(Credits: Netflix)

Everyone loves the fictional fireworks on Netflix. But do we talk enough about what’s real on Netflix? This year, the streaming giant left people reeling with countless real-life documentaries, while some more, like the one on the high-profile case of Karen Read and Boston police officer John O’Keefe, are still waiting in the pipeline. The OTT platform has faithfully delivered a succession of intriguing mystery documentaries. And Best of Netflix has handpicked the five ultimate ones.

Netflix’s roster of documentaries is nearly endless. But since the streaming mogul has a soft corner for mysteries, a plethora of choices are available. Wherever you land, it will make your heart skip a beat. Moreover, this time, we’re not policing only border crimes. In this listicle, we will take you on a global crime tour. You may or may not expect repeat destinations, but there’s no way you’ll likely find chaos.

From real chilling accounts to never-before-heard interviews, these five documentaries bring a steady stream of spine-chilling tales. Some will make your skin crawl, while others will make your blood run cold. So, it’s safe to say that this list is meant for everyone except the faint-hearted. But since prevention is better than a cure, even the courageous must stay vigilant.

Netflix often takes audiences on fantastical flights of fancy. However, these are stories that will bring you back down to earth, where truth is stark, gritty, and unyielding. For those who want in on this journey, it’s time to brace yourselves.

The five ultimate mystery documentaries on Netflix

American Murder: The Family Next Door (Jenny Popplewell, 2020)

American Murder: The Family Next Door is one of those mystery documentaries that raises the hairs on the back of your neck. It revolves around the infamous 2018 Watts family murders in Frederick, Colorado, which shook the whole world when the news broke out. Jenny Popplewell uses a found-footage mystery structure to narrate what happened to the Watts family. The film doesn’t reveal the killer until viewers are halfway through. But anyone aware of the case might already know the real culprit. Then why watch the documentary?

Well, because Netflix brings everything to the plate. From archival footage of social media posts and law enforcement recordings to text messages, interviews and quotations from friends and family, the documentary is made up of sensitive and crucial elements. In fact, Netflix also paid attention to the public theories behind why the gruesome murders were committed.

Lover, Stalker, Killer (Sam Hobkinson, 2024)

What happens when online dating goes wrong? That’s what Lover, Stalker, Killer on Netflix talks about. In today’s world, there are only a select few who’ve not tried their hands at online dating. But when Dave Kroupa took the plunge in 2012, he unknowingly fell prey to cyber harassment and digital deception in a tale that went awry. Newly single, Kroupa met Liz Golyar online, but he reportedly informed her that he wasn’t looking for something serious.

Golyar appeared to be OK with that. However, shortly after, Cari Farver walked into Kroupa’s life, and one fine day, she vanished into thin air. Interestingly, although Farver was nowhere to be found, she was in constant contact with Kroupa and his ex-girlfriend, Golyar, whom she had chanced upon in the corridor.

While you might assume the mystery lies in the missing girlfriend, when the curtains part, it’s something unthinkable. We won’t spoil the watch for you, but don’t be easily deceived. It’s a tale of multiple crimes, including a murder and identity theft.

Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (Mark Lewis, 2019)

Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer was one of the top five most-watched documentaries of 2019 on Netflix, and the premise itself is enough to leave you breathless. The true-crime three-part docuseries revolves around a group of armchair online detectives who initiated a search operation for Luka Magnotta. And the reason?

Magnotta acquired international infamy in 2010 for sharing a video of himself on Facebook and YouTube killing two kittens in a plastic bag. He brutally suffocated them with a vacuum cleaner. But animal cruelty was not the only crime committed. It was one of the many wrongs that shed light on another gruesome, cold-blooded murder. Deanna Thompson, a data analyst for a Las Vegas casino and John Green from LA launched a group to collect evidence against Magnotta, and what came to light was worse than they could have imagined.

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders (Yotam Guendelman and Ari Pines, 2025)

The three-part docuseries, Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, enlightens about seven mysterious deaths in Chicago in 1982. There were not many links between each case, but the one thread that tied the deaths left the world in shock. Allegedly, all five victims took cyanide-contaminated Tylenol. This set off the chain of one of the largest criminal investigations in US history that left the citizens across the country anxious and in panic mode.

The Tylenol Murders is one of the latest entries in Netflix’s cold case franchise. It delves into uncanny theories and discoveries, giving insights into new testimonies. The most essential thing the platform does is probe the psyche of a key suspect, bringing forth a spine-chilling mystery to light.

House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths (Leena Yadav and Anubhav Chopra, 2021)

Lastly, to conclude the mystery documentary marathon, viewers can watch House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths. But honestly, that’s at your own risk. Released in 2021, the true-crime docuseries revolves around the creepy theories surrounding the death of 11 members of the same family. The media termed the row of demise as ‘the Burari deaths’.

This series delves deep into the case, featuring interviews, the investigation and evidence. But what sets the tone of suspense is the well-crafted narrative. It provides insights into Indian culture, the complexities of family dynamics, mental health, and trauma to probe the understanding of the deaths that caused a national stir.