Throughout history, human beings have demonstrated the capacity to engage in a wide range of reprehensible actions. From clubbing a fellow cave-dweller with a thick stick for a larger share of a mammoth’s bounty to farting in an elevator, we are a deeply flawed species. Yet, there are some select members of society that choose to go above and beyond with these heinous acts, committing crimes utterly unfathomable to most of us.
These transgressions manifest in an array of forms, from the devastating mismanagement of a nuclear catastrophe inChernobylto the unspeakable horrors of child abuse depicted inThree Girls.In this list, we will delve into a selection of these crimes as portrayed in the 10 best television series based on true stories that are sure to leave you fuming.
10Appropriate Adult (2011)
Appropriate Adult
In 1994, British serial killer, Fred West was arrested on suspicion of several brutal murders alongside his wife and accomplice, Rose. The couple have since become one the UK’s most notorious pair of criminals with an abundance oftrue crime documentariesand dramatizations centering around their now, fairly-documented crimes.
Appropriate Adult, however, shines a spotlight on the lesser-known figure of Janet Leach, a trainee social worker assigned to West as the titular “appropriate adult.” For those of you unfamiliar with the term, this is someone who supports children and vulnerable adults through arrests, questionings, and other legal proceedings whilst maintaining full confidence and impartially, making for a profoundly intriguing and seldom explored dynamic.
In this two-part series from ITV, Dominic West delivers a bone-chilling performance as the sadistic yet uncomfortably jovial killer, while Emily Watson admirably portrays his conflicted confidant.Appropriate Adultis as compelling as it is unsettling, peeling back the layers of some truly horrific crimes that are bound to leave you both disturbed and incensed.
Stream on The Roku Channel
9The People v. O.J Simpson: American Crime Story (2016)
American Crime Story
Premiering in 2016,The People v. O.J Simpsonwas the first installment in Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’sAmerican Crime Storyanthology. Following on from the success ofGleeandAmerican Horror Story,the duo created this ongoing series in order to dissect some of America’s most infamous scandals, with season one focusing on one of the most controversial trials of the century.
While the series boasts an array of exciting and unexpected cameo appearances, it’s the core cast that steals the show. Cuba Gooding Jr. delivers a brilliant and multi-layered portrayal of O.J. Simpson, sharing the screen with the likes of David Schwimmer, John Travolta, and Sarah Paulson, among others. Without delving into too much detail, this 10-part series comes highly recommended for its in-depth and emotive exploration of this trial, executed with the same style and finesse we’ve come to expect from the show’s esteemed creators.
Stream on Hulu
8A Friend of the Family
Set in the 1970s and with a suitably retro feel to it,A Friend of the Familytells the harrowing story of Jan Broberg, an adolescent who was repeatedly kidnapped and ensnared in a fabricated reality by charismatic family friend, Robert Berchtold. Broberg, who was very much involved in the creation of the series commended it for its accurate depiction of her experiences, tellingMovieWeb, “It’s about a predator, a master manipulator, a sociopathic groomer, who is clearly orchestrating how he’s going to divide and conquer and get to his prey.”
With a stellar cast including Jake Lacy, Colin Hanks and Anna Paquin,A Friend of the Familyoffers a unique and well-crafted take on the typical true crime genre, focusing on the psychological effects of Berchtold’s abuse in this thrilling, but deeply disturbing miniseries.
Stream on Peacock
Read Our Review
7Mindhunter
Mindhunter
Netflix’sMindhunterimmerses viewers in the gripping narrative of FBI agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and his partner Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they pioneer the FBI’s inaugural behavioral science unit, coining the term “serial killer” along the way. Based on the experiences of real-life agent, Robert Ressler, the show tracks Ford’s unsettling journey through the world of some ofAmerica’s most prolific serial killersas he speaks with them in the hope of better understanding their incomprehensibly abhorrent crimes.
This tantalizing psychological crime thriller not only showcases outstanding performances from its core cast, but also includes an array of guest stars who skillfully depict the profoundly troubled psyches of some of the United States' most reviled killers.
Stream on Netflix
6Three Girls
One of the lesser-known entries on this list,Three Girlscenters around theUK child sex abuse scandalthat took place in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, just over a decade ago. This incredibly powerful and socially significant piece of television premiered in 2017, handling the victims stories with the utmost care and compassion whilst shedding light on the truly sickening crimes committed by their abusers.
Touching on the effect that racial tensions had on the case, as well as the severe mismanagement of the trial and long, arduous fight for justice,Three Girlsdocuments this infuriating sequence of events through the eyes of those affected as well as the often-unsung heroes who fought tooth-and-nail for them. With some incredibly moving performances from its young cast, this two-part series incites some seriously strong emotions. And rightly so.
Stream on Tubi
5The Dropout
In a tale of cut-throat ambition,The Dropouttells the story of Elizabeth Holmes and her meteoric rise to prominence with Theranos, a company that promised to revolutionize medical testing, but ultimately failed to do so, leading to Holmes' notorious fall from grace.
The eight-part miniseries explores Holmes' life and motivations in great depth, humanizing the, at times, otherworldly character and providing the audience with a glimpse into her unusual mind. With a breathtakingperformance from Amanda Seyfried, who is almost unrecognizable in her suitably unsettling and deep-voiced portrayal of Holmes, and featuringLost’s Naveen Andrews as Elizabeth’s business partner and love interest, this whirlwind of ups and downs tells a truly compelling story and has left viewers once again questioning the nature of their fellow man.
4This Is Going to Hurt
Another hidden gem from the BBC,This is Going To Hurtis a British comedy based on former obstetrician and gynecologist Adam Kay’s memoir of the same name. The overworked and ill-mannered Adam isplayed by Ben Wishawin a performance that is both gut-wrenchingly hilarious, with his frequent snarky asides to the camera, and profoundly moving as we explore Adam’s personal and professional struggles as an NHS doctor.
The show, unpredictable in its plot and unwavering in its portrayal of the many issues faced by doctors and patients alike, is a beautifully crafted piece that showcases an abundance of acting skill as well witty and intelligent writing, winning best writer for its team of creators and best actor for Wishaw’s phenomenal performance.
Stream on Prime Video
Dopesick, released in 2021 on Hulu, chronicles the genesis of America’s opioid epidemic through a multi-pronged exploration of the drug, Oxycontin. Based on Beth Macy’s book of the same name, this eight-part drama takes the audience on an appropriately hard-to-swallow journey. The show’s non-linear story structure allows for a holistic re-telling of the Oxycontin story, from its creation through the various stages of its promotion as a “non-addictive wonder drug” to its devastating effects on the characters that the audience comes to know and love as the series progresses.
Michael Keaton’s portrayal of a small town doctor to a mining community, and Kaitlyn Denver’s performance as his young patient, each received high praise from both audiences and critics alike, with Keaton winning an Emmy for the role. Other cast include Will Poulter and Phillipa Soo as Oxycontin sales reps, as well as Michael Stuhlbarg in a magnificently icy performance as Perdue’s Richard Sackler, a man who has a lot to answer for.
2Chernobyl
Craig Mazin’s five-part series,Chernobyl,premiered in 2019, artfully re-imagining the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster from the perspective of those who were there. Beginning in the unsuspecting town of Pripyat, the audience gets to know various members of the community before disaster swiftly strikes in the form of a failed test at the plant.
Chernobylapproaches the story from multiple angles, providing us with a detailed depiction of exactly what went wrong and why. Exhaustively researched, the audience is taken into the control room to witness the sequence of events, which precipitated one of the mostcatastrophic human-made disastersin recent history, giving the show a distinctly ominous feel, aided by its cinematography, its dull and precise color palette, and haunting score from Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir.
As we are taken on a play-by-play journey through the catastrophe, the unsung heroes who tried to prevent or lessen the disaster are firmly cemented into our consciousness through a number of moving scenes in which we are shown true bravery and selflessness… Which makes it all the more frustrating when the Chernobyl higher ups fail so miserably to do the same.
Stream on Max
Chernobyl: What Made the HBO Show Such a Relevant Masterpiece
With Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes being released, it might be a good time to revisit the series that emphasized this tragedy so artfully on HBO.
1When They See Us
When They See Us
In 1989, what probably constitutes most people’s worst nightmare happened to five boys when they were falsely accused of violent sexual assault and forced to fight for justice in a horrifyingly unjust system and against enormous racial prejudice.
When They See Usfollows the quintet of The Central Park Five, as they came to be known, through their decades-long legal battle. With every loss, the indescribable anguish of the five protagonists, as well as those trying to help them, cuts straight to the core with a host of breathtaking performances from five extraordinarily talented young actors. This four-part Netflix series is fast-paced and densely packed, mirroring the relentless nature of the case. It delves into systemic racism, police brutality, and an all-together broken system with authority and ease, leaving viewers thoroughly and justifiably enraged.
