True crime is everywhere. The intrigue of a story about a real-world crime has proven to be completely irresistible to a huge portion of the public. Of course, within the world of true crime, some things are better and more interesting than others.
If you’re looking for great true crime movies that are worth checking out, we’ve got you covered. These are nine of the best that you can watch right now.
Zodiac (2007)
One of the more famous true crime movies ever made, Zodiac tells the story of the Zodiac killer, a famous serial killer who killed people in the Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Directed by David Fincher, Zodiac is mostly a movie about the cops and journalists tasked with investigating the case, and the way it slowly came to consume their lives. The film, which ends without any kind of firm resolution, is a procedural of the highest order, one that reminds us what obsession can do to a regular person.
You can watch Zodiac on Tubi.
Spotlight (2015)
One of the great journalism movies ever made, Spotlight tells the story of Boston Globe reporters who uncover a massive scandal buried within the Catholic Church. The movie, which is about the systematic abuse of children and the church’s effort to cover it up, is remarkably focused on the process of reporting the story. That procedural focus might seem like a mismatch for the outrageous nature of the story, but it turns out to be the ace up Spotlight‘s sleeve. These reporters have uncovered something horrific in the course of just doing their jobs, and thank goodness they did.
You can watch Spotlight on Tubi.
Memories of Murder (2003)
More than a decade before Bong Joon-ho came to international acclaim with Parasite, Memories of Murder was showing us everything he was capable of. Based on the true story of South Korea’s first-ever serial killer, Memories of Murder follows two inept small-town detectives who find themselves investigating a series of heinous crimes. Chilling, dark, and profound, Memories of Murder chronicles the horrors of dedicating your life to a case, knowing that you may never come to a concrete answer.
You can watch Memories of Murder on Tubi.
The Thin Blue Line (1988)
A documentary so riveting and convincing that it changed the outcome of an actual investigation, The Thin Blue Line tells the story of the trial and conviction of Randall Dale Adams, a man accused of shooting a Dallas police officer in 1976. Through his own investigatory efforts, director Errol Morris examines the many loose ends in the case and ultimately comes to a different conclusion about who is responsible for the crime. The Thin Blue Line was true crime before it was a trend, and it remains one of the best documentaries about a criminal proceeding.
You can watch The Thin Blue Line on YouTube.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Bonnie and Clyde loosely follows the real events that defined the lives of these famous thieves, but it’s also one of the most important movies in the history of Hollywood. As their criminal work quickly escalates against the backdrop of the Dust Bowl, Bonnie and Clyde become folk heroes even as they face dissent from other members of their gang. Bonnie and Clyde was a revolutionary movie upon its release, in part because of its daring style and subject matter. More than 50 years later, it remains an enduring classic for a reason.
You can rent Bonnie and Clyde on Amazon Prime Video.
The Untouchables (1987)
Kevin Costner is one of the great movie stars in the history of America, and The Untouchables is one of the movies that made him a star. The film stars Costner as Elliott Ness, the head of a task force of cops who cannot be bought and are all willing to work together to take down Al Capone. Featuring plenty of panache from director Brian de Palma, The Untouchables is a gripping crime thriller about why it was so hard to catch gangsters like Capone, and why men like Ness were the only ones capable of putting him away.
You can watch The Untouchables on Paramount+.
The Irishman (2019)
Martin Scorsese has made a number of true crime movies over the course of his career, but The Irishman is among his most profound. The film tells the story of Frank Sheeran, a truck driver who becomes part of a major Pennsylvania crime family. As he rises up the ranks and becomes one of the mob’s top hit men, he falls in with Jimmy Hoffa and eventually plays a role in the famed union leader’s death. The Irishman is a dark, sad meditation on what a life of crime leaves you with, and also one of Scorsese’s great epics.
You can watch The Irishman on Netflix.
The Bling Ring (2013)
Telling the true story of a group of friends who decide to start stealing from the wealthy and famous, and become famous in their own right as a result, The Bling Ring is a fascinating examination of our obsession with celebrity. Starring Emma Watson and directed by Sofia Coppola, The Bling Ring is about a moment when celebrities were no longer inaccessible to the public, but crucially, it’s also about the lengths people will go to get the attention that they feel they have deserved all along.
You can watch The Bling Ring on HBO Max.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Although it’s unclear how much of what Frank Abagnale Jr. claims he did actually happened, Catch Me If You Can is at least loosely based on a true story. One of Steven Spielberg’s snappiest movies, the film follows a young man with a natural skill for grift who finds himself conning his way across the country, pretending to be everything from a pilot to a doctor along the way. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio in one of his best early career performances, Catch Me If You Can is a hugely entertaining series of capers.
You can watch Catch Me If You Can on Amazon Prime Video.
And if Hulu is your streamer of choice, there are plenty of great true crime stories on that platform, too.
