10 Murder Mystery Documentaries You Must Watch On Netflix!

Do you love watching a good murder mystery documentary? Us too!

In case you’re new here, we love all things murder mystery, adventure, solving crimes and anything with a bit of excitement and thrill! There’s nothing quite like the thrill of attempting to crack the code - that’s why shows like Law & Order and Unsolved Mysteries exist.

There are plenty of places you can get your true crime fix; movies, television, podcasts and much more!

And we are big fans of Netflix here at CluedUpp HQ - always talking about the latest releases, what to watch next and having discussions on our group chat.

The true crime documentaries, whilst harrowing and heartbreaking about the victim's family and friends, leans into the unknown which is what makes them a fascinating watch.

If you’re in need of some new watching material, we have put together a list of murder mystery documentaries you need to watch right now on Netflix:

Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer

One of the latest releases on Netflix; Night Stalker details the crimes of serial killer, Richard Ramirez, or at least that was his known name in the press - he became known for a series of rapes and murders he committed during the 1980’s in California.

Warning: shocking and graphic scenes are involved.

The Ripper

Nope, it’s not The Ripper you’re thinking of… this documentary details the serial killer who became known as The Yorkshire Ripper and tells the story of how the British police struggle to identify him after he commits a series of murders to a string of familiar culprits in the late 1970’s across Yorkshire and the north.

You will sit there shocked over how long this investigation went on for and wondering what the police at the time could have done better.

Speaking of The Ripper... we have our own version of The Ripper which you can play virtually here!

American Murder: The Family Next Door

A documentary that gives a snapshot of the disappearance of Shanann Watts, who was pregnant with her third child, along with her two daughters and the terrible events that followed.

A true story of a typical American family that brought media attention back in 2018 who went missing from their Colorado home without a trace.

This documentary uses raw, firsthand footage - you will be shocked at the outcome if you’ve never heard of the true story before.

Trial By Media

According to it’s Netflix description; some of the most dramatic trials of all time are examined with an emphasis on how the media may have impacted verdicts. These trials all take place between 1980-2000’s with their outcome being severely affected by extensive media coverage.

It was executive-produced by George Clooney himself and this docuseries shows a troubling side to press coverage of the courtroom.

Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes

Sorry, but Zac Efron doesn’t feature in this one.

Confessions With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes was released on the 30th anniversary of Bundy’s execution and shares over 100 hours of interviews and archival footage of Bundy himself, plus interviews with his family, friends, surviving victims and the law enforcement members who worked on his case.

The life, crimes, arrests, escapes and ultimately, his death… this documentary doesn’t hold back and became a phenomenon in 2019. It’s a must watch if you haven’t already.

Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes

Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story

Who is Cyntoia Brown, you ask? This is the 2020 documentary that tells the story of 16 year old Cyntoia who was sentenced to life in prison, then shot and killed by Johnny Michael in 2004 - the documentary examines questions about her past, physiology and the law itself call her guilt into question.

Expect a lot of twists and turns!

Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer

If the title doesn’t grab your attention straight away, the heart-wrenching reality of this story might do so…

One of Netflix’s top 5 most-watched documentaries of 2019, Don’t F**k with Cats is about the twisted chronicles of a crowd-sourced amateur investigation into a series of animal cruelty acts committed by Canadian Luka Magnotta, culminating in his murder of Chinese international student, Jun Lin.

Expect gruesome videos.

The Staircase

Also known as ‘Death on a Staircase’, this French 2004 miniseries by Jean-Xavier de Lestrande documents the trial of Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson and the series explores whether it really was a murder or an accident he claimed saw her fall down the stairs at their home.

Witness Michael Peterson and his life go under the microscope and expect to be left wondering if he committed the crime or not...

Strong Island

We’re taking ourselves back to 2017 when this murder-mystery documentary first came about on Netflix…

When filmmaker Yance Ford investigates the 1992 murder of a young black man, it becomes an achingly personal journey for him for reasons you will soon discover...

Expect the forces of family, grief and racial injustice to come together in this Oscar-nominated documentary.

Making a Murderer

This true crime documentary series consumed the world when it first came to light in 2015 and is still one of the greatest murder-mystery documentaries to this day.

Making a Murderer was filmed over 13 years and examines the real-life thriller of the unprecedented story of two men who were accused of a grisly crime they may or may not have committed.

Now spanning two seasons covering a timeline from 1985 to 2007, this will keep you on the edge of your seat and if you haven’t watched it already, will be your next Netflix binge watch!