’ll be watching next at @VALLEYmag!
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