Shows like The Hunt for Veerappan: 8 true crime documentaries like the new Netflix original series

The latest Netflix documentary on the domestic terrorist Veerappan has been praised by viewers and critics alike for its in-depth exploration of one of modern Indian history’s most notorious figures. From murdering informants and law enforcement agents to kidnapping influential figures for ransom, Veerappan terrorised India for decades. The new four-part docuseries offers never-before-seen archival footage and compelling interviews with those who knew and were related to the feared outlaw. It also fleshes out the relentless 20-year-long manhunt to eliminate Veerappan. So if you love binging on riveting true crime documentaries like The Hunt for Veerappan, we have curated a list of 8 shows and films that you just can’t resist.

Mumbai Mafia: Police vs Underworld - Netflix

The Netflix original documentary Mumbai Mafia: Police vs Underworld is helmed by Raaghav Dar and Francis Longhurst and produced by Morgan Matthews and Sophie Jones. The documentary takes its audience back to 90s Bombay, a city rife with crime, corruption and also one where notorious figures from the underworld have routine clashes with each other if not with various law enforcement officers. With a blend of archival footage and dramatised sequences, it explores an era when a special task force was assembled to carry out extra-judicial killings, targetting the notorious crime syndicate known as the D-Company, as well as its leaders Dawood Ibrahim and Abu Salem.

Texas True Crime - Disney+ Hotstar

The chilling documentary, Texas True Crime, is a true crime series that offers a glimpse into some of the most notorious crimes committed in the state of Texas in the US. The series offers firsthand accounts and never-before-seen archival pictures and videos as it dives deep into the minds of some of the most heinous criminals.

No Good Deed: A Crowdfunding Holiday Heist - Disney+ Hotstar

The documentary No Good Deed: A Crowdfunding Holiday Heist revolves around a scandalous tale of greed and manipulation that shocked the world in 2017. When Mark D'Amico and Kate McClure started a Gofundme fundraiser to help a destitute and homeless army vet named Johnny Bobbitt, they became overnight heroes in America. But when journalists and investigators began digging deeper into their finances, it unravelled a sinister scheme to con  nearly 14,000 people in the guise of helping an ex-soldier find a home.

The Tinder Swindler - Netflix

Most true crime documentaries narrate harrowing tales of crimes and how the victims and their kin struggle in their quest for justice. However, the Netflix series The Tinder Swindler showcases how a few victims hatch a scheme to take revenge on the man who conned them out of millions of dollars. The Tinder Swindler focuses on the efforts of the women, who were manipulated by a charlatan posing as a diamond mogul, to bring him to justice by giving him a taste of his own medicine. The documentary is helmed by Felicity Morris, who is best known for producing another popular true crime documentary – Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer.

American Murder: The Family Next Door - Netflix

Stories of individuals going to extreme lengths to be with their paramours are common but their ordeals may vary based on their circumstances. However, the Watts family murders sent shockwaves across the globe in 2018 when it was revealed that Chris Watts murdered his entire family, including his wife and two young daughters, to be with his mistress. Director Jenny Popplewell has structured the documentary in the form of a found-footage mystery film with the help of home videos, social media posts, news clippings, and interviews. This went on to become one of the most-watched documentaries on Netflix in 2020.

The Last Narc - Amazon Prime Video

An American DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was tortured and murdered by one of the most notorious drug cartels in Mexico in 1985. However, nearly 35 years after the horrific incident, former cartel insiders reveal that the CIA was complicit in Camarena’s murder. The documentary, directed by Tiller Russell, focuses on the man who risked his life in his quest for the truth and follows his journey to seek justice for the horrific crime.

Osama Bin Laden: Up Close and Personal - Curiosity Stream via OTTplay Premium

Directed by Alexander Berekl, Osama Bin Laden: Up Close and Personal, offers a new perspective on one of modern history’s most infamous figures. The documentary uses material recovered by US troops in 2011 from the personal hard drives of Bin Laden. The documentary chronicles his final days in his hideout in Pakistan, including his terror strategies and his plans to care for his extended family. You’ll surely discover a lot we bet you didn’t know about the infamous terrorist.

Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist - Netflix

Described as “one of the most complicated and bizarre crimes in the annals of the FBI”, Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist is one of the most riveting documentaries on Netflix. It tells the story of Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man who robbed a bank in broad daylight. Wells eventually succumbed when an explosive tied to his neck went off just when he was about to be apprehended. However, it is soon revealed that he may have been an unwilling participant in a crime orchestrated by others.

Well that's all we got for today's episode, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Written by Ryan Gomez

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