There’s Just Something Weird About T.V. Series Based On True Crime Stories. They Manage To Grab Our Attention And Draw Us In, Whether It’s Mystery, Intrigue, Or An Evil Twist From The Real World. 

After all, true crime T.V. series have become wildly popular over the past decade. It seems like every streaming service has a hot new crime drama ready to take the small screen by storm.

The genre has undergone a renaissance in recent years, thanks partly to technological advances in filmmaking that allow modern T.V. series to draw the audience deep into these harrowing stories through compelling and authentic visuals. This kind of immersive storytelling, persuasive acting, believable narratives, and high production values ​​help the creators bring true crime to life in a truly extraordinary way.

Of course, with great popularity comes more controversy. Some argue that these series glorify criminal deviants and create a strange obsession in viewers to discover and express interest in them. But others point to the value of exposing actual crimes and the damage they leave behind to spread awareness and advocate for change. Whatever your stance, the fact remains that crime T.V. series based on true stories can make us wonder and question. So, by introducing 20 T.V. crime series based on a true story.

The Girl From Plainville

” A Girl from Plainville ” is a drama miniseries that tells the true story of Michelle Carter’s controversial role in the suicide of Conrad Roy III and its legal questions about free speech and moral culpability. Her boyfriend at the time had confided in Michelle about her troubled mental health and suicidal thoughts. And through a series of texts, he somehow convinced her to do the same.

Elle Fanning portrays Michelle with a unique blend of two contrasting human traits: selfishness and vulnerability. His sympathetic gaze draws you in, even if his actions are horrific. In addition, creators Liz Hanna and Patrick McManus give us the laid-back New England town setting and Norman-Rockwell misanthrope, making the tragedy all the more poignant.

The Staircase

The miniseries “Stairway” is a French-American drama about a family living in North Carolina based on investigating a suspicious death that attracted worldwide attention. This series revolves around Michael Patterson, a writer and war veteran accused of murdering his second wife, Kathleen (Toni Collette). The story begins when Catelyn is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in their mansion.

Michael claims he had some wine in his hand and slipped, but he still went to trial. Colin Firth brilliantly portrays his complex character Michael and his ‘machismo,’ while Kathleen’s hidden struggles are also evident. The series also features subplots, including sibling feuds, past secrets, and an evolving mystery to keep you guessing how justice will be served.

Delhi Crime

Groundbreaking, raw, violent, disturbing, and riveting from the start, this series follows Delhi Police officers as they hunt down a gang of rapists and murderers after the infamous and horrific 2012 bus hijacking case known as the Delhi Gang Rape Case 2012. Recalling all the details of the Night that changed the perception of Indian country and left people angry and hollow, the series points to aspects of the case that were painfully true.

Shefali Shah portrays the role of Varthika Chaturvedi, a tough deputy commissioner who leads efforts to capture the culprits and restore a damaged city in five days. With its realistic portrayal of police work, bureaucratic hurdles, and uncontrollable but authentic public anger, Crimes in Delhi feminizes and humanizes this true crime while also showing sensitivity to the suffering behind the outlandish and false headlines.

Waco

Depicting possibly the most botched crime case in American history, Waco is a harrowing miniseries depicting the FBI’s siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, which left more than 86 people dead – 76 of them Branch Davidians. They were, including their boss, David. Koresh and four were ATF agents, and six were civilians. The six-part miniseries chronicles the 51-day standoff between the FBI, ATF, and the Branch Davidians (a religious sect founded by David Koresh). Prospects on both sides are explored during the siege, resulting in a devastating fire around the compound.

The plot twists are worth appreciating, and the actors perform well, but David Koresh’s sympathetic character may draw you in. Regardless, Waco is your best New Year’s Eve pick to see soaring acts with a historical context.

Chernobyl

A tragedy of epic proportions, Chornobyl is a devastation tour that follows the 1986 Chornobyl disaster and the cleanup efforts that followed. Beginning on the Night of the nuclear power plant disaster on April 26, 1986, in the Soviet Union, the series spares no detail as various workers inside the building and responding firefighters suffer unimaginable injuries and radiation after the explosion.

The series stars Jared Harris as the deputy director of the Kurchatov Institute, Valery Legasov, and Vastlan Skashgord as Boris Shcherbina, as the two helped lead efforts to clean up the plant in the following days and weeks. By exploring the lives of the various firefighters who were Chornobyl’s first responders and the miners who helped clear the scene, Chornobyl focuses on the lesser-known and untold stories of heroes who stepped up to save lives in a true crime and a major shortfall.

Mindhunter

Spanning two seasons and 19 episodes, Mind Hunter is a chilling series that follows two FBI agents, Holden Ford and Bill Tench, who interview serial killers to develop psychological profiles for future cases. As worthy and worthwhile as this series seems, the whole experience of watching it delve into the minds of criminals is disconcerting. On the other hand, David Fincher’s dark directorial style fits perfectly with the tone required to look into the mind of monster killers.

Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany bring a different humanity to their roles as they face the most incredible evil. So Mindhunter combines forensic science, psychological thrillers, and the haunting portrayal of real-life serial killers to discover exactly what drives true crime.

Candy

Jessica Biel gives a charming performance in this miniseries about a middle-class Texas housewife named Candy Montgomery. This woman who lives in the 1980s has everything on the outside, a big house, a great husband, children, and good friends; However, there is a dark secret behind this face.

The series follows his perfect life, which begins slowly after he commits a violent act of jealousy, lust, and rage against his friend and neighbor, Betty Gore, played by Melanie Lynskey. A relationship that started as an innocent friendship between two women soon became an obsession. But why? When he becomes romantically involved with Gore’s wife, Kennedy portrays the dubious motivations of his main character, a wife and mother whose life suddenly turns dark one fateful morning.

A Friend of the Family

“A Family Friend” is a true crime series that uncovers one of America’s longest-kept secrets that spans decades and causes irreparable damage to a family. The series centers around the Broberg family in 1970s Idaho. They are close and religious and have three young daughters, Jane, Susan, and Karen. When their charming neighbor Bob Berchtold befriends the family’s eldest daughter, Jane, he slowly earns the family’s trust over the years before intruding on their lives and kidnapping Jane to be manipulated and raised for sexual abuse.

This evil family friend brainwashes him with such disturbing ease that he turns against his family. The show is masterfully told from the point of view of Jane, her sister, and her parents. While the story raises important questions about child sexual exploitation, family dynamics, and the role of ignorance and denial, it even makes you paranoid about your neighbors.

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Created by Ryan Murphy, this limited series offers an unparalleled look into the mind of one of America’s most notorious serial killers through a hauntingly realistic portrayal. “Dahmer – The Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” begins by highlighting Jeffrey Dahmer’s troubled upbringing and fractured family life, giving viewers a glimpse into his psychology as a traumatized child grows up to be calm and tense. The series then goes into the gruesome details of his killing spree, which lasted more than a decade and claimed the lives of seventeen men and boys.

In this work, we see how Dahmer, a quiet and shy yet disturbingly attractive person, lures victims to his house before torturing, murdering, and dismembering them. Told largely from the perspective of his victims, the series deftly charts the systemic failures that allowed Dahmer to get away with such brutal acts for so long despite his questionable behavior and makes us wonder what kind of negligence the law could have qualified. Enable a monster to do so.

The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story

This F.X. dramatization of his trial. J. Simpson and the events surrounding it do an incredible job of bringing a high-profile case to life. After being accused of murdering his ex-wife and a server, the African-American football player had evidence against him that made him appear guilty. But his lawyers are doing their best to acquit him. “People against him” series. J. The Simpsons: American Crime Story has spectacular star performances, including Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. and Sarah Paulson as prosecutor Marcia Clark.

Another exemplary production from Ryan Murphy, this series examines the intersection of race, celebrity, and the justice system in America in the mid-90s, from his rise to fame. J. From her troubled marriage to a nasty crime scene investigation to a debate over DNA evidence, the show maintains the kind of breakneck pace that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

Dec

Des is a three-part British television drama miniseries based on the 1983 arrest of Scottish serial killer Dennis Nielsen after human remains were found clogging a drain near his home. Created by Lewis Arnold, the series follows Dennis Nielsen, a serial killer who murdered young men in London from 1978 to 1983. While exploring Nielsen’s disturbing crimes and complex motivations, the series humanizes him through flashbacks to his childhood and eternal loneliness.

David Tennant wears Nielsen’s character like a second skin, interestingly portraying his unsympathetic personality while also showing glimpses of his troubled childhood. While the case is huge and the victims are never forgotten, the series raises an interesting question: What makes a monster?

Dr. Death

Death Doctor is an American crime drama anthology television series created by Patrick McManus based on the podcast of the same name. The story focuses on Christopher Dunch, a neurosurgeon who became infamous for permanently mutilating his patients and killing two of them. This series is as terrifying as it sounds. It unnerves you and makes you even more uncomfortable thinking it’s based on a true story.

Joshua Jackson embodies Dunch’s charisma and social arrogance, allowing us to look at the deeper flaws that create such people. While his two fellow doctors, played by Alec Baldwin and Christian Slater, work with Dallas District Attorney Michelle Shugart to put their jobs on the line to stop him. Overall, The Dying Doctor offers insight into how the justice system allowed Dunch to slip through the cracks for so long while highlighting the inhumanity of his actions.

I am the Night.

“I Am Night” deals with the unforgettable and unsolved case of the Black Dahlia killer. While the real culprit has never been caught, many creators and directors have created versions using current conspiracies and speculations. Inspired by Fana Hodel’s memoir, the collection will be titled A Dark Day: The Mysterious Beginning of Fana Hodel and will feature her unusual beginnings and bond with her grandfather, George Hodel. George Hodel was the prime suspect in the mysterious Black Dahlia murder. In February 2019, a podcast titled Roots of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and Black Dahlia aired to complement the series.

Chris Pine gives a multi-layered performance as journalist Jay Singletary. Set in the Hollywood landscape of the 1960s, the series considers the long-running debate of nature versus nurture through the animals’ discovery of the past. It also explores how searching for answers can heal old wounds and reopen painful truths.

Alias ​​Grace

Another Grace is a Canadian short-lived television series directed by Marie Heron and written by Sarah Pelley. This T.V. series is an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel Grace, written in 1996. Despite all the hype surrounding the landmark drama The Handmaid’s Tale, the best Margaret Atwood adaptation of the decade was this miniseries from writer Sarah Pelley and director Marie Harron. This miniseries is based on the true story of Grace Marks, a 19th-century Irish maid in Canada who became a celebrity after being convicted of murdering her employer and housekeeper.

The true story of a 19th-century murder in which a poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant are convicted of murdering his employer and housekeeper is dark, thrilling, and chilling. Alias ​​Grace delves deep into the psychology of the case and the characters while presenting a compelling mystery. Grace’s nickname also highlights the oppression, inequality, and limited options available to women at the time. From the damage done to the biased justice system of the era, every aspect is brilliantly portrayed through lush costumes and heavy imagery set in 19th-century Ontario.

When They See Us

The series “When They See Us” is based on the Jagger Central Park New York case (assault and rape of Trisha Milley, a 28-year-old white American woman) and about five black teenagers accused of sexually assaulting and assaulting a woman in Central Park in 1989. New York City Park is arrested and tried. Interestingly, these teenagers maintained their innocence from when they were first brought in for questioning until they were acquitted in 2002 and 2014.

The series stars Jarrel Jerome, Asante Black, Felicity Hoffman, and Blair Underwood. They deliver powerful performances as they chronicle their ordeals, forced confessions, and the years they spend hanging in the balance. This series, which showed recent racism in American history and presented a stubborn picture of injustice, was nominated for 16 Emmy Awards.

Landscapers

The plot of Landscapers takes place in 1998, where Olivia Colman and David Thewlis, as Christopher and Susan Edwards, a well-mannered British couple, murder Susan’s parents and bury the bodies in their back garden.

This series is as strange and sad as the story summary seems unbelievably bitter. That, too, with the prime suspects of a fairytale romance intact as a seemingly normal couple who have been on the run from their crimes for over ten years. The show’s world juxtaposes elements of fantasy and fantasy with reality through brutal reconstructions, allowing the show to explore the blurred lines between innocence and guilt. At its core, Landscapers explores the complexity of nature and human relationships by unraveling the layers of deception carefully placed in the marriage of the work’s main character, Z.J.

Unbelievable

“Incredible” is a gripping Netflix limited series with wit and dark humor that follows the true story of Marie, a teenager accused of lying about a sexual assault, and two determined female detectives from different state departments who team up to find the assailant. Narrates Toni Collette and Merritt Weaver are the police dream team on the show, portraying two tough detectives determined to catch a serial rapist who preyed on women in Washington State and Colorado from 2008 to 2011.

Based on true events, Unbelievable deals with many issues such as trauma, justice, and mainly the discussion of how women are valued in a society that still struggles with victim blaming. The series is hard to watch at first glance, and when Collette and Weaver enter the picture and take over the case, their investigation is intense and disturbing as they put all the pieces of the puzzle together and hunt down a monster.

A Very English Scandal

A love story that turned into a massacre and political dreams shattered by the birth of a forbidden relationship, A Scandal That’s English is based on the real-life scandal of Jeremy Thorpe, in which a liberal member of parliament, tries to murder his ex-lover, Norman Joseph. The darkly satirical three-hour, three-episode series stars Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe, a manipulative, power-hungry man who seduces Norman, a volatile boy played by Ben Whishaw.

Beginning in the 1960s and leading up to the fateful days in the late 70s, when Thorpe orders the hit on Norman after he threatens to make their affair public, the series is fast-paced; it is deadly because of greed and hatred.

Dirty John

Love can sometimes be deadly, and both seasons of Dirty John are based on true crimes where passion proves fatal. The show’s first season follows Connie Britton as Debra Newell, an interior designer who falls in love with anesthesiologist John Meehan, played by the evil Eric Bana. Based on Wondery’s true crime podcast of the same name, the first season comes to a chilling conclusion as the true colors behind John’s mysterious character are revealed.

The second season, Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story, tells another heart-wrenching crime story with Amanda Peet as Betty Broderick opposite a furious Christian Slater as her cold-blooded husband, Dan. Pitt and Slater are explosive as they go head-to-head in a messy, deadly divorce, giving a complicated backstory to their marriage and how it all went wrong. If watching this murderous affair isn’t enough, you can listen to the podcast series It Was Simple: The Betty Broderick Murders, which covers it all.

Narcos

This biographical crime series, perhaps the most popular of them all, tells the true story of the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, the notorious Colombian trafficker and head of the Medellin cartel in the 1980s and early 90s. Narcos focuses on law enforcement during the United States’ war on drugs through a series of true events. Wagner Mora performs exceptionally as Escobar, portraying him as an inherently violent criminal and a helpless product of his upbringing.

The series depicts Escobar’s personal life to show how the cocaine trade destroyed Colombia’s profitability and how it created corruption, violence, and poverty. With impressive production values ​​and undeniable power appeal, Narcos transports viewers to 1980s Colombia, serving as a cautionary tale for many.