The true crime genre has never been more popular than it is today, with a plethora of films, documentaries, books, and podcasts all dedicated to uncovering interesting, real-life stories about criminal activities. Many times, documentaries can actually be more impactful and intriguing than their fictional counterparts, with curated elements making way for more accurate, true-to-life sequences. Documentaries have a way of gripping the audience, knowing that usual Hollywood tropes may not apply, as in the real world, fact is often stranger than any fiction could be.

Some of the best thrillers. Rather than a series, these feature-length documentaries are made to be watched in one viewing, another element that creates such an immersive and profound experience.

10 Deliver Us From Evil (2014)

Directed By Amy J. Berg

Deliver Us from Evil is a disturbing yet brilliantly produced documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Amy J. Berg, detailing the life of Catholic Priest Oliver O'Grady, who itted to molesting and raping 25 children. Father O'Grady committed his crimes in Northern California in the late 1970s before being arrested and found guilty of sexual abuse; he served just seven years in prison before being sent back to his homeland of Ireland. The documentary interviews O'Grady, other of his Archdiocese, and survivors of his sadistic abuse that exposes the system that allowed him to get away with it for so long.

As well as intense and harrowing interviews, Berg makes use of trial documents and deposition tapes of O'Grady to create a complete picture of his sadistic abuse. The film obviously spotlights O'Grady as a monster who preyed on the most vulnerable children under his care, but also at the institutional failings of the Catholic Church as a whole that lets cases like this happen all too often, with respects paid to the victim's testimonies. Witnessing a first-hand from O'Grady is a chilling premise and one that true crime fans will appreciate as a window into a genuinely disturbed individual.

9 American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)

Directed By Jenny Popplewell

In one of the most shocking crimes in recent United States history, American Murder: The Family Next Door details the horrific murder of Shanann Watts and her two daughters by the girls' father and her husband, Chris Watts. The crime shocked the nation, with Chris initially appearing on the news asking for his family to return home safely before his web of deceit and guilt came crashing down. Jenny Popplewell's documentary masterfully explores the case from Shanann's point of view, slowly unraveling the story and touching on sensitive topics like trauma, infidelity, and betrayal.

The documentary is innovative in its visual and storytelling techniques, with the harrowing narrative being almost entirely told with social media posts, phone messages, home videos, and the bodycam footage of police officers at the scene. The film's structure plays out almost like a murder mystery, with Chris' involvement in the crimes not made clear until well into the story, which makes for an impactful and brutal revelation. Though the use of digital media is repetitive, the meticulous pacing and editing of every element in a truly heartbreaking case make it worth the watch.

8 Team Foxcatcher (2016)

Directed By Jon Greenhalgh

Team Foxcatcher recounts the story of Olympic gold medalist wrestler Dave Schultz being murdered by reclusive and eccentric billionaire John du Pont. Creating a world-class wrestling facility and wanting to help Team USA, du Pont ensnares Dave to come and train and coach on his property, with the environment slowly descending into paranoia and violence. Jon Greenhalgh's documentary does a fantastic job explaining the backstory of du Pont and highlighting the exceptional career that Schultz had before his run-in with the deranged heir to the du Pont family fortune.

One significant difference between the film and the documentary is the film features Dave's brother, Mark Schultz, heavily throughout the storylines, and the documentary doesn't reference him at all.

Team Foxcatcher was released just two years after the big-budget Hollywood thriller Foxcatcher - one of Channing Tatum's best-ever films - and it mirrors many of the best elements of the film while stripping back some of the dramatized elements to create a more intimate portrayal. The documentary focuses more on the human side of both Schultz and du Pont, showing them as real, three-dimensional people and not just as 'the wrestler' and 'the billionaire'. The raw footage and interviews of those involved are incredibly heart-wrenching, and it's a gripping tale of a seemingly preventable tragedy.

7 Abducted In Plain Sight (2017)

Directed By Skye Borgman

In one of the most jaw-dropping and, quite frankly, frustrating documentaries ever conceived, Skye Borgman's Abducted in Plain Sight is a tale that is hard even to comprehend. The documentary tells the twisted and tragic story of Jan Broberg, an Idaho child who was abducted and abused twice by her older neighbor, Robert Berchtold, who was a friend of the family before, during, and after the first abduction. If that's not unbelievable enough, the documentary goes in-depth, showing that Robert was able to lie and manipulate his way into a position of power over Jan, even after kidnapping her previously.

Abducted In Plain Sight is one of the rare films that can make the viewer feel every emotion in such a short period, from bewilderment and shock to anger and despair and everything in between. The film provoked much outrage and venom at the family, who seemingly let a predator - a predator who itted his actions - kidnap and abuse their young daughter multiple times while allowing themselves to still be manipulated. The film delves into many complex and disturbing themes, such as religion, religious guilt, pedophilia, and Stockholm syndrome, crafting a film that's facts are genuinely stranger than any fiction.

6 Girl In The Picture (2022)

Directed By Skye Borgman

After the incredible success and popularity of her documentary Abducted In Plain Sight, American filmmaker Skye Borgman worked on and released another stellar documentary, Girl in the Picture, five years later. This time, Borgman goes to great lengths to uncover the tragic life and death of a young girl called Sharon Marshall, who was abducted and abused by fugitive Franklin Delano Floyd before mysteriously dying in a hit-and-run accident. The film unravels multiple layers of abuse, kidnapping, and violence, and with the help of interviews and footage from the archive, it pieces together Sharon's life in great detail.

Borgman was on a roll at this time in her career, crafting brilliant films one after the other and gaining a new perspective and skills that helped elevate her later works - with Girl in the Picture being no exception. The film was universally praised for its intricate storytelling, with masterful direction and pacing that sees the plot play out as captivatingly as any fictional work, not bound by the constraints of reality. The documentary, using interviews and archival footage, sews together Sharon's life, painting a picture of her that, though hard to watch at times, is able to give her the justice and peace she deserves.

5 13th (2006)

Directed By Ava DuVernay

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, 13th is a fascinating and eye-opening film that puts a spotlight on America's 'prison industrial complex' and the practice of mass incarceration and punishment. 13th refers to the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, wherein slavery is abolished except as a punishment for convicted criminals, with the film presenting viewpoints that oppose this practice. While not a typical 'true crime' story about a murder or violent crime, every aspect of this documentary is focused on highlighting the injustices and violations in the prison system and the law as a whole.

Ava DuVernay's documentary is a deep and fascinating analysis of the justice system in America that breaks it down into its most basic forms, allowing everybody to see it laid bare. It covers a whole host of incredibly complex and important themes like modern slavery, the disenfranchisement of Black Americans, and the injustice of the war on drugs that disproportionally affected communities of color. Though it's not the first documentary to come to mind when true crime is mentioned, the criminal system and the systemic issues that it exposes are truly as frightening and sobering as any violent film.

4 Man On Wire (2008)

Directed By James Marsh

In another documentary that pushes the boundaries of the true crime genre, James Marsh’s Man on Wire is such a riveting and beautiful watch that it's easy to forget a crime is even being committed. The film recounts the incredible true-to-life stunt in 1974 that saw daredevil Philippe Petit illegally high-wire tightrope walk between the two Twin Towers. The documentary provides a stunning combination of interviews of those involved and realistic reenactments that create a film deserving of its Academy Award victory.

Man on Wire has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 159 reviews.

Man on Wire is widely regarded as one of the best documentaries of all time, sweeping the 'Big Four' critic's awards and also winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Though the film highlights a beautiful performance piece from a talented athlete and artist, it is still a film that almost celebrates the crime, with the first half of the film playing out like the most intricate heist film ever conceived. The meticulous plan and flawless execution, combined with some of the best cinematography and visuals of all time, create a suspenseful and ambitious story that simply must be watched.

3 Bowling For Columbine (2002)

Directed By Michael Moore

Michael Moore is known in the filmmaking world as an innovator and a provocateur, and nowhere in his work is this more evident than in his incredible 2002 documentary, Bowling for Columbine. The film peels back the layers of the tragic Columbine High School massacre - from which the film derives its name - looking into what caused the perpetrators to commit the senseless act, the education system, and America's relationship with gun violence as a whole. The documentary drives its point home, providing many memorable moments that created real-world change that make it one of the most influential documentaries ever.

Another winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Michael Moore's incredible Bowling for Columbine is a rare combination of comedy, critical analysis, and social action in the wake of America's worst school shooting. Moore has a confrontational style as he interviews both sides of the gun violence debate, including government officials and classmates of the shooters, creating a film that is a landmark in what documentaries can achieve. The film takes a specific event to provide a base for its larger political and social points, creating a stunning work that every true crime enthusiast should view.

2 Paradise Lost: The Child Murders At Robin Hood Hills (1996)

Directed By Joe Berlinger And Bruce Sinofsky

Rarely does a criminal documentary produce such groundbreaking work that it inspires a movement to free the alleged murderers from prison, but that is precisely the extent of the brilliance of Paradise Lost. Filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky combine to create a documentary that investigates three outcasted teenagers from West Memphis as they are convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the brutal slayings of three young boys. The documentary expertly weaves interviews with the teenagers - now men - the victim's families, activists, and more, which raises awareness of the horrendous crime and potential miscarriage of justice.

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills was so popular it spawned two sequels - directed by Berlinger and Sinofsky - Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000) and Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2011) that follows the continuation of the case.

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills is one of the most incredible documentaries of all time, crafting a unique and unflinching view of America's flawed justice system. The filmmakers receive an unbelievable level of access to all elements of the case and the people involved, from the 'West Memphis Three' to officers and parents of both the victims and the 'perpetrators.' The film's coverage of the sadistic murders, the trial, interviews, and the aftermath are all exceptional, with the visuals, score, and gripping story that to create the most culturally significant documentary in history.

1 Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father (2008)

Directed By Kurt Kuenne

Without doubt, the most somber and heart-breaking documentary - and film - of all time, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, is as spectacular as it is impossibly sad. Filmmaker Kurt Kuenne uses various footage and interviews to create a beautiful cinematic tribute for Zachary, the son of his best friend, Andrew Baby, who was murdered by his ex-partner. The film takes as many shocking and unexpected turns as the best fictional thriller, with a heart-wrenching twist that makes it one of the most poignant films to ever be created.

In genuinely one of the saddest films of all time, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a masterpiece in virtually every aspect of the film. The production, editing, filming, and direction are all masterful, with Kurt Kuenne showing poise and control beyond his years. The film's story hooks the viewer from the very first second and takes them on a ride that they will never forget. Dear Zachary's narrative is nothing short of devastating, with all elements beautifully crafted to create an iconic one-of-a-kind piece of true crime cinema.