You have the right to remain inside watching TV. In fact, when it comes to these 12 shows onAmazon Prime Video, you'reencouragedto watch inside, what with the true crime genre's focus on the most unspeakable of acts.
The series on this list look at the criminal justice system from the perspective of the FBI, cold case detectives, and forensic scientists working the cases. Featuring gripping stories torn from today’s headlines and the transgressions of notorious serial killers of the past,Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 12 best true crime shows on Prime Video offers something for any fan of the genre.
Cold Case Files(2017–2022)
A reboot of a beloved true crime series from the turn of this century,Cold Case Filesdigs into languishing, unsolved murders in the hopes of using modern technology to turn old evidence into new convictions.
The originalCold Case Filesaired on A&E from 1999 to 2002, but the new one is back, better than ever, and produced by the Oscar-nominated team behindJordan Peele’sGet Out(2017). With new eyes examining old forensics, witnesses, and leads both big and small,Cold Case Filesis one of the OG pioneers of true crime programming.—Ilana Gordon
Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography(2017)
On June 5, 2002, 14-year-oldElizabeth Smartwas abducted by a self-proclaimed religious prophet, who, with the help of his wife, held her in a wooded area where she endured repeated sexual abuse. Fifteen years later, Smart — now a child safety activist and ABC News commentator — tells her story in her own words via this three-part A&E docuseries.
Featuring interviews from Smart, her family, eyewitnesses, and law enforcement,Elizabeth Smart: Autobiographydoesn't just recount the violent crimes of her captors but unveils Smart's road to recovery and how she's used her trauma to help others. —James Mercadante
The FBI Files(1998–2009)
One of the longer-running true crime series,The FBI Fileswas produced with the cooperation of the FBI — including host James Kallstrom, a former head of the FBI's Manhattan office — documenting instances where they assisted local police departments.
With cases like the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, the Unabomber, the kidnapping/murder of Polly Klaas, and countless others,The FBI Filesallows viewers to step into the investigative process, including dramatized reenactments and interviews with the agents and forensic scientists involved.—Sammi Burke
Forensic Files(1996–2011)
Forensic Filesis a must-watch for true crime buffs who don't feel like sitting through hours of material just to learn about a single case. Each episode unravels like a 22-minute whodunnit — with forensic scientists scouring through evidence and performing lab tests to get their answers. (Some episodes, however, explore accidents instead of crimes.)
One of the show's perks is its crisp storytelling, but its atmospheric visual style and Peter Thomas' narrations make it nearly impossible to resist pressing play on the next episode. If you finish this series,Forensic Files II(available to watch on HBO Max) has been airing more investigations since 2020. —J.M.
Killer Cases(2020–present)
Jury duty notwithstanding, most people won’t be called upon to witness a murder trial from inside a courtroom. If that experience intrigues you, however, A&E’sKiller Casesescorts viewers inside the halls of justice to watch real legal proceedings unfold. From police investigations and arrests to trials and verdicts, this series gives a comprehensive look at some of the country's most discussed homicides.
The show’s best known cases include stories like University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts’ 2018 murder, and the 2015 murder of Dee Dee Blanchard by the boyfriend of her daughter, Gypsy Rose, a story Hulu later adapted intoThe Act(2019) starringPatricia ArquetteandJoey King.—I.G.
The Last Narc(2020)
This docuseries explores the death of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was kidnapped and eventually killed by some of the most notorious drug lords in Mexico, allegedly with the help of the CIA. Decades later, former cartel members, along with other DEA agents and Camarena’s family, have come forward to share insider details about the events leading up to his death.
The Last Narcchronicles how the agent infiltrated the cartel; how his investigation cost them billions of dollars; and how he racked up enemies throughout his time there — including members of American intelligence — in his search for the truth. —S.B.
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Lorena(2019)
Executive produced by Jordan Peele, this limited docuseries explores the 1993 case of Lorena Bobbitt and her husband, John, which became a news sensation at the time.
Lorena cut off her husband’s penis with a kitchen knife the night of the incident, and she became the laughingstock of the country as her version of events battled against his. (At the time, the inflammatory tabloid inclusions and constant jokes suffocated any opportunity for an equally strong open discussion about domestic violence and the silencing of victims.)
This four-part investigation, featuring interviews with both Lorena and John, reviews Lorena's trial, as well as everything that led to it and the aftermath they each faced.—S.B.
On Death Row(2012)
Each episode of this series profiles a specific Texas death row inmate, featuring cases like two members of the Texas Seven, a man who hired contract killers to murder his wife, and a woman who stole an infant after killing the mother.
DirectorWerner Herzogdeveloped the series because he disagreed with capital punishment.On Death Row, which sees Herzog speak with inmates himself, also includes interviews with others involved in their cases and personal lives, such as lawyers and family members.—S.B.
One Night in Idaho: The College Murders(2025)
Nov. 13, 2022, is a day that will live in infamy in Moscow, Idaho. In the middle of the night, four college students (Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin) were brutally murdered in their beds, seemingly for no reason. Three years later, the murderer (Bryan Kohberger) has been sentenced to life behind bars, but curiosity and questions about the four young people he killed remain.
The Idaho Four case captured national attention, but a gag order issued within the state prevented law enforcement from sharing specific details with the public. That gag order wasn’t lifted until after Amazon’s four-part docuseries was released, but the series is still the most comprehensive accounting of what happened that night. The case is presented through interviews with close friends, family members, and others who ensure the victims' names will live on.—I.G.
Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets(2023)
The Duggarsonce charmed TV audiences with their exceptionally large family — parents Michelle and Jim Bob, along with their nine daughters and 10 sons — on TLC's19 Kids and Counting. However, their Potemkin village crumbled when the show was canceled following reports that the oldest son,Josh, had molested multiple underage girls.
This four-part docuseries delves further into Josh's sordid history, as well as the family's connection to the Institute in Basic Life Principles (a cult-like fundamentalist group led by Bill Gothard).
With interviews from Duggars like Jill Dillard and Amy King,Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secretspresents a thorough investigation into pure sin, prioritizing the voices of survivors over sensationalism.—J.M.
Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer(2020)
One of the most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy is often romanticized for using his good looks and charm to lure dozens of women to their deaths. Yet, how many people know the names of his victims — or about his then-girlfriend, Elizabeth Kendall?
Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killeraims to fill that gap by decentering Bundy from the narrative and focusing on Kendall, her daughter Molly, colleagues, survivors, and the families of his victims.
This five-part docuseries — told by women and directed by Trish Wood — approaches this case through a critical feminist lens, exploring the social context during Bundy's reign of violence.—J.M.
The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith(2022)
It's been more than 50 years since 22-year-old Beverly Lynn Smith was found shot dead in her Oshawa, Ontario, home — and her case remains cold. Though her next-door neighbor, Alan Smith, was the No. 1 suspect and coerced into confessing by undercover authorities, the true killer seems to have gotten away scot-free.
Incorporating interviews with key figures like Beverly's twin sister and artful shots of small-town Oshawa,The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smithis a twisty four-part docuseries that examines a muffed investigation and the unethical tactics used to expedite the case. —J.M.
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