The Best Netflix TV Shows Based on True Stories

These shows take real people, court cases, and historic events and turn them into compelling television, from prestige dramas to riveting docuseries. Whether you’re into crime investigations, political dynasties, or stories of con artists who shook headlines, there’s something here grounded in actual events and research.

Below, you’ll find a mix of scripted series and documentaries. Each one draws on books, journalism, court records, declassified files, or first-person reporting to tell stories that really happened—sometimes exactly as documented, sometimes dramatized but rooted in extensive sourcing.

‘The Crown’ (2016–2023)

This royal drama follows Queen Elizabeth II and the British royal family, pulling from biographies, public records, and widely reported events to depict state crises, political transitions, and personal milestones. It recreates moments like coronations, government handovers, and high-profile visits using archival material and carefully researched protocols.

Behind the scenes, the production consults historians, speech transcripts, and news footage to stage state ceremonies and media interviews with detail, from military uniforms to parliamentary procedure. Storylines trace documented relationships between the monarchy and prime ministers, highlighting how constitutional conventions shape decisions at the heart of the United Kingdom.

‘When They See Us’ (2019)

This limited series dramatizes the Central Park jogger case and the wrongful convictions of five teenagers from Harlem. It draws on court documents, interrogation tapes, and later exonerations to examine how the investigation unfolded and how coerced statements were obtained.

The episodes follow the legal journey through trials, appeals, and the vacating of convictions after another man confessed and DNA evidence supported his account. The production incorporates verified details about the criminal justice process, settlement negotiations, and the long-term impact on the men and their families.

‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)

This drama is based on the early days of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit and the development of criminal profiling. It adapts real interviews with incarcerated offenders and the methods agents used to systematize patterns in violent crimes.

Characters synthesize elements of actual agents and profilers who built interviewing techniques, offender typologies, and training manuals used in investigations nationwide. The series references real cases, investigative road trips, and academic collaborations that helped formalize behavioral analysis inside federal law enforcement.

‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)

Set amid the rise of Colombian drug trafficking, this series follows the Medellín Cartel and major law-enforcement efforts to dismantle it. It draws on news archives, memoirs, and court evidence to depict key operations, alliances, and territorial conflicts.

The show maps real smuggling routes, money-laundering methods, and the escalating strategies used by police and military units. It also tracks political fallout inside Colombia and abroad, showing documented cooperation between agencies and the shifting balance among rival organizations.

‘Narcos: Mexico’ (2018–2021)

This companion series explores the formation of modern cartels north of the border and the consolidation of smuggling networks. It integrates reporting on informants, cross-border task forces, and economic pressures that reshaped the drug trade.

Episodes follow documented crackdowns, kidnappings, and courtroom showdowns that altered cartel leadership. The narrative shows how alliances formed and fractured, reflecting investigations recorded by journalists, government commissions, and legal filings.

‘Unbelievable’ (2019)

Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation, this limited series recounts how a young woman’s rape report was dismissed and how two detectives later connected multiple assaults across jurisdictions. It uses case files and recorded interviews to show how evidence was missed and later assembled.

The production details investigative steps such as victim-centered interviewing, forensic photo analysis, and database cross-checks that ultimately identified a serial offender. It highlights policy changes and training practices that emerged after the case drew national attention.

‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ (2022)

This dramatization follows the crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer, drawing from police reports, court testimony, and survivor accounts. It reconstructs apartment searches, neighborhood complaints, and procedural missteps that allowed the crimes to continue.

The series incorporates documented trial proceedings, including statements from families and law-enforcement personnel. It also shows how community concerns and evidence collection were handled, reflecting debates that led to internal reviews and policy scrutiny.

‘The Spy’ (2019)

This miniseries tells the story of Israeli operative Eli Cohen and his covert activities in Syria. It uses declassified materials, memoirs, and historical reporting to portray infiltration techniques, cover identities, and the communications methods used in hostile environments.

The narrative follows documented diplomatic circles, defense contacts, and the counterintelligence work that eventually exposed the operation. Scenes reflect actual tradecraft—from clandestine meetings to radio transmissions—recorded in intelligence histories and biographies.

‘The Serpent’ (2021)

Co-produced with the BBC, this series dramatizes the pursuit of serial fraudster and killer Charles Sobhraj across Southeast Asia. It incorporates travel records, passport forgeries, and survivor testimony to retrace movements along the backpacker trail.

Investigative threads follow Dutch diplomats and regional police who compiled evidence through embassy coordination and painstaking identification of victims. The show reconstructs methods such as drugging, theft, and document manipulation documented in case files and investigative journalism.

‘Inventing Anna’ (2022)

This series is based on reporting about Anna Sorokin, who posed as a wealthy heiress and defrauded banks, hotels, and acquaintances. It draws on court transcripts, financial records, and long-form magazine features that broke the story.

The episodes track documented schemes, from wire transfers to falsified letters of credit, and the law-enforcement work that led to arrest and prosecution. It also shows the media process of sourcing, fact-checking, and interviewing that brought details into public view.

‘The Playlist’ (2022)

This Swedish drama portrays the creation of Spotify and the legal and technical battles that defined its early years. It uses public filings, interviews, and industry reporting to depict licensing negotiations and platform engineering at scale.

Told from multiple perspectives, it reflects real disputes with rights holders and the development of features like streaming architecture and recommendation systems. Business strategy sessions and regulatory hurdles mirror documented turning points in the company’s expansion.

‘The Last Czars’ (2019)

This docudrama blends expert commentary with dramatized scenes to tell the story of Russia’s imperial family in its final years. It references diaries, official correspondence, and archival footage to trace political upheaval and court life.

Reenactments show palace routines, religious rituals, and the influence of key figures as documented by historians. The series also covers investigative discoveries about the family’s fate, including forensics and site excavations that clarified earlier uncertainties.

‘Wormwood’ (2017)

This hybrid docudrama investigates the death of scientist Frank Olson and the surrounding secrecy of government programs. It mixes interviews with dramatizations informed by legal documents and declassified records.

The series walks through documented timelines, conflicting official accounts, and independent inquiries by family members and journalists. It examines how evidentiary gaps, lab reports, and autopsy findings fueled renewed scrutiny decades after the incident.

‘Making a Murderer’ (2015–2018)

This docuseries follows Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey through arrests, trials, and appeals in Wisconsin. It compiles courtroom footage, police interviews, and filings to show how the case developed and how defense and prosecution framed the evidence.

Viewers see investigative steps such as property searches, forensic testing, and interrogation practices, along with post-conviction motions and public-records litigation. The series helped surface materials that were later debated in petitions and legal commentaries.

‘The Keepers’ (2017)

Centered on the unsolved killing of Sister Catherine Cesnik, this series traces allegations of abuse and possible connections to the case. It draws on survivor accounts, diocesan records, and investigative reporting pursued by former students and local journalists.

The production reconstructs leads followed by citizens who mapped timelines, interviewed witnesses, and compared school records with law-enforcement notes. It documents efforts to obtain sealed materials and the responses from institutions and authorities.

‘The Innocent Man’ (2018)

Based on a nonfiction book about two murders in Ada, Oklahoma, this series revisits convictions that raised serious questions. It uses trial transcripts, affidavits, and expert analysis to evaluate confessions, forensic claims, and witness reliability.

The show follows post-conviction reviews, including DNA testing and legal motions. Attorneys, investigators, and family members provide sourced accounts of how new evidence and procedural issues reshaped the understanding of the cases.

‘The Devil Next Door’ (2019)

This docuseries examines the trials of John Demjanjuk, who was accused of being a notorious Nazi guard. It incorporates court footage from proceedings in different countries, survivor testimony, and archival records.

The episodes detail legal strategies, identification controversies, and evidentiary standards across jurisdictions. It shows how historical documents, wartime records, and expert witnesses were weighed by judges and appeals courts.

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

Focusing on the Los Angeles investigation into a serial killer, this series uses police case files, press briefings, and survivor interviews to reconstruct the manhunt. It charts the timeline of crimes, forensic links, and surveillance that narrowed the search.

Law-enforcement tactics such as composite sketches, stakeouts, and ballistic comparisons are presented as documented by detectives and reporters. The production also covers community responses and tip-line efforts that influenced the final capture.

‘The Ripper’ (2020)

This series revisits the Yorkshire Ripper investigation, drawing from police records, journalists’ notebooks, and public appeals. It pieces together the sequence of attacks and how the inquiry expanded across regions.

The show explores investigative challenges, including hoaxes and profiling missteps that diverted resources. Interviews with officers, families, and reporters ground the narrative in primary accounts and archived materials.

‘Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal’ (2023–2024)

This docuseries examines the legal dynasty of the Murdaugh family and a cluster of connected cases in South Carolina. It uses court filings, body-cam footage, and local reporting to outline incidents under investigation and subsequent prosecutions.

The episodes track grand jury activity, financial records, and testimony that emerged in open court. It contextualizes law-firm structures, small-town judicial networks, and the administrative processes that shaped the timeline of events.

‘Catching Killers’ (2021– )

Each episode follows a separate homicide investigation with detectives and forensic experts recounting how cases were cracked. It features official case files, crime-scene documentation, and interview footage obtained during and after investigations.

Techniques such as DNA analysis, digital forensics, and geographic profiling are explained using real examples. The series also shows interagency coordination and lab workflows that support case breakthroughs.

‘Delhi Crime’ (2019–2022)

Set within Delhi Police, this drama is based on real investigations, beginning with the case that prompted widespread protests and legal reforms. The production consulted officers, legal experts, and internal reports to rebuild investigative steps and command decisions.

It shows resource allocation, surveillance, and rapid response efforts across city jurisdictions. Dialogue and procedures reflect training, staffing structures, and the paperwork routes used in major case units.

‘El Chapo’ (2017–2018)

This series chronicles the rise and capture of Joaquín Guzmán, using reporting on cartel hierarchies, extradition proceedings, and undercover operations. It tracks alliances and conflicts documented in indictments and investigative journalism.

Scenes show tunnel construction, communications security, and bribery networks described in court testimony and law-enforcement briefs. It follows transfers between facilities and international coordination that culminated in extradition and sentencing.

‘The Pharmacist’ (2020)

This docuseries follows a small-town pharmacist who became a whistleblower during the opioid crisis after his son’s killing. It uses phone logs, regulatory filings, and interviews with medical professionals to trace how suspicious prescriptions were identified.

The show details interactions with state boards, federal agencies, and community organizers to push for accountability. It explains pharmacy-level data analysis, pill-mill patterns, and the compliance checks that highlighted irregularities.

‘Trial by Media’ (2020)

This anthology explores how high-profile court cases are shaped by press coverage and public perception. It incorporates trial footage, newsroom interviews, and communications strategy materials to show how narratives form around defendants and victims.

Each episode breaks down jury selection, courtroom theatrics, and public-relations campaigns, using primary sources and broadcast archives. It reveals how legal arguments and media framing can influence outcomes and policy debates.

‘The Watcher’ (2022)

Based on a widely read magazine story, this series dramatizes a family who received threatening letters after moving into a suburban home. It draws on the original reporting, police notes, and neighborhood accounts to present the known facts.

The adaptation reflects documented correspondence, investigation updates, and real-estate records tied to the property. It incorporates interviews and timeline details published by journalists who followed the case from the initial complaint onward.

‘Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker’ (2020)

This limited series tells the story of entrepreneur and philanthropist Madam C.J. Walker, using biographies, family archives, and business records to chart her rise. It portrays product development, marketing strategies, and community outreach grounded in historical documentation.

The narrative highlights partnerships, conventions, and the training of sales agents as recorded in letters and contemporary newspapers. It also shows civic work and advocacy documented by historians and preserved in organizational records.

‘The Unlikely Murderer’ (2021)

This Swedish series dramatizes the aftermath of the assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme and a controversial theory about a suspect. It draws from investigative journalism, police files, and parliamentary inquiries to map the fragmented case.

The production shows witness statements, photo lineups, and procedural debates that defined the inquiry over decades. It reflects ongoing reassessments, media revelations, and official reviews that attempted to reconcile conflicting accounts.

‘Waco: American Apocalypse’ (2023)

This docuseries examines the siege near Waco, Texas, using tactical recordings, negotiator logs, and broadcast footage. It reconstructs decision-making by federal agencies and the group inside the compound through primary audio and video sources.

Episodes detail communication breakdowns, deployment timelines, and equipment used during the standoff. The series also includes post-incident analyses, congressional hearing excerpts, and interviews with participants.

‘The Staircase’ (2004–2018)

This long-running documentary project follows the case of Michael Peterson from investigation through multiple legal twists. It compiles courtroom footage, attorney strategy sessions, and expert testimony to document how the defense and prosecution built their arguments.

Later episodes incorporate newly surfaced evidence, motions, and interviews that reopened debate about the case. The production offers an unusually granular look at appeals, forensic challenges, and the day-to-day mechanics of a high-stakes trial.

If you’ve watched any of these or think we missed a favorite, share your thoughts in the comments!