The 10 best true crime documentaries of 2024

true crime Listen up, fanatics – from The Jinx Season 2 to Quiet on Set, we’ve culled the documentaries of 2024 to bring you the ten best films of the year.

This was no easy task, especially given the staggering number of immersive new games released in the last 12 months, each exploring a wide range of real-life stories.

This year he was particularly active in the true crime dramatization subgenre. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Woman of the DayAnd baby reindeer attracts millions of viewers.

But today we’re here to focus on the highlights documentaries Defining 2024, this film delivers unforgettable storytelling, investigations, and insights into true crime’s most unforgettable stories.

10. Lover, Stalker, Killer

Subject: A unique account of what happened to Dave Kroupa, a divorcee who decided to put himself out there and start dating. Little did he know that this would lead him down a terrifying path of abuse, cheating, and murder.

Why it’s good: Some of the best true crime docs are those that examine niche cases that have not yet been widely explored, and Lover, Stalker, Killer It does this brilliantly. It combines chilling first-hand accounts with expertly paced narration (note the sharp 90-minute runtime). While the film sheds light on a case that feels deeply personal, it is also universally disturbing. An honorable mention was given to our Soylent-drinking technologist. Tony Kava.

9. The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks

Subject: Where to buy The Strange Case of Natalia Grace The remaining Natalia Speaks gives Grace the opportunity to share her side of what happened with the Barnetts, while also revealing her new life with the Mans family.

Why it’s good: Just like in the first part, Natalya Speaks It revolves around a case that really has to be seen to be believed. This is a rare story, stranger than fiction, that continues to play out in real time, with Natalia’s insightful insights. The reason it doesn’t rank high on this list is its dramatic tone, which sometimes feels more like a reality show than a balanced documentary.

8. Push: Murder on the Cliff

Subject: Push It tells the tragic story of Fawziyah Javed, who fell to her death at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh in 2021 while pregnant with her first child. Two days later, her husband Kashif Anwar was arrested and charged with murder.

Why it’s good: This two-part documentary is as engaging as it is infuriatingIt reveals dark truths about the abuse Fawziyah suffered and the efforts to silence her. The story is cut between gripping footage of the trial, making use of Scotland’s flexible rules on filming in court, and is expertly woven with Fawziyah’s family sharing the grief and heartbreak they have endured.

7. Ctrl+Alt+Desire

Subject: A three-part documentary series focusing on the investigation of director Colin Archdeacon Grant AmatoA man who murdered his family in cold blood after falling in love with a cam model.

Why it’s good: It’s always risky to cover familiar ground (especially when true crime legend JCS has already investigated the case). However, it would be an understatement to say that the Archdeacon has made an effort to offer a new perspective. With unrivaled access via prison phone calls spanning four years, Ctrl+Alt+Desire It offers an unflinching and incriminating look at Amato’s mental state, while also serving as a cautionary tale about loneliness and obsession in the digital age.

6. American Nightmare

Subject: This three-part docuseries examines the case Denise Huskins and Huskins’ partner, Aaron Quinn, who was accused of creating a hoax after she was kidnapped from their California home for two days in 2015.

Why it’s good: American Nightmare It draws you in from the very first scene and does not lose its effect until the credits roll. Emotional storytelling and shocking developments create a dramatic journey while also doing justice to Denise and Aaron’s ordeal. But what really stands out is his critique of the American policing system and the media’s influence on real-world events.

Program 5: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping

Subject: Director Katherine Kubler and a host of former classmates from Ivy Ridge Academy in upstate New York reflect on the abuse they suffered at boarding school while shedding light on the troubled youth industry.

Why it’s good: It’s rare to see a story told from such a personal perspective. Program Watching is even more powerful. As the episodes progress, viewers are confronted with the horrific conditions endured by these individuals, and responsibility is placed not only on the flawed institutions but also on the institutions themselves. the parents who put them there. Above all, Kubler deftly transforms his experiences into a message of change, turning it into a story of survival as well as a call to action.

4. Silence on Set: The Dark Side of Children’s TV

Subject: An in-depth look at the toxic culture behind some of the most iconic children’s shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s, focusing here on the Nickelodeon empire built by. Dan Schneider.

Why it’s good: Even though it’s a hard hour, Silence on Set It’s one of the strongest entries on this list because of its compelling evidence, first-hand accounts, and expert reporting on the various allegations unfolding behind the scenes at Nickelodeon. In doing so, it highlights the broader issue of power imbalance, calls for action for change and better protection of child stars.

3. Tell Them You Love Me

Subject: Tell Them You Love Me examines the contentious relationship between white professor Anna Stubblefield and her nonverbal black student, Derrick Johnson.

Why it’s good: Nothing about the case is comfortable to watch, especially given that the producers (including the always superb Louis Theroux) give Stubblefield a platform to speak out – but it’s impossible to look away. A thoughtful and balanced exploration of what he did to Johnson and its impact on his family. Tell Them You Love Me It teaches important lessons on topics such as consent, gender, disability and race.

2. Jinx: Part Two

Subject: The Jinx Season 2, the sequel to arguably the best true crime documentary in US history, spans another eight years. Andrew Jarecki Investigation into the life, crimes and death of the millionaire murderer Robert Durst.

Why it’s good: There were fears that the second season would never live up to the first episode, and HE The “I killed them all” ending – but quickly proved us all wrong. In addition to revealing a wealth of new information beyond the courtroom, The Jinx: Part Two takes viewers through the repercussions of the accidental confession and gives the first episode an ending we didn’t know we needed.

1. Into the Fire: Gone Girl

Subject: When Cathy Terkanian learns that her adopted daughter has gone missing at the age of 14, she embarks on a relentless search that leads to bad information about her adoptive parents, Dennis. Brenda Bowman.

Why it’s good: into the fire It tops this list for many reasons, starting with its essence: an incredible true story that unfolds like a heartbreaking tragedy. Secondly, director Ryan White and producer Charlize Theron expertly blend factual reporting with emotional storytelling to create an immersive and engaging experience.

Finally, at only two episodes long, not a single moment is wasted, none of the important moments are rushed or overdone. It’s a true testament to what’s possible in the true crime genre, and proves that quality over quantity and storytelling over sensationalism should always lead the way.

For more true crime lists, check out: best serial killer docs, The spookiest YouTube mini-docsand most Netflix’s shocking true crime titles. Also be sure to check out: documentaries to be broadcast this month.