12 Chilling True Crime Documentaries From 2025 You Need To Stream Right Now

The true crime genre continues its unstoppable dominance, and the year 2025 delivered some of the most emotionally devastating, complex, and utterly shocking docuseries and films in recent memory. If you’ve binged through the classics, this list of the newest releases—available on major platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime—will provide your next deep dive into the darkest corners of human nature. This is your essential guide to the must-watch true crime content that defined the year, with several titles having just landed on streaming services in late 2025.

From the intimate, heartbreaking testimonies of serial killer family members to high-profile cold cases finally cracked open, the current slate of true crime programming is fresher and more intense than ever. Get ready to update your queue with these definitive 2025 documentaries that explore everything from cyberbullying to international terrorism.

The Most Shocking True Crime Releases of Late 2025

The final months of 2025 brought some of the most anticipated and talked-about true crime content, focusing heavily on the personal trauma experienced by victims' families and even the killers' own kin. These documentaries offer a nuanced, often painful, perspective on infamous cases.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

1. My Father: The BTK Killer (Netflix)

This Netflix documentary, released in October 2025, offers a harrowing, unprecedented look at the life of one of America's most notorious serial killers, Dennis Rader, known as the BTK Killer.

• The Core Story: The film is centered entirely on the perspective of Kerri Rawson, Rader's daughter, who grew up completely unaware of her father's monstrous double life.
• The Intention: It serves as both a documentary and a powerful testimony, exploring the profound psychological trauma inflicted not just on the victims' families, but on the killer’s own family.
• Key Entity: Director Skye Borgman, known for her work on other major true crime hits, helms this deeply personal and chilling narrative.

2. Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (Netflix)

Also directed by true crime veteran Skye Borgman, this August 2025 Netflix release explores a truly bizarre and disturbing case of cyberbullying and deception within a small community.

• The Shocking Twist: The documentary details the real-life account of a teenage couple, Lauryn and Owen, who were cyberbullied and stalked for nearly two years.
• The Revelation: The investigation leads to a shocking conclusion: the "unknown number" belonged to a mother in the community who was catfishing her own daughter and her boyfriend.
• Topical Authority: This film delves into the dark side of digital interaction, covering themes of *online predators* and *parental abuse* through technology.

3. One Night in Idaho: The College Murders (Amazon Prime)

The horrific and mysterious killings of four University of Idaho students in 2022 captured worldwide attention, and this four-part Amazon Prime docuseries provides a comprehensive and chilling deep dive into the case.

• 7 Shocking Things Jessica Capshaw Revealed About Growing Up With Steven Spielberg As Her Stepfather 892ho

• The Focus: Unlike standard docuseries, this one reportedly offers a fresh, in-depth perspective on the complex investigation, the evidence, and the community's reaction.
• Key Entities: The victims, including Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, are remembered while the legal proceedings against the accused, Bryan Kohberger, are examined.
• LSI Keyword: It is being hailed as one of the most *shocking true crime docuseries* of the year due to the senseless nature and high-profile status of the case.

High-Profile Cold Cases and International Mysteries

The appetite for true crime that tackles complex, long-running investigations remains strong. The 2025 lineup featured several major releases that re-examined infamous cold cases and international incidents, often with newly revealed evidence or perspectives.

4. Lockerbie: A Search for Truth (Sky/Peacock)

Premiering in January 2025, this highly anticipated series is a five-part drama (based on a non-fiction book) that chronicles the aftermath of one of the worst air disasters in history: the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

• The Central Figure: The narrative follows Dr. Jim Swire, a father who lost his daughter Flora in the attack and dedicated his life to uncovering the truth and fighting for justice in the face of fractured geopolitics.
• Case Details: The series delves into the long and complicated investigation, the search for the perpetrators, and the global political maneuvering that surrounded the case.

5. American Murder: Gabby Petito (Netflix)

While the Gabby Petito case dominated headlines a few years ago, this 2025 Netflix documentary offers a definitive look at the full timeline, the impact of social media on the investigation, and the tragic outcome.

• The Facts Of Life Cast Where Are Eastlands Girls Now 2024 Updates 2tx8p

• The Focus: It explores the complexities of domestic abuse, the power of digital footprints, and the role of the public in a modern-day missing person case.
• Topical Authority Entities: Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie remain central figures in discussions about *missing persons* and *digital evidence* in true crime.

6. I'm Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders (HBO Max)

This two-part docuseries, which was a major draw in mid-2025, follows the shocking journey of Lois Riess, a grandmother and alleged compulsive gambler who went from a small-town murder suspect in Minnesota to a fugitive on the run.

• The Narrative Arc: The documentary tracks her cross-country flight, her identity theft, and the subsequent murder of a woman in Florida, showcasing her chilling transformation into a *serial killer* or "monster."
• LSI Keyword: The case is a prime example of a *cold case* that turned into a nationwide manhunt, highlighting the dangers of gambling addiction and hidden criminal lives.

The Rise of Niche and Specialized True Crime

Beyond the major networks, specialized true crime channels and smaller platforms continued to produce unique, compelling content, often focusing on niche criminal profiles or less-publicized cases that are equally *chilling*.

7. Killer Grannies (Oxygen)

Oxygen's new docuseries, premiering in November 2025, exposes the sinister secrets some grandmothers keep, proving that age and appearance can be the ultimate disguise for a killer.

• The Hook: Hosted by a Hollywood icon, the show features cases of women who committed shocking crimes later in life.
• Intention: It taps into the curiosity surrounding "unlikely" criminals, challenging the stereotype of a typical perpetrator.

8. The Truth About Jussie Smollett? (Various)

Released in August 2025, this documentary re-examines the highly controversial 2019 hate crime hoax allegation that divided the nation and sparked intense legal battles.

• The Subject: It offers a fresh look at the evidence, the trial, and the media frenzy surrounding the actor, prompting viewers to reconsider the facts of the case.

9. Wasp Woman: The Murder of a B-Movie Queen (Sundance Now/AMC)

A more specialized title premiering in October 2025, this documentary delves into the murder of a B-Movie actress, blending the worlds of Hollywood glamour, true crime, and sordid secrets.

10. Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (Netflix)

This documentary focuses on the ongoing investigation into the Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) case, providing a 2025 update on the shocking number of unsolved murders and the recent developments in the case against Rex Heuermann.

11. Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers

Revisiting one of the most famous female serial killers, Aileen Wuornos, this documentary offers a fresh psychological profile and a look back at the case that continues to fascinate and disturb the public.

12. Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing

Tapping into contemporary societal concerns, this title explores the dark and often exploitative world of child influencers, examining cases of abuse and manipulation behind the seemingly innocent facade of social media fame.