AMERICAN CRIME DRAMAS
Why We Love Them: The Act, OJ Simpson, Unbelievable + more
True crime is truly an obsession. With hours and hours of content, it can be hard to sift through the noise and find the best of the best. When it comes to true crime dramas — TV shows that take a narrative approach instead of the documentary one — there is that top tier everyone talks about. It comprises the most iconic people and narratives. While we wait for series like Impeachment: American Crime Story and The Pembrokeshire Murders, which will debut this year, watch (or rewatch) these true crime dramas:
THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON
The first season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series American Crime Story explores one of the most notable jury cases in the U.S.: The trial of O.J. Simpson. Cuba Gooding Jr.’s portrayal of the football player turned suspected murderer captivates all, but Sarah Paulson and Sterling K. Brown come out of the series with top-notch performances. Set aside a whole day to binge the 10-episode series because once you start, you won’t be able to stop. Stream it on Netflix.
THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE
The second season of American Crime Story documented the murder of Gianni Versace and the man who did it. Andrew Cunanan, played by Emmy winner Darren Criss, went on a serial rampage of his ex-lovers, which included the famous fashion designer. The psychoanalysis coupled with the stunning performances makes for a deadly and dynamic duo. We can’t wait for season three of American Crime Story, which centers around Monica Lewinsky and the famous impeachment trial. Stream it on Netflix.
WHEN THEY SEE US
Anything from Ava DuVernay will make our list of the best. The director’s five-part series When They See Us tells the story of the Central Park Five. The men of color were convicted of killing a jogger in Central Park, but the injustices of the law find them not guilty years later. The socially conscious Netflix series seems relevant now more than ever. Stream it on Netflix.
UNBELIEVABLE
Speaking of criminal injustice. Unbelievable, which debuted on Netflix late last year, tells the true story of Marie who was raped then convinced by police that it didn’t actually happen. The series based on a ProPublica article puts Booksmart star Kaitlyn Dever in the lead role of Marie, with Merrit Weaver and toni Collette as the detective trying to figure it all out. The powerful cast and visceral experience of watching Unbelievable makes watching all that more captivating. Stream it on Netflix.
THE ACT
You might recognize the story of Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy from the HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest. The dramatized version, The Act, documents the mother-daughter duo that features a horrible case of Munchausen Syndrome. It’s a truly crazy story. Joey King and Partricia Arquette’s performances are eerie, but in the best way possible.
DIRTY JOHN
This Bravo series starring Connie Britton and Eric Bana returns June 2, so now is the perfect time to get caught up. It’s one of the many true crime series out there that was adapted from a podcast. Dirty John was the nickname given to John Meehan, a manipulative man who preyed on women and stole drugs from hospitals. That would have been easy for him given he was an anesthesiologist. With a woman in the lead role, this true crime series has a lot to offer. Stream it on Hulu.
MINDHUNTER
TV and Broadway star Jonathan Groff heads up this Netflix true crime series. In it, viewers get a glimpse into the brains of the most notorious killers of all time. Even though the characters and some of the plot is fictionalized, a lot of the dialogue is pulled from real transcripts. The series is loosely based on a nonfiction novel of the same name by John E. Douglas. Stream it on Netflix.
