10 Best True Crime Documentaries On HBO Max

After earning her B.A. in English while working as a student journalist, Shealyn Scott is excited to use her award-winning skills at Screen Rant.

WARNING: This article discusses potentially disturbing subject matter, including murder, suicide, sexual assault, homophobia, and more. Reader discretion is advised. Practically every streaming service has a catalog of acclaimed documentaries, but HBO Max's true crime selections are among the best of the best.

When it comes to true crime documentaries, it can be difficult navigating the boundary between informative and exploitative, making it arguably the most controversial sub-genre of all time. Nevertheless, true crime's popularity seems to be exponentially growing. Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, and more platforms have countless documentaries to stream, but HBO Max has carved out its spot as the unofficial leader of the pack. Whether it's a chilling recollection of a case that still deserves closure or a recontextualizing of a famous crime in the public eye, HBO Max true crime documentaries always go the extra mile. Chowchilla A Look At The 1976 Kidnapping Of A Packed School Bus The true story behind Chowchilla is as unsettling as it is simple: three men hijacked a school bus and trapped 26 children and a bus driver in an undercover bunker. The kidnappers planned to leverage the children for a $5 million ransom, but the older students and driver— a man named Frank Edward"Ed" Ray— worked together to escape. After the 27 victims made it to safety, the masterminds behind the kidnapping were quickly brought to justice. Nevertheless, the survivors were left with endless unanswered questions and lingering trauma. Luckily, all the children survived, but the experience had a profound effect on the group that extended far beyond 1976. The Yogurt Shop Murders A Chilling Cold Case From 1991 That Haunted Austin, Texas At the time of the documentary's release, The Yogurt Shop Murders was still a cold case— and an especially disturbing one at that. In 1991, four teenagers were brutally killed and left to burn after the perpetrator set fire to an I Can't Believe It's Yogurt! shop in Austin, Texas. For decades, the victims' families were left in perpetual mourning. That grief was the true subject of the docuseries. Rather than have gratuitous reenactments of the crime or lean into the mystery, director Margaret Brown wanted the documentary to focus on the lasting impact the case has had. Mere months later, the killer was identified using trace DNA evidence, offering some long-overdue clarity for everyone involved. I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth V. Michelle Carter A Nuanced Reflection Of A Precedent-Setting Court Case Many true crime documentaries prefer to lean into the morbid curiosity of unsolved cases, but few actually dive into what happens after the central crime is solved. I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth V. Michelle Carter, in stark contrast, dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to the titular court case. Michelle Carter's boyfriend, Conrad Roy, was found dead by suicide in 2014, but text messages and phone call recordings illuminated Carter's role. She encouraged and advised him to follow through on the plan, forever changing how society and the courts view culpability and complicity in the digital age. Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty One Of The Best Documentaries Based On The High-Profile Murders There have been numerous portrayals of the Murdaugh family in both documentaries and fictional series, including Hulu's 2025 dramatized version of the Murdaugh murders. Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty, however, is a fairly comprehensive overview of Alex Murdaugh's life and alleged crimes, ranging from embezzlement to multiple murders that had hitherto been ruled as cold cases. Across the docuseries' three episodes, the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Maggie and Paul are placed into the broader context of the Murdaugh dynasty and its complex history of alleged cover-ups, money laundering, and fraud, amongst many other charges. The Murdaugh family has captivated audiences for years, but Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty is the perfect crash course for unfamiliar viewers. The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime A Tragedy That Nobody Should Forget Too many murders occur with no clear motive, but understanding why someone was killed doesn't make it any easier. Case in point: Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who was robbed, beaten, and left for dead while tied to a log fence. Sadly, the driving force behind his gruesome murder was his sexuality. Though it should have been enacted far earlier, Shepard's death helped turn the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into federal law. Additionally, his parents started the Matthew Shepard Foundation and devoted their lives to LGBTQ+ advocacy and activism. While these are silver linings, progress should never have to cost lives. Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God One Of The Most Bizarre Phenomenons Of The Past Two Decades True crime is often used interchangeably with murder cases, but there are many other facets to the genre that can be incredibly educational. There are plenty of well-renowned documentaries about cults from days of yore, but journalists rarely get to report on groups that are still active. Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God, however, is an exception. Amy Carlson claimed to have been reincarnated over 500 times, with her past lives including Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Marilyn Monroe, the Hawaiian goddess Pele, and Jesus Christ. The three-episode series follows the life and death of Amy Carlson, the founder of titular religious group Love Has Won. For over a decade, Carlson attracted hordes of followers and spread rampant conspiracy theories, most notably that tragedies like the Sandy Hook school shooting, the Holocaust, and the COVID-19 were all hoaxes. Mommy Dead and Dearest An Introspective Take On One Of The Most Familiar True-Crime Stories The murder of Dee Dee Blanchard is one of the most ubiquitous true crime cases of the century thus far, due in no small part to Mommy Dead and Dearest. The documentary, which was released mere years after Dee Dee's death, delved into daughter Gypsy Rose Blanchard's motive, ostensibly stemming from her mother's Munchausen Syndrome by proxy. The complexities and nuances of the case have astounded the public for years. While some documentaries get movie spinoffs, Gypsy Rose Blanchard inspired multiple TV series, including Hulu's The Act and Lifetime's Love You to Death. Mommy Dead and Dearest was far from perfect, but its impact on the Blanchard family's legacy cannot be overstated. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark A Dedicated True Crime Author Latches Onto The Golden State Killer Case Too often, the perpetrators of these horrific crimes are given the spotlight rather than the people responsible for bringing them to justice. I'll Be Gone in the Dark changes this narrative by centering on Michelle McNamara, the author who— after being sexually assaulted herself— devoted years to hunting down the Golden State Killer.Though she unfortunately didn't live to see it happen, McNamara's work was invaluable to the investigation that resulted in the Golden State Killer's capture and eventual conviction. As such, McNamara's work is a bittersweet reminder that the truth always makes itself known— often when one least expects it. There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane A Harrowing Investigation Into One Of New York's Most Deadly Car Accidents Despite initially releasing in 2011, There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane remains one of HBO's best documentaries. The film dives into the life of Diane Schuler, the woman responsible for the 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash. After the minivan she was driving hit an oncoming vehicle head-on, the accident resulted in 8 fatalities and 3 additional injuries. Subscribe to the newsletter for curated true-crime picks Want deeper context on HBO Max true-crime documentaries? Subscribe to the newsletter for curated viewing recommendations, thoughtful analysis of cases and ethics, and guides tying documentaries to the bigger stories they explore. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Diane's husband and sister-in-law both refused to believe the toxicology report that revealed alcohol and marijuana in her system at the time of the collision, but further investigation only reaffirmed initial findings. The documentary is even more devastating as a result, mirroring how grief is a journey that often starts with denial. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst Arguably The Most Impactful True Crime Documentary Ever Made There are some documentaries that follow the lead-up to true crime mysteries, there are some that focus on the aftermath, but there has never been a documentary as shocking as The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. What started as an investigation into a string of unsolved cases ended in a historic revelation caught on camera. Related 10 Thrilling True-Crime Documentary Series To Watch After The Jinx After the compelling true-crime case against Robert Durst in The Jinx, viewers will be on the lookout for their next thrilling series. Posts By Stephen Holland In his final interview, creator Andrew Jarecki presented Durst with newly uncovered evidence possibly linking him to Susan Berman's murder. When Durst excuses himself, however, he forgets his microphone is on as he admits to "Kill them all, of course." The crew's findings directly led to Durst's arrest and conviction, making it an unparalleled HBO Max true crime documentary.

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