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The streamer carries dramatized series and documentary content about real criminal events. The 20 best true crime shows on Hulu for your inner sleuth

The streamer carries dramatized series and documentary content about real criminal events.

The 20 best true crime shows on Hulu for your inner sleuth

The streamer carries dramatized series and documentary content about real criminal events.

By James Mercadante, Kayla Mroch, Ilana Gordon, and Kevin Jacobsen

on October 19, 2025 11:22 a.m. ET

Riley Keough as Rebecca Godfrey in 'Under the Bridge'; 'Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story'; Bill Kurtis, host of 'Cold Case Files'. Credit:

Disney; Courtesy Hulu; Andrew Eccles/A+E Network

If you're looking to explore the evil minds that lurk among us, Hulu offers endless insights into the criminally inclined. Whether you're watching the lighthearted investigations of *BuzzFeed Unsolved*, hard-hitting exposés like *Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence*, or dramatized retellings of real-life tales like *Under the Bridge*, we've curated a lineup that's bound to satisfy the detective inside of you.

Read below for EW's list of the 20 best true crime shows on Hulu.

The Act (2019)

Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee Blanchard and Joey King as Gypsy-Rose Blanchard in 'The Act'. Brownie Harris/Hulu

You're likely familiar with the name Gypsy Rose, the notorious ex-convict who has consistently made headlines ever since her early release from prison in December 2023. Spanning eight episodes, *The Act* recounts the events leading up to the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard (Patricia Arquette), in 2015, a case intertwined with allegations of abuse and factitious disorder.

While the series captures the suffocating atmosphere Gypsy endured under her mother's care — who made her daughter believe she had cancer, among other illnesses and disabilities — what stands out are the performances by Arquette (who won a Golden Globe for the role) and Joey King, who told EW, "Transforming into Gypsy was one of the most challenging but most rewarding things I've ever done." —*James Mercadante*

Where to watch *The Act*: Hulu

**Directors: **Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, Steven Piet, Adam Arkin, Christina Choe, Hannah Fidell

**Cast:** Patricia Arquette, Joey King, AnnaSophia Robb, Chloë Sevigny, Calum Worthy

American Crime Story (2016–present)

Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran in 'The People: v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story'. Prashant Gupta/FX

Ryan Murphy, the producer behind eclectic TV hits like *Glee *and* American Horror Story*, expanded his ever-evolving repertoire when tackling the true crime genre. Winning countless Emmys and two Golden Globes for Best Miniseries or Television Film in 2017 and 2019, FX's anthology series *American Crime Story* dives into infamous historical transgressions ingrained in the American psyche.

Season 1 (by far the best installment) centers on the O.J. Simpson murder trial — lauded by EW's critic as "a meticulously crafted, powerfully resonant docudrama that crackles with timely issues — while season 2 covers the 1997 murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace, and season 3 shifts focus to the late-'90s presidential sex scandal involving Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *American Crime Story*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A

**Directors: **Ryan Murphy, Joel Kazuo Knoernschild

**Cast:** Sarah Paulson, Annaleigh Ashford, Sterling K. Brown, Cuba Gooding Jr., Darren Criss, Beanie Feldstein, Clive Owen, Edie Falco

BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime (2016–2019)

'BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime'. Hulu

Perfectly combining the intimacy of YouTube with the well-researched investigative methods of long-time detectives, cohosts Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara have cleverly crafted *BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime *to be a chilling yet humorous ride. For eight seasons, the duo covers well-known cases (think JonBenét Ramsey, Tupac Shakur, and the Watcher) and more niche topics (the Somerton Man, and Bella in the Wych Elm), all the while providing on-scene sleuthing and in-studio commentary. —*Kayla Mroch*

Where to watch *BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime*: Hulu

**Directors: **Ryan Bergara, Katie LeBlanc

**Cast:** Shane Madej, Ryan Bergara

Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story (2022)

'Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story'.

In 1972, 7-year-old Steven Stayner's captor stripped him of his identity, subjected him to years of abuse, and claimed his parents abandoned him. After nearly eight years, the kidnapper brought home another young abductee named Timmy White. Realizing Timmy's plight, Steven hitchhiked across California to return the boy to his family, only to be reunited with his long-lost loved ones in the process.

As Steven's story sparked the "stranger danger" warnings across the nation and inspired *I Know My First Name Is Steven *(NBC's 1989 miniseries),* Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story* shows how his return wasn't the only shocking revelation the Stayner family had to face. —*K.M.*

Where to watch *Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story*: Hulu

**Director:** Jessica Dimmock

Cold Case Files (1999–2002; 2006; 2017; 2021–present)

Bill Kurtis, host of 'Cold Case Files'. Andrew Eccles

There's something extra fascinating about cold cases, if only because of the mystery factor. *Cold Case File *profiles unsolved murders from the past, with investigators using modern forensic technology and an understanding of criminal psychology to hopefully provide answers to old questions. Garnering multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, *Cold Case Files *aired its first run from 1999 to 2002, with A&E briefly reviving the docuseries in 2006, 2017, and 2021 (with new episodes continuing to air on Hulu). —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Cold Case Files*: Hulu

**Cast:** Bill Kurtis

Daughters of the Cult (2024)

'Daughters of the Cult'.

Ervil LeBaron, also known as the "Mormon Manson," sowed tremendous discord while leading the polygamist Church of the First Born Lamb of God. However, ABC News Studios' *Daughters Daughters of the Cult *shifts focus to those most deeply affected: his children (of which he had more than 50).

Directed by Sarah Mast, the five-episode docuseries exposes the inner workings of the religious sect, where members carried out mass murders at the behest of their fanatical prophet to target rivals and even LeBaron's own kin. Suffering horrors throughout most of their upbringing, the surviving daughters now step forward to share their experiences with their father and find solace in their sisterhood as they recover. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Daughters of the Cult*: Hulu

**Director:** Sarah Mast

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (2025)

Ruby Franke in 'Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke'.

One of 2023's biggest internet stories was the arrest of Ruby Franke, a Mormon family vlogger whose videos of her six children earned her a sizable platform on YouTube. Franke, along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, were charged with felony aggravated child abuse against Franke's two youngest children. (Out of respect for their privacy, the names and faces of the four youngest Franke siblings are not included in the documentary.)

*Devil in the Family* is the story of Franke's slide from millionaire mommy vlogger to convicted child abuser, a descent that was enabled and abetted by the brainwashing and cult-like teachings of Hildebrandt, who Franke saw as a mentor and therapist. The story is unbelievable and upsetting, but the documentary is not exploitative, and interviews with Franke's ex-husband Kevin, and her eldest children Shari and Chad, help make sense of the events that preceded the arrest. *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke*: Hulu

**Director: **Olly Lambert

**Cast: **Ruby Franke, Kevin Franke, Shari Franke, Chad Franke, Jodi Hildebrandt

The First 48 (2004–present)

'The First 48'. A&E

In the aftermath of a murder, the initial 48 hours hold the key to unlocking vital evidence before it fades into oblivion and potentially allows a perpetrator to slip through the cracks. For two decades, this edifying A&E docuseries has been lifting the veil of investigative work during that critical time frame.

Across various cities and crime scenes, each episode follows seasoned and greenhorn sleuths as they spend the first two days post-homicide deploying a myriad of forensic tactics, witness interrogations, and other innovative methodologies to reveal the faces behind the acts.  *—J.M.*

Where to watch *The First 48*: Hulu

**Cast:** Dion Graham, Nathan Schilling, Jason White, Dave Walker

Fyre Fraud (2019)

The Fyre Festival in 2017 was supposed to be the most glamorous musical event of the century. Set on a private island, produced by entrepreneur Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule, the festival promised a lineup of 33 incredible musical artists and luxury accommodations for its attendees. Ticket holders paid thousands of dollars for a chance to rub elbows with celebrities, but when they arrived on the island, they found no trace of the festival experience they were promised.

One of two documentaries produced about the event, Hulu's *Fyre Fraud *breaks down where it all went wrong and who paid the price. From class-action lawsuits to a prison sentence, *Fyre Fraud *is a cautionary tale about the dangers of believing everything you see on social media. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Fyre Fraud*: Hulu

**Directors:** Jenner Furt, Julia Willoughby Nason

The Most Dangerous Animal of All (2020)

'The Most Dangerous Animal of All'. Hulu

Based on Gary L. Stewart and Susan Mustafa's eponymous book, this four-part docuseries offers a fresh take on the never-ending hunt for the elusive Zodiac Killer. *The Most Dangerous Animal of All* chronicles Stewart's quest for answers about his biological parents. After reconnecting with the mother who was forced to give him up at birth, Stewart relentlessly begins searching for his dad, a man he only knows by name, Earl Van Best Jr. However, it isn't long before Stewart's research leads him to a deeply unsettling theory: Could his father have been the Zodiac Killer? —*K.M.*

Where to watch *The Most Dangerous Animal of All*: Hulu

**Director:** Kief Davidson

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The Murder of Laci Peterson (2017)

'The Murder of Laci Peterson'.

Hulu/A+E Network8BIM

Months after Laci Peterson and her unborn child were tragically found dead in the San Francisco Bay, her husband Scott ultimately faced a murder conviction and a death sentence, despite the absence of forensic evidence or eyewitnesses.

Timed with the 15th anniversary of Laci's disappearance on Christmas Eve 2002, A&E's six-part docuseries reopens the case's dossier, challenging the demonized portrayal of Scott and presenting interviews with him while behind bars, as well as with his family members and various legal experts. *The Murder of Laci Peterson* nudges viewers to reevaluate the veracity of media narratives and draw their own conclusions. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *The Murder of Laci Peterson*: Hulu

**Director:** Emily Dillon Berry

Never Let Him Go (2023)

'Never Let Him Go'.

In December 1988, the lifeless body of Scott Johnson — a gay mathematician from Southern California — was found beneath a cliff in Sydney, Australia. Initially deemed a suicide, Scott's older brother Steve adamantly rejected this verdict and spent the next three decades seeking the truth.

Over the course of four episodes, *Never Let Him Go* bypasses the predictable rhythm of the true crime genre, with its nuanced storytelling being both unbiased and politically poignant. The series explores many multifaceted issues, including Sydney's historical negligence towards anti-gay violence, the warped effects of grief, disparities in wealth and justice, and the toxic dynamics between Australians and Americans. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Never Let Him Go*: Hulu

**Directors:** Jeff Dupre, Jacob Hickey

Scamanda (2025)

Scamming is bad for your health as Amanda Riley learns in *Scamanda*. This four-part ABC News true crime series tells the story of a young wife, mother, and blogger who convinced thousands to send her money to help fight the cancer she claimed to have. But when an investigative reporter examines Amanda's claims and the IRS starts tracing the money, Amanda's medical secrets are no longer hers to keep.

True crime fans may have heard the story covered already in the popular podcast *Scamanda*, but the documentary adds faces and further context. If you enjoyed *Anatomy of Lies *(2024) you'll be similarly intrigued and horrified by the grift perpetuated by Riley as told in *Scamanda*. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Scamanda*: Hulu

**Cast: **Rachel Leighson, Chris Savery, Ruby Singleton

The Secrets of Hillsong (2023)

'The Secrets of Hillsong'.

Remember when Justin Bieber was baptized in the bathtub of the New York Knicks' Tyson Chandler? Well, the orchestrator behind this ceremony was none other than Carl Lentz, the skinny-jean-wearing "hipster" pastor who spent a decade serving as the figurehead of Hillsong Church.

Despite its global influence from its Coldplay-lite worship tunes (and its star-studded congregation including Vanessa Hudgens, Kevin Durant, Nick Jonas, and more), the megachurch faced nasty backlash in 2021 when *Vanity Fair* journalists Alex French and Dan Adler unearthed its storied history of misconduct. FX's four-part docuseries traces the peak and decline of Hillsong — incorporating candid interviews with Carl and his wife, Laura, while cautioning against the pitfalls of organized religion: financial exploitation, the ostentatious display of faith, and allegations of sexual abuse. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *The Secrets of Hillsong*: Hulu

**Director:** Stacey Lee

Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (2023)

'Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence'. Hulu

When Larry Ray (who's now serving a 60-year prison sentence) crashed at his daughter's dorm at Sarah Lawrence College in 2010, he leveraged his father-figure guise to convince several students to relocate to his Upper East Side sublet, subjecting them to years of isolation, deprivation, abuse, and psychological torment. Described by EW's critic as "a particularly tough watch," this four-part docuseries unveils the unspeakable events within that apartment — thanks to Ray's compulsive recordings for potential blackmail — while also interviewing the former members (and those still under Ray's influence) as they attempt to reclaim the lost years of their youth and reconstruct their fragmented lives. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Director: **Zach Heinzerling

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (2025)

Grace Van Patten as Amanda Knox in 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox'.

Disney/Adrienn Szabó

Amanda Knox's case was one of the first viral true crime stories of the digital age. An American college student studying abroad in Italy, Knox was accused and convicted of murdering her British roommate. She was almost four years into a 26-year sentence when she was released, exonerated, and left to contend with her unexpected notoriety.

Knox previously shared her story in her 2013 memoir, *Waiting to Be Heard*, but this new miniseries offers a decade's worth of hindsight and an advancement to the story: Knox's attempt to heal from her past by building a friendship with the Italian prosecutor who once made it his mission to convict her. Knox takes control over her story once more, co-writing the final episode and serving as one of the series' executive producers. (Monica Lewinsky, another woman known for being tried in the court of public opinion, is listed as another co-EP.) *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox*: Hulu

**Cast: **Grace Van Patten, Sharon Horgan, Francesco Acquaroli, Giuseppe De Domenico, John Hoogenakker, Roberta Mattei

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

Andrew Garfield as Det. Jeb Pyre in 'Under the Banner of Heaven'. Michelle Faye/FX

Andrew Garfield unveils new dimensions to his craft as Jeb Pyre, the pious detective who investigates the murders of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her infant daughter at the hands of religious extremists. Based on Jon Krakauer's novel of the same name, *Under the Banner of Heaven *is a raw, gritty look into the world of fundamentalist Mormonism and the power of cults, all through Pyre's eyes.

Director Dustin Lance Black told EW: "I hope that like the book, some mainstream Mormons might [watch the show]. They might not talk about it in church, but I hope that if they watch the show, they will be illuminated, and there will be some relief to be had in knowing." *—K.M.*

Where to watch *Under the Banner of Heaven*: Hulu

**Director:** Dustin Lance Black

**Cast: **Andrew Garfield, Sandra Seacat, Gil Birmingham, Sam Worthington, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Denise Gough, Wyatt Russell

Under the Bridge (2024)

Riley Keough as Rebecca Godfrey in 'Under the Bridge'.

In the Hulu miniseries adaptation of Rebecca Godfrey's *Under the Bridge *— which she penned from the perspectives of the adolescents and investigators involved — the late author becomes a central piece of the story. Portrayed by Riley Keough, the New York writer revisits her hometown in British Columbia and stumbles upon the perfect lead for her next book: the disappearance of 14-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta).

Jumping between the past and present, the show chronicles Reena's final days alongside the investigation into her murder, spearheaded by Rebecca and her former best friend turned officer, Cam Bentland (Lily Gladstone). As noted by EW's critic, "the performances in *Under the Bridge* are consistently superb," as "Keough plays Rebecca with a kind of dreamy and alluring reserve" while "Gladstone elevates Cam beyond the character's stern-yet-concerned cop framework." *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Under the Bridge*: Hulu

**Cast:** Riley Keough, Lily Gladstone, Vritika Gupta, Chloe Guidry, Javon "Wanna" Walton, Izzy G, Aiyana Goodfellow, Ezra Faroque Khan, Archie Panjabi

Welcome to Chippendales (2022–2023)

Kumail Nanjiani as Steve Banerjee in 'Welcome to Chippendales'. Erin Simkin/Hulu

From creator Robert Siegel (*Pam & Tommy*), the eight-episode Hulu miniseries delves into the origins of the U.S.'s first male strip dynasty: the Chippendales. Indian immigrant Somen "Steve" Banerjee (Kumail Nanjiani), a gas station employee with Hugh Hefner aspirations, teams up with Emmy-winning director and choreographer Nick De Noia (Murray Bartlett) to transform a lackluster Los Angeles bar into a pulsating male strip revue.

However, their breakneck rise is met with an equally spectacular fall, with their business marred by arson, murder for hire, and a jailhouse suicide. A glitzy true crime romp boasting bulges and G-strings galore, *Welcome to Chippendales* lays bare the greedy and corrupt side of the American Dream. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Welcome to Chippendales*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford, Juliette Lewis, Quentin Plair, Andrew Rannells, Robin de Jesús, Spencer Boldman

Wild Crime (2021–present)

'Wild Crime: Murder in Yosemite'.

Drawing millions of visitors annually, the serene landscapes of America's national and state parks are the grounds for many deadly deeds. Blending elements of nature documentary and true crime, this series follows a team of unconventional investigators as they unravel the most chilling offenses committed on public land. Season 1 of *Wild Crime *delves into the mysterious death of Toni Henthorn after a fall in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the second unravels a murder and a severed hand found in Yosemite. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Wild Crime*: Hulu

**Director: **Lisa Quijano Wolfinger

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