Top 9 Disturbing True Crime Projects of 21st Century So Far

Hollywood continues to make horror movies left and right, but nothing compares to the chilling reality of true crime. The scariest thing about these stories is that they're real events that happened to real people. That makes them infinitely more disturbing than any fictional ghost or monster could ever be.

For those brave enough, these are some of the most disturbing true crime projects to come out of the 21st century this far.

Don't F– with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019): Internet Detectives Take the Lead

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Don't F– with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer has 69% from critics and 80% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Don't F– with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer is rated 8.0/10.

What began as a disturbing video of animal cruelty posted online snowballed into an international manhunt led by a group of driven individuals. Their investigation uncovers something far more sinister than they could have imagined.

Available on: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.

Abducted in Plain Sight (2017): Trust and Manipulation

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Abducted in Plain Sight has 74% from critics and 74% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Abducted in Plain Sight is rated 6.8/10.

Abducted in Plain Sight follows the Broberg family whose picture-perfect life is shattered by a neighbor who manipulates his way into their lives. The story is so bizarre and twisted that it challenges everything we think we know about predatory behavior.

Available on: Kanopy for free, Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.

The Jinx (2015-2024): Examining a Billionaire Psychopath

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst has 90% from critics and 90% from the audience.
• On IMDb, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst is rated 8.6/10.

Following the bizarre life of real estate heir Robert Durst, this documentary strips away the layers of privilege to reveal a much darker story. Thanks to brilliant interviewing skills, Andrew Jarecki manages to do what law enforcement couldn't: get Durst to talk. And you'll be completely blown away by the end of it.

Available on: Max, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video.

American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020): Behind the Perfect Social Media Facade

• On Rotten Tomatoes, American Murder: The Family Next Door has 87% from critics and 78% from the audience.
• On IMDb, American Murder: The Family Next Door is rated 7.2/10.

Using social media posts, text messages and home videos, this documentary reconstructs the final days of Shanann Watts and her children. The contrast between one's curated online persona and the brutal reality behind closed doors makes this documentary particularly disturbing.

Available on: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.

The Staircase (2004-2018): Bonkers Theories

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Staircase has 94% from critics and 82% from the audience.
• On IMDb, The Staircase is rated 7.8/10.

The death of Kathleen Peterson sparked a years-long legal battle involving everything from blood-spatter analysis to a bizarre owl theory. The documentary offers a rare up-close look at how a high-profile case is handled.

Available on: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.

Evil Genius (2018): A Heist Gone Wrong

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist has 80% from critics and 81% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist is rated 7.5/10.

The “Pizza Bomber Heist” sounds almost comical until you realize it resulted in the death of a man on live television. This documentary series unravels a complex web of conspiracy, lies and manipulation that will leave you baffled.

Available on: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.

The Family I Had (2017): Family Becomes Unfamiliar

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Family I Had has 100% from critics and 73% from the audience.
• On IMDb, The Family I Had is rated 6.7/10.

This documentary explores a mother's personal tragedy when her son commits an act of violence that shatters her family forever. It's a story of love, loss, and the complicated nature of forgiveness.

Available on: Hoopla and Plex for free.

The Imposter (2012): The Ultimate Identity Theft

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Imposter has 95% from critics and 78% from the audience.
• On IMDb, The Imposter is rated 7.4/10.

This documentary follows the bizarre case of a French con artist who somehow convinced a Texas family that he was their missing teenage son. He looked nothing like their child and spoke with a French accent.

Available on: Kanopy and Plex for free.

Tell Me Who I Am (2019): Memory, Trust, and Dark Secrets

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Tell Me Who I Am has 97% from critics and 86% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Tell Me Who I Am is rated 7.6/10.

When Alex loses his memory in an accident, he must rely on his twin brother Marcus to rebuild his life story. But Marcus makes a decision that will affect both their lives forever, choosing to create a happier version of their past. But as we all know, the truth always comes out.

Available on: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.