Top 7 True Crime Documentaries/Docuseries to Stream at Home

By Halie Smith, ArtsQuest Cinema-Comedy Assistant

Intro from Halie

1. Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist

Director(s): Trey Borzillieri & Barbara Schroeder.
Time: 4 Episodes, each 45-50 mins.
Where to stream: Netflix.

This docuseries focuses on Marjorie-Diehl Armstrong and the story of how a pizza delivery guy gets caught up in a bank robbery. Taking place in Erie, PA., the story hits close to home (literally) with exclusive interviews with multiple people who worked on the case, as well as the emergence of a new witness.

2. Don’t F**ck With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer

Director: Mark Lewis.
Time: 3 Episodes, each 55-65 minutes.
Where to stream: Netflix.

This docuseries focuses on a Facebook group hunting down the internet killer, Luka Magnotta. The series starts with showing the original video “1 Boy, 2 Kittens” on YouTube, and from there the group takes off. Some of the videos in this docuseries are VERY graphic, and I myself skipped through them. If you’re a cat lover, this true crime is perfect for you, however you don’t need to love cats to follow this docuseries.

3. The Staircase: An American Murder Mystery

Director: Bryan Gildner
Time: 3 Episodes, 40-50 min. each
Where to stream: Hulu

This docuseries focuses on Michael Peterson and the strange circumstances of the death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson. This docuseries brings multiple theories to the table, and leaves you thinking about which could be the most plausible. This is also the short of the two docuseries focusing on Michael Peterson and the death of his wife.

4. The Staircase

Director: Jean Xavier de Lestrade
Time: 13 episodes, 45-55 min. each
Where to stream: Netflix

This docuseries also focuses on Michael Peterson and the strange circumstances of the death of his wife. While it is equally as compelling to watch as the aforementioned docuseries, this one offers more episodes and more exclusive looks into Michael Peterson’s point of view on the case itself. This docuseries also offers more episodes to delve into.

5. Abducted in Plain Sight

Director: Skye Borgman
Time: 1 Hr. and 30 mins.
Where to stream: Netflix

This documentary focuses on The Broberg family and their manipulation by a neighbor of theirs. The Broberg’s had trusted this man, and he abducted their twelve-year-old daughter, not just once, but twice. This documentary is the family’s reflections on those times, as well as their reasonings for being so easily manipulated.

6. The Disappearance of Madeline McCann

Director: Chris Smith
Time: 8 episodes, 55-65 min. each
Where to stream: Netflix

This docuseries follows the mysterious disappearance of Madeline McCann from her bed in an apartment her family was staying at in Praia da Luz. The series brings multiple theories as to how the kidnapping could have been executed, and focuses on Madeline’s parents and how their connections with the media may have hurt their chances of finding her rather than help.

7. The Keepers

Director: Ryan White
Time: 7 episodes, 55-65 min. each
Where to stream: Netflix

This docuseries follows the murder of Sister Catherine Cesnik. Many theories about Sister Catherine were brought up in the decades it’s been since the actual murder, however this docuseries sets out to prove that the murder is linked to a specific priest who’s been accused of abuse.