What’s the best true crime documentary? That’s a great question, and one any self-respecting Netflix binger has definite opinions on. We’ve selected a field of 32 contenders, and we’ll conduct voting in a bracket format (hey — is it March Madness already? Look at how timely we’re being). Today, we present the first half of our field, so be sure to sound off and let us know the best that true crime has to offer!
(1) The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst v. (16) Brother’s Keeper
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In the first true crime match up we have a modern classic, the 2015 documentary The Jinx defending the 1 seed. The Jinx looks at the deaths the surround Robert Durst — his wife Kathie, writer Susan Berman, and Durst’s neighbor Morris Black. The documentary is perhaps best known for a statement Durst made off-camera — but while mic’d up — “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.” And the fact Durst was arrested right before the final episode aired on first-degree murder charges.
On the other side is the 1992 documentary Brother’s Keeper which tells the story of Bill Ward’s death and the trial of his brother Delbert for the crime. The prosecution’s theory of the case was that Bill was suffocated as a mercy killing, after suffering a period of declining health. The film is less concerned with Delbert’s guilt or innocence but in having a complex conversation about poverty, rural living, incest, and community loyalty.
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(2) Surviving R. Kelly v. (15) The Innocent Man
As far as true crime documentaries go, having new charges filed against the subject as a result of the show is pretty much the gold standard. After 10 counts of sexual abuse were filed against R. Kelly following the explosive documentary Surviving R. Kelly that was released earlier this year, you’ve gotta know this would rank high on our list.
On the other side of this matchup is master of legal fiction, John Grisham. The Innocent Man is a 2018 documentary series based on Grisham’s non-fiction work of the same name, that centers around two murders in Ada, Oklahoma and raises questions about whether justice was really carried out.
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(3) Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes v. (14) Strong Island
The 2019 documentary about convicted serial killer Ted Bundy has gotten flack for making a sex symbol out of the man responsible for 30 homicides. But the chilling footage of Bundy himself, along with interviews with family, friends, surviving victims, and law enforcement make for some compelling viewing.
The other half of this matchup is the heartbreaking 2017 documentary, Strong Island. It’s a personal journey as filmmaker Yance Ford investigates the 1992 murder of his brother, William Ford. The movie looks at how race played into his brother’s case and the crime’s devastating impact on the Ford family.
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(4) Making A Murderer v. (13) Team Foxcatcher
The 2015 documentary Making A Murderer about Steven Avery’s wrongful conviction on sexual assault and attempted murder charges and subsequent conviction on a different murder charge is a classic of the genre. It pulled together overlooked facts from a surprising case and got the whole country talking.
It faces Team Foxcatcher in its first round matchup. The 2016 documentary may have been overshadowed by the performances of Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo in the film about the same events, but the bizarre case of wrestling enthusiast and du Pont heir John du Pont is worthy of the retread.
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(5) The Staircase v. (12) Masterminds – Crazy Eddie
Did novelist Michael Peterson kill his wife Kathleen Peterson? That’s the central mystery of the 2004 documentary (and its sequels) The Staircase. The bizarre case, and the outlandish theory about what really happened to Kathleen will have you screaming at the TV.
If you grew up in the Northeast in the 70s and 80s you remember the infamous commercials of electronics store Crazy Eddie’s — his prices were insane after all. But behind those commercials, the federal government alleged there was actually securities fraud and insider trading. In 1996 Eddie Antar eventually pleaded guilty to fraud charges, but the story of how he got there is one for the ages.
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(6) Lorena v. (11) Abacus: Small Enough To Jail
Lorena takes a look at the infamous case of Lorena Bobbitt 25 years after she first made headlines. With the benefit of hindsight and increased sensitivity to domestic violence issues, Lorena serves as a gut-churning reminder of how badly the media can get a story wrong.
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is the tale of Manhattan DA Cy Vance’s dogged prosecution of a small, family-run bank serving the Chinese immigrant community for their “involvement” in the mortgage crisis. It’s an absolutely infuriating look at how financial crimes are handled.
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(7) The Keepers v. (10) Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart
The Keepers is a 2017 documentary about the murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik, which remains unsolved. The shocking show explores the possible conspiracies surrounding her death, and what secrets might be worth killing over.
Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart is, on one hand, about the trial and conviction of Pamela Smart for the murder of her husband Gregg. But, as one of the first murder trials covered by a 24/7 cable news cycle, the documentary also looks at how the media’s sensationalized portrayal of Smart impacted the case.
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(8) Into the Abyss v. (9) Amanda Knox
Into the Abyss is Werner Herzog’s contribution to this year’s bracket. In the film he looks at convicted murderer Michael Perry, interviewing Perry as he sits on death row. The final interview with Perry took place just days before he was executed. The film is a must watch for anyone with strong opinions on the death penalty.
Amanda Knox is a 2016 documentary that takes a deep dive into the two convictions of Knox and her later acquittal for the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Knox’s case shot to international attention as the story of an American co-ed studying abroad accused of a salacious crime was fascinating. The documentary stands out for its access to Knox herself, as she tries to put together her life after finally being released by the Italian legal system.
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Voting is opened until Tuesday!
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).