swap_horiz The Staircase Alternatives

1

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst

This six-part HBO documentary series chronicles the bizarre life and suspected crimes of Robert Durst, a real estate hei...

New York Crime True Crime Real Estate

9.5 Brilliant

2

Making a Murderer

This Netflix docuseries follows the case of Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man convicted of murder after previously being exo...

Complex Long Form Netflix Crime

9.2 Excellent

3

The Civil War

Ken Burns’s *The Civil War* offers a comprehensive examination of this pivotal period in American history. The 1990 PBS...

History Series 1990S America

9.1 Excellent

4

The Up Series

The Up Series documents the lives of seven individuals initially featured in 1964’s *Seven Up!* It is a long-running Bri...

Life Classic Series Britain

9.1 Excellent

5

Rock in Rio

Rock in Rio is a documentary film capturing the immense 2000s edition of this international music festival. Held primari...

Pop Rock Electronic International

9.0 Excellent

6

The Look of Silence

Joshua Oppenheimer’s *The Look of Silence* is a powerful 2014 documentary exploring the aftermath of Indonesia’s 1965 ge...

History Indonesia Justice 2010S

8.8 Great

7

The Vietnam War

Ken Burns’ “The Vietnam War” presents a comprehensive documentary series examining this pivotal conflict. The project un...

Series War Vietnam Ken Burns

8.8 Great

8

Once Upon a Time in America

Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 crime drama depicting the intertwined lives of Jewish gangsters in New York City....

Action Epic Drama Crime

8.7 Great

9

Taxi to the Dark Side

Taxi to the Dark Side is a 2007 documentary examining the circumstances surrounding the December 2002 death of Afghan ta...

Crime Movie 2000S War

8.3 Great

10

Jazz

Ken Burns’s *Jazz* offers a comprehensive exploration of American musical history. The ten-part documentary series metic...

Music Series 2000S Jazz

8.2 Great

11

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

“Paradise Lost meticulously documents the investigation and trial surrounding the murders of three teenagers in West Mem...

Hbo Crime 1990S Justice

8.2 Great

12

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

The film Dear Zachary chronicles the tragic story of Andrew Bagby’s death and the subsequent fight for his young son, Za...

Family Canada Crime Grief

8.1 Great

13

Capturing the Friedmans

The film *Capturing the Friedmans* presents an investigative look at the devastating abuse suffered by the Friedman fami...

Archive Family Crime 2000S

8.1 Great

14

The Central Park Five

The Central Park Five is a 2012 documentary film directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon. The film investi...

Crime Justice Race Ken Burns

8.0 Great

15

3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets

3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets is a 2015 documentary directed by Marc Silver about the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Jor...

Crime Film Justice Race

7.8 Good

16

Into the Abyss

Into the Abyss is a 2011 documentary directed by Werner Herzog about a triple murder committed in Conroe, Texas, and the...

Crime Justice 2010S Death Row

7.6 Good

17

Dirty Money

"Dirty Money" is a documentary series released on Netflix beginning in 2018, with each episode investigating a different...

Business Netflix Crime Series

7.6 Good

18

Strong Island

Strong Island is a 2017 documentary film directed by Yance Ford that examines the 1992 shooting death of his older broth...

Family Crime Justice Race

7.6 Good

19

Victim/Suspect

Victim/Suspect is a 2023 true crime documentary film directed by Nancy Schwartzman and distributed by Netflix. The film...

Netflix Crime Justice 2020S

7.4 Good

20

Tiger King

Tiger King, formally titled Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, is a 2020 documentary series released by Netflix. Th...

Netflix Crime Series 2020S

7.1 Good