Vogue Lists 16 Must-Watch True-Crime Documentaries from 1988 to 2026
Vogue has assembled a selection of 16 must-see true-crime documentaries spanning from 1988 to 2026. Among the standout films are 'The Thin Blue Line' (1988) by Errol Morris, Andrew Jarecki's 'Capturing the Friedmans' (2003), and 'The Staircase' (2004) by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Jarecki's 'The Jinx' (2015) and Netflix's 'Making a Murderer' (2015), which details Steven Avery's arrests, are also featured. 'Amanda Knox' (2016) examines her trial in Italy, while Ezra Edelman's Oscar-winning 'O.J.: Made in America' (2016) delves into racial issues. Additional noteworthy documentaries include 'Don't F**k with Cats' (2019), 'Athlete A' (2020), 'The Pharmacist' (2020), 'Girl in the Picture' (2022), 'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal' (2023), and upcoming titles like 'A Body in the Snow' (2025) and 'Should I Marry a Murderer?' (2026).
Key facts
- List includes 16 documentaries from 1988 to 2026.
- 'The Thin Blue Line' (1988) by Errol Morris covers Randall Dale Adams' wrongful conviction.
- 'Capturing the Friedmans' (2003) won Sundance Grand Jury Prize.
- 'The Staircase' (2004) by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade follows Michael Peterson's trial.
- 'The Jinx' (2015) by Andrew Jarecki investigates Robert Durst.
- 'Making a Murderer' (2015) covers Steven Avery's cases in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
- 'Amanda Knox' (2016) focuses on the murder trial in Italy.
- 'O.J.: Made in America' (2016) won an Oscar.
- 'Don't F**k with Cats' (2019) tracks Luka Magnotta.
- 'Athlete A' (2020) exposes Larry Nassar's abuse.
- 'The Pharmacist' (2020) follows Dan Schneider's opioid investigation.
- 'Girl in the Picture' (2022) investigates Sharon Marshall's identity.
- 'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal' (2023) covers Alex Murdaugh case.
- 'A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read' (2025) examines John O'Keefe's death.
- 'The Perfect Neighbor' (2025) by Geeta Gandbhir uses body-cam footage.
- 'Unknown Number: The High School Catfish' (2025) deals with cyberbullying.
- 'Should I Marry a Murderer?' (2026) features Caroline Muirhead.
- Documentaries span Netflix, HBO, and independent releases.
Entities
Artists
- Errol Morris
- Andrew Jarecki
- Jean-Xavier de Lestrade
- Ezra Edelman
- Geeta Gandbhir
- Randall Dale Adams
- Robert W. Wood
- Michael Peterson
- Kathleen Peterson
- Robert Durst
- Kathie Durst
- Susan Berman
- Morris Black
- Steven Avery
- Penny Beernsten
- Teresa Halbach
- Amanda Knox
- Meredith Kercher
- O.J. Simpson
- Nicole Brown
- Ron Goldman
- Luka Magnotta
- Larry Nassar
- Dan Schneider
- Danny Schneider
- Sharon Marshall
- Alex Murdaugh
- Paul Murdaugh
- Maggie Murdaugh
- Karen Read
- John O'Keefe
- Ajike Owens
- Susan Louise Lorincz
- Caroline Muirhead
Institutions
- Netflix
- HBO
- Sundance Film Festival
- USA Gymnastics
- FBI
- Vogue
Locations
- Dallas
- Texas
- Great Neck
- New York
- Durham
- North Carolina
- Manitowoc County
- Wisconsin
- Italy
- Seattle
- Los Angeles
- Canada
- New Orleans
- Louisiana
- South Carolina
- Boston
- Massachusetts
- Canton
- Florida