Movies Based on True Crimes You Should Watch Today!

Some movies simply entertain us. Others make us think. But some manage to do both, especially when they're based on real crimes. You can't help but wonder: "How did this actually happen?"

In this article, I’ve picked true crime movies that left a lasting impact on me. These films don’t just recount tragic events. They place us face-to-face with the complexity of the human mind, justice, and society. They unsettle, move, and above all, remind us that reality can be every bit as dark as fiction.

If you're into mystery, investigation, and powerful dramas based on real events, this list is for you.

Boston Strangler

Available on Disney+

This film follows two journalists who investigate the series of murders that terrorized Boston from 1962 to 1964. With a tense and investigative tone, the movie highlights these women’s relentless pursuit of answers while they face sexism and skepticism from society.

Based on the true story of Albert DeSalvo, who confessed to being the "Boston Strangler," the case remains controversial because the evidence was never fully conclusive. The film raises doubts about the confession and exposes flaws in the investigative system of the time.

Snowtown

Available on Prime Video

This Australian film is harrowing and hauntingly realistic. It depicts the "Snowtown Murders," a series of shocking crimes in South Australia in the 1990s. The film shows how John Bunting manipulated vulnerable youths into his violent circle, fueling hatred against marginalized groups.

Perhaps the most chilling element is how Bunting psychologically dominated his accomplices and managed to hide the crimes for so long. The bodies were discovered in barrels inside an abandoned bank vault, which left a lasting mark on Australian criminal history.

Daniel Henshall delivers an unforgettable performance as Bunting, capturing the cold magnetism of a true predator.

An American Crime

Available on Prime Video and YouTube

This is undeniably one of the most distressing films on this list. It’s based on the horrifying case of Sylvia Likens and tells the story of her abduction, torture, and murder in 1965. Sylvia was left in the care of Gertrude Baniszewski, who, along with her children and even neighbors, participated in her abuse.

The case shocked the nation not only for its brutality but also for the many people who, by their actions or inaction, allowed the violence to occur. The film focuses on the emotional toll on those involved and the failures of the system that should have protected her.

Elliot Page (credited as Ellen Page at the time) plays Jennifer, the victim’s fictional sister, powerfully expressing the helplessness and frustration of someone trying to do the right thing in a cruel situation.

Woman of the Hour

Available on Prime Video

In this compelling thriller, we follow a cold case investigator who uncovers a fresh lead about a woman's disappearance from decades earlier. She becomes entangled in a web of secrets, lies, and unresolved pain from the past.

While not a direct retelling of a single crime, the film is clearly inspired by real-life unsolved crimes, such as the infamous Zodiac Killer who terrorized California in the '60s and '70s, sending cryptic messages to law enforcement and the media.

Amy Adams portrays the lead with both intensity and vulnerability. The weight of the unsolved crime and her character’s personal trauma makes the investigation feel even more intimate and urgent.

Abducted in Plain Sight

Available on Netflix

Inspired by shocking real-life stories, this drama follows a mother's ordeal after her daughter is kidnapped. The abduction happens in broad daylight, with no witnesses willing to come forward, which highlights the family’s desperation and the investigators’ race against time.

Cases like Jayme Closs’s, who was abducted in 2018 after her parents’ murder, serve as a real-world backdrop. The film also examines failures in the system and the importance—or absence—of the community in extreme situations.

Lily Collins delivers a raw and powerful performance as the mother, refusing to accept her daughter's disappearance as final and doing whatever it takes to bring her home.

Citizen X

Available on Max

Based on one of the most chilling cases in Soviet history, this film chronicles the relentless hunt for serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, who was responsible for more than 50 gruesome murders from the 1970s through the 1990s. Known as the "Butcher of Rostov," Chikatilo preyed on vulnerable victims, often children, with disturbing coldness.

Set during the Soviet era, the story highlights a political system that hindered law enforcement and denied the very existence of serial killers, dismissing it as a "Western phenomenon." Bureaucracy, underfunding, and strict censorship made the investigation nearly impossible.

Stephen Rea stars as Detective Viktor Burakov, who leads the investigation with dogged perseverance despite being ordered to stand down. His performance powerfully conveys the psychological burden of trying to catch a merciless killer almost alone.

The Frozen Ground

Available on Netflix

Set against the stark backdrop of Alaska, this dark thriller follows the investigation into a string of disappearances in the remote, icy wilderness. Inspired by the true story of Robert Hansen, an apparently ordinary baker who, during the 1980s, kidnapped women and took them into the wild, where he hunted them like prey.

The chilling contrast between the tranquil frozen landscapes and the brutality of the crimes creates an oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere. The film also highlights how difficult it was for these mostly marginalized women to be heard and believed.

John Cusack delivers a deeply unsettling performance as Hansen, exposing the monster lurking beneath the facade of an upstanding citizen.

The Clovehitch Killer

Available on Prime Video

Imagine learning that your own father, who seems like a friendly and devoted neighbor, is suspected of being a serial killer. This is the premise of this psychological thriller, which focuses on a teenage boy who starts to piece together clues about the elusive “Clovehitch Killer.”

Loosely inspired by cases like the BTK Killer (Dennis Rader), who lived for decades as a respected community member while secretly committing heinous crimes, the film delves into the tension between family loyalty and a sense of justice.

Dylan McDermott stands out in his role as the father, blending charisma, rigidity, and an undercurrent of menace that keeps viewers uneasy throughout.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

Available on Prime Video

Instead of focusing solely on the murders, this film depicts Ted Bundy through the eyes of Liz, his longtime girlfriend, showing how he managed to conceal his true self even from those closest to him. The sharp contrast between his charm and his heinous acts is especially chilling.

Bundy was responsible for at least 30 murders in the 1970s, and his televised trial turned into a national spectacle. He is a classic example of how charisma can become a tool for manipulation.

Zac Efron delivers a remarkable performance, exploring Bundy’s ambiguities without romanticizing him. The suspense builds as denial unravels and the truth becomes undeniable.

Zodiac

Available on Max

This modern classic directed by David Fincher carefully reconstructs the obsessive search for the Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area from 1968 to 1974. The criminal taunted newspapers and police alike with ciphers and cryptic letters, inciting widespread paranoia.

The investigation drags on for decades, consuming police officers, journalists, and especially cartoonist Robert Graysmith, whose obsession with the mysterious killer drives the narrative. To this day, the Zodiac’s identity remains officially unsolved.

Jake Gyllenhaal excels as Robert Graysmith, joined by Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr., all delivering captivating performances that capture the frustration and exhaustion of an endless case.

Films based on true crimes have a unique impact. They carry the weight of reality. They don’t just entertain; they confront us with urgent social issues: systemic violence, institutional failures, media influence, and the complexities of human nature.

Watching these stories is like looking into the darkest corners of humanity and, at times, exposing the weaknesses of a system meant to protect us. These movies leave a deep impression, echoing long after the credits roll.

If you appreciate thought-provoking and challenging stories that make you reflect, this selection is an excellent place to begin. If you’ve seen any of these or have more recommendations, share your thoughts with us in the comments!