Dedicated true-crime fans know that there’s nothing like unwinding after a long, stressful week with a refreshing libation, a bowl of popcorn, and an entire marathon of…equally stressful and often v. disturbing true-crime docs. Not everyone understands how watching a decades-long unsolved mystery on a Friday night can be relaxing. And you know what? That’s fair. But hey, that’s why this list of the best true-crime documentaries to watch in 2022 is only for the people who truly get the appeal of watching Dateline instead of going on, um, an actual date.
True crime as a genre has been around for decades, but it really picked up popularity in the ‘90s with high-profile cases like the O.J. Simpson and Lorena Bobbitt trials. More people were watching TV more than ever, realizing that life is often, in fact, much stranger than fiction. Network news had a tendency to cover the most sensational stories, making viewers increasingly invested in these compelling true-crime cases.
When the era of the podcasts began in the 2010s, true crime went from being a niche interest to a mainstream obsession. And while there’s definitely a time and place for a quality podcast, the experience of cozying up with a good ol’ fashioned true-crime documentary just can’t be replaced. Good news: there are plenty of new true-crime documentaries available to watch in 2022, keep scrolling for the best ones to start streaming rn.
1
The Puppet Master: Hunting The Ultimate Conman
This three-part docuseries has it all: a fake British spy, a criminal conviction, a decades-long saga, and so, so much more.
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2
Scream: The True Story
Fans of the Scream franchise will appreciate this documentary that explores the history of the real-life murderer whose crimes influenced the 1996 movie.
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3
The Tindler Swindler
The outrageous story of The Tindler Swindler (a scammer who conned women out of millions) has already made for some interesting social media commentary, with viewers wondering how the swindler in question could get away with it for so long.
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4
We Need To Talk About Cosby
Many people are familiar with the down fall of Bill Cosby, but this four-part docuseries probes even further with insight from survivors about the man and his crimes.
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5
Perfect World: A Deadly Game
In this two-part documentary, a group of gamers receives a series of disturbing messages from a friend who threatens to murder each of their family members one by one, and the gamers quickly realize this isn’t a joke.
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6
Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King
Even if your crypto knowledge is limited, you’ll become engrossed with this true-crime doc that examines what happened when a young founder of a growing crypto company suddenly dies.
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7
Bad Vegan
Like The Tindler Swindler, another true-crime breakout hit for Netflix is Bad Vegan. This doc takes you on an epic journey involving a raw food empire, international jet-setting, and lots of unanswered questions.
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8
King of the Con
This serial scam artist pretended to be just about every kind of person, from a pastor to a carpet cleaner, ruining countless lives along the way.
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9
Cheer
Yes, Cheer isn’t exactly your typical true-crime doc, but the newest season reveals more information about the real-life sexual misconduct allegations against season one star Jerry Harris.
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10
BTK: Confessions of a Serial Killer
This four-part docuseries takes a closer look at the crimes of a notorious serial killer who is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences.
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Mekita Rivas
Mekita Rivas a multicultural freelance journalist based in Washington, D.C.
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