22 Best True Crime Shows Streaming in 2022

By Emily Lemon On Mar 17, 2022

Netflix; HuluGetty Images

Cults. Money heists. Small-town mysteries. We here at Men’s Health have an affinity for all things true crime—as is the case with most people, it seems, judging by the sheer amount of television shows tackling these subjects on air. Take FX’s The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, a show which won several Emmy’s and explored one of the most high-profile legal cases of all time. Or successful reboots like Unsolved Mysteries, which proved complicated tales of love, lust, and aliens don’t often have a simple answer. And who could forget the massive popularity of Netflix’s Tiger King, a story about a very passionate zoo-owner?

Well, that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Tiger King, but in the end, a good true crime story teases you. That’s why we love them. And if there’s any other lesson we’ve learned from the genre, it’s that the truth is almost always stranger than fiction.

2022 is also arguably the Year of the Scammer. The Tinder Swindler, Inventing Anna, and The Dropout are new and essential watches for any true crime aficionado who wants to learn about heart-breaking murders, unbelievable scams, and other unfortunate yet intriguing crimes–and of course how the police managed to catch the killers, fraudsters, and schemers who thought they’d get away with it. It’s a television genre we, honestly, can’t get enough of.

Here are 22 true crime shows you can’t miss:

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Unsolved Mysteries

You know it well—it was the show that played in the living rooms of Americans everywhere during the ’90s and early aughts, formerly on NBC and then Lifetime. Now, Netflix has rebooted the series once more and explored a new set of crime stories that have only just begun to unravel.

Stream it here

Dirty John

It was the story that launched several podcasts and a television show—a woman seeking love fell for a guy who wasn’t all that he claimed to be. Based on the real life story of Debra Newell and John Meehan, it’s the kind of show that will both frustrate and entertain you, and probably cause you to second-guess online dating ever again.

Stream it here

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst

On one night in January 1982, real estate mogul Robert Durst’s wife disappeared on her way to visit a friend in New York City. And, well, things only get darker after that. Just wait until the last few minutes during the final episode of The Jinx and you’ll see why this show made the impact that it did.

Stream it here

The Act

In this Hulu series, Joey King stars as Gypsy Rose, a young woman accused of murdering her mother. Except things aren’t quite what they seem as we learn from this dramatized account of Rose’s real life and what led to her to breakdown.

Stream it here

The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Ryan Murphy executive produced this series following one of the most high-profile murder cases in the ’90s. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays the role of O.J. Simpson on the run in a white Bronco, accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ron Goldman. (Sarah Paulson also won an Emmy for her portrayal of attorney Marcia Clark.)

Stream it here

Wild Wild Country

This docuseries follows cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, who purchased a compound in Oregon in the early ’80s to build a utopian town for his followers. The story quickly spirals into the cult’s sinister efforts to attack Americans.

Stream it here

The Vow

HBO’s new docuseries explores NXIVM, a “personal development company,” who were indicted on charges that included sex trafficking and racketeering. Several former followers share their story of Keith Raniere, the leader of the cult currently facing life in prison for his involvement.

Stream it here

Amanda Knox

It was a tragic story heard around the world in 2007. Amanda Knox was accused of murdering one of her roommates, Meredith Kercher, while studying abroad in Italy. The documentary explores the massive media coverage surrounding Knox, and we learn from Knox herself the events that led up to and immediately after the murder.

Stream it here

The Disappearance of Madeline McCann

Speaking of highly-publicized stories, probably no other unsolved case on this list made the news quite like that of then 3-year-old Madeline McCann, who disappeared from her hotel room while on vacation in Portugal in 2003. This multi-part series explores both the massive attention her parents were given in the wake of her disappearance and what happened on that tragic day.

Stream it here

McMillions

Remember waking up on a Saturday morning to pick up an Egg McMuffin and a hashbrown with the hopes that Boardwalk would be pasted to its wrapper? Well, turns out McDonald’s famous Monopoly game might’ve been a scam! That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but this HBO series follows an ex-cop who swindled the system to his favor for at least a decade.

Stream it here

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace

Designer Gianni Versace was murdered outside of his Miami Beach home in 1997. The second season of FX’s American Crime Story follows both his life and that of his murderer Andrew Cunanan—who was responsible for the murders of four other men—and the events that led up to the designer’s untimely death.

Stream it here

Waco

In 1993, a 51-day standoff took place between the FBI and the Branch Davidians, a religious cult led by David Koresh. This miniseries follows the standoff that resulted in 76 deaths, with Koresh played by Friday Night Lights’ Taylor Kitsch and Michael Shannon in the role of Gary Noesner, the FBI’s negotiator.

Stream it here

Tiger King

If you are the last person on earth not to have seen Tiger King, now’s your chance. If not, check out Carole Baskin on the current season of Dancing With the Stars, because everyone’s a reality star these days.

Stream it here

Bad Vegan

Sarma Melngailis was a celebrated raw-food chef with a successful restaurant. That is, until her fall from grace where she drained the restaurant’s funds to pay her husband, and then went on the run with him. The kicker is when the police found the couple they’d eaten…a Domino’s pizza. It’s another one of Netflix’s strange and wild tales, reminiscent of Tiger King.

Stream It Here

Tinder Swindler

Hopefully your online dates have never gone as poorly as these. An man named Simon Leviev scammed multiple women on Tinder and convinced them to bankroll his lavish lifestyle. Overall, it’s estimated he swindled $10 million out of his victims, PEOPLE reports.

Stream It Here

The Keepers

This Netflix series covers the unsolved murder of Cathy Cesnik, a nun and high school teacher who disappeared in 1969. To this day, the killer remains unnamed. The documentary series hopes to uncover the truth.

Stream It Here

Don’t F**k With Cats

Never underestimate an Internet community. When a slew of creepy videos begin circulating online, a group of online sleuths vow to track down the perpetrator and solve his heinous crimes.

Stream It Here

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

Michelle McNamara’s life’s work was to uncover the identity of the Golden State Killer. In this HBO miniseries, we learn of McNamara’s life and work on finding the gruesome serial killer. Based on McNamara’s book of the same name, it’s an essential watch for any true crime aficionado.

Stream It Here

Dr. Death

Joshua Jackson stars in this creepy tale of a doctor who begins to maim and mistreat patients of his neurosurgery practice. Based on a hit podcast, it’s a Peacock Original you don’t want to miss.

Stream It Here

When They See Us

This Netflix miniseries tells the heart-breaking story of the Central Park Five, a group of young Black and Latino men who were falsely accused of assaulting a jogger. The story tracks their years-long fight to prove their innocence.

Stream It Here

Inventing Anna

Starring Julia Garner, Inventing Anna reenacts the wild story of Anna Delvey, a woman who managed to manipulate the rich and influential to pay for her hotels, food, clothes and other expenses. Based on a viral piece from The Cut, it’s the 2022 story everyone’s talking about.

Stream It Here

The Dropout

Elizabeth Holmes idolized Steve Jobs. So much so she donned his iconic black turtleneck outfit and decided to launch her own healthcare company at the age of 19. There was just one problem: her product didn’t work. She barreled ahead anyway, scamming investors and even partnered with Walgreens to put her device, Theranos, in stores. Amanda Seyfried stars in this Hulu series.

Stream It Here

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

This article was originally posted here.

Share FacebookTwitterGoogle+ReddItWhatsAppPinterestEmail