If you love stories that straddle the line between unbelievable and unforgettable, this list is for you! Whether you're fascinated by cults, cons, religious corruption, or jaw-dropping scams, these shocking true crime documentaries will have you hooked from the opening scene.
Whether you love a twisted cult exposed, a scam so bold it’s impressive, or stories of crime within families that shake you to your core, I’ve got you covered. These must-watch true crime documentaries are now streaming across Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Prime Video.
So get cozy, grab your favorite comfort snack, and prepare to be completely consumed by these shocking stories.
📿 Cults & Religion Documentaries
If you’re obsessed with uncovering how belief systems can be manipulated for power, control, and money—these cult documentaries will pull you in fast. From megachurch corruption to modern online cults, this list is a wild ride.
Trigger Warnings: religious trauma, psychological abuse, coercion, child abuse
1. Hillsong: The Mega Church Exposed (HBO Max)
Pull back the curtain on the glitzy world of Hillsong and its disturbing underbelly. Themes: celebrity worship, religious exploitation, scandal.
Why I Recommend: I was honestly shook when I found out what was happening behind the scenes at this mega church. I used to blast their music as a teen—had no clue the reality was so dark. This one hit close and hard. I hope you find it as enthralling as I did.
2. Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (Hulu)
This one is deeply unsettling. A college dorm becomes the site of a manipulative, trauma-bonded cult started by one girl’s dad. Themes: gaslighting, psychological captivity, control.
Why I Recommend: This is one of the most underrated and unknown documentaries I've seen. The more I watched, the more shocking it became. It's just a reminder of how quickly a group of people can fall into manipulation, especially the young and vulnerable!
3. Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God (HBO Max)
Equal parts bizarre and tragic, this story follows a woman who claimed to be a deity—and convinced others to follow. Themes: delusion, new-age cultism, spiritual manipulation.
Why I Recommend: The Cult of Mother God hooked me immediately. After seeing a person with literally blue skin, I had to know what happened to make her that way. Little did I know, this was a whirlwind of manipulation and deception.
4. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (Netflix)
A haunting deep dive into the FLDS and the systemic abuse under Warren Jeffs. Themes: forced marriage, child abuse, religious extremism.
Why I Recommend: There are many documentaries about this specific religious cult, but I found this one to be the most in-depth and disturbing, with many survivor accounts.
5. The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin (HBO Max)
Explores a diet-based religious cult built on extreme beauty standards and obedience. It’s wild how one woman used faith to manipulate weight loss and control. Themes: body image control, faith-based exploitation.
Why I Recommend: This true crime documentary is just a hot mess that makes you say “bless their hearts”.
6. Escaping Twin Flames (Netflix)
What starts as a love-based online spiritual movement devolves into manipulation and digital obsession. The fallout is heartbreaking and eye-opening. Themes: obsession, spiritual abuse, online cult behavior.
Why I Recommend: This is another true crime series that will have you wondering how you didn't hear of it sooner! This cult was specifically concerning because they used vulnerable people as a tool to further their scheme.
7. The Deep End (Hulu)
Follows controversial spiritual leader Teal Swan as she blurs the line between influencer and cult figure. It's a disturbing look at online authority gone unchecked. Themes: emotional control, trauma marketing, cult-like followings.
Why I Recommend: It's been a little while since I first watched this documentary, but it sticks with me because it's still an active community/cult! Teal Swan is still practicing her religious teachings and has followers.
💸 Cons, Scams, & Fraud
If you’ve ever been catfished, MLM-ed, or just love watching con artists get exposed—these docs are deeply satisfying (and rage-inducing). They reveal the emotional wreckage behind the glitz and lies.
Trigger Warnings: fraud, gaslighting, financial abuse, narcissistic manipulation
1. Fyre Festival
What do you get when you mix influencers, private islands, and zero planning? A luxury disaster of epic proportions. Themes: influencer culture, classism, fraud.
Why I Recommend: It's just a dumper fire and one of the most outrageous scams on rich infleuncers that we've ever heard of!
2. McMillion$ (HBO Max)
What starts as a fast-food sweepstakes scam quickly unravels into a web of corruption, mob ties, and undercover stings. With unforgettable FBI agents and jaw-dropping twists, this docuseries feels more like a heist movie than real life. Themes: corporate crime, deception, greed.
Why I Recommend: My favorite documentary to this very day! I always recommend this one because it's so full of twists, laughs, and pure scheming. It's so interesting that you just can't get enough. The detectives in the documentary are great storytellers, as well!
3. Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam (Netflix)
The man behind *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys built an empire of catchy hits—and crumbled it all with deceit and fraud. A behind-the-scenes look at how fame, greed, and manipulation tainted an entire era of pop. Themes: fame, exploitation, music industry deception.
Why I Recommend: As a 90s child, I found this documentary to be completely shocking. I grew up watching these bands, not knowing they were being taken advantage of behind the scenes.
4. The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (HBO Max)
Elizabeth Holmes convinced the world she was the next Steve Jobs. But when the tech didn’t work, the fallout exposed one of the biggest deceptions in biotech history. Themes: tech fraud, ambition, manipulation.
Why I Recommend: Another great one because of how many people were deceived and pulled in by a single woman with a big dream that she wasn't able to make happen.
5. LuLa Rich (Prime Video)
What looked like a colorful side hustle for moms turned into a financial trap wrapped in glitter and toxic positivity. Former sellers pull back the curtain on how LuLaRoe crumbled under lawsuits, chaos, and defective pants. Themes: MLM abuse, toxic positivity, financial ruin.
Why I Recommend: Well, I enjoyed this one in particular because I was right on the LuLaRoe bandwagon when it was in its Prime. Thankfully, I never fell for this pyramid scheme!
6. Bad Vegan: Fame, Fraud, Fugitives (Netflix)
A famous vegan chef falls under the spell of a mysterious man who promises eternal life for her dog—if she obeys his every demand. It's a story so bizarre and manipulative, it almost feels like fiction. Themes: control, manipulation, delusion.
Why I Recommend: This is another underrated documentary that I thought was super interesting. It's shocking and all over the place, but an interesting watch.
🧸 True Crime Involving Children
These stories are gut-wrenching—but so important. They expose how easy it is for children to fall through the cracks and how trauma can be hidden behind smiling faces and polished images.
Trigger Warnings: child abuse, grooming, neglect, sexual abuse, family violence
1. The Curious Case of Natalia Grace (Hulu)
This story blurs the line between victim and villain, as a family claims their adopted daughter is actually a dangerous adult masquerading as a child. It's a psychological rollercoaster that leaves you questioning every side of the story. Themes: adoption, medical abuse, deception.
Why I Recommend: Another favorite! This entire series is so twisted that you find yourself wondering what is true and what is not.
2. Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (Hulu)
What happens when YouTube parenting turns into something far more sinister? A seemingly picture-perfect influencer family unravels when disturbing abuse allegations come to light. Themes: performative parenting, religious indoctrination, abuse.
Why I Recommend: This is one of the most recent documentaries that is still playing out in the courts. A case of an influencer accused of child abuse – so much footage to watch and pick apart!
3. Mommy Dead and Dearest (HBO Max)
What seemed like a devoted mother caring for her sick daughter turned out to be a case of extreme medical abuse and manipulation. The shocking truth ends in murder—and a daughter finally reclaiming her freedom. Themes: Munchausen by proxy, control, liberation.
Why I Recommend: We all pretty much know the story – this is the best of the documentaries I've seen on this case.
4. Abducted in Plain Sight (Netflix)
A family friend kidnaps the same child twice—with the full knowledge of her trusting, manipulated parents. Every minute of this documentary leaves you stunned by how far grooming and denial can go. Themes: manipulation, naivety, abuse, trust betrayal.
Why I Recommend: If you are okay with the trigger warnings in this one, I would definitely recommend watching. It's completely shocking and disturbing all at the same time!
5. Sins of Our Mother (Netflix)
Lori Vallow's descent into religious extremism and conspiracy theories leads to a chilling chain of events no one saw coming. The most unthinkable part? Her own children are the ones who suffer most. Themes: religious delusion, murder, motherhood.
Why I Recommend: Rarely do we see a mother doing some of the outlandish things we see in this documentary. If you are okay with it – give it a watch and find yourself as shocked as I was.
6. Shiny Happy People (Prime Video)
This exposé reveals the dark underbelly of the wholesome image sold by the Duggar family and their religious community. It’s a sobering dive into control, cover-ups, and generational trauma. Themes: religious abuse, purity culture, control.
Why I Recommend: Another recent and very public family – in the spotlight for the abuse allegations among siblings.
7. Leaving Neverland (Netflix)
Through emotional firsthand accounts, this documentary breaks the silence surrounding allegations against Michael Jackson. It’s a difficult but necessary watch that challenges the line between idolization and accountability. Themes: grooming, trauma, abuse.
Why I Recommend: Out of every documentary I've seen, this is by far the most disturbing. Sadly, the victims sharing their stories of abuse by Michael Jackson, are still not believed by many. Watch it and tell me what you think.
💔 True Crime Involving Relationships & Family
Love can blind you. These documentaries show how trust can be used as a weapon—and how intimate relationships can hide the most terrifying truths.
Trigger Warnings: stalking, emotional abuse, domestic violence, sexual coercion
1. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (Netflix)
Murder, money, and privilege collide in this twisted saga of one family's unraveling legacy. Each revelation is more jaw-dropping than the last—and it’s all true. Themes: legacy, murder, privilege, small-town corruption.
Why I Recommend: I watched this one on a whim and it did not disappoint. A family in shambles, a boating accident that ends in death, and murders that will leave you shocked!
2. Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini (Hulu)
Sherri's supposed abduction captivated the country—until it turned out to be an elaborate hoax. The lies are so layered, they leave you questioning everything you thought you knew. Themes: deceit, public manipulation, emotional instability.
Why I Recommend: You won't know what or who to believe until the end of this documentart!
3. Tell Them You Love Me (Netflix)
This documentary explores a controversial relationship between a speech-impaired man and a neurotypical woman, sparking major questions about consent and exploitation. Themes: ethical boundaries, manipulation, power dynamics.
Why I Recommend: This was a difficult watch, as some ethical boundaries are being crossed. It’s raw, uncomfortable, and deeply complex.
4. Lover, Stalker, Killer (Netflix)
A casual online romance turns obsessive and violent in this chilling true story. You'll never look at dating apps the same way again. Themes: obsession, betrayal, digital footprints.
Why I Recommend: Crazy, Insane. Love leads to obsession, and it will leave you uneasy. It makes you question dating a stranger.
5. Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife (Netflix)
Paolo Macchiarini seemed like a miracle-working surgeon—until his romantic and professional lives unraveled in scandal. A twisted story of seduction, science, and sociopathy. Themes: love bombing, deception, abuse of power.
Why I Recommend: Not only is this a story of a doctor lying for love, but lying for power and esteem! A conman through and through.
6. The Tinder Swindler (Netflix)
He swept women off their feet with private jets and designer gifts—until they realized they were all being scammed. A jaw-dropping tale of emotional and financial betrayal. Themes: financial fraud, romantic manipulation, emotional fallout.
Why I Recommend: I couldn't get enough of this documentary. I just wanted more and more.
7. Dirty John: The Dirty Truth (Prime Video)
A chilling real-life account of John Meehan’s manipulative rise and terrifying downfall, revealing how charm can quickly turn into control. Themes: narcissism, gaslighting, survival.
Why I Recommend: I was shocked at how one man could lie so well to so many women! The lies were so big and bold.
🚨 Shocking True Crime
Some stories are so bizarre and haunting that they change how you see the world. These docs will stick with you.
Trigger Warnings: murder, graphic content, violence, psychological trauma
1. Making a Murderer (Netflix)
Steven Avery’s case sparked outrage across the country—was he framed or truly guilty? This docuseries forces you to confront the flaws in the legal system while questioning your own instincts.Themes: wrongful conviction, justice reform, rural America.
Why I Recommend: One of the most gaslighting documentaries ever made. One minute you believe you know exactly what happened and who did it – the next, you're rethinking everything. This documentary explores both sides of the crime.
2. Evil Genius (Netflix)
A bank robbery. A collar bomb. And a mastermind nobody saw coming. Themes: manipulation, mental illness, small-town secrets.
Why I Recommend: Evil Genius is the most disturbing and insane true crime story I've watched. It's so outrageous that you are shocked it is real.
3. Dead Asleep (Netflix)
Did he murder someone in his sleep—or was it a cover-up? Themes: sleepwalking defense, blurred truth, legal loopholes.
Why I Recommend: This one is scary. It makes you question if someone could really commit such an act while sleepwalking!
4. Don't Fk With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (Netflix)
What begins as a hunt for a cat abuser quickly escalates into a global chase for a killer. Fueled by justice and determination, a group of online strangers do what law enforcement couldn't. Themes: digital justice, community action, horror.
Why I Recommend: If you've ever felt like somewhat of an internet sleuth yourself, you'll resonate eith this story. Shocking and disturbing, this docuseries had me on the edge of my seat.
Looking for something a little different? Head over to my list of shows to binge-watch on Netflix for binge-worthy shoes and feel-good series'.
But if you’re ready to deep dive into some of the most shocking true crime documentaries ever made, start streaming these now.