Docu-series You Are Sleeping On (but Shouldn’t)

There is so much good nonfiction storytelling out there that great series can slip through the cracks. This list rounds up compelling docu-series that dig into crimes, subcultures, scandals, creative work, and big ideas with careful reporting and memorable access.

You will find deep dives built from courtroom archives, long interviews, and on the ground filming. Many of these shows follow investigations over months or years, while others unpack histories that still shape the present. If you missed them the first time, now is a good time to catch up.

‘The Keepers’ (2017)

This series examines the unsolved murder of a Baltimore nun and teacher and follows former students as they connect the case to allegations of abuse at a local high school. It uses interviews with survivors, police records, and archival footage to trace how leads were handled and where they went cold.

The show also lays out the legal hurdles that followed, including civil suits and the role of church and law enforcement officials. It presents timelines, key locations, and names tied to the case so viewers can understand how the threads intersect.

‘The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst’ (2015)

This series centers on real estate heir Robert Durst and three deaths that surrounded his life. It features extensive sit down interviews with Durst along with police files, trial footage, and reenactments built from witness statements.

Investigators, journalists, and attorneys provide context for each case so the narrative moves across decades and locations. The final episode includes audio that prosecutors later introduced in court, which became a focal point in legal filings.

‘Wild Wild Country’ (2018)

This series documents the Rajneesh movement’s arrival in rural Oregon and the conflict that followed with local residents and government agencies. It uses news clips, community meeting tapes, and interviews with former members to show how a new city was planned and built.

The episodes also cover criminal investigations tied to the community, including poisonings and immigration fraud cases. Federal agents and lawyers describe how they pursued charges and secured convictions after a tense standoff with state authorities.

‘The Staircase’ (2004)

This series follows the death investigation of Kathleen Peterson and the prosecution of novelist Michael Peterson in North Carolina. Filmmakers captured strategy meetings, expert testimony preparation, and courtroom exchanges that shaped the case.

It returns in later updates to cover appeals and new forensic analysis, including debates over blood spatter interpretation. The full arc shows how shifts in expert opinions and evidence handling affected the outcome over time.

‘O.J.: Made in America’ (2016)

This multi part story places the O. J. Simpson case inside a broader history of Los Angeles, celebrity, and policing. It draws on interviews with lawyers, jurors, detectives, friends, and historians to build a detailed account.

The series also compiles footage from sports broadcasts, press conferences, and courtroom proceedings to show how public perception evolved. It outlines key evidence points and explains how strategy and jury selection influenced the verdict.

‘The Devil Next Door’ (2019)

This series follows the case of John Demjanjuk, a Cleveland autoworker accused of being a notorious Nazi camp guard. It tracks extradition, trials in Israel and Germany, and disputes over identity based on documents and survivor testimony.

Legal experts explain how different courts weighed photographic evidence, ID cards, and witness accounts. The show maps the timeline of appeals and rulings that led to a final judgment decades after the events in question.

‘How to Fix a Drug Scandal’ (2020)

This series examines two state drug lab chemists whose misconduct affected thousands of criminal cases. It reviews lab procedures, email records, and deposition footage to show how evidence handling standards failed.

Public defenders, prosecutors, and policymakers outline how convictions were vacated and what reforms followed. The series gives case studies of defendants whose outcomes changed once tainted tests were identified.

‘The Last Dance’ (2020)

This series chronicles the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan era using exclusive behind the scenes footage from the final championship season. It pairs that material with new interviews from teammates, coaches, and journalists.

Game clips, practice tapes, and contract details help explain roster decisions and team dynamics. The production reconstructs seasons with clear timelines so viewers can connect career milestones to front office moves.

‘The Vow’ (2020)

This series covers the organization known as NXIVM and its leadership through interviews with former members and recorded workshops. It includes text messages, audio recordings, and internal materials that reveal how courses and secret groups operated.

Law enforcement actions and federal charges are explained through court documents and plea agreements. The series shows how cooperating witnesses worked with investigators and how the case advanced to trial.

‘McMillion$’ (2020)

This series tells the story of the rigged fast food Monopoly game that ran for years without detection. It follows the FBI team that broke the case, showing how undercover calls and informants led to a network of fraud.

Subpoenas, indictment lists, and sentencing records detail how prize claims were laundered through family and friends. The production includes interviews with agents, prosecutors, and defendants to map the scheme’s structure.

‘The Confession Tapes’ (2017)

This series explores cases where convictions relied heavily on confessions that defendants later disputed. It brings in psychologists, interrogators, and legal scholars to explain how certain interview techniques can produce unreliable statements.

Each episode reconstructs timelines with transcripts and video from interrogation rooms when available. It also reviews appeals and expert testimony that challenged the original findings in court.

‘The Family’ (2019)

This series investigates a Christian fellowship with long standing ties to political figures in the United States. It uses memoir excerpts, interviews, and public records to trace the group’s outreach programs and private gatherings.

Researchers and reporters explain how the group hosted events and maintained contacts across administrations. The series connects nonprofit filings and property records to show how its network operated beyond public view.

‘The Innocent Man’ (2018)

This series adapts a nonfiction book about two murder cases in Ada, Oklahoma. It examines crime scene work, jailhouse informants, and forensic testimony that were central to the convictions.

The production follows post conviction reviews and DNA testing that reshaped the cases. Attorneys and family members outline the procedural steps that led to new hearings and decisions.

‘Evil Genius’ (2018)

This series recounts the pizza bomber case that began with a bank robbery involving a collar bomb. It uses police reports, evidence photos, and interviews with investigators to reconstruct planning and execution.

Court filings and psychological evaluations help explain the roles of the people involved. The series places the crime within a regional context, showing how agencies coordinated across jurisdictions.

‘The Pharmacist’ (2020)

This series follows a Louisiana pharmacist who pushed for answers after his son’s death and later documented a surge in opioid prescriptions. It presents pharmacy logs, call recordings, and regulatory actions to show how he tracked patterns.

State board proceedings and federal cases against prescribers and clinics are explained through official records. The show demonstrates how data collection and persistence led to changes in enforcement.

‘Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer’ (2021)

This series covers the investigation into crimes committed by Richard Ramirez in California. Detectives and reporters walk through evidence collection, composite sketches, and public tip lines that drove the case.

The production shows how footwear impressions, ballistics, and survivor identifications narrowed the search. Community responses and neighborhood patrols are documented as part of the final push toward arrest.

‘The Ripper’ (2020)

This series revisits the investigation into murders in 1970s England attributed to a serial offender. It uses archival news footage, police briefings, and interviews with families to show how the case unfolded.

Experts discuss investigative assumptions and how they influenced resource allocation and suspect profiles. The series also looks at the impact on local communities and the policy changes that followed.

‘Murder Mountain’ (2018)

This series investigates disappearances and violence in Humboldt County, California, within the marijuana industry. It highlights search efforts by families and the challenges faced by deputies in remote terrain.

The show explains market shifts after legalization and how they affected growers and law enforcement. It combines personal accounts with county records to track the status of missing person cases.

‘The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann’ (2019)

This series assembles a comprehensive timeline of the disappearance of a child from a Portuguese resort. It includes interviews with investigators, staff, and witnesses, along with maps and travel records.

The episodes describe how tips were processed and how leads moved across borders through police cooperation. Legal developments are presented with statements from authorities and updates from official briefings.

‘Dirty Money’ (2018)

This series examines corporate misconduct and financial schemes across different industries. It builds each case with court records, whistleblower accounts, and interviews with regulators and executives.

The show provides context on policies and market conditions that allowed the behavior to continue. It often follows the progress of lawsuits and settlements so viewers can see outcomes beyond headlines.

‘High Score’ (2020)

This series traces major moments in video game history using developer interviews and design documents. It covers early arcade innovations, home console battles, and landmark titles that shaped genres.

The episodes use graphics and archival ads to illustrate marketing and hardware advances. Creators explain programming challenges and business decisions that set the stage for later technology.

‘Hip Hop Evolution’ (2016)

This series documents the growth of hip hop from its origins through regional scenes and major eras. It features conversations with DJs, MCs, producers, and label figures who were present for key shifts.

Historic venues, radio shows, and record releases are placed on a clear timeline. The series uses performance footage and studio stories to explain how sounds and styles spread.

‘Chef’s Table’ (2015)

This series profiles chefs from around the world and shows their kitchens, suppliers, and signature dishes. It focuses on sourcing, technique, and the craft behind menu development.

Episodes also note how restaurants earn recognition and how teams handle service and training. The production captures the logistics of running kitchens alongside the personal histories of the chefs.

‘Abstract: The Art of Design’ (2017)

This series explores creative fields such as illustration, architecture, stage design, and footwear design. It follows practitioners through their process with sketches, prototypes, and client briefs.

The show explains how materials and tools shape outcomes and how projects move from concept to launch. Industry terms and workflows are broken down so viewers can see how different disciplines approach problems.

‘Losers’ (2019)

This series tells stories of athletes who faced defeat or unusual outcomes and how those moments shaped their lives. It uses game footage, interviews, and animation to retell events with clear context.

Coaches, family members, and local reporters add detail on training, mental preparation, and recovery after loss. The series shows how rules, scoring systems, and competition formats influenced each story.

Share your favorite overlooked docu-series in the comments so everyone can discover something new.