19 True Crime Dramas That Seem Like They Should Be Fiction, But Are Actually Based On Facts

    Here's a bunch of dramas you may wanna watch while you're in the mood for true crime.

    There's something about a true crime drama that can really grip an audience.

    As the nights get darker and colder, it's the perfect time to grab a blanket, turn off the lights and hunker down to watch something chilling.

    Sometimes, real life is scarier than fiction, and this list will certainly have you checking your doors are locked! Here are 19 true crime dramas to watch after Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.


    1. Candy (2022)

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    Starring Jessica Biel, this drama follows Candy Montgomery, who appears to be your average 1980s housewife and mother. From her dinners to her prayer circles, everything is just perfect — until it isn't. 

    When the urge for something more seizes Candy, it's not long before there are blood stains on the white picket fence of American suburbia. Truly shocking in its brutality, Candy is far from a sweet little drama.

    Where to watch: Hulu

    2. The Staircase (2022)

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    A dramatization of the real life case of Michael Peterson, who ended up at the center of a major investigation when his wife Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home under highly suspish circumstances.

    Honestly, this case has more twists and turns than a spiral staircase!

    Where to watch: HBO Max 

    3. The Girl from Plainville (2022)

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    This Elle Fanning-led dramatization is based on the case of Michelle Carter, whose actions and their subsequent consequences split the world's opinions.

    Michelle, then 17, crashed into the public eye when her boyfriend died by suicide and it was revealed that she had repeatedly pressured him to commit the act, even coaxing him via text to get back into his carbon-monoxide-filled truck when he got scared and tried to escape. A drama that will make you question the parameters of murder, justice, and accountability.

    Where to watch: Hulu 

    4. I Am The Night (2019)

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    Based on the memoir, One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel, this series follows Fauna as she tries to unveil the secrets of her past after being given away at birth. 

    On her journey, she crosses paths with a disgraced journalist who turns out to be investigating her grandfather, an LA-based gynecologist entangled with the dark unsolved case of the Black Dahlia murder.

    Where to watch: Hulu

    5. Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

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    Based on a non-fiction book of the same name, Under The Banner of Heaven centers on the brutal murder of a mother and baby daughter that seems to have connections to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    With a star-studded cast including Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sam Worthington, Wyatt Russell, Rory Culkin, and more, the series follows detective Jeb Pyre as he investigates the case and untangles a sinister web of connections to Mormonism, distrust in the government, and the impact of inexorable faith.

    Where to watch: FX or Disney +

    6. The Thing About Pam (2022)

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    This mini-series is inspired by the 2019 Dateline podcast of the same name, and centers on the murder case of Betsy Faria. The case inspired five separate episodes of Dateline in the span of five years, with the only other cases to beat this record being that of O.J. Simpson and JonBenét Ramsay, which just goes to show how many twists and turns are involved in this larger-than-life story.

    Where to watch: Peacock 

    7. Dr. Death (2021–)

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    Another show based on a true crime podcast, Dr. Death tells the disturbing true story of neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch. As you might expect by the title, this doctor isn't quite the kinda guy you'd want to put your life in the hands of...

    Where to watch: Peacock 

    8. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)

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    There's few who haven't heard of Ted Bundy, but Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile explores his infamous crimes from the perspective of his long-time girlfriend, Liz, who stood by his innocence for years.

    What happens when shine wears off and you realize the man you love may have committed a string of truly heinous crimes?

    Where to watch: Netflix

    9. Black Bird (2022–)

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    Smooth-talking Jimmy Keene is about to begin a 10-year sentence when the FBI approaches him with a once-in-a-lifetime deal; serve his 10 years without parole in a minimum security prison, or relocate to a maximum security prison for the criminally insane and schmooze a confession out of serial killer Larry Hall, which permits Jimmy's release whenever it occurs.

    Based on the book In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption, this Taron Egerton-led drama scored highly with reviewers and the wider audience alike.

    Where to watch: Apple TV 

    10. Legend (2015)

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    Based on the story of the infamous London gangster twins, Legend brings to life the exploits of Ronnie and Reggie Kray. With a list of crimes as long as your arm, the Kray twins were organized criminal moguls in the '50s and '60s, committing crimes including murder, armed robbery, arson, illegal protection services, gambling, and assault. 

    Oddly, instead of lurking in the shadows, they rubbed shoulders with celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, becoming somewhat of a celebrity duo in their own right.

    Legend stars Tom Hardy as both twins, and whilst often comedic, the film touches on serious notes such as mental health and abuse.

    Where to watch: Netflix 

    11. Changeling (2008)

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    Another movie for your list. Changeling stars Angelina Jolie as the mother of Walter Collins, one of the boys assumed to be a victim of Gordon Stewart Northcott, who committed a series of abductions and murders known as the Wineville Chicken Coop murders.

    The film shows Christine's journey to find her son, which garners national attention and eventually leads to a boy of Walter's description being thrust at her by the police. Christine is adamant that this boy is not Walter, but the police are determined to close the case and put her pleas down to womanly hysteria. 

    What do you do when your missing son has been "found," but you know he's still missing?

    Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime

    12. When They See Us (2019)

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    In the late '80s, five young men of color were falsely convicted of the rape and near-fatal assault of a woman in Central Park. This dramatization tells the twisted yet important tale of systemic racism, wrongful incarceration, injustice, and implicit bias.

    Where to watch: Netflix 

    13. Mindhunter (2017)

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    Based on the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, this drama shows agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench (based on real-life FBI agents John E. Douglas and Robert K. Ressler) as they begin a project which aims to use psychological findings from interviews with serial killers to apply to ongoing cases. 

    While the show takes artistic liberties and changes certain details, such as names, several of the interviews are based on real conversations the two criminal profilers had with convicts, including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, "Son of Sam" David Berkowitz, and many more.

    Fun fact: Bill Tench, one of the real-life profilers who inspired the two main characters, coined the term "serial killer"!

    Where to watch: Netflix   

    14. Dirty John (2018)

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    Another podcast-turned-drama, Dirty John is the chilling case of a charismatic man not dissimilar to You's Joe Goldberg. When Debra Newell meets John Meehan, he appears to be the perfect gentleman. But it's not too long before the pieces in the picture John builds around Debra don't quite fit together, and a descent from seduction to survival begins.

    There's a second season of Dirty John now, that confusingly has nothing to do with the titular Dirty John and just falls under the banner of "people you don't want to have a relationship with!"

    Where to watch: Netflix   

    15. Inventing Anna (2022)

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    Unbelievably, this tale is rooted in fact not fiction. Inventing Anna introduces us to tenacious reporter Vivian Kent (based on real-life reporter Jessica Pressler), who pursues the story of Anna Delvey, a German heiress with a hefty fortune who schmoozes and uses New York's elite.

    The catch? Anna Delvey doesn't exist. Russian-born Anna Sorokin does, and she stole both the hearts and the cash of the rich in The Big Apple. The question people are asking is: Is Anna a criminal, or the embodiment of the American dream? 

    Where to watch: Netflix   

    16. Manhunt (2017–)

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    Based on a true story but with a fair amount of artistic license, Manhunt throws viewers back into a time when terrorist Ted Kaczynski had the world scared of opening their mail.

    Former mathematics professor Kaczynski created increasingly sophisticated bombs, with the aim of rectifying what he viewed to be "the ills of modern society" and promoting a form of anti-technological anarchism

    For nearly two decades, he kept America in a constant state of fear — but how do you catch a man who lives completely off the grid in the mountains of Montana, leaves false clues, builds untraceable bombs, and tells no one of his crimes? Well, Manhunt tells us the story of the FBI agents who did.

    Where to watch: Netflix 

    17. The Act (2019)

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    Another true story that seems like it came straight from the pages of a fiction novel, The Act stars Patricia Arquette and Joey King as mother and daughter Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

    An exploration of a truly toxic relationship, this series left many conflicted about who the real villain of the story is. A compelling watch for sure!

    Where to watch: Hulu 

    18. Landscapers (2021)

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    Susan and Christopher seem to lead an idyllic life in France. In love and devoting their time to their hobby of collecting expensive Hollywood memorabilia, the pair look like they've got it all. 

    But when financial strain puts stress on Christopher, it's not long before he calls his stepmother for help and lets slip a shocking confession — more than 10 years prior, he and Susan killed Susan's parents and buried their bodies in their garden back in the UK.

    Where to watch: HBO

    19. American Crime Story (2016–)

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    Like Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, American Crime Story has Ryan Murphy on board as a producer.  

    Each season of American Crime Story is self-contained and explores a high-profile case, which has so far included the O.J. Simpson case, the assassination of Gianni Versace, and the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.

    With a star-studded cast, American Crime Story is, of course, completely different from American Horror Story, but nonetheless, equally compelling.

    Where to watch: Disney+, Hulu  

    How many have you seen from this list? What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments!