Bombs, heists and big cats: TV’s 25 best true-crime shows ever
Why This Matters
Key context: <p>From mind-boggling murder investigations to decade-long scams, there’s no shortage of documentaries about real-life awfulness. We list the most incredible</p><p>Since the true-crime explosion a decade ago – kickstarted by Netflix’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jan/11/how-making-murderer-tapped-our-weakness-true-crime-steven-avery">Making a Murderer</a> – audiences have been fed a steady small-screen diet of cold-case killings, catfishing scams and creepy cults. And, after years of varying results, Netflix’s latest show, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jul/22/a-toxic-love-story-review-michelle-hadley">A Toxic Love Story</a> – which recounts how a California couple framed an innocent woman for stalking, intimidation and recruiting men from Craigslist to rape her ex’s new wife – is being billed as a return to true-crime form. But when it comes to similar shows worth your viewing time, what else is up there?</p><p>Here’s a selection of the genre’s 25 standout shows and where to watch them – which, let’s face it, is mainly Netflix. Let the boggle-eyed bingeing begin.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/aug/06/best-true-crime-tv-shows-ever">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.
From mind-boggling murder investigations to decade-long scams, there’s no shortage of documentaries about real-life awfulness. We list the most incredibleSince the true-crime explosion a decade ago – kickstarted by Netflix’s Making a Murderer – audiences have been fed a steady small-screen diet of cold-case killings, catfishing scams and creepy cults. And, after years of varying results, Netflix’s latest show, A Toxic Love Story – which recounts how a California couple framed an innocent woman for stalking, intimidation and recruiting men from Craigslist to rape her ex’s new wife – is being billed as a return to true-crime form. But when it comes to similar shows worth your viewing time, what else is up there?Here’s a selection of the genre’s 25 standout shows and where to watch them – which, let’s face it, is mainly Netflix. Let the boggle-eyed bingeing begin. Continue reading...
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