True crime shows are more popular than ever, and some of them are so shocking, it’s hard to believe the stories are real. In this article, we’ve picked the Top 10 Unbelievable True Crime Documentaries on Netflix that will leave you speechless.
Each of these series tells the story of a real crime — from dangerous killers and con artists to strange cults and mysteries. These are not just ordinary crimes. They involve twists, lies, and shocking secrets that make them hard to forget.
We chose these shows by looking at Netflix’s current library (as of July 2025) and checking what people are watching and talking about. All the titles on this list are series, not movies, so you can follow each story across multiple episodes and really get into the details.
If you enjoy true stories that are scary, strange, or hard to believe, this list is for you.
List of 10 Unbelievable True Crime Documentaries on Netflix
| Title | Release Year | Why It’s Hard to Believe |
|---|---|---|
| Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist | 2018 | Pizza bomber case with a bomb-locked collar feels like fiction. |
| Catching Killers | 2023 | Brutal serial killer cases with shocking investigative twists. |
| Worst Roommate Ever | 2024 | Roommates turning into murderers or fraudsters, starting normally. |
| Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal | 2023 | Powerful family’s murders and corruption, evading justice long. |
| The Staircase | 2018 | Kathleen Peterson’s death with owl attack theory, many twists. |
| Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey | 2022 | FLDS sect’s extreme control, child marriages, hard to fathom. |
| Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer | 2019 | Internet sleuths track cat killer to murderer, bizarre escalation. |
| Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter | 2025 | Decades-long search for adopted daughter, shocking revelations. |
| Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer | 2025 | Unsolved Gilgo Beach murders, killer’s elusiveness, chilling. |
| Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing | 2025 | Exploitation and crime masked by social media fame, shocking. |
Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist (2018)
The 2003 “pizza bomber” case in Erie, Pennsylvania, where Brian Wells, a pizza deliveryman, was forced to rob a bank with a bomb locked around his neck. After receiving less than $9,000, he was apprehended, and the bomb detonated, killing him.
The investigation revealed a conspiracy involving Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, identified as a mastermind, and other suspects like Bill Rothstein. The series explores fake clues in the bomb, Diehl-Armstrong’s mental health, and her correspondence with filmmakers, making it feel like a Hollywood plot. It’s hard to believe due to the audacity of the crime and surreal details, such as the bomb collar and eccentric characters.
Catching Killers (2023)
Real-life investigations into notorious serial killer cases, including the BTK Killer (Dennis Rader), Happy Face Killer (Keith Jesperson), and the 1996 Olympic Park Bomber (Eric Rudolph).
Each episode follows law enforcement’s challenges, breakthroughs, and personal impacts, like capturing Rader in Wichita, Kansas, or Jesperson’s confessions across the U.S. It’s hard to believe due to killers evading capture for years and the psychological depth of their crimes, with detailed accounts from investigators.
Worst Roommate Ever (2024)
True stories of dangerous roommates, including Dorothea Puente (killing tenants in Sacramento), K.C. Joy (implicated in Maribel Ramos’s murder), Youssef Khater (fraud and violence), and Jamison Bachman (serial squatting with violent outcomes).
The series explores how normal cohabitation turned deadly, like Puente poisoning and burying victims, or Bachman using legal tactics to take over homes. It’s hard to believe due to the trust placed in these individuals and the extreme behaviors, from murder to fraud, revealed in each case.
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (2023)
The Murdaugh family scandals in South Carolina, including Mallory Beach’s 2019 boating death, the 2021 murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, and Stephen Smith’s 2015 suspicious death, alongside Alex Murdaugh’s financial crimes.
The series covers the family’s influence, Paul’s alleged drunk driving, Alex’s charges for the murders, and financial fraud worth millions. It’s hard to believe due to the interconnected deaths, corruption, and the family’s ability to evade justice, with interviews from survivors and investigators.
The Staircase (2018)
Kathleen Peterson’s 2001 death at the bottom of her staircase in Durham, North Carolina, with husband Michael Peterson convicted of murder in 2003, was later released on parole in 2017 after an Alford plea.
The case involved debates over murder vs. fall, Michael’s bisexuality as a motive, and similarities to his previous wife’s death. The series includes trial footage and new episodes, making it hard to believe due to ambiguous evidence and legal twists.
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)
The FLDS Church under Warren Jeffs, involving polygamy, child marriages, and abuse, with a 2008 Texas raid leading to Jeffs’ arrest for child sexual assault.
The series features survivor stories of forced marriages, psychological control, and isolation, with Jeff serving life in prison. It’s hard to believe due to the extent of abuse, the church’s operations, and the normalization within the community.
Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
Luka Magnotta’s 2010 kitten-killing videos, escalating to the 2012 murder of Jun Lin, were tracked by internet sleuths, leading to his arrest in Berlin.
The series follows online investigations, Magnotta’s narcissistic fame-seeking, and the gruesome murder video. It’s hard to believe due to the escalation from animal cruelty to murder and the power of internet sleuths in solving the case.
Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter (2025)
Cathy Terkanian’s search for her adopted daughter, Aundria Bowman, missing since 1989, reveals Dennis Bowman’s murder and his conviction.
Cathy discovered Aundria’s disappearance in 2010, uncovering abuse allegations and solving the case with internet sleuths. It’s hard to believe due to the decades-long search, shocking revelations, and justice achieved through persistence.
Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (2025)
The Gilgo Beach murders, with 11 bodies found between 1996-2011, and Rex Heuermann’s 2023 arrest for four murders, including the “Gilgo Four.”
The series focuses on victims like Shannan Gilbert, investigation challenges, and family impacts, with Heuermann’s ongoing trial. It’s hard to believe due to the killer’s elusiveness, gruesome crimes, and the complexity of the investigation.
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing (2025)
Allegations of abuse and exploitation in child influencer Piper Rockelle’s “Squad,” with lawsuits against her mother, Tiffany Smith, and an FBI investigation.
The series reveals emotional and physical abuse, inappropriate content, and a lack of regulation, with ongoing legal battles. It’s hard to believe due to the manipulation for profit and the dark side of online fame for children.
These 10 true crime Documentaries on Netflix aren’t just shocking — they’re almost unbelievable. Each story uncovers real people, real crimes, and real consequences, often stranger than anything found in fiction. From twisted cults and serial killers to cold cases and internet investigations, these shows prove how dark and unpredictable the real world can be.
Whether you’re a true crime fan or just looking for a gripping series to binge, these documentaries will leave you thinking long after the final episode. Just remember — these stories happened, and that’s what makes them so haunting.
If you’re ready for suspense, mystery, and jaw-dropping twists, queue up one of these unbelievable series on Netflix today.