I am totally and utterly addicted to true crime. Most nights when I’m cooking dinner I’m also listening to some sinister story featured on the latest true-crime podcast. Then I’ll go eat my meal in front of a true-crime doco before listening to a true-crime audiobook before bed.
If you’re like me, you’re ever-searching for more true crime content to get stuck into. Thankfully Disney+ are adding over 20 new Star Originals that are sure to meet every last one of our true crime needs.
Let us dive into some of the very best true crime out there right now.
Under The Banner of Heaven
Academy Award nominee Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones star in this wild story based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. The series centres around a tragic double-murder apparently committed ‘in the name of God’ in the US in 1984.
Under The Banner of Heaven is seriously tense right from the get-go and explores the dangers of religious fanaticism in disturbing detail. Basically, it’s a must-see.
The Dropout
Let us cast our minds back to the mid-2010s. Happy by Pharrell Williams was top of the charts, people were trying to figure out what colour that godforsaken dress was, and of course, the #girlboss was trending all over the globe. And who better to represent this most cursed hashtag than Elizabeth Holmes, the girlboss who girlbossed a little too close to the sun.
We all know the general story of Theranos by now — but the most fascinating thing about The Dropout is getting to see Elizabeth (played by Amanda Seyfried) in college and the early years of the startup.
Dopesick
Similar to The Dropout, Dopesick explores criminal activity within health and pharmaceutical companies in the US. This one is a doozy.
Starring Michael Keaton in one of his finest roles to date, the series focuses on “the epicentre of America’s struggle with opioid addiction“. It covers the effect of the opioid drug OxyContin on patients and their families, and covers the legal case against Perdue Pharma and their development, testing and marketing of the highly addictive painkiller.
Pam & Tommy
This one had a serious moment not long ago, so it’s definitely time to catch up if you haven’t already.
Set in the mid-90s, Pam & Tommy follows the story of Pamela Anderson (Lily James), Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan) and the couples’ leaked sex tape. Disgruntled former employee Rand Gauthier (Seth Rogan) leaks the tape which goes mega-viral before going viral was even a thing.
This series is a win for all Seth Rogan stans, because he has a mullet in it. And my friends, that is hot.
Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller
Hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalist Mariana Van Zeller, this series explores the world’s most dangerous black markets. Van Zeller meets the players and learns the business of trading everything that really shouldn’t ever be bought or sold.
It’s pretty harrowing stuff, but darkly fascinating too. Van Zeller does some important work in this series, pointing a spotlight on some of the world’s shadiest dealers.
Criminal Minds
Look, this is a bit of a cheeky one given it’s not exactly a true crime series. But the iconic procedural, which followed FBI profilers analysing dangerous criminals, was often inspired by real-life killers.
I’d argue that Criminal Minds is responsible for the beginning of our love affair with crime. It premiered way back in 2005, so back then we had to sit through heaps of stupid ad-breaks to find out who died in the end. We committed, and it was always worth it.
Speaking of love affairs, we’re also eternally grateful to the show for bringing shaggy-haired heartthrob, Dr Spencer Reid, played by icon Matthew Gray Gubler into our lives.
