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10 Best True Crime Shows To Watch On Discovery+

Author

Daniel Foster

Updated on October 05, 2026

True crime shows can keep fans up all night watching. Which ones should they binge on Discovery+ next?

The best true crime shows on Discovery+ are a collection of the most informative and entertaining accounts, analyses, and exposés regarding the worst criminals in the history of the world. For a long time, audiences have nursed a growing fascination for the gruesome and intriguing tales of real-life crimes. Whether it's a local hometown case or a viral story that's on every news outlet, viewers love to try and solve the mystery right along with the show. Finding out who's guilty and if they get caught give audience members a sense of thrill and excitement, but from the safety of home.

Some of the true crime shows on Discovery also paint highly fascinating character profiles for these criminals. Many audiences are also interested in finding out what makes these criminals tick - the personal, external, and environmental factors that push them to commit despicable things. For those looking for their true crime fix, here are some of the best true crime shows on Discovery+.

10 American Cartel (2021)

The logo for the show American Cartel.

American Cartel has many true crime aspects, from dozens of murders to international drug trafficking, and everything in between. When an officer is murdered, the investigation turns into an international manhunt. Millions of dollars end up being seized and the truth unravels as investigators find out a U.S. street gang has a close relationship with one of Mexico's most dangerous drug cartels. What starts as a murder investigation eventually unravels to reveal details much scarier. The deeper they dive into the case, the more surprises await audiences of American Cartel, undoubtedly one of the best true crime shows on Discovery+.

9 The Hillside Strangler (2021-2022)

Banner for the show The Hillside Strangler.

The Hillside Strangler is a story well known in the true crime community. In the 1970s, in the Los Angeles area of California, a man hunted the streets looking for his next murder victims. Years later when Ken Bianchi was arrested, he tells detectives he knows the identity of the Hillside Strangler. When he starts talking, the police realize he's describing himself. One of the best true crime shows on Discovery+, The Hillside Strangler's accounts are told by Ken Bianchi, the titular killer himself. His persona as he speaks with cops is truly disturbing, and his descriptive details of the gruesome murders may prove to be too much for some viewers.

8 Most Evil(2006-2015)

Most Evil logo

Most Evil attempts to observe true crime from an objective, academic lens. What separates Most Evil from other true crime shows on Discovery+ is that it uses Dr. Michael H. Stone's 22-Point Scale of Evil, a way of categorizing criminals across the spectrum of sheer madness to complete control. Through principles rooted in forensic psychiatry and psychology, Most Evil examines the minds of people like cult leaders Shoko Asahara and Charles Manson, Ted Kaczynski/the Unibomber, the Zodiac Killer, the Virginia Tech shooter, and many of the other truly heinous people from history.

7 Dahmer on Dahmer: A Serial Killer Speaks (2017)

Jeffrey Dahmer

From the '70s to the '90s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jeffrey Dahmer hunted the streets for his victims. Showing the first televised interview with Dahmer, this show relives interviews with relatives and surviving victims of the murderer and cannibal. Dahmer on Dahmer gives an inside look at the gruesome twisted tale of the "good guy" everyone thinks they know. After a closer and more personal look at the man and his crimes, audiences are left filled with dread and the realization that people may not always be who they seem. Dahmer on Dahmer: A Serial Killer Speaks is, without a doubt, one of the most disturbing true crime shows on Discovery+.

6 Finding Andrea (2021-)

Banner for the show Finding Andrea showing pictures of a blonde woman.

Finding Andrea is a show about the disappearance of a single mother named Andrea Knabel in Louisville, Kentucky. She was a young, helpful, and generous woman but, maybe she isn't who she was thought to be. As her loved ones search for her and information about her disappearance, they start to unravel more than what they bargained for. The shocking and disturbing new discoveries her family finds out about her as they try to crack the case will keep viewers on the edge of their seat, and in complete disbelief. As with many true crime shows on Discovery+, Finding Andrea forces viewers to examine their own life from a different angle.

5 Queen Of Meth (2021)

Banner for the show Queen Of Meth showing a woman looking back.

This is an interesting true crime documentary that isn't about murder per se. Queen of Meth follows Lori Arnold, one of America's most notorious drug dealers, as she goes back to her hometown and reflects on her life of crime. Fans will love the excitement of the story as it goes through the ups and downs during her life as a criminal warlord. Lori explains the dangers and fears that go along with her drug of choice, meth. The realities of the show are enough to frighten viewers, but unlike most true crime shows on Discovery+, Queen of Meth ends on a decidedly hopeful note.

4 The Lake Erie Murders (2018-2020)

The logo for The Lake Erie Murders.

Lake Erie is a fascinating location, boarding four states in the U.S. and Canada. The many locations it touches on hold many secrets of the various murders that have taken place there. Fans will find this show haunting as each episode unfolds a true and dark tale of a murder that occurred on Lake Erie, often in places where viewers least expect it. The twists and turns of the details are enough to keep the viewers on edge with suspense. The Lake Erie Murders is one of the best true crime shows on Discovery+ for how it prompts viewers to find out more about the murders themselves.

3 Fear Thy Neighbor (2014-2021)

Fear Thy Neighbor logo

Fear Thy Neighbor breaks down into various episodes each containing its own dark tale about murder. What distinguishes Fear Thy Neighbor from other true crime shows on Discovery+ is that the documentary describes the feuds that have taken place between neighbors - particularly the ones that escalate to unthinkable levels. These scary stories leave viewers looking over their shoulders and thinking twice about the people they share a neighborhood with. At the very least, Fear Thy Neighbor proves that sometimes, small arguments just aren't worth it.

2 Web Of Lies (2014-)

Banner for the show Web Of Lies showing a man stalking a woman.

The old saying stands true, people may not be who they seem online. Web Of Lies tells individuals stories of the horrors they faced online. From stalkers to serial killers, predators creep behind the computer screen to lure their victims into harm's way in one of the most frightening true crime shows on Discovery+. These chilling true tales of harmless online interactions that turn out to be full of manipulation and lies will make any viewer second guess who they are chatting with. Web of Lies remains a timely reminder of the real dangers behind virtual platforms.

1 Deadly Women (2008-)

The title for the documentary series Deadly Women placed next to a woman in front of water

The aptly named Deadly Women is a female-centric true crime show about women who have committed murder. It covers cases from older ones based in the 1890s to more recent ones in 2001. Reenactments of the crimes are based on the stories of police reports and investigations to explore their motives. Hoping to prove that women are fueled by a more complex and long-term reason to kill as opposed to men, Deadly Women is intriguing and unique even among the true crime shows on Discovery+.

Related Topics About The Authors

Kayla is a lists writer for Screen Rant. She has an ever-growing love for movies, starting at a very young age with Disney movies and musicals. When she saw her first horror movie, A Nightmare on Elm Street, she fell in love with the horror genre. Even though she favors horror movies, she enjoys watching all genres from action-packed superhero movies to intriguing dramas. Kayla is very involved in the arts so, when she is not writing articles for Screen Rant, you can find her writing her own books or taking photos. She can often be found geeking out at comic conventions and theme parks.

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