The Hulu original true-crime limited seriesUnder the Banner of Heavenhas made waves this springas a philosophical and studious look into an infamous murder case that occurred in a quiet Mormon community during the 1980s. An adaptation of the novelUnder the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Hatewritten byJon Krakauer, the series is based upon the double murder of young Utah mother Brenah Lafferty (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her newborn baby daughter. Taking place in a highly religious community of Mormons in 1984, detective Jeb Prye (Andrew Garfield) must solve the crime as he’s forced to confront his religious beliefs as he discovers the true intentions behind the brutal murders.
Under the Banner of Heavenis just the latest in a string of true-crime series Hulu has released this past year, following in the footsteps ofThe Girl from Plainville,The Dropout,Pam & Tommy, and more. The small town set thriller is a juicy murder mystery that any true-crime fanatic would like, but it’s also hard to fathom that such an ugly crime could be committed in such a peaceful community. If you want more detail-oriented, chilling accounts of past murder mystery cases and serial killer origin stories, there’s plenty more whereUnder the Banner of Heavencamefrom. Here are 10 additional true-crime series based on real murder cases to watch next.
Related:‘Under the Banner of Heaven’: Bill Taba Is A Crucial Counterbalance to Andrew Garfield’s Jeb Pyre
The Serpent(2021)
The true-crime limited seriesThe Serpentis a chilling window into the mind of a serial killer and how he chooses and preys upon his victims. Following the notorious Frenchmen Charles Sobhraj(Tahar Rahim), he’s often referred to as “the serpent” or “the bikini killer” as he used his suave nature to lure tourists into his trap during the late mid to late 1970s in South Asia, and many victims were discovered wearing bikinis. With the aid of his partner Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Jenna Coleman), they conned various tourists by Sobhraj posing as a gems dealer, which gave them the perfect opportunity to ambush the various men and women. Believed to have killed at least 20 people, all the different time jumps withinThe Serpentcan be dizzying, and it seems that every scene within one episode takes place during a different period. If you can get past the at times confusing storylines,The Serpentis a clever re-telling of the serial killer as he hunts for victims while Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg (Billy Howle) hunts him down.
Watch on Netflix
American Crime Story(2016-Present)
Referred to as the crime of the century,The People vs. OJ Simpsonis a sharp, laser-focused limited series focused on the O.J. Simpsonmurder trial in 1995. Marking the first season in the anthology true-crime seriesAmerican Crime Story, each season is a miniseries based upon infamous moments in American history with a new slate of cast members. Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldmanoutside Brown’s home in LA in 1994. Despite having an immense amount of motives pointing towards Simpson as the killer, the country and jury became divided over his innocence, and he was ultimately found not guilty in one of the most controversial court rulings of all time.The People vs. OJ SimpsonstarsSarah Paulsonas District Attorney Marcia Clarke,Sterling K. Brownas her co-prosecutor Christopher Darden,Cuba Gooding Jr.as Simpson,John Travoltaas leading defense attorney Robert Shapiro,Courtney B. Vanceas co-defense attorney Johnny Cochrane, andDavid Schwimmeras family friend and co-defense attorney Robert Kardashian.
Season 2,The Assassination of Gianni Versace, follows serial killer Andrew Cunanan as he goes on a killing spree that ends when he shoots and kills fashion designer Gianni Versaceon the front steps of his Miami mansion on July 11, 2025. Criss stars as the violent Cunanan alongsideÉdgar Ramírezas Versace,Penélope Cruzas his grieving sister Donatella Versace, andRicky Martinas Versace’s partner, Antonio D’Amico. Based upon the true-crime novelVulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. Historywritten byMaureen Orth, the series tracks Cunanan as he’s continuously able to evade law enforcement across the country.
Watch on Hulu
The Staircase(2022)
The Staircaseneeds no introduction, as it’s one of the most famous murder cases of the 21st century. Followed closely by the media, the series trails the murder investigation into Michael Peterson, a crime novelist convicted of murdering his wife Kathleen Peterson by pushing her down the staircase in their home.Colin Firthstars as Michael oppositeToni Colletteas Kathleen, and their large extended family is thrust into a tumultuous spotlight as the investigation into Kathleen’s death and a trial ensue. Found with multiple bruises and lacerations across her body including her skull, Michael was believed to have abused and bludgeoned his wife in the head. As he maintains his innocence and calls the investigation a witch hunt, he allows a French film crew to follow him and his family around to make a documentary about the case. That documentary would turn intoThe Staircase, the 2004 famous true-crime documentary series that interviewed the extended family, and attorneys, and was allowed access into the trial that found Peterson guilty.
Watch on HBO Max
Mindhunter(2017-2019)
Mindhunteris an unnerving thriller series that was gone too soon. Lasting on Netflix for two seasons, the slick series follows the creation of serial killer profiling within the Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) at the FBI and is in part based upon real-life FBI criminal profiler John Douglas’s experiences as he helped form the unit in the late 70s.Jonathan Groffplays Holden Ford, a young special FBI agent working in the BSU alongside fellow BSU agent Henry Tench (Holt McCallany). The first season spans from 1977 through1980 as the pair travel across the country and interviews serial killers to better understand them and catch future killers. Interviewing serial killers Ed Kemper, Charles Manson, Jerry Brudos, and more, they all go into explicit details about their various murders, why they did it, and how.
The second season takes a riveting turn as Ford and Tench arrive in Atlanta in the summer of 1981 during a period known as the Atlanta child murders, in which dozens of young Black men and children were found murdered or had inexplicably disappeared. A controversial investigation that resulted in the arrest of serial killer Wayne Williams, the case was re-opened in 2019 as many remain skeptical of his guilt for all 30 victims. ThoughMindhunterwas set up to continue with a season 3, theDavid Fincher-directed series will unfortunately not be moving forward. If you want more content, try the novelMindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit,written by Douglas andMark Olshaker.
David Tennantplays one of the most notorious British serial killers of all time after Jack the Ripper inDes, a meticulous three-part limited series that follows the harrowing case. Des Nilsenwas arrested at his home in 1983 after human remains were discovered in his plumbing system and cops discovered the body. The seriesstarts with Nilson’s arrest and then takes viewers into smoke-filled interrogation rooms as detectives interview him. Prone to toying with the various detectives with no sign of remorse, Nilson gradually reveals all the men he has killed over several years.Jason Watkinsplays biographer Brian Masters, a pen pal of Nilson’s who frequently visited him in prison which resulted in the biographyKilling for Company:The Case of Des Nilsen. Originally from Scotland, Nilson was believed to have murdered at least 12 men and boys during the late 70s and early 80s in London, and for his uncanny performance as the manipulative killer, Tennant won the International Emmy Award for Best Actor in 2021.
Watch on The Roku Channel
Dr. Death(2021)
Based upon themega-popular Wondery podcast series under the same name, the Peacock original seriesDr. Deathtells the true story of the murderous Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a Texan crook accused of maiming 33 patients and killing two. All occurring within two years, Duntsch was convicted of maiming one patient and sentenced to life imprisonment.Joshua Jacksonplays the psychotic doctor and is the stuff of nightmares as he lures innocent victims into the operating room, scalpel in hand.Alec BaldwinandChristian Slaterplay real-life Texas doctors Robert Henderson and Randall Kirby, and together they make it their goal to ensure Dr. Duntsch never steps foot into a hospital again after they uncover his alarming pattern of surgeries gone wrong. Some scenes inDr. Deathcan be hard to stomach as the series carts viewers onto the operating table, but if you want an enraging and thrilling cat and mouse chase, stick withDr. Death.
Watch on Peacock
The Pembrokeshire Murders(2021)
The Pembrokeshire Murdersis a three-part limited series based upon the search for the infamous Whale’s serial killer, John Cooper. Occurring in the 1980s and referred to as the Coastal Path Murders or The Pembrokeshire Murders, the two double homicide murder cases would go unsolved until Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins (Luke Evans) decided to re-open the case in 2006. The victims were couples Peter and Gwenda Dixon and Richard and Helen Thomas, and their unsolved murders mystified the country for decades. A lifelong criminal with multiple robbery charges and assault to his name, Cooper (Keith Allen)was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 1998 for burglary and is then released in 2009. As Detective Wilkins and law enforcement focus their investigation on Cooper, they use modern advancements in DNA and forensic science to catch him before he can commit any more crimes.
Watch on BritBox
Related:On ‘Under the Banner of Heaven,’ Andrew Garfield Offers a Vision of Faith Rare on TV
Manhunt: Unabomber(2017)
Manhunt: Unabomberfollows the hunt for the deadliest bomber in American history, Ted Kaczynski.Responsible for murdering three people and injuring dozens, the series follows gifted FBI profiler Jim Fitzgerald(Sam Worthington) as he works to uncover the Unabomber’s identity.Paul Bettanyplays Kaczynski,and across the eight episodes, Kaczynskitoys with the FBI as they continuously fail to catch him. Primarily taking place between 1995 and 1997, Fitzgerald works closely with colleague Tabby Milgrim (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and the rest of his team to beat the clock and catch the Unabomber before he strikes again. Intercut with real news footage covering his multiple attacks adds a chilling effect, and the series is not for the faint of heart as they don’t skimp on showing the victims of the Unabomber in the aftermath of the explosions.Manhunt: Unabombermarked the first season in the true-crime anthology series, and the second season is focused on theRichard Jewellcase, entitledManhunt: Deadly Games.
Dirty John(2018-2020)
Dirty Johnis another true-crime anthology series following different cases each season. The first season is based upon the viralWondery podcast under the same nameand follows successful California interior designer Debra Newell (Connie Britton) as she falls for the charismatic anesthesiologist, John Meehan (Eric Bane). While John seems to like the package deal, he’s hiding a sinister truth, and everything unfolds in a shocking fashion as his real identity is revealed.Julia GarnerandJuno Templeplay Debra’s daughters Terra and Veronica, and both are not as ready to welcome John into their home as their smitten mother is. The second season,Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story, is based upon the double homicide murder case that took place in California during the late 80s.Amanda Peetstars as convicted murderer Betty Broderick, and the series is a twisted love story as it follows the demise of her marriage with her adulterous husband Dan, (Christian Slater) which results in his second marriage to Linda Kolkena (Rachell Keller).
Still, want more? Check out other critically acclaimed true-crime series based upon real-life murders, includingThe Act,The Girl from Plainville,Candy,The Thing About Pam,A Very British Scandal, andAlias Grace.
