16 Terrifying True Crime Documentaries on Max
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Anyone who's obsessed with the true-crime genre knows that behind every crime is a backstory, and the more details that emerge, the more compelling it becomes. From cold cases being reopened due to advances in forensic science to widely publicized ones with televised hearings, Max's true-crime documentaries feature some of the most chilling and sinister cases that'll give your brain something to chew on from start to finish. No matter how infuriating or satisfying the final court decision, one thing's for sure, and that's how fascinating it is to unpack the reasons behind such unthinkable acts and what drove these people to commit them.
From the opioid crisis to murders inspired by the mythical Slenderman, these documentaries run the gamut when it comes to crime, exploring some of the most fascinating and disturbing cases out there. Some follow cases that lean towards moral ambiguity, while others are more purely horrifying, but no matter what, they'll always leave you with plenty to think about — and they just might happen to keep you up all night researching theories. If you're ready to experience a roller coaster of emotions, head to HBO Max to stream these 15 true-crime documentaries.
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"The Crime of the Century"
This documentary explores the roots of the opioid crisis, tracing the crimes committed by the pharmaceutical companies that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
"Beware the Slenderman"
In tribute to internet legend "Slenderman," two 12-year-old girls lured their classmate into the woods with the intent to murder her . . . but landed themselves behind bars instead.
"The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst"
Real-estate mogul Robert Dust committed first-degree murder three times — or did he? "The Jinx" is a jaw-dropping documentary about the freedom money can buy you. If you don't know anything about it, don't google! Just start watching.
"The Case Against Adnan Syed"
What happened on Jan. 13, 1999, when 18-year-old high-school student Hae Min Lee went missing? "The Case Against Adnan Syed" accounts the events from Lee's disappearance to her murder, leading up to the conviction of her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed. (And yes, this is the case from "Serial.")
"Who Killed Garrett Phillips?"
We may never know who really killed 12-year-old Garrett Phillips in 2011, but this documentary seeks to answer who it could've been. Through a full-blown police investigation, the trial of soccer coach Oral "Nick" Hillary, and clues surfacing years after the murder, the truth still remains a mystery.
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"The Iceman Tapes: Conversations With a Killer"
Mafia hitman Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski breaks his silence as he sits down for a candid and disturbing interview that highlights his gruesome past as the head enforcer of the Gambino crime family.
"Behind Closed Doors"
"Behind Closed Doors" closely examines the mysterious double murder of Aarushi Talwar and her family's servant Hemraj Banjade. Through a series of interviews with local police, the family of the victims, journalists, and the legal team, this two-part documentary highlights how class discrimination and bias left the case unsolved for decades.
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"Capturing the Friedmans"
When the US Postal Service intercepted a delivery of child pornography to Arnold Friedman's home in 1987, officials uncovered a disturbing family secret that is well-documented in this investigative film. This 2003 documentary, nominated for an Oscar, is immensely disturbing.
"Mommy Dead and Dearest"
The story that inspired the miniseries "The Act," this documentary details the startling case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy involving Gypsy Rose Blanchard and the abusive circumstances that led her to murder her mother, Dee Dee.
"There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane"
"There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane" reinvestigates Diane Schuler and the 2009 Taconic State Parkway car crash, an incident that was initially believed to be an accidental tragedy but was ultimately deemed a mysterious homicide. This one will stick with you.
"Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop"
Did Officer Gilberto Valle deserve life in prison for fantasizing about cannibalism? This documentary seeks to answer how the former NYPD cop's "thought crimes" turned into a conviction.
"Valentine Road"
In February 2008, openly gay Lawrence King asked his classmate Brandon McInerney to be his valentine. A day later, he was shot and killed. "Valentine Road" delves deeper into the trial following the incident as well as the homophobic portrayal of King by the media.
"At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal"
By presenting an inside look at the Larry Nassar sexual-abuse case, this documentary chronicles the lives of the women affected by USA gymnastics' most disturbing scandal.
"I Love You, Now Die"
"I Love You, Now Die" covers the widely publicized and controversial "texting suicide case," in which 17-year-old Michelle Carter encouraged her boyfriend, Conrad Henri Roy III, to die by suicide over text and was subsequently convicted of manslaughter.
"Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children"
"Atlanta's Missing and Murdered" tells the story of 30 Black children who went missing or were presumed dead between 1979 and 1981 in Atlanta. Using a combination of present-day and previously archived footage, this five-part documentary addresses the child murders and police brutality that predated the Black Lives Matter movement.
"The Cheshire Murders"
This HBO Original offers an in-depth exploration of the 2007 triple murder of the Petit family, a chilling and heartbreaking case known as one of the worst crimes in Connecticut history and the cause of the state's delayed death-penalty abolition.