Get insight on the legal system and the minds of criminals.
Due to my fascination with criminal justice, watching true-crime documentaries on Netflix has become a hobby of mine that is both entertaining and educational. It is interesting to hear about the motives of criminals, their treatment by the legal system and the outcomes of twisted cases. These documentaries are startling, upsetting and eye-opening. With so many options on Netflix, here are my five all-time favorite chilling true-crime documentaries to stream now:
1. Let’s start with my all-time favorite movie and story “Just Mercy.” This film was adapted from criminal attorney Bryan Stevenson’s memoir, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. The movie shares Stevenson’s career fighting against injustice in the “so-called” criminal justice system. The main case of the movie is that of Walter McMillian, an innocent black male who was framed for the murder of a young white teenage girl in Alabama and placed on death row. The PG-13 legal drama includes famous actors, such as Michael B. Jordan playing Bryan Stevenson and Jamie Foxx acting as Walter McMillian. Throughout the film, the viewer becomes educated about the faults of the criminal justice system and discrimination. This documentary is so interesting because it deals with capital punishment, the legal system and the commendable career of an accomplished criminal attorney. While I do not want to spoil the outcome of Walter McMillian’s case, I will say that Bryan Stevenson’s dedication to combatting prejudice and receiving justice for his clients becomes apparent.
2. Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story is an eye-opening documentary on Netflix that describes Brown’s traumatic self-defense which led her to prison. At the young age of 16, Brown shot Johnny Allen, a sex trafficker. She was then tried as an adult and unfairly sentenced to life imprisonment. You might have heard about Cyntoia Brown’s case before because many high-profile celebrities spoke out about the injustice, including Kim Kardashian, Snoop Dogg, LeBron James, T.I. and Rihanna. The 2020 movie focuses on Brown’s fight while incarcerated; they analyze her psychology, past traumatic experiences and her inspiring transformation while in prison. This true-crime documentary is perfect for those interested in how the law can change over time.
3. The story of Lori Laughlin, known by many as Aunt Becky from Full House, and her two daughters’ wrongful acceptances to the University of Southern California made major headlines for months. They were just two of the many students who hired William Rick Singer, a crooked businessman who would help wealthy families get their children accepted to top colleges. Families would pay Singer, and that money would be used to increase SAT or ACT scores, bribe college admissions counselors or falsify athletic credentials to gain sports scholarships. The documentary titled Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal detailing the twisted career of William Rick Singer was so fascinating because, at the time of its release, I was taking my standardized tests and beginning college applications. Hearing about the unfair methods people used to gain admission into universities nationwide was shocking and disheartening. I began to think about all of the qualified students who were victims of the work done by people like Singer. This documentary ends with the outcome of the case. If you are interested in learning about college admissions, the lengths people go to in order to gain admission and the legal system, I highly recommend streaming Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal.
4. Britney vs Spears informs the world about the “Toxic” conservatorship famous singer-songwriter Britney Spears was controlled by for 13 years. After a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization in 2008, she was deemed incapable of governing her own life. According to “The Basics of Conservatorship,” a conservatorship puts a person in charge of another individual’s finances when they are unfit. This means that Britney Spears was unable to make her own financial, personal and medical decisions which led to serious trauma. While Britney is not directly featured in the documentary, we hear from prominent figures from her past, her family and legal experts to gain insight into the conservatorship. Learning about Britney Spears’s life was shocking. I was completely unaware of her situation while singing her hit songs, and it was upsetting to hear about her complete loss of freedom and constant state of torment. I am not completely educated on every detail of Spears or her conservatorship, but I do know that her case has brought attention to the ethics of conservatorships and has educated millions about the legal process. Britney vs Spears is the perfect documentary for Britney Spears’ music lovers and those interested in the law.
5. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey is a captivating four- episode true-crime docuseries about Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Warren Jeffs went from a highly idolized religious figure to a person on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. Jeffs was able to use his power to brainwash his followers and commit immoral, abusive and illegal acts. Hearing about Warren’s actions was disturbing, especially when children were harmed. Survivors speak out about their experiences with the FLDS in the docuseries and inform the public about the crooked nature of the Jeffs family. You learn about Warren Jeffs’ manipulative and wicked personality, which ultimately led to legal punishment. While this docuseries is not for everyone because it covers sensitive subjects (e.g., sexual violence), it was interesting to learn about such a different culture and the power of religion in certain societies, including Warren Jeffs’ belief that he was above the law.
These documentaries have informed me about the legal process, given me insight on the minds of criminals, and caused me to think about crime in a different way – not everything is how it seems. I guarantee that these five chilling true-crime documentaries will become your new favorites and will lead to newfound love of a movie genre.