True crime documentaries have surged in popularity in recent years, captivating viewers with their gripping stories and real-life mysteries. With the rise of streaming services like HBO Max, true crime enthusiasts have a plethora of options to choose from. Here are the 28 best true crime documentaries on Max that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat and have you questioning everything you thought you knew.
1. “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst” – This six-part series delves into the bizarre and chilling story of real estate heir Robert Durst, who is suspected in the deaths of several people.
2. “Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist” – This four-part series explores the shocking and bizarre true story of the ‘pizza bomber’ case, which involved a botched bank robbery that ended in a fatal explosion.
3. “Mommy Dead and Dearest” – This documentary tells the twisted and tragic story of Dee Dee Blanchard and the sadistic lengths she went to in order to control her daughter, Gypsy Rose.
4. “The Staircase” – This compelling series follows the case of Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife after she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase.
5. “Casting JonBenet” – This unique and haunting documentary explores the infamous murder of child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey through the eyes of local actors auditioning for a dramatized version of the story.
6. “Mindhunter” – This series takes a deep dive into the minds of serial killers through the eyes of FBI agents who interview and study them in an effort to understand their motivations.
7. “The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann” – This documentary explores the mysterious disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann while on vacation with her family in Portugal.
8. “The Imposter” – This chilling documentary follows the bizarre case of a French conman who impersonated a missing American boy and fooled authorities and the boy’s family for years.
9. “Making a Murderer” – This groundbreaking series follows the case of Steven Avery, who was wrongfully convicted of a crime and later accused of murder in a complex and controversial case.
10. “Wild Wild Country” – This eye-opening documentary explores the rise and fall of the controversial Rajneeshpuram commune in Oregon, led by the charismatic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.
11. “The Case Against Adnan Syed” – This series re-examines the case of Adnan Syed, who was convicted of murdering his high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999.
12. “Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer” – This chilling documentary follows a group of amateur sleuths as they track down a man who posted videos of himself torturing and killing cats online.
13. “Murder on Middle Beach” – This deeply personal documentary follows filmmaker Madison Hamburg as he investigates the unsolved murder of his mother, Barbara Hamburg.
14. “Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer” – This gripping series follows the case of Richard Ramirez, the infamous Night Stalker who terrorized Los Angeles in the 1980s.
15. “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” – This series follows writer Michelle McNamara as she investigates the Golden State Killer, a notorious serial rapist and murderer who eluded capture for decades.
16. “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” – This series features chilling audio recordings and interviews with Ted Bundy, one of America’s most notorious serial killers.
17. “The Keepers” – This harrowing documentary delves into the unsolved murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik, who was killed in 1969 after she uncovered sexual abuse at a Catholic school in Baltimore.
18. “The Innocence Files” – This series follows the work of the Innocence Project as they work to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA testing and investigation.
19. “The Confession Tapes” – This series examines cases in which individuals have confessed to crimes they claim they did not commit, raising questions about coercion and false confessions.
20. “The Witness” – This documentary follows the brother of Kitty Genovese as he investigates the infamous 1964 murder and the myth of the 38 witnesses who allegedly did nothing to help.
21. “Lost Girls” – This film tells the story of a mother searching for her missing daughter and uncovering a string of unsolved murders of young women along the way.
22. “The Act of Killing” – This groundbreaking documentary follows former Indonesian death squad leaders as they reenact scenes from their brutal past in an effort to confront their actions.
23. “Evil Lives Here” – This series features chilling interviews with family members of infamous killers as they recount the moments they realized their loved one was capable of such heinous acts.
24. “Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer” – This documentary follows the life and crimes of Aileen Wuornos, one of America’s most notorious female serial killers.
25. “The Disappearance of the Millbrook Twins” – This chilling documentary follows the case of two twin sisters who disappeared in Harlem in 1990 and the ongoing search for answers.
26. “The Devil Next Door” – This series follows the case of John Demjanjuk, a retired autoworker living in Cleveland who was accused of being a Nazi war criminal known as Ivan the Terrible.
27. “The Investigator: A British Crime Story” – This series follows former police detective Mark Williams-Thomas as he re-investigates a complex and compelling cold case.
28. “Murder Among the Mormons” – This three-part series delves into the shocking 1985 Salt Lake City bombings and the twisted world of rare document dealing and forgery.
Whether you’re a true crime aficionado or simply looking for a gripping and suspenseful watch, the true crime documentaries on Max offer something for everyone. From unsolved murders to notorious serial killers, these documentaries will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you questioning the depths of human depravity. So grab your popcorn, turn off the lights, and prepare to be captivated by these 28 gripping true crime documentaries.