Viewers seem to derive immense thrill and enjoy the suspense of serial killer and true crime documentaries which narrate cautionary tales and depict real heinous acts. Examples of some such nail-biting titles from 2023 include American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing, Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York and Great Photo, Lovely Life: Facing a Family’s Secrets, which showed true crime incidents that created a havoc in society. As this genre gains more ground, let’s look at all the new true crime documentaries releasing in 2024.
These true crime documentaries not only delve into riveting true stories spanning several years but also take the audience into the details of trials and final verdicts. From deaths to con stories, incidents of sexual violence, and the breach of private information leading to a disaster in family lives, a myriad of subjects make this segment vastly diverse and intriguing.
Some examples include the curious case of real estate tycoon Robert Durst in The Jinx: Life and Deaths of Robert Durst and the crypto scam in Bitconned. On the other hand, Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal shall probe into the online dating scam perpetrated by the Ashley Madison Agency. Basically, every true crime fan has something to binge-watch in 2024.
Must-watch true crime documentaries in 2024
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst season 2
Director: Andrew Jarecki
Release date: 21 April – 26 May
Episodes: 6
Synopsis: This documentary picks up the threads of the first season (released in 2015) and follows the trial and last seven years of Robert Durst who confessed on record to the killings and mysterious disappearances of his wife, neighbour and a family friend. The second part unearths more hidden truths, including prison calls interviews and secrets, to give viewers an idea of what happened with the real estate tycoon.
Three episodes of this true crime documentary have already been released and the others are expected to roll out on Max on Sundays.
Pillowcase Murders
Director: Toby Paton
Release date: 14 May
Episodes: 3
Synopsis: This Paramount+ upcoming true crime documentary probes into the heinous murders of serial killer Billy Chemirmir. He targeted older women, and their deaths were initially suspected to be accidents instead of murders. Chemirmir, reportedly, posed as a medical practitioner or a repairman before assuming his true self before the victims. Operating in Texas, he was arrested in March 2018 and was charged for taking 22 lives. However, he was convicted of just two. In September 2023, Billy Chemirmir was found dead in his cell. Find out what happened and the accounts of victims’ friends and families, as well as of police and other law authorities.
Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal
Director: Toby Paton
Release date: 15 May
Episodes: 3
Synopsis: AshleyMadison.com started as a Canadian online dating site for married adults to cheat on their partners in 2001. Things went well until 2015 when the website was hacked and private information about users was leaked. This affected innumerable lives and ruined families across the country. While the incident explored the horrors of infringement of privacy and the leak of sensitive information, it also highlighted a gross social issue of marital problems as AshleyMadison.com had about 37 million users.
Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult
Director: TBA
Release date: 29 May
Episodes: TBA
Synopsis: The upcoming true crime documentary focuses on the dark side of the TikTok craze and social media fame. It follows the curious case of 7M, an agency which represented several TikTok stars like Wilking and her sister Derrick who formed the Wilking Sisters duo. In 2022, Wilking accused 7M of being a sort of cult movement led by leader Robert Shinn, who was also the pastor of the Shekinah Church. Soon, she was joined by other dancers from the agency who raised their voices against 7M’s malpractices and how Shinn isolated them from family and friends and manipulated their lives.
The Netflix logline reads, “TikTok dancers are trapped in a cult masquerading as a management company called 7M; as dancers and former members escape and work to rebuild their lives, they come together to put a stop to the cycle and heal.”
More about the documentary: According to The Sun, Katie Joy Paulson, who goes by the name Without a Crystal Ball online, is one of the reported creators of the show. She told the publication that Shinn has slammed the team with lawsuits but that hasn’t impeded the making of this true crime series.
Homicide: Los Angeles
Created by: Dick Wolf
Release date: TBA
Episodes: TBA
Synopsis: It follows the format of the newly released true crime docuseries Homicide: New York from the same creator. The docuseries is expected to cover horrific crimes in the city and present them from the point-of-view of police officials, attorneys and victims.
More about the series: While not much is known about this upcoming series yet, Netflix confirmed in March that it will release “later in 2024.” Additionally, coming from the makers of Law & Order, it can be expected to be another gripping and gritty retelling of true events.
Black Box Diaries
Directed by: Shiori Ito
Release date: TBA
Runtime: 103 minutes
Synopsis: It follows Tokyo-based journalist Shiori Ito, who attempts to investigate her own sexual assault at the hands of a high-profile offender after the incompetence of the judicial system refused to investigate the physical and sexual abuse case properly.
More about the film: It is considered one of the best true-crime documentaries of the year and was premiered at the 2024 Sundance Festival. In this documentary film, Ito journals her investigations into the matter and a way to face her fears as she anticipated backlash. It is yet to receive an OTT release date.
Other new true crime documentaries released in 2024
Between January and April 2024, quite a number of true crime documentaries were released.
Bitconned: From director Bryan Storkel, the true-crime series chronicles the rise of Ray Trapani and his cohorts who founded Centra Tech. It started in 2010 with the cryptocurrency boom, as the young boys banked on the timely situation, used Photoshop skills and fake profiles to dupe eager investors and raked in millions. But it was all short-lived. The series was released in January 2024.
What Jennifer Did: Directed by Jenny Popplewell, this true-crime documentary was released in April 2024. It is based on the incidents of 8 November 2010 where Jennifer Pan orchestrated a home invasion. In 2015, she was sentenced to death for hiring hitmen to kill her estranged parents.
American Nightmare: Among the true crime documentaries released in January 2024 is American Nightmare helmed by Felicity Morris and Bernadette Higgins. It looks into the 2015 alleged fake kidnapping case of Denise Huskins where she and Aaron Quinn were woken by a masked person in the middle of the night, and Huskins was taken away. However, she was released 48 hours later for a ransom. As detectives investigated the incident, harrowing details came up.
Other highly recommended true crime documentaries of 2024 include Daughters of the Cult, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks season 2, The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare and The Synanon Fix.
(Hero and Featured image: Courtesy Netflix)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
-Which is the best true crime documentary released in 2024?
Some of the best true-crime documentaries released in 2024 include The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, season 2, What Jennifer Did and The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare.
Trinetra is an ardent foodie and bibliophile who writes about films, travel, food and lifestyle. As a writer and literature student, slam poetry and storytelling are her go to jam. When not working, Trinetra is busy looking for her next place to visit or binge-watching Instagram videos for travel inspiration.
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