Fiction can be a creator's best friend, allowing far more possibilities to flourish. With endless options, audiences can be taken on a journey never thought possible. However, with the additional layer of truth, a story can gather even more captivation in its narrative. Warranting viewers to question whether or not they'd make the same decisions in certain scenarios, spectators are brought deeper in.

Recently, the docudrama limited-series niche has been gaining some edge in popularity on television. Utilizing real-life crime and heartache to their advantage, these shows capture moral quandaries that force a sense of self-questioning. Heavily focused on the dynamics between characters, many of these stories bend in unusual ways, inevitably leading toward shocking twists and turns. Not having a basis in truth can largely dampen a narrative, and that's why the best-limited series always do.

10 The Long Shadow Follows a Manhunt

Over seven episodes, the British crime drama The Long Shadow takes viewers on a thrilling manhunt journey. The story follows the 5-year search for serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, as he was wanted for the murders of 13 women committed between 1975 and 1980. Sutcliffe was dubbed the Yorkshire Ripper for the resemblance of his crimes to those of Jack the Ripper.

While only 13 women have been named to be Sutcliffe's, there are more than several other unsolved attacks. Throughout the 5-year search, Peter was interviewed by the authorities nearly 10 times. However, the British police made no arrests. The manhunt became costly as the years went on, which attracted a lot of backlash from the UK public.

9 The Spy Features Sacha Baron Cohen in a Serious Role

Starring Sacha Baren Cohen in a much more serious role than Borat, The Spy shares the story of an Israeli spy who infiltrated the Syrian government. Created and directed by Gideon Raff, the miniseries is inspired by true events and based on the French novel L'espion qui venait d'Israël.

Receiving a nomination for a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor in a Miniseries/Television Film, Cohen was heavily praised for his performance. While there have been some negative reviews concerning some discrepancies with historical accuracy, the show's overall reception has been generally favorable. The high-stakes efforts, paired with a captivating performance, bring viewers right to the edge of their seats.

8 The Act Depicts Gypsy Rose Blanchard

While Gypsy Rose has been a heavily discussed topic following her release on December 28th, 2023, there's no better time to watch one of the creations inspired by real-life events. The Act depicts factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA), a condition in which a caregiver declares their patient to be sick despite having no real illness. Starring Joey King as Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Patricia Arquette as her mother, Dee Dee, the narrative follows the two's unusual dynamic.

While there have been a few attempts to portray these events, The Act stands as one of the more respected iterations. Declaring each character as a real-life person, the film garners far more investment from the audience. While other TV shows/films have tried to make content on a similar concept, they fail to provide the legitimacy The Act achieves.

7 Monster Caused Controversy With its Serial Killer Motifs

Causing some controversy because of the portrayal of Jeffery Dahmer in the show, Monster quickly became the topic of conversation after releasing on September 21st, 2022. Starring American Horror Story lead man Evan Peters as Dahmer, the story follows the life of Jeffery from his upbringing to his murders between 1978 and 1991. The miniseries highlights how the times may have influenced Dahmer's evasion of being caught.

Serial killer TV shows and films tend to be heavily produced due to humanity's fascination with the incomprehensible. With the content being made, a good deal of fail to show these horrific characters in their truly heinous light. There has been some controversy as to the necessity of this particular work; some have said this kind of evil doesn't deserve attention. Others state these events actually took place, and many are still affected to this day by the loss of their loved ones.

6 Anne Is Worth Tracking Down

While it may be a bit more difficult to find than other shows streaming on major networks, Anne is worth every moment of tracking down. The British TV miniseries stars Maxine Peake as Anne, an activist campaigning for the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. On April 15th, 1989, a crowd rush at a Liverpool football game in Sheffield left 97 dead, including Anne's 15-year-old son, Kevin.

While there is nothing that could bring her as much solace as when her son Kevin was alive and well, her efforts were commendable and brought unity after tragedy. The horrific events spawned a sense of community and a praiseworthy leader in an awful fate, making for a heartwarming tale despite heartache. Anne won Best Miniseries at the Seoul International Drama Awards back in 2022.

5 Baby Reindeer Took Netflix by Storm

Written, directed, and starring Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer depicts the unsavory story of a middle-aged female stalker. Created from his anecdotal experience of being stalked, Gadd portrays the efforts of facing one's past. While the story is still fictitious, it still has a basis in real life - and what's better than a primary source?

While the whole situation is quite unusual and comes across as less than warranted, the thoughtful, deeper message behind the film is clever on multiple sides. Though Gadd is a comedian and makes many moments gleam with a bit of wit, differing contemplative moments allow the audience to step into each character's shoes. The scenes in this miniseries portray complex instances and emotions that aren't easy to sit through but have tremendous payoffs in the end.

4 Unbelievable Shares a Disturbing Search for Truth

Covering graphic content that some may find too explicit, Unbelievable shares a tale of trauma and mystery. The series stars Kaitlyn Dever as Marie, a woman charged with falsely reporting that she was raped. Two detectives, played by Toni Collette and Merrit Weaver, set out to uncover whether Marie is lying or telling the truth.

Unbelievable is based on a set of serial rape cases that happened in Washington and Colorado between 2008 and 2011. The series does a nice job of drawing in suspense despite the story being based on a real-life instance. While Marie recants her story in a jarring manner, there is little to no evidence before the two detectives step in. When they do, the show gains an empowering edge in favor of justice for the truth.

3 The Offer Portrays the Making of The Godfather

The Offer depicts the experience Al Ruddy had while making the iconic classic, The Godfather. The biographical drama created by Michael Tolkin for Paramount+ finds a way to blend Hollywood showbiz with the history surrounding the legendary cinematic artwork. Starring Miles Teller, Nora Arnezeder, Matthew Goode, the show is filled with accomplished actors.

Fans of The Godfather franchise won't want to miss out on this tremendous miniseries. While perfectly retaining all the classic bits without tainting anything, The Offer finds a perfect balance. While some critics find the show a bit all over the place with sub-plots, the pace adds to the tedious nature behind the creation of cinematic history.

2 When They See Us Highlights Discrimination

When They See Us depicts the harsh tale of a jogger who was assaulted and raped in Central Park, NY. Five individuals were charged with the crime despite their claims of innocence. Over 25 years, from the moment they were accused as teens to adulthood, these five individuals fought for their freedom and integrity.

Notably, the series is jam-packed with wonderful Emmy nominees/winners, including Jharrel Jerome, Michael K. Williams, and Felicity Huffman (the list goes on). The powerful performances displayed in When They See Us coagulate into a profound message that casts into ignorant prejudices held by parts of society today. Sharing the story in only four episodes, co-writer and director Ava DuVernay created a commanding narrative based on a true story.

1 Chernobyl Depicts the Moments of Disaster