5 Great True Crime TV Shows (#2 Is a Genuine Masterpiece)

True crime has been one of the most consumed TV genres for a while now, even reaching full-on trend status at one point. However, it’s also a highly controversial genre in the way these stories are told (after all, we’re dealing with real lives). Because of that, not every series deserves the attention it gets. Between shows that genuinely investigate real crimes and others that rely purely on shock value, very few manage to rise above the obvious. Have you ever stopped to think about which ones actually do? Some have stood out recently for their narrative quality, others for their cultural impact, or even for the debates they sparked. And yes, not all of them get everything right, but each one says something about how the genre has evolved.

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Here are 5 great true crime TV shows that are really worth watching. And this list isn’t about the “best crime” or the “most shocking story,” but about how each series uses the genre to its advantage. That includes creative choices, narrative focus, responsibility when portraying real people, and, of course, how well each show manages to engage viewers without talking down to them.

5) Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is the kind of true crime show you finish with mixed feelings — and that’s not necessarily a compliment. The production revisits the crimes of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who murdered men over the course of more than a decade, reconstructing his daily life, his relationships, and the chain of systemic failures that allowed him to keep operating. On paper, the goal is to expose institutional breakdowns and the real-world impact of these crimes, but in practice, the series often spends too much time anchored to the killer’s point of view. But that doesn’t mean Monster is a bad show.

Here, Evan Peters delivers a disturbing, tightly controlled performance that avoids caricature and helps carry the psychological weight of the story. The series also gets a lot right when it highlights police negligence, structural racism, and homophobia as key factors in why Dahmer was able to evade justice for so long. And as a Ryan Murphy production, it’s well-directed, visually consistent, and unafraid to make viewers uncomfortable. It may not work for everyone, given its widely debated controversies, but overall, it succeeds as a strong, solid true crime series in what it sets out to do.

4) The Act

This is a story that feels almost impossible to believe. The Act hooks the viewer by dramatizing the real-life case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a young woman raised under the absolute control of her mother, Dee Dee, who fabricated serious illnesses as part of an extreme pattern of psychological abuse. The core idea here is to follow how this deeply unhealthy relationship ultimately led to a crime that still shocks people today — not just because of the violence, but because of the context in which it happened.

What really works about The Act is that it never tries to “pretty up” what it’s telling. The show makes it clear from the start that there are no easy answers, and certainly no characters that fit neatly into simple labels. Everything is layered and uncomfortable, and the performances by Joey King and Patricia Arquette are outstanding, adding emotional weight without turning the story into cheap exploitation. The focus stays on the consequences of long-term abuse rather than the sensationalism of the crime itself, helping the public grasp the full scope of the story, even when it’s difficult to watch (but that discomfort is very much the point).

3) American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace

Murphy has a long list of productions under his belt, but Monster isn’t the only time he’s ventured into true crime. He also explored the genre through the American Crime Story anthology, and out of all its seasons, The Assassination of Gianni Versace stands out for knowing exactly how to tell a famous crime without treating the audience like it’s watching a mystery unfold. Everyone already knows who killed the fashion designer and how it happened, so the series takes a different approach: it reconstructs the path of Andrew Cunanan, the man behind the crime, while examining how he was able to move through different social circles before being caught. The premise centers on the 1997 murder, but the real focus is on how any of it was possible in the first place.

That’s where the show truly shines: instead of glamorizing the case, it openly exposes investigative failures and traces the trail of damage left behind by Cunanan. And Darren Criss deserves special mention here, delivering such an unsettling performance that never veers into misplaced charisma (a key factor in maintaining the series’ critical tone). At a time when the genre is filled with heavily stylized productions, American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace stays grounded, striking a smart balance between compelling storytelling and a more responsible take on high-profile crimes.

2) Mindhunter

This is one of those cases where you’re looking at a genuine work of art — and one that people still don’t fully understand being canceled. Mindhunter is the kind of series that makes you realize just how lazy true crime can be most of the time. Set in the late ’70s, the show follows FBI agents who begin interviewing imprisoned serial killers to identify behavioral patterns and develop what we now know as criminal profiling. But there’s no “case of the week” formula here, because the real hook lies in the conversations, the details, and the discomfort that comes from trying to rationalize the irrational.

But why does it work so well? Because it completely trusts its audience. The series avoids graphic violence, doesn’t chase cheap shock, and builds tension almost entirely through dialogue. It also takes the extra step of showing how constant exposure to violent minds affects the investigators themselves, creating a double-layered psychological study. It’s a highly sophisticated show without ever feeling pretentious, confident in what it’s doing, and engaging without needing to raise its voice (something that’s genuinely rare in the genre). So Mindhunter isn’t just great true crime; it’s in a league of its own.

1) When They See Us

When They See Us exists to remind viewers that true crime shouldn’t be driven by morbid curiosity alone. The series revisits the case of the Central Park Five (five Black and Latino teenagers who were falsely accused of a crime in 1989), tracing the story from abusive interrogations to the long-term consequences of wrongful imprisonment. The case itself is widely known, but the show’s real goal is to highlight the human cost of those failures and the lasting damage caused by decisions that should never have been made. But what sets this production apart is how firm its stance is.

When They See Us never tries to soften what happened or force a sense of balance where none exists. It’s a serious, uncompromising show that keeps its focus on the victims, their families, and the glaring flaws of the justice system. The performances are devastating in the best possible way — so raw they never feel calculated — pulling the viewer uncomfortably close to the reality of the case. This isn’t just entertainment; the emotional impact comes from the honesty of the portrayal. It’s a true crime that doesn’t just inform, but actively unsettles, because it knows where the wound is and understands why it needs to be exposed. That’s exactly what makes it essential viewing.

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