Docuseries, shows inspired by true stories, and premises ripped from the headlines: These series put the “true” in true crime.

The 17 best true crime shows on Hulu for your inner sleuth

Docuseries, shows inspired by true stories, and premises ripped from the headlines: These series put the "true" in true crime.

By James Mercadante, Kayla Mroch, Ilana Gordon, and Kevin Jacobsen

January 4, 2026 12:00 p.m. ET

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Riley Keough as Rebecca Godfrey in 'Under the Bridge'; 'Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story'; Bill Kurtis, host of 'Cold Case Files'. Credit:

Disney; Courtesy Hulu; Andrew Eccles/A+E Network

Cultural historians will struggle to pinpoint the exact moment true crime became one of the great American pastimes. But what we do know is that since the genre has taken off, there’s no criminal case too scandalous, lurid, or complicated for an audience to follow. The dramatic series and docuseries on this list represent some of the most thoughtful portrayals of infamous criminal stories, with subjects ranging from a mom with Munchausen syndrome by proxy (*The Act*) to tales of 1970s childhood kidnappings (*Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story*).

Follow along for EW’s list of the 17 best true crime shows on Hulu. **

The Act (2019)

Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee Blanchard and Joey King as Gypsy-Rose Blanchard in 'The Act'. Brownie Harris/Hulu

You're likely familiar with the name Gypsy Rose, the notorious ex-convict who has consistently made headlines ever since her early release from prison in December 2023. Spanning eight episodes, *The Act* recounts the events leading up to the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard (Patricia Arquette), in 2015, a case intertwined with allegations of abuse and factitious disorder.

While the series captures the suffocating atmosphere Gypsy endured under her mother's care — who made her daughter believe she had cancer, among other illnesses and disabilities — what stands out are the performances by Arquette (who won a Golden Globe for the role) and Joey King, who told EW, “Transforming into Gypsy was one of the most challenging but most rewarding things I’ve ever done." —*James Mercadante*

Where to watch *The Act*: Hulu

**Cast:** Patricia Arquette, Joey King, AnnaSophia Robb, Chloë Sevigny, Calum Worthy

American Crime Story (2016–present)

Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran in 'The People: v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story'. Prashant Gupta/FX

Ryan Murphy, the producer behind eclectic TV hits like *Glee *and* American Horror Story*, expanded his ever-evolving repertoire when tackling the true crime genre. Winning countless Emmys and two Golden Globes for Best Miniseries or Television Film in 2017 and 2019, FX's anthology series *American Crime Story* dives into infamous historical transgressions ingrained in the American psyche.

Season 1 (by far the best installment) centers on the O.J. Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.) murder trial, while season 2 covers the 1997 murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace (Edgar Ramírez), and season 3 shifts focus to the late-'90s presidential sex scandal involving Bill Clinton (Clive Owen) and Monica Lewinsky (Beanie Feldstein). —*J.M.*

Where to watch *American Crime Story*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A

**Cast:** Sarah Paulson, Annaleigh Ashford, Sterling K. Brown, Cuba Gooding Jr., Darren Criss

Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story (2022)

'Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story'.

In 1972, 7-year-old Steven Stayner's captor stripped him of his identity, subjected him to years of abuse, and claimed his parents abandoned him. After nearly eight years, the kidnapper brought home another young abductee named Timmy White. Realizing Timmy's plight, Steven hitchhiked across California to return the boy to his family, only to be reunited with his long-lost loved ones in the process.

As Steven's story sparked the "stranger danger" warnings across the nation and inspired *I Know My First Name Is Steven *(NBC's 1989 miniseries),* Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story* shows how his return wasn't the only shocking revelation the Stayner family had to face. —*Kayla Mroch*

Where to watch *Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story*: Hulu

**Cast:** Todd Eric Andrews, Steven Stayner, Ashley Stayner, Kay Stayner, Cary Stayner

Cold Case Files (1999–2002; 2006; 2017; 2021–present)

Bill Kurtis, host of 'Cold Case Files'. Andrew Eccles

There’s something extra fascinating about cold cases, if only because of the mystery factor. *Cold Case File *profiles unsolved murders from the past, with investigators using modern forensic technology and an understanding of criminal psychology to hopefully provide answers to old questions. Garnering multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, *Cold Case Files *aired its first run from 1999 to 2002, with A&E reviving the docuseries in 2006, 2017, and 2021. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Cold Case Files*: Hulu

**Cast:** Bill Kurtis

Daughters of the Cult (2024)

'Daughters of the Cult'.

Ervil LeBaron, also known as the "Mormon Manson," sowed tremendous discord while leading the polygamist Church of the First Born Lamb of God. However, ABC News Studios' *Daughters Daughters of the Cult *shifts focus to those most deeply affected: his children (of which he had more than 50).

Directed by Sarah Mast, the five-episode docuseries exposes the inner workings of the religious sect, where members carried out mass murders at the behest of their fanatical prophet to target rivals and even LeBaron's own kin. Suffering horrors throughout most of their upbringing, the surviving daughters step forward to share their experiences with their father and find solace in their sisterhood as they recover. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Daughters of the Cult*: Hulu

**Cast:** Bix Krieger, Olivia Fox, Andrea Vicunia, Igor Grbesic, Chiyeko Jones

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (2025)

Ruby Franke in 'Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke'.

One of 2023’s biggest internet stories was the arrest of Ruby Franke, a Mormon family vlogger whose videos of her six children earned her a sizable platform on YouTube. Franke, along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, were charged with felony aggravated child abuse against Franke’s two youngest children. (Out of respect for their privacy, the names and faces of the four youngest Franke siblings are not included in the documentary.)

*Devil in the Family* is the story of Franke’s slide from millionaire mommy vlogger to convicted child abuser, a descent that was enabled and abetted by the brainwashing and cult-like teachings of Hildebrandt, who Franke saw as a mentor and therapist. The story is unbelievable and upsetting, but the documentary is not exploitative. *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke*: Hulu

**Cast: **Ruby Franke, Kevin Franke, Shari Franke, Chad Franke, Jodi Hildebrandt

The First 48 (2004–present)

'The First 48'. A&E

In the aftermath of a murder, the initial 48 hours hold the key to unlocking vital evidence before it fades into oblivion and potentially allows a perpetrator to slip through the cracks. For two decades, this edifying A&E docuseries has been lifting the veil of investigative work during that critical time frame.

Across various cities and crime scenes, each episode follows seasoned and greenhorn sleuths as they spend the first two days post-homicide deploying a myriad of forensic tactics, witness interrogations, and other innovative methodologies to reveal the faces behind the acts. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *The First 48*: Hulu

**Cast:** Dion Graham, Nathan Schilling, Jason White, Dave Walker

Fyre Fraud (2019)

The Fyre Festival in 2017 was supposed to be the most glamorous musical event of the century. Set on a private island, produced by entrepreneur Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule, the festival promised a lineup of 33 incredible musical artists and luxury accommodations for its attendees. Ticket holders paid thousands of dollars for a chance to rub elbows with celebrities, but when they arrived on the island, they found no trace of the festival experience they were promised.

One of two documentaries produced about the event, Hulu’s *Fyre Fraud *breaks down where it all went wrong and who paid the price. From class-action lawsuits to a prison sentence, *Fyre Fraud *is a cautionary tale about the dangers of believing everything you see on social media. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Fyre Fraud*: Hulu

**Directors: **Jenner Furst, Julia Willoughby Nason

**Cast:** Billy McFarland, Ja Rule, Jake Horowitz, Plly Mosendz, Calvin Wells

The Murder of Laci Peterson (2017)

'The Murder of Laci Peterson'.

Hulu/A+E Network8BIM

Months after Laci Peterson and her unborn child were tragically found dead in the San Francisco Bay, her husband Scott ultimately faced a murder conviction and a death sentence, despite the absence of forensic evidence or eyewitnesses.

Timed with the 15th anniversary of Laci's disappearance on Christmas Eve 2002, A&E's six-part docuseries reopens the case's dossier, challenging the demonized portrayal of Scott and presenting interviews with him while behind bars, as well as with his family members and various legal experts. *The Murder of Laci Peterson* nudges viewers to reevaluate the veracity of media narratives and draw their own conclusions. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *The Murder of Laci Peterson*: Hulu

**Cast:** Laci Peterson, Scott Peterson, Ted Rowlands, Gloria Gomez, Nancy Grace

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Never Let Him Go (2023)

'Never Let Him Go'.

In December 1988, the lifeless body of Scott Johnson — a gay mathematician from Southern California — was found beneath a cliff in Sydney, Australia. Initially deemed a suicide, Scott's older brother, Steve, adamantly rejected this verdict and spent the next three decades seeking the truth.

Over the course of four episodes, *Never Let Him Go* bypasses the predictable rhythm of the true crime genre, with its nuanced storytelling being both unbiased and politically poignant. The series explores many multifaceted issues, including Sydney's historical negligence towards anti-gay violence, the warped effects of grief, disparities in wealth and justice, and the toxic dynamics between Australians and Americans. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Never Let Him Go*: Hulu

**Cast:** Steve Johnson, Scott Johnson

Scamanda (2025)

Scamming is bad for your health as Amanda Riley learns in *Scamanda*. This four-part ABC News true crime series tells the story of a young wife, mother, and blogger who convinced thousands to send her money to help fight the cancer she claimed to have. But when an investigative reporter examines Amanda’s claims and the IRS starts tracing the money, Amanda’s medical secrets are no longer hers to keep.

True crime fans may have heard the story covered already in the popular podcast *Scamanda*, but the docuseries adds faces and further context. If you enjoyed *Anatomy of Lies *(2024) you’ll be similarly intrigued and horrified by the grift perpetuated by Riley as told in *Scamanda*. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Scamanda*: Hulu

**Cast: **Rachel Leighson, Chris Savery, Ruby Singleton

Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (2023)

'Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence'. Hulu

When Larry Ray (who's now serving a 60-year prison sentence) crashed at his daughter's dorm at Sarah Lawrence College in 2010, he leveraged his father-figure guise to convince several students to relocate to his Upper East Side sublet, subjecting them to years of isolation, deprivation, abuse, and psychological torment. Described by EW's critic as "a particularly tough watch," this four-part docuseries unveils the unspeakable events within that apartment — thanks to Ray's compulsive recordings for potential blackmail — while also interviewing the former members (and those still under Ray’s influence) as they attempt to reclaim the lost years of their youth and reconstruct their fragmented lives. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Larry Ray, Talia Ray, Isabellla Pollok, Dan Levin, Santo Rosario

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (2025)

Grace Van Patten as Amanda Knox in 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox'.

Disney/Adrienn Szabó

Amanda Knox’s case was one of the first viral true crime stories of the digital age. An American college student studying abroad in Italy, Knox was accused and convicted of murdering her British roommate. She was almost four years into a 26-year sentence when she was released, exonerated, and left to contend with her unexpected notoriety.

Knox previously shared her story in her 2013 memoir, *Waiting to Be Heard*, but this new miniseries offers a decade’s worth of hindsight and an advancement to the story: Knox’s attempt to heal from her past by building a friendship with the Italian prosecutor who once made it his mission to convict her. Knox takes control over her story once more, co-writing the final episode and serving as one of the series’ executive producers. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox*: Hulu

**Cast: **Grace Van Patten, Sharon Horgan, Francesco Acquaroli, Giuseppe De Domenico, John Hoogenakker

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

Andrew Garfield as Det. Jeb Pyre in 'Under the Banner of Heaven'. Michelle Faye/FX

Andrew Garfield unveils new dimensions to his craft as Jeb Pyre, the pious detective who investigates the murders of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her infant daughter at the hands of religious extremists. Based on Jon Krakauer's novel of the same name, *Under the Banner of Heaven *is a raw, gritty look into the world of fundamentalist Mormonism and the power of cults, all through Pyre's eyes.

Writer-director Dustin Lance Black told EW: "I hope that like the book, some mainstream Mormons might [watch the show]. They might not talk about it in church, but I hope that if they watch the show, they will be illuminated, and there will be some relief to be had in knowing." *—K.M.*

Where to watch *Under the Banner of Heaven*: Hulu

**Cast: **Andrew Garfield, Sandra Seacat, Gil Birmingham, Sam Worthington, Daisy Edgar-Jones

Under the Bridge (2024)

Riley Keough as Rebecca Godfrey in 'Under the Bridge'.

In the Hulu miniseries adaptation of Rebecca Godfrey's *Under the Bridge *— which she penned from the perspectives of the adolescents and investigators involved — the late author becomes a central piece of the story. Portrayed by Riley Keough, the New York writer revisits her hometown in British Columbia and stumbles upon the perfect lead for her next book: the disappearance of 14-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta).

Jumping between the past and present, the show chronicles Reena's final days alongside the investigation into her murder, spearheaded by Rebecca and her former best friend turned officer, Cam Bentland (Lily Gladstone). As noted by EW's critic, "the performances in *Under the Bridge* are consistently superb," as "Keough plays Rebecca with a kind of dreamy and alluring reserve" while "Gladstone elevates Cam beyond the character’s stern-yet-concerned cop framework." *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Under the Bridge*: Hulu

**Cast:** Riley Keough, Lily Gladstone, Vritika Gupta, Chloe Guidry, Javon "Wanna" Walton

Welcome to Chippendales (2022–2023)

Kumail Nanjiani as Steve Banerjee in 'Welcome to Chippendales'. Erin Simkin/Hulu

From creator Robert Siegel (*Pam & Tommy*), the eight-episode Hulu miniseries delves into the origins of the U.S.'s first male strip dynasty: the Chippendales. Indian immigrant Somen "Steve" Banerjee (Kumail Nanjiani), a gas station employee with Hugh Hefner aspirations, teams up with Emmy-winning director and choreographer Nick De Noia (Murray Bartlett) to transform a lackluster Los Angeles bar into a pulsating male strip revue.

However, their breakneck rise is met with an equally spectacular fall, with their business marred by arson, murder for hire, and a jailhouse suicide. A glitzy true crime romp boasting bulges and G-strings galore, *Welcome to Chippendales* lays bare the greedy and corrupt side of the American Dream. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Welcome to Chippendales*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford, Juliette Lewis, Quentin Plair

Wild Crime (2021–present)

'Wild Crime: Murder in Yosemite'.

Drawing millions of visitors annually, the serene landscapes of America's national and state parks are the grounds for many deadly deeds. Blending elements of nature documentary and true crime, this series follows a team of unconventional investigators as they unravel the most chilling offenses committed on public land. Season 1 of *Wild Crime *delves into the mysterious death of Toni Henthorn after a fall in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the second unravels a murder and a severed hand found in Yosemite. Later seasons show additional heinous acts in stunning wilderness areas around the U.S. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Wild Crime*: Hulu

**Cast:** Jon Dyer, Derek Kingsley, Rocco Navarro, John Grabler, David Wenzel

- Documentary True Crime Shows

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Documentary”