The 14 Best True Crime Shows on Amazon Prime in August 2024

On death row (2012)

Each episode in this series features a specific Texas death row inmate, featuring criminals such as two members of the Texas Seven, a man who hired two thugs to kill his wife, and a woman who stole a child after killing the mother , among others. maximum security prisoners on death row in Texas.

Director Werner Herzog developed the series because he did not agree with capital punishment. On death rowwhich sees Herzog talking to the inmates himself, also includes interviews with others involved in their cases and personal lives, such as lawyers and family members. — SB

Where to watch On death row: Amazon Prime Video

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Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography (2017)

On June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped by a self-proclaimed religious prophet, who, with the help of his wife, held her in a wooded area where she suffered repeated sexual abuse. Fifteen years later, Smart—now a child safety activist and ABC News commentator—tells her story in her own words through this three-part A&E documentary series.

Featuring interviews from Smart, her family, eyewitnesses and law enforcement, Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography not only recounts the violent crimes of her captors, but reveals Smart’s road to recovery and how she used her trauma to help others. —James Mercadante

Where to watch Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography: Amazon Prime Video

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The Unsolved Mystery of Beverly Lynn Smith (2022)

It’s been 50 years since 22-year-old Beverly Lynn Smith was found shot to death in her Oshawa, Ontario home — and her case remains cold. Although her next-door neighbor, Alan Smith, was suspect #1 and coerced into confessing by undercover authorities, the real killer appears to have gotten away with it.

Incorporating interviews with key figures such as Beverly’s twin sister and artistic photographs of the small town of Oshawa, The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith is a four-part documentary series that examines a botched investigation and the unethical tactics used to expedite the case. —JM

Where to watch The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith: Amazon Prime Video

Ted Bundy: In Love with a Killer (2020)

One of the most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy is often romanticized because he used his devilish good looks and charm to lure dozens of women to their deaths. However, how many people know the names of his victims or his girlfriend at the time, Elizabeth Kendall? Ted Bundy: In Love with a Killer sets out to fill this void by de-centering Bundy from the narrative and focusing on Kendall, her daughter Molly, her colleagues, survivors, and the families of her victims.

This five-part docuseries—told by women and directed by a woman—approaches the case through a critical feminist lens, exploring the social context of Bundy’s reign of violence and the long-lasting impact on those he targeted. — JM

Where to watch Ted Bundy: In Love with a Killer: Amazon Prime Video

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Forensic files (1996–2011)

Forensic files is a must-watch for true crime buffs who don’t feel like sitting through hours of material just to learn about a single case. Each episode unfolds like a 22-minute whodunnit – with forensic scientists sifting through evidence and running lab tests to get their answers. (Some episodes, however, explore accidents instead of murders.)

One of the show’s strengths is its clear storytelling, but Peter Thomas’ atmospheric visual style and narration make it almost impossible to resist pressing the game into the next episode. If you finish this series, Forensic files II (available to watch on Max) aired several investigations from 2020. —JM

Where to watch Forensic files: Amazon Prime Video

The Last Narc (2020)

This docuseries explores the death of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was kidnapped and eventually killed by some of Mexico’s most notorious drug lords, allegedly with the help of the CIA. Decades later, former cartel members, along with other DEA agents and Camarena’s family, came forward to share details about the events leading up to his death.

The Last Narc recounts how the agent infiltrated the cartel; how his investigation cost them billions of dollars; and how he gathered enemies during his time there – including members of the US Secret Service – in his search for the truth. —SB

Where to watch The Last Narc: Amazon Prime Video

Detectives: My Killer Case (2018)

This miniseries follows a different detective in each episode, where they take viewers back through the investigation they say defined their careers. The detailed murders are among the most shocking to come out of Britain, with the detectives responsible guiding you through every lead and dead end – from day one to resolution.

It’s a compelling look at the investigative process, with step-by-step breakdowns, looks into police archives, video surveillance footage and specific details straight from those who solve these horrific crimes. —SB

Where to watch Detectives: My Killer Case: Amazon Prime Video

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The devil you know (2019)

The devil you know documents cases where criminals appeared to be loving, law-abiding people, hiding their worst intentions from the people they were closest to. Through interviews with family members and friends who have been betrayed by their loved ones, the series provides insider accounts of how the shocking events unfolded.

Covering subjects like Timothy Boczkowski and Stacey Castor — both of whom apparently killed their husbands — these eight episodes from Vice Studios explore how sometimes dangerous people are the closest to us. —SB

Where to watch The devil you know: Amazon Prime Video

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FBI files (1998–2009)

One of the longest running true crime series, FBI files was produced with the cooperation of the FBI — including host James Kallstrom, a former FBI Manhattan bureau chief — documenting cases in which local police departments assisted.

With cases like the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the Unabomber, the kidnapping/murder of Polly Klaas, and countless others, FBI files allows viewers to step into the investigative process, including dramatized re-enactments and interviews with the agents and forensics involved. — SB

Where to watch FBI files: Amazon Prime Video

Serial scammers (2011–2012)

Like an internet nap on steroids, Serial scammers details some of the world’s biggest criminal liars, sharing Hollywood-worthy tales of law-breaking minds.

From a fraudster in Singapore who stole huge sums from foreign banks to a man who defrauded high-ranking politicians and businessmen in New Zealand with bogus businesses, these subjects have left a trail of devastation in their wake. — SB

Where to watch Serial scammers: Amazon Prime Video