Movies About True Crime

From Kurt Kuenne, starring Kurt Kuenne, Andrew Bagby, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby
Rated Not Rated

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a documentary created by Kurt Kuenne. The film follows the story of Kuenne's close friend Andrew Bagby, who is murdered by his ex-girlfriend Shirley Turner in 2001. Kuenne tells the story of Bagby's life and death to his son Zachary, who is born posthumously. The documentary dives into the tragedy of the murder, as well as the legal and emotional battles between Bagby's family, Turner's family, and the legal system. It examines the cases of Bagby's murder, as well as Turner's subsequent acquittal, and highlights the personal and public repercussions of such devastating events. It is a heartbreaking story of love and loss, and a reminder of the fragility of life.

From Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky, starring Gary Gitchell, Todd Moore, Dana Moore, Pam Hobbs
Rated Not Rated

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory is a documentary film by directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, which focuses on the wrongful convictions of three teenage boys from West Memphis, Arkansas. In 1993, three eight-year-old boys were found dead in a drainage ditch, and the police quickly arrested three local teenagers—Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley—for the murders. These teenagers, later known as the West Memphis Three, were tried and convicted of the heinous crime and sentenced to life in prison. The film focuses on the legal and emotional travails of the West Memphis Three, as they fight to prove their innocence in the face of overwhelming public opinion and a lack of physical evidence. The documentary follows their trials and appeals, as well as the efforts of the defense team, family members, and activists who work tirelessly to prove the innocence of the three teenagers. Through interviews with the families of the victims and the accused, law enforcement, and activists, the film provides a deep look at the case and the injustice that was done. Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory won the 2012 Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. In 2011, the three men were also freed

From Errol Morris, starring Randall Adams, David Harris, Gus Rose, Jackie Johnson
Rated Not Rated

The Thin Blue Line is a 1988 American documentary film directed by Errol Morris, examining the investigation and trial of Randall Dale Adams, a man convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1976 murder of Dallas police officer Robert Wood. The film interviews witnesses, law enforcement officials, and other people related to the case, while weaving re-enactments of the murder, archival footage, and courtroom scenes. Through the presentation of evidence, including the testimony of the only witness to the shooting, the film argues that Adams was wrongly convicted, and that the actual perpetrator was David Harris. The Thin Blue Line is credited with overturning Adams' conviction in 1989, when a district attorney decided to no longer prosecute him.

From Laura Poitras, starring Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, William Binney, Jacob Appelbaum
Rated R

Citizenfour is a 2014 documentary film directed by Laura Poitras, chronicling the experiences of Edward Snowden. The film follows the story of Snowden, who contacts the filmmakers from a Hong Kong hotel room in 2013, where he is staying while seeking asylum from the US government. Snowden discloses classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA), exposing global surveillance programs that have been secretly implemented by governments around the world. The film shows the encounters between Snowden, Poitras, and journalist Glenn Greenwald, as they work to uncover the true extent of the NSA’s surveillance activities. Interwoven with these sequences are interviews with other people affected by the Snowden revelations, which provide a broader context for the story. In the end, Citizenfour offers a thoughtful meditation on the value of privacy and the power of individuals to stand up against powerful institutions.

From Brian Knappenberger, starring Aaron Swartz, Tim Berners-Lee, Cindy Cohn, Gabriella Coleman
Rated Not Rated

The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz is a 2014 biographical documentary film about the life of computer programmer, writer, political organizer and Internet activist Aaron Swartz. The film follows Aaron’s life from early childhood to his eventual suicide while facing a 35-year prison sentence for downloading millions of academic articles from the online archive JSTOR. Through interviews with Aaron’s friends, family, and colleagues, the film examines his career and personal life, his fight to make information free, and the legal battle that ended with his tragic death. It also looks at the importance of an open Internet, and highlights the dangers of corporate control of information access.

From Amy Berg, starring Jason Baldwin, Damien Wayne Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Michael Baden
Rated R

West of Memphis is a documentary about the wrongful conviction of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley for the murder of three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. The film follows Damien Echols, who was sentenced to death, and his family and supporters as they fight for his release from prison. The documentary provides an in-depth look at the evidence and the court proceedings, painting a picture of a flawed justice system that allowed the men to be wrongfully imprisoned. In addition, the documentary examines the circumstances leading up to the murders, as well as the effects on the community and the victims' families. West of Memphis is an inspiring story of perseverance and justice in the face of injustice and a testament to the power of the truth.

From Andrew Jarecki, starring Arnold Friedman, Jesse Friedman, David Friedman, Elaine Friedman
Rated Not Rated

Capturing the Friedmans is an Academy Award-nominated 2003 documentary film directed by Andrew Jarecki. The film chronicles the story of the Friedmans, an upper-middle class Jewish family from Long Island, New York, whose lives were forever changed when patriarch Arnold Friedman was arrested and charged with multiple counts of child molestation. Through home video footage and interviews with family members, Jarecki is able to explore the complex dynamics at work in the Friedman household and gain a unique insight into the events that led to their unraveling. The film is an exploration of the impact of a family tragedy on those who are most affected by it, and how society interprets and reacts to the crime. It is also a story of the power of the media to shape public opinion and the justice system.

From Directors: Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon, starring Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Kharey Wise, Raymond Santana
Rated Not Rated

The Central Park Five is a 2012 documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon. The documentary follows the story of five teenagers who, in 1989, were wrongfully convicted of the rape of a female jogger in New York City's Central Park. Through interviews with the five men, as well as their families, legal teams, and other individuals involved in the case, the documentary examines the racism, injustice, and corruption that lead to their wrongful convictions. It also looks at how the case had a lasting impact on the lives of these men, even after their convictions were overturned. Ultimately, the documentary serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of justice and the toll that racism can take on individuals, families, and communities.

From Tiller Russell, starring Mike Dowd, Ken Eurell, Walter Yurkiw, Chickie
Rated R

The Seven Five is a 2014 documentary about the most notorious police corruption scandal in New York City history. Directed by Tiller Russell, the film follows former NYPD officer Michael Dowd and his partner Kenny Eurell who, during the late 1980s and early 1990s, ran a gang of Brooklyn cops known as 'The Seven Five'. Through a series of interviews with law enforcement, mobsters and members of the community, the film reveals how Dowd and Eurell corrupted the force and almost brought the system down. They were eventually arrested and sentenced to prison. The Seven Five is an inside look at the darkness that lies within the public-funded agency, and how corruption can spiral out of control when a few bad apples are left unchecked.

From Michele Josue, starring Michele Josue, Judy Shepard, Zeina Barkawi, Dennis Shepard
Rated Not Rated

Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine is a documentary film that tells the tragic story of Matt Shepard, a gay college student who was beaten to death in 1998 in a hate crime inspired by his sexual orientation. The film focuses on who Matt was as a person, rather than his death. It follows his family and closest friends who provide insight into his life and the lasting impact his death has had on them. The film also includes interviews with people who interacted with him on the night of his death, as well as others with whom he interacted during his brief life. Through archival footage and personal interviews, the film paints a portrait of a young man whose life was cut tragically short but whose legacy continues to inspire and motivate people everywhere to fight for justice and equality for all.

From Bart Layton, starring Adam O'Brian, Nicholas Barclay, Carey Gibson, Bryan Gibson
Rated R

The Imposter is a 2012 British-American documentary film directed by Bart Layton. It tells the true story of Frederic Bourdin, a young French man who assumed the identity of a missing Texas teenager, Nicholas Barclay, in the late 1990s. The film follows Bourdin's story as he convinces a loving family and a skeptical investigator that he is Barclay. Through interviews, re-enactments, and archival footage, the film examines the issue of identity, and how easily it can be fabricated. The film ultimately reveals the truth behind the deception, and how Bourdin's imposture was allowed to go on for so long. The Imposter was critically acclaimed and won several awards, including Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards.

From Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky, starring Delbert Ward, Roscoe Ward, Lyman Ward, Walt Geisler
Rated R

Brother's Keeper is a 1992 documentary film from directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky which tells the story of the four Ward brothers, William, Roscoe, Delbert and Lyman, who lived together in a small shack in Munnsville, New York. Following the death of their brother William, Delbert was charged with second degree murder. The film follows the legal proceedings, as well as the brothers' personal lives, as they struggle to understand the events that have unfolded. Throughout the film, the filmmakers capture the brothers' unique personalities and their bond as family. Delbert is ultimately found innocent due to lack of evidence, but the film ends on a bittersweet note, as the brothers must go on living a life of poverty.

From Directors: David Farrier, Dylan Reeve, starring David Farrier, Dylan Reeve, David Starr, Kevin Clarke
Rated R

Tickled is a 2016 documentary film that follows New Zealand journalist David Farrier and his colleague Dylan Reeve as they investigate the strange world of competitive endurance tickling. What begins as a light-hearted exploration of a strange phenomenon quickly turns into a complex and shocking expose of a bizarre and powerful web of deceit and exploitation. Through interviews with participants and victims, Farrier and Reeve uncover a multi-million dollar industry that has been built on blackmail, threats, and intimidation. As the filmmakers unravel the twisted secret behind competitive tickling, they find themselves in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an anonymous figure who will do anything to protect their empire.

From Directors: Shawn Rech, Brandon Kimber, starring Dexter Hammett, Joseph Alex, Jason Patrick, Denny Castiglione
Rated PG-13

From Benjamin Statler, starring Daniel Roebuck, Sarah Scott, August Emerson, Tyler Bryan
Rated Not Rated

From Matthew Heineman, starring Tim Nailer Foley, José Manuel 'El Doctor' Mireles, Paco Valencia, Chaneque
Rated R

From Marc Silver, starring Lucia McBath, Ron Davis, Michael David Dunn, Russell Healey
Rated TV-MA

From Directors: Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk, starring Robin Bourland, Daisy Coleman, Charles Coleman, Melinda Coleman
Rated TV-14

From Directors: Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill, starring Aileen Wuornos, Nick Broomfield, Terry Humphreys-Slay, Leitha Prather
Rated R

From Directors: Nick Broomfield, Barney Broomfield, Marc Hoeferlin, starring Nick Broomfield, Lonnie David Franklin Jr., Donna, Steve
Rated TV-MA

From Directors: Rod Blackhurst, Brian McGinn, starring Amanda Knox, Meredith Kercher, Raffaele Sollecito, Giuliano Mignini
Rated TV-MA

From Carl Colby, starring William Colby, Dale Andrade, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Corrado Cantatore
Rated Not Rated

From Havana Marking, starring Tomislav Tom Benzon, Daniel Vivian, Jasmin Topalusic, Rob Kennedy
Rated Not Rated