Sometimes, the most terrifying stories we hear or watch are the ones that aren't made up —– it’s the people’s unfortunate circumstances and worst crimes.
In this list, we’ll rank the most shocking and disturbing true crime films or series documented for the world to see.
15. Tickled (2016)
2016’s Tickled takes us into the disturbing rabbit hole of a seemingly harmless “tickling competition” that spirals into a bizarre fetish-driven scheme involving cyberbullying and harassment, devastating the lives of young men. This documentary by David Farrier endured many threats and lawsuits from the person behind the competition, which reveals a lot about the suspicious activities he engaged in.
14. Three Identical Strangers (2018)
Three Identical Strangers tells the story of Edward Galland and his surprising discovery that he is one of identical triplets, along with David Kellman and Robert Shafran. This award-winning documentary film by Tim Wardle goes deeper as it reveals that the triplets are actually victims of a cruel experiment that caused them to be separated at birth.
13. Mommy Dead and Dearest (2017)
The life of Gypsy Blanchard is featured in this HBO documentary film that presents the chilling story of maternal abuse taken to disturbing extremes. The horrific actions of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, driven by a quest for validation and fame, ultimately led to her own death. This shocking case brought widespread attention to her illness, Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, which became widely known after the documentary aired.
12. Love Has Won: Cult of Mother God (2023)
Love Has Won is a documentary series about the life of Amy Carlson and the influence she had in creating a religious group dedicated to worshipping her. The series reveals the dangerous practices and disturbing teachings of Amy Carlson, showing how her devoted followers continue to go to extreme lengths to obey her, even after her death.
12. Don’t f**k with cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
This Netflix documentary sends viewers on a riveting hunt for a cat killer with a strange online persona that escalates with each episode. When a video of kittens being killed surfaced online and caused an uproar, internet sleuths never expected that their search for the uploader would lead them to uncover a horrifying crime.
10. I Love You, Now Die (2019)
I Love You, Now Die recounts the story of teenagers Conrad Roy and Michelle Carter, two lovers struggling with thoughts of ending their lives – but only one survives. The two-part documentary stunned viewers as it revealed the devastating influence of words, exposing how Michelle’s encouragement pushed Conrad to the edge, ultimately leading to his death.
9. American Murder: The Family Next Door (2018)
In this chilling Netflix documentary, a concerned citizen joins forces with the police to uncover the murder of pregnant Shanann Watts and her two daughters, Cece and Bella, at the hands of Chris Watts. American Murder: The Family Next Door outraged many viewers, especially as Chris Watts described his love for his daughters right up until the moment he took their lives, for which he felt no remorse at all.
8. Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét (2024)
The tragic story of JonBenét Ramsey resurfaces in Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét, a Netflix documentary that explores how her life as a child beauty pageant star ultimately led to her endangerment and death, alongside a gripping indictment of the jury. The conclusion left viewers dismayed, as the case remains unsolved and the killer is still at large.
7. The Cannibal That Walked Free (2007)
Issei Sagawa is a notorious figure in Japan, not for accomplishments or good deeds, but for murdering a woman and eating her remains. This documentary shocks viewers by presenting the killer’s psychological reasoning behind cannibalism. It is further disturbing because, despite the charges against him, the man is allowed to walk free.
6. The Bridge (2006)
Eric Steel’s film The Bridge shows the horrors of people's decisions, documenting deaths at the Golden Gate Bridge and interviewing their loved ones. This film is as shocking as it is disturbing, particularly in sections showing actual footage of people jumping off the bridge, making it a difficult watch. However, it also brings attention to important issues, such as the bridge’s structure and the lack of effective measures to prevent these incidents.
5. Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)
Ted Bundy’s horrific crimes may already be familiar to many through various true crime media, but this Netflix documentary series takes a different approach. Rather than portraying the infamous 70s serial killer as a cunning mastermind, the interview tapes reveal his flaws and reckless mistakes – ultimately showing that these shortcomings led to his capture.
4. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez (2020)
Gabriel Fernandez’s story in The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is not something viewers easily forget. The sickening details of how he was repeatedly beaten by his parents and murdered at a young age exposed the failures of authorities to protect abused children, leaving many to wonder what could have happened if reports from concerned citizens had been taken seriously.
3. House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths (2021)
House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths tells the harrowing story of the Chundawat family and the decade-long manipulations by one of its members that led to the simultaneous suicides of 11 family members. Their tragic end is believed to have been caused by "shared psychosis," with the autopsy revealing no signs of struggle. This underscores the neglect of mental health in India, making it one of the most unsettling documentary series ever produced.
2. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
What started as a video by Kurt Kuenne documenting the life and memories of his late friend Andrew Bagby turned into one of the most heartbreaking documentaries, detailing his heartless murder by his ex-lover. Its conclusion left many viewers angry and in tears, unable to watch it more than once.
1. The Act of Killing (2012)
Josh Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing stands out as one of the most shocking and important documentary films in history, as it depicts the devastating 1965 Indonesian genocide that claimed 2 million lives. Many were horrified by how some of the death squad leaders recalled and reenacted their actions from those days with a casual demeanor on screen, revealing the apathy that had set in.
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