The Best True Crime on Prime Video to Watch Right Now

Summary

• American Tragedy dives deep into Sue Klebold’s emotional journey after her son’s heinous act at Columbine.
• Lorena offers a sober approach to the shocking Bobbitt case, touching on moral issues and social conversation.
• Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer focuses on Bundy’s victims, offering a unique perspective on the notorious serial killer.

The cultural obsession with true crime TV shows and movies is growing exponentially. They are fascinating, intriguing, and draw viewers in. The stories are sometimes so shocking that viewers can’t believe the events really happened. They offer different perspectives and make for great water-cooler conversation.

Fans of the genre are often looking for the next best true crime series to watch and, fortunately, Prime Video has a wide selection from which to choose. Not every true crime show is about a serial killer, a murder, or a missing person: some are about cults, gangs, the criminal underworld, and even clever conmen. Indeed, the best true crime on Prime Video to watch right now features an eclectic mix of options.

13 American Tragedy (2019)

In 1999, young Dylan Klebold opened fire at Columbine High School, a massacre that left many, including children, dead. His mother, Sue Klebold, wrote a book called A Mother’s Reckoning in hopes of helping others, where she discussed the signs and motives she might have missed with her son. American Tragedy takes this to another level as Sue further talks about how she came to terms with reconciling the fact that her seemingly vivacious young son carried out something so incredibly heinous.

An Honest Look at a Tragedy

“If love could have stopped Columbine,” Sue says in the documentary film, “Columbine would never have happened.” Most people assume that kids who commit acts like this come from broken homes and have troubled childhoods. Sue proves this isn’t always the case, and sometimes the signs that a child is suffering aren’t so obvious. Unlike most true-crime documentaries that focus on the crime itself, American Tragedy takes a more unique look at the situation while also serving as a wake-up call to parents. It’s heartbreaking, emotionally charged, and raw. But if it helps just one parent ask the right questions or get help for a child, it has done its part ten times over.

12 Lorena (2019)

Anyone who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s knows the story of John and Lorena Bobbitt quite well. Angered at her husband for alleged rape and domestic violence, she used an eight-inch kitchen knife to cut off her husband’s member, then drove away with it and threw it out her car window. A story that sounds almost too shocking to be true, Lorena features captivating interviews with both Lorena and John.

A Sober Approach to an Oft-Mocked Case

You get to hear right from the sources about what was going on before the fateful night, during the trial, and in the aftermath. Beyond just the sensational aspects of the case, however, Lorena also brings forth important moral issues and sparks conversation about anger, revenge, domestic abuse, and sexual assault. When the case originally happened, it became the butt of jokes. But as this docuseries shows, it was a very serious issue.

11 Ted Bundy: Falling For a Killer (2020)

Everyone knows who Ted Bundy is and about the awful things he did. He has been the subject of some of the best serial killer documentaries. His existence as one of the most prolific serial killers in history has convinced people that murderers can look and act just like everyday people. They can even be highly intelligent, educated, charming, and classically good-looking. Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer tells his story from a different perspective, that of his long-time girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall and her daughter Molly.

The Man Behind the Murders

Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer makes great use of archival footage and photos as well as interviews with surviving victims, police, reporters, and others. Viewers love that the series focuses on the victims more than on Bundy himself, making their story the most powerful part of the awful things he did so many decades ago versus giving Bundy himself center stage. Hearing the story from Kendall as well as Molly, who once saw Bundy as a father figure, is incredibly powerful.

10 The Last Narc (2020)

The murder of U.S. DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena is one of the trickiest in recent history. In 1985, he was killed, purportedly by Mexican drug lords and allegedly with the CIA knowing what was going to happen. The Last Narc includes interviews with other DEA agents as well as witnesses to the death who tell their sides of the story.

A Fascinating and Layered Narcotics True Crime Story

There are so many layers of complexity to this story, with allegations about the U.S. government being in cahoots with Mexican cartels to fund anti-communist Contras in Nicaragua. As the story goes, according to some interviews, Camarena was going to disclose confidential information, and thus his murder was not stopped. Viewers are left to speculate and draw their own conclusions based on the details provided by those interviewed in The Last Narc, which also includes Camarena’s wife. It’s one of those docuseries that will spark conversation because of the different sides presented.

9 LuLaRich (2021)

The story in LuLaRich, one of the best limited series on Prime Video, is different from others in that it’s about a woman who ran a clothing empire and was accused of operating it like a pyramid scheme. The company LuLaRoe was run by DeAnne Brady and Mark Stidham and focused much of its marketing on “buttery soft” leggings. As is typical with Multi-level Marketing (MLM), they used independents to sell the products, many of them stay-at-home or working mothers. The company was doing fabulously until the rug was pulled from under them. The docuseries features interviews from former employees, sellers, and DeAnne and Mark themselves.

A Deeper Dive Into the Famous Scandal

So many viewers could relate to what the women who became tangled up with LuLaRoe were going through. With the high cost of childcare and no parental leave, it’s easy to see how these women were drawn to the company. What’s most interesting is that DeAnne and Mark stick to their guns, and don’t believe they did anything wrong. The docuseries gives both sides a chance to tell their story. It isn’t cut and dry either, with everything from accusations from former members calling it a cult, saying they were pressured to lose weight, and some religious integration as well. LuLaRich has a bit of everything to keep you flabbergasted the whole way through.

8 Free Meek (2019)

Rapper Meek Mill was at the top of his game in the music business until it all came crashing down when he found himself faced with criminal charges. This suspenseful docuseries dives into his career, the case that got him arrested and charged, and the potential corruption that is alleged to have been involved. Free Meek includes interviews with Mill’s family members as well as the legal team fighting for his freedom.

The Consequences of a Corrupt System

Free Meek was executive produced by Jay-Z and was designed to not only bring awareness to Mill’s case but also to the concept of unjust convictions in general. Indeed, following the release of the series, the pair co-founded a non-profit called Reform Alliance with the intention of working on prison reform. Mill’s story is multilayered: it serves as a cautionary tale about bad decisions and presents controversial allegations of corruption.

7 No Place to Hide (2015)

In Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada, 15-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons was allegedly raped by four boys after a night of drinking. A photo of the incident was then shared online, devastating the young girl who eventually died by suicide. The documentary No Place to Hide examines what happened, with the story told from the perspective of her parents.

A Devastating But Important Story

Rape, sexual assault, and cyberbullying are all terrible issues that exist today, particularly for young students. No Place to Hide is a cautionary story that sheds light on these important issues and how crucial it is to be there for your children. It’s also a wake-up call to kids themselves about how words and actions can be so damaging. The documentary serves as a form of catharsis for her parents, but there’s a lot of weight behind it and its message from which everyone can learn.

6 The Girl Who Killed Her Parents (2021)

The Girl Who Killed Her Parents isn’t a documentary but rather a psychological thriller, albeit one that is based on a very true story. The true crime movie is based on the real murders of Manfred and Marísia von Richthofen, who were killed by their daughter Suzane, her boyfriend, and her brother-in-law. Occurring in São Paulo, the events took place back in 2002 and shocked the entire nation.

Alarming, Real Events

The Girl Who Killed Her Parents is one of those movies that has flown under the radar. Offered in Portuguese with subtitles, it’s truly shocking that the motive didn’t appear to be all that serious. Suzane’s parents simply didn’t like her boyfriend and felt he was a bad influence on her. She claimed to have killed them for fear of losing the man she believed was the love of her life. While some viewers think a documentary about the case would be far more interesting, The Girl Who Killed Her Parents provides a good synopsis of what happened and how love can blind a person and make them do cold, calculating things. There is a follow-up, also on Amazon Prime, The Girl Who Killed Her Parents: The Confession.

5 Wedding.con (2023)

Wedding.con offered a look at the growing issues of matrimonial fraud taking place in India. The docuseries follows several women who have been affected and fell victim to scams orchestrated through matrimonial websites, seeking love but instead finding financial loss and emotional turmoil at the hands of deceptive men.

A Different Side of True Crime

The pressure of seeking marriage can be different depending on both family and cultural upbringing, and seeing those insecurities and needs exploited for money is both a frustrating and enlightening experience as to the perils of online abuse in the matrimonial industry of India. Wedding.con also explores these stories and makes them relatable by focusing on the emotional impact of women and their families who got caught up in these scams. The viewer can both feel the frustration of what happened to them, but the docuseries does just as excellent a job of showing their strengths in overcoming adversity; equal parts cautionary tale and inspiration.

4 Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a critically acclaimed documentary by Kurt Kuenne that explores a bizarre case. The story starts with the death of Andrew Bagby by his ex-girlfriend, Shirley Jane Turner. However, when Shirley announced that she was pregnant with Andrew’s child, Zachary, the case became much more complicated. The documentary primarily focuses on the aftermath of the devastating event and subsequent legal battles for custody and justice and the toll it took on the family having to deal with honoring the memory of their son while dealing with the pain of his death. Still, the latter tragedy that befell Zachary adds another layer to this already heartbreaking documentary.

Emotionally Resonant and Informative

Kurt Kuenne’s Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is often described as one of the most heartbreaking and difficult true-crimes documentaries to watch, both because of its masterful editing and the harrowing story at its core. For those seeking just that, the documentary is perfect, but it also benefits from its real-life impact, with the case of Andrew Bagby changing legislation, particularly regarding bail provisions for suspects accused of serious crimes involving children. Those who find anything involving children difficult to approach may want to sit this out, but it is one of the best-constructed and executed documentaries you will find on the platform.

3 The Pez Outlaw (2023)

The Pez Outlaw focuses on the actions of Steve Glew, a man from Michigan who made $4.3 million smuggling knock-off Pez dispensers from Europe to the US. The documentary follows Glew’s journey during the 1990s, showcasing his rise in the Pez that led to his making the jump to smuggling and his subsequent showdown with Scott McWhinnie, the former president of America’s Pez division.

A More Lighthearted Offering

Not all true-crime documentaries need to be so harrowing or disturbing, and in rare cases, criminals become unsung heroes for their crimes. This is the case with Steve Glew, and it is also the crux of what makes The Pez Outlaw such an enjoyable and lighthearted entry into the true-crime genre. Glew is a captivating and charismatic figure, and the documentary knows how to capitalize on that charisma to present him unbiased despite his eccentricities. For those who love nostalgia, revisiting the ’90s at the height of Pez mania also adds another charm to the already feel-good story of Glew going up against a corporate giant of the era.

2 Missing Mom (2016)

Missing Mom follows filmmaker Rob McCallum and his brother Chris Byford as they embark on a journey to find their mother, who has been missing for nearly 25 years. The duo piece together their mother’s previous life from memories, home videos, and interviews with other family members to try to piece together where she went and why she may have gone missing.

True Crime That Focuses on Emotion

The personal journey of Rob McCallum and Chris Byford is a project made out of a lifetime of wondering what may have been and investigating the mother who left at a young age. While the documentary is straightforward in its delivery and amateurish in its execution, it presents a touching and intimate story of a family trying to reconnect and motherhood’s importance in defining one’s upbringing. The ‘crime angle’ here is not as pronounced but for those looking for a more personalized story of family struggles, Missing Mom is ideal.

1 Dancing on the Grave (2023)

Dancing on the Grave explored one of the most shocking murders in India, with the death of a wealthy heiress of an aristocratic family in Bangalore, Shakereh Khaleeli. From her mysterious disappearance in 1991 to the shocking discovery of her remains in 1994, showing she was buried alive, the limited series explores her tumultuous relationships, particularly with her second husband, Swami Shraddhananda, who would be convicted for her murder.

A Captivating and Surprising Story

High-profile cases can always add an extra layer of intrigue, with these types of murders often drawing larger public attention and are often magnified by how money and power become involved. There can be many extra complexities to such cases as well, and one of the documentary’s greatest strengths is piecing everything together in a way that is easy to approach for those unfamiliar with the infamy of the case due to the country. Masterfully edited, and pieced together in a way that will keep viewers invested in the case that shook a nation, Dancing on the Grave offers everything true-crime fans would want from a series.