We’ve all fallen down the true crime rabbit hole—one minute, you’re casually watching a documentary and the next, you’re convinced you could single-handedly solve cold cases with nothing but a notepad and Google. But while everyone’s seen The Jinx and Making a Murderer, some of the most gripping, bizarre, and truly unsettling crime stories have slipped under the radar.

From jaw-dropping abductions to serial killers hiding in plain sight, these documentaries go beyond the headlines to reveal the disturbing details that most people missed. If you thought you were desensitised to true crime, these might just prove you wrong.

18 Chilling True Crime Documentaries To Watch On Netflix, JioHotstar And More

Abducted in Plain Sight
Where to watch: Netflix

A case so absurd you’ll keep pausing to make sure you heard it right. Jan Broberg was abducted—twice—by a neighbour who also managed to manipulate her entire family into letting it happen. Grooming, blackmail, and a truly shocking level of naivety make this one of the most jaw-dropping crime documentaries ever made.

The Talwars: Behind Closed Doors
Where to watch: JioHotstar

The 2008 murder of 13-year-old Aarushi Talwar and her family’s domestic worker, Hemraj, became one of India’s most controversial cases. Was it a botched investigation? A media witch hunt? Or a tragic miscarriage of justice? This documentary breaks down the conflicting evidence and theories that divided a nation.

The Raincoat Killer
Where to watch: Netflix

Yoo Young-chul terrorised Seoul in the early 2000s, targeting the wealthy and defenceless in a gruesome murder spree. This documentary not only explores his horrific crimes but also examines how South Korea’s law enforcement was woefully unprepared for a serial killer of this magnitude.

The Takedown: American Aryans
Where to watch: JioHotstar

A tense, deep dive into the white supremacist underworld and the FBI’s high-stakes mission to dismantle it. Expect undercover operations, wiretaps, and a terrifying look at how deeply embedded these extremist networks are in American society.

The Ripper
Where to watch: Netflix

The Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, killed at least 13 women across England in the 1970s. But beyond the horror of his crimes, this documentary exposes how police incompetence and systemic misogyny allowed him to continue for years, while crucial evidence was ignored.

I Am Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders
Where to watch: JioHotstar

A grandmother with a gambling addiction, a trail of stolen identities, and a cross-country killing spree—Lois Riess was no ordinary fugitive. This documentary follows her twisted journey as she charmed her way into people’s lives before brutally ending them.

The Keepers
Where to watch: Netflix

What starts as an investigation into the unsolved murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik unravels into something much darker—allegations of systemic sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and the chilling cover-ups that kept it buried for decades.

Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth?
Where to watch: JioHotstar

In 2012, two young cousins vanished from a small Iowa town. Their bodies were discovered months later, but the killer was never caught. With chilling details that hint at a serial predator, this documentary keeps the mystery alive—and the questions unanswered.

American Nightmare
Where to watch: Netflix

A young couple is violently kidnapped from their home. When the man escapes and alerts the police, they don’t believe him. What follows is a case so bizarre it almost sounds fictional—except it’s terrifyingly real.

The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer
Where to watch: JioHotstar

A wealthy businessman, a double life, and a sprawling estate where victims disappeared without a trace. Herb Baumeister’s story is already chilling—but the supernatural claims surrounding Fox Hollow Farm make it even more unnerving.

Catching Killers
Where to watch: Netflix

A forensic masterclass in real-life investigations that took down some of history’s most notorious murderers. If you’ve ever wondered how detectives piece together a case—mistakes, breakthroughs, and all—this is the series to watch.

Sugarcane
Where to watch: JioHotstar

A harrowing look at the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women in North America, particularly in Native American communities. This documentary exposes the historical injustices, legal loopholes, and systemic failures that have allowed these crimes to go unresolved for far too long.

Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer
Where to watch: Netflix

Richard Ramirez was the definition of terror—an unpredictable, sadistic serial killer who stalked Los Angeles in the 1980s. This documentary tracks the race to stop him, a case that left an entire city in fear.

Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields
Where to watch: Netflix

A desolate stretch of Texas land, a decades-long string of murders, and multiple potential killers. This documentary explores the haunting mystery of the Texas Killing Fields, where young women kept disappearing—and law enforcement kept failing them.

Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story
Where to watch: Netflix

For years, he was a beloved national figure. After his death, the truth came out—he was one of Britain’s most prolific sexual predators, protected by a system that turned a blind eye. This documentary unravels the sinister reality behind his public persona.

The Staircase
Where to watch: Netflix

Did Michael Peterson murder his wife, or was it a tragic accident? This documentary takes you through one of true crime’s most debated cases, complete with shocking twists, courtroom drama, and the infamous owl theory.

Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes
Where to watch: Netflix

A serial killer narrating his own crimes. That’s what you get in this deeply unsettling documentary, which features never-before-heard recordings of Dennis Nilsen, one of Britain’s most notorious murderers, as he calmly recounts his horrifying deeds.

The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann
Where to watch: Netflix

The case that gripped Britain for over a decade. Madeleine McCann vanished from a Portuguese holiday resort, and despite endless theories, suspects, and media frenzies, her fate remains unknown. This documentary examines every twist and dead end in the search for the truth.