Top 5 True Crime Documentaries You Need To Watch

In a world where we have true crime documentaries left, right and centre, it can be hard to know which to watch. Here are five you shouldn't miss!

Contrary to popular belief, enjoying true crime does not make you a murderer or psychotic. In fact, psychologists say it’s perfectly normal! We love true crime because we get a glimpse of pure evil and the psychology of those who couldn’t be more different than us; we want to understand what drives murders to make the decisions they do. Humans are innately attracted to learn about good versus evil.

Psychologists say that it could be about self-preservation. In a world where we witness all the things that could harm us in the news, we want to be prepared for if anything happens to us.

And obviously, we love solving puzzles! We like getting engrossed in something if there’s a problem we can try and solve. Sometimes it’s something as inane as Midsummer Murders, but sometimes we need something real to really test ourselves. All the better if we can learn about the forensic science involved in solving cases along the way.

Here are five you need to watch:

The Staircase

This gripping docu-series tells the story of a man accused of pushing his wife down the stairs. In 2004, French documentary makers told the accused, Michael Peterson’s, side of the story, getting up close and personal with his family, friends, and defence attorneys. On his second marriage, raising many children, having affairs with men – there are tons of twists and turns in this case. Is he found guilty? No spoilers here!

Real Detective

This is a dramatised series bringing actual homicide cases to life. With real detectives telling their story of their most memorable, haunting cases, the vivid narration from the detective themselves makes this an incredibly moving series as well as being educational. These are hard-hitting, graphic cases so it’s not easy to watch but each episode is so captivating that’s it’s worth it!

The People vs OJ Simpson

The People vs OJ Simpson is a modern retelling of one of the most controversial cases in recent history. A lot of people feel the fact OJ Simpson wasn’t found guilty of the murder of his ex-wife and her friend is a huge injustice. This injustice is brought to light again with Cuba Gooding’s incredible acting, along with John Travolta and David Schwimmer. It’s 10 episodes long and attracted millions of viewers when it originally aired. It’s well worth a watch for anyone who knows anything about the case.

Forensic Files

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There’s no such thing as the perfect murder. Forensic science is often a pivotal part of criminal investigations. This documentary style TV show is rather dated but truly fascinating and educational. There are 14 Seasons, 406 episodes, and hundreds of hours of captivating science to watch. After watching this show, you’ll know there’s no way to get away with murder. There is always some detail you leave behind that forensic scientists can trace back to you.

Buzzfeed Unsolved

BuzzFeed Unsolved the gateway to true crime. Pretty much every true crime fan seems to have had Buzzfeed Unsolved as their induction. If you’ve not watched it yet, you’ve definitely seen it in your YouTube suggested videos. These videos are short but definitely not sweet. You’re told an unsolved mystery and given possible theories before being left to ponder who the murderer was. You’ll feel incredibly aware of the fact you’ve sat alone! Their bitesize nature makes them great for when you’ve got a short lunch break or as a buffer between waking up and getting out of bed in the morning. Plus, Ryan and Shane are brilliant hosts and make the commentary laughable. I must watch!

There are so many more great shows and series. It’s very hard to narrow them all down to a top five. These offer a great range of different types of shows. From drama to straight facts; from lengthy court cases to 20-minute overviews, these five offer everything a true crime fan needs to see.