10 best true-crime shows on Hulu, ranked

True crime shows have an alluring charm. Even though they deal with the grim reality of life, where murders and crimes are rife, this genre offers a detailed look inside the minds of some of the most wanted criminals, which is addictive for viewers. Whether is it true crime docuseries or true crime-inspired shows, here is a look at ten of the most taut and gripping shows on Hulu that fans of true crime should definitely watch.

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Daughters of the Cult, The Murder of Laci Peterson, and other true crime shows on Hulu

10. American Crime Story

Executively produced by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, and Brad Simpson, this true crime anthology series is a part of the American Story franchise and has three seasons till now, with each season focusing on a different and famous crime that shocked the nation. Season 1 chronicles the trial of O.J. Simpson, while Season 2 looks into the death of designer Gianni Versace.

Season 3 focuses on the controversy involving Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. The critically acclaimed show has won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes, for its gritty and realistic depiction of the events that unfolded in each of the cases. The show is a must-watch as it presents a gripping look at some of the most famous public cases and is a powerful docudrama, covering timely issues.

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9. Daughters of the Cult

Directed and produced by Sara Mast, this true crime documentary revolves around the life of Ervil LeBaron, who headed the religious fundamentalist and polygamous group, called, Church of the First Born Lamb of God. Also known as “Mormon Manson”, Ervil veiled tremendous control over the Church, which became a cult. The show uncovers the hidden secrets behind the rituals of the cult, through the testimonies of his children and former members.

The docudrama is a chilling look at the reality of dangerous cults that are still flourishing in the modern world. It is revealed that Ervil ordered the murders of his opponents, practiced blood atonement, and even Ervil’s kin were killed. The five-episode miniseries is gripping, alarming, and addictive. It also has a poignant element as it sensitively shares the trauma caused to Ervil’s daughters and the former members, who suffered horrifying things inside the cult.

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8. BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime

Created by Ryan Bergara and hosted by Bergara and Shane Madej, this viral and famous online true crime show made waves on the internet as it dissected some of the most famous and unsolved true crime cases in history. The show has eight seasons. Steven Lim was the creative director of this show. Coupled with the research of Madej and Bergara, who often quipped comedic statements but also provided a detailed inspection of the case, this show is an intriguing watch.

The popular duo covers well-known cases like JonBenet Ramsey, and Tupac Shakur, and provides a detailed and neat timeline of events before and after the crime. The show is now available on Hulu and even contains a question-and-answer episode after each week’s episode. Most of the episodes are done on the set, but in some cases, the duo has even traveled overseas.

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7. The Most Dangerous Animal of All

A four-part docuseries, this gripping show is based on a New York Times best-selling book by Gary L. Stewart and Susan Mustafa and revolves around Stewart’s search for his father, who abandoned him. However, his search points towards a horrifying fact as he believes that his father was none other than the infamous Zodiac killer, who caused mayhem during the late 1960s with his serial killings.

The show is produced by Ross M Dinerstein and directed by Kief Davidson, who is an Academy Award-nominated director. The show intertwines the personal ramifications of a highly publicized case and focuses on Stewart’s search for his identity as he tracks his mother, who abandoned him, and only knows that his father’s name was Earl Van Best Jr. The show is a suspenseful watch and has various twists and turns. This one is a must-watch and provides a taut narrative and plotline.

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6. The Murder of Laci Peterson

This true crime docuseries focuses on the sensational case of a pregnant Laci Peterson, who was initially missing in Modesto California. This prompted an intensive search. However, she was found dead in the San Francisco Bay area. Her husband Scott, became the prime suspect and was soon convicted of murder and handed a death sentence, even though there were no eyewitnesses or forensic evidence.

Directed by Emily Dillon Berry, the series has six episodes and chronicles the life of Laci before her disappearance and murder and the subsequent search and murder trial. The show challenges the one-sided view of Scott as presented to the public and has interviews with him and various family members and legal experts. The show is a gripping watch and forces viewers to question the reality portrayed by the media.

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5. Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence

Directed by Zach Heinzerling and featuring a three-episode miniseries, this true crime show investigates the cult created by Larry Ray at Sarah Lawrence College. A father to a daughter, who was studying at the college, he lured young students by portraying the loving father figure and convinced students to relocate to a sublet, where he isolated, deprived, and abused them.

The show is told through the interviews of the victims and their family and friends, who suffered from huge trauma and lost their youth to an abusive figure. The show is a tough watch as it features Ray’s multiple recordings of blackmail and has interviews of former members, who were under the control of Ray. The show is a cautionary and detailed look at how such spaces are created, continue to thrive, and prove to be a traumatic experience for its members.

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4. Under the Bridge

Based on the book by Rebecca Godfrey and developed by Quinn Shephard, this true crime drama miniseries stars Riley Keough as Godfrey and Lily Gladstone as Godfrey’s friend and police officer, Cam. The show revolves around the true story of the unsolved case of the disappearance of teenager Reena Virk, who went to a party with friends and never came back.

In the show, Godfrey revisits her hometown in British Columbia and is intrigued by the case of Virk. The show has a non-linear structure and chronicles Reena’s final days before her disappearance, and the subsequent investigation by Godfrey and Cam. The show has garnered critical acclaim for its emotional and powerful look at a tragic case and the alluring performances of Riley and Lily.

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3. Welcome to Chippendales

Starring Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, and others, this biographical drama miniseries is created by Robert Siegel and is based on the book by K. Scot Macdonald and Patrick MontesDeOca. The show won multiple nominations at the Emmys and is critically acclaimed. It focuses on Indian-American entrepreneur, Steve Banerjee (Kumail), who created the largest male strip joint.

However, he was soon involved in crimes of murder and sex and had to close his business. The show has eight episodes and is a taut and thrilling watch about Steve's life and the intricacies behind his cases. The show showcases how Steve partnered with Emmy-winning director Nick De Noia to create the first male strip club. The show also looks at how his business was mired by arson and murder.

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2. Wild Crime

This true crime show documents some of the most mysterious cases that happened in America’s famous national and state parks. The show has four seasons and is a docuseries chronicling a group of unconventional investigators, who try to find out the truth behind heinous and unsolved crimes in the country’s parks. The show covers various cases like the death of Toni Henthorn in the Rocky Mountain National Park, the mystery of a severed hand found in Yosemite, and more.

The show uncovers the deadly side of National and State parks, which millions of visitors visit annually to enjoy nature, but which has a host of mysterious disappearances and murders within its alluring charm. The show is a mix of nature documentary and true crime and is a gripping show with both suspenseful cases and majestic wilderness backdrops.

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1. The Act

Created by Nick Antosca and Michelle Dean and starring Patricia Arquette and Joey King, this biographical crime drama is based on the life of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was accused of abusing her daughter by faking disabilities. While Joey plays Gypsy, Patricia plays Dee Dee. The show has eight episodes and chronicles the intertwined lives of Gypsy and Dee Dee.

The show has stellar performances from Joey and Patricia, who were nominated for their performances. The show highlights the suffocating atmosphere that Gypsy endured under her mother’s abusive watch. The show is gritty and received positive reviews for the lead performances and the convincing and claustrophobic atmosphere created in the series. The show religiously follows the life of the ex-convict Gypsy Rose to the fullest detail, providing an in-depth look at the case.