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MAKING A MURDER has had a profound effect on everyone who has watched it, with the Netflix documentary series raising uncomfortable and worthwhile questions about how the US justice system works.
And while Making a Murderer is widely acclaimed, it’s not the first nor the last documentary to shake viewers to their core over real-life, true-crime stories.
If you’re looking for something to watch after Making a Murderer, these are the 11 well-reviewed documentaries to sink your teeth into.
Perhaps one of the most famous documentaries about wrongful conviction and a botched trial is Errol Morris’s 1988 documentary The Thin Blue Line.
The film tells the story of Randall Adams, who spent 12 years in prison for killing a police officer. Morris’s documentary ended up suggesting five witnesses committed perjury and that the case suppressed key evidence in the trial.
Rent ‘The Thin Blue Line’ on Amazon or watch it on YouTube.
The Jinx miniseries made waves in 2015 for its explosive look into the life of eccentric and potentially dangerous real estate heir Robert Durst.
The six-part documentary features recreations of Durst’s alleged crimes and has an ending so shocking it will leave you speechless.
Watch ‘The Jinx’ on HBO and YouTube.
In 2001, American novelist Michael Peterson’s wife Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of the couple’s staircase. Peterson suggested she had fallen to her death while the cops had a much more sinister theory.
The Staircase covers the trial of Peterson for his wife’s murder and has more twists than a Steven King novel. Though it’s been criticised by viewers for not presenting all the facts of the case accurately, the eight-part documentary is still worth a watch.
Rent ‘The Staircase’ on Amazon or watch parts 1 and 2 on Vimeo.
When a boy came to the Texas-based Barclay family in 1997 and claimed to be the missing Nicholas Barclay, they welcomed him back with open arms. This was despite the fact that he had brown hair instead of blond, brown eyes instead of blue, and spoke with a French accent.
He was also 23 at the time and his real name turned out to be Frédéric Bourdin. This story of deception and grief that spanned two continents is almost too crazy to be true — and yet it is.
Rent ‘The Imposter’ on iTunes or YouTube.
Capital punishment sets the backdrop for this true-crime documentary about a triple homicide in Conroe, Texas. It follows Michael Perry who received the death sentence for the crime and interviews the victims’ families and the investigating officers.
Some of the interviews in the documentary with Perry, who maintained his innocence during his lifetime, occur just eight days before his execution. At times, this sad and insightful documentary is hard to watch.
Rent ‘Into the Abyss’ on Amazon or watch on YouTube.
The so-called ‘Central Park jogger case’ gripped New York back in 1989 when five black and hispanic young men were on trial for raping and beating a white woman. They were coerced into confessing and ultimately were convicted until 2002 when a reexamination of DNA evidence found that a murderer and serial rapist was really guilty of the crime.
The documentary looks at the case and investigates how racism and fear influenced an entire city to convict teenagers, as well as the aftermath of those convictions.
Rent ‘The Central Park Five’ on YouTube.
A mixture of horror and true-crime, Cropsey starts off about a Staten Island urban legend of a boogeyman who scared children into behaving. The campfire tale suddenly became too real, however, when children began to go missing in the 70s and 80s.
Rand, a homeless man who is also potentially mentally ill, was arrested for the crimes. The filmmakers take a look at the murderers, mob mentality, and how local legend impacted the case.
Watch ‘Cropsey’ on Hulu or rent on Amazon.
This documentary focuses on the sensational murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, and the three teenagers who were accused of murdering and sexually mutilating them.
The first of three documentaries on the ‘Memphis Three,’ ‘Paradise Lost’ interviews the families of the victims, the families of the accused, and the police. Ultimately, it investigates the motives and confessions at the heart of the case.
Rent ‘Paradise Lost’ on YouTube and Amazon or watch on HBO.
Just like Paradise Lost, West of Memphis is also about the three teenagers who were accused of murdering and sexually mutilating three 8-year-old children.
Released in 2012, the film goes even further to reveal alternate suspects, possible perjury, and alleged misconduct. Though it may seem like just another film in the saga, it’s worth a watch because — as Roger Ebert put it – it has ‘the benefit of hindsight.’
Rent ‘West of Memphis’ on Amazon, iTunes, or YouTube.
This 2006 documentary is hard to watch, but critically acclaimed. It tells the story of Catholic priest Oliver O’Grady who sexually abused children for 30 years as the church turned its back on his misconduct.
It’s a heartbreaking look at paedophilia and its aftermath as well as what happens when pride and tradition become more important than people.
Rent ‘Deliver Us from Evil’ on Amazon, YouTube, and iTunes.
Murder is one of the worst crimes a person can commit, but its aftermath is often much more harrowing.
Dear Zachary is not only the story of the murdered Andrew Bagby, but about the child custody battle that raged afterwards between Bagby’s parents and his suspected killer — his pregnant ex-girlfriend.
Rent ‘Dear Zachary’ on Amazon or watch on Hulu and YouTube.
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West of Memphis is epic, well worth it, don’t let the 3 hours duration put you off
Beware jumping to conclusions after watching it though!
West of Memphis is great, but I think I prefered Paradise Lost 1,2 and 3. They have the benefit of changing over a number of years. Plus it’s over twice as long as West of Memphis so it’ll keep you going. Both are excellent though. In fairness all the docs on this list are great.
Me too John. Much preferred Paradise Lost. More authentic feel to it. Mainly because it was made only 3 years after the events took place.
And the sequels add a lot to it. It’s my favourite of all the crime docs, a real thriller. The poor unfortunates involved, the whole thing makes your blood boil.
Nothing on Netflix??
Bit torrent. Ahem.
I’ve been on to Dr. John. I wanted to break a spell my evil step sisters had put on me that I turned into a pumpkin after midnight. He sorted it right out, I got prince charming and the two evil step sisters ended up in a cauldron. Funny though, he couldn’t help my Aunt, The Wicked Witch of the West, when a house landed on her. But then, he’s not a medical doctor.
A lot of really bad folks in the world John.
Their 30 day trial must’ve expired
One to add, bowling for columbine, honestly can’t see why the journal could have neglected such a great documentary
The Jinx is outstanding. .penultimate episode is a belter! A must watch!
So much better than MAM. So shocking. Staircase is just as good. Those who watched MAM and possibly were left a little frustrated, would find themselves going through all the same again with way better end results with The Jinx and the Staircase…
I’m trying to get through MAM, almost half way through. I just find it so boring. Why did it need ten hours of screening? Could it not have been done in two?
Yep. So much footage. Plus it’s soooo well made, hence the 10 eps.
Can you get this on netflix
Watch to the end Gemma and then you’ll understand.
Literally just finished watching ‘Dear Zachery’ it was heart breaking, I’m still drying my eyes! Definitely worth a watch
Don’t watch this when hungover… It’s brilliant but very sad.
The Imposter is a roller-coaster. Pure madness.
Citizen x, technically not a documentary but a very accurate portrayal of chikatilo’s crimes in Russia. Worth a watch.
I agree. Superb stuff. Incredible how the Russian investigators were so slow in picking up the case, and then how one officer took it on almost single handedly.
Dear Zachary is a great documentary alright but it will depress the shoes and socks off you!!!!
I’d like to see a documentary done on Bush and Blair – Murder Of The Innocents.kill a man they call you a murderer kill a million they call you a hero go figure!!
Obama ???
He’s done treble what Bush did but it’s ok cos he’s black so the leftys leave him alone
And him Aidan.
“when you kill a man, you’re a murderer
Kill many, and you’re a conqueror
Kill them all … Ooh … Oh you’re a God”
-Megadeth.
The Staircase is excellent
Has no one mentioned the Serial podcast? I thought it was better than MaM. Season 1 is a must listen. Season 2 is halfway through at the minute but I’m waiting til it’s all out there to binge listen!
Someone just recommened that to me today. Must dive in! :)
Yeah as a big fan of watching documentaries I didn’t think that a podcast could do as much for me. But I was wrong, Serial is fantastic!!!
The Jinx is superb
West of Memphis is excellent. Dear Zachary is so sad. The Jinx is fantastic too, so creepy that Durst himself sought the making of it…
Cropsy freaked the head off me for a few days anything to do with kids going missing would.
The Jinx is sensational. Makes making a murderer look like an episode of Bosco. Would also highly recommend the Serial Podcast and the story of Adnan Sayed
Murder on a Sunday morning needs to be added to this list.
There’s a movie out a few years now. All ed the devils knot I think it’s called.. It was based on true events of 3 young boys being killed and the hunt for their killers..3 teenage boys were arrested for it.. wonder is it based on the same story as above ?
It was indeed based on the West Memphis Three.
Not one of you numptys has an actual content about the documentary that formed the subject matter of this artical. (Facepalm!l
In fairness your comment makes no sense to me. An actual content? What does that mean? Or do you mean comment? There are many documentaries in this article, not one. Do you mean the documentary that formed the subject matter of the headline and intro paragraph of the article? If that’s what you mean why would people comment about Making a Murderer when the article is about documentaries that are not Making a Murderer? I’m lost by your comment, it’s nonsensical.
Go to bed. You’re drunk.
I’ve seen the imposter and I spoke to the guy online too. You couldn’t make that story up.
True Nightmres, it’s a 6 part series with 3 stories per episode. Watch the first story which is roughly 20 minutes long and you’ll want to continue. It’s not as bad as it appears, I was about to switch it off but there’s twists everywhere even in stories we’re familiar with like Ed Gein. It’s cheesy but more importantly they’re all true stories.
As much as I liked it, I think it’s pretty sad that calls for “real justice” have to be a trending thing.
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