Full of dark tales: Watch 2021’s best true crime documentaries so far
True crime content just keeps rolling out each week, and we’re not mad about it! Ever since the insane success of Tiger King and Making a Murderer, true crime documentaries have been produced at an amount previously unheard of. It took no time at all for a once niche genre to become mainstream entertainment.
Now, everyone’s searching for some bloody crimes and terrifying criminals to keep them on the edge of their set. However, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to sift through the pile and find the best high-quality gems.
Therefore, we’ve created a list of the best true crime documentaries this year for your morbid viewing pleasure! These shows & films range from classic serial killer fare to whodunnit cold cases. Here are 2021’s best true crime documentaries so far:
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer
The four-part series covers Richard Ramirez’s killing spree in 1985 Los Angeles. Richard Ramirez’s grisly crimes included rape, kidnapping, and murder. The docu-series follows detectives Gil Carrillo and Frank Salerno on their hunt for the elusive Night Stalker.
The show is both graphic & disturbing, yet you just can’t take your eyes off the screen. Although each episode is nearly an hour long, we promise you’ll pull an all nighter finishing this true crime series!
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel
The disappearance of Elisa Lam went viral after footage of her final appearance at the Cecil Hotel was discovered. The infamous video of Lam nervously pacing in the hotel’s elevator remains eerie to this day.
Once a glamorous establishment, the Cecil Hotel is now known for its numerous true crime stories and haunting deaths.
We doubt anyone will be booking a room at the Cecil Hotel any time soon.
Murder Among the Mormons
This three part series details the true crime of the 1985 Salt Lake City pipe bombings. The three bombings killed two and injured one, Mark Hofmann, who ended up becoming a suspect for the crime.
The Netflix show explores the dark underbelly of religious organizations and shocks the viewers with the motive for these Salt Lake City murders.
Strong Island
If you haven’t seen this Oscar-nominated documentary yet, 2021 is the year to watch it. This film follows the case of the filmmaker’s murdered brother, William Ford Jr. who was only twenty-four years old.
Ford was a black teacher who was shot and killed by a nineteen-year-old white mechanic. Ford’s case was instantly deemed as self defense and the injustice which follows is a cruel reminder of the racial issues within the country.
Winner of multiple film awards, Strong Island is a must watch during these times of political divide.
This Is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist
This thrilling four part true crime series dives into the absurd 1990 art heist in Boston. The docuseries details how two men disguised as police officers were able to steal $500 million worth of art.
These art thieves and their stolen works have yet to be discovered. However, the series follows their genius master plan and how exactly they pulled off one of the largest art heists in true crime history.
Why Did You Kill Me?
This documentary film follows a family’s personal investigation of their twenty-four-year-old daughter’s murder. As you can imagine, this traumatic event and search for vengeance only leads to more despair.
Through searching the depths of social media for their daughter’s killer, they discover more than what they bargained for.
The Sons of Sam
The docu-series follows journalist Maury Terry’s lifelong investigation of the Son of Sam case. Through evidence and witness reports, Terry concludes that killer David Berkowitz didn’t act alone.
One of the most infamous serial killers in American history, the Son of Sam case continues to be just as horrific today as it was in 1977. The series leaves you terrified that those possible “Sons of Sam” are still walking freely to this day.
—
Get your bloody fix with the best of 2021 true crime documentaries! Have you seen any of these true crime gems? What did you think? Let us know in the comments which 2021 documentaries you think are the best of true crime!
