The 12 Scariest True-Crime Documentaries You Can Stream Right Now

I'll Be Gone In the Dark is a docuseries that depicts a true crime author's obsession with justice as she deep-dives into the case of the Golden State Killer, who committed 50 sexual assaults and 12 murders. As she delves further and further into the case, she keeps the case alive with fierce determination, but tragedy ensues.

Watch I'll Be Gone In the Dark on HBO Max.

If you're still scary of the Bogeyman, the real version might terrify you. Cropsey retells the story of a bogeyman-like figure in New York City connected to the disappearance of five children. The urban legend becomes more and more concrete, as producers uncover revelations that lead to a startling, hair-raising truth.

Watch Cropsey on Amazon Prime Video.

American Murder: The Family Next Door explores Christopher Lee Watts's cold-blooded murder of his pregnant wife Shanann and their two daughters. Taking place in Colorado, the documentary film uses social media posts and text messages to try to piece together the harrowing tale. If you have kids of your own, you might want to skip this one.

Watch American Murder: The Family Next Door on Netflix.

Grief and constant anxiety are woven into one in this documentary series about a 3-year-old's disappearance while on vacation in Portugal. As more details come into light, the media circus and a detective's accusations only add to the parents' anguish, even as the mystery is never totally uncovered.

Watch The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann on Netflix.

Another absolutely bone-chilling documentary, Beware the Slenderman isn't for the faint of heart. It recounts the story of two 12-year-old girls who are suddenly engrossed with a faceless internet bogeyman known as Slenderman. They become influenced by him, leading them to plan a brutal murder in order to appease the monster.

Watch Beware the Slenderman on HBO Max.

Showing that true crime docuseries can be just as terrifying if when not strictly involving murder, Captive depicts harrowing hostage situations around the world. Anxiety-inducing with constant high stakes, viewers get an inside look at the victims' terrifying stories.

Watch Captive on Netflix.

One of the most frightening true crime documentaries released by HBO, Mommy Dead and Dearest tells the tale of the murder of Dee Dee Blanchard. As her daughter Gypsy Rose and boyfriend Nicholas are accused of the crime, new details come to light of Dee Dee's abuse and dark lies that put the entire situation into perspective. All at once, viewers must reckon with the idea of justice.

Watch Mommy Dead and Dearest on HBO Max.