10 Popular TV Shows Based on Real Crimes
Many well-known TV shows are based on real crimes, using actual events as the foundation for their stories.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Some of television’s most gripping series draw inspiration from real-life criminal cases. Writers often adapt true events into dramatized plots, changing names and details but keeping the core story. Knowing the real crimes behind these shows adds a deeper and sometimes more unsettling perspective.
1. Mindhunter (2017–2019)
Netflix on Wikimedia Commons
This Netflix series is based on the real FBI Behavioral Science Unit in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The main characters are inspired by agents John E. Douglas and Robert K. Ressler. Many of the serial killers in the show, such as Edmund Kemper and Jerry Brudos, are portrayed directly from historical records. The series follows the development of modern criminal profiling.
2. Narcos (2015–2017)
Netflix on Wikimedia Commons
Narcos tells the story of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel. It closely follows historical events from Escobar’s rise in the 1970s to his death in 1993. Many scenes are based on real police operations and media reports from the time. The series also includes real archival footage of events.
3. Unbelievable (2019)
CBS Television Studios on Wikimedia Commons
This limited series is based on the 2008–2011 case of a serial rapist in Washington and Colorado. It follows the true story of a young woman who was charged with lying about being assaulted, only for later evidence to prove she was telling the truth. The show is adapted from a Pulitzer Prize-winning news article. It accurately depicts both the failures and successes of the investigation.
4. Chernobyl (2019)
HBO on Wikimedia Commons
While mainly about a historical disaster, the HBO series also focuses on the criminal negligence that led to the 1986 nuclear accident. It examines the actions of Soviet officials who concealed vital information. The disaster caused deaths, long-term illnesses, and environmental damage. The series uses court records, survivor testimony, and declassified documents as sources.
5. The Act (2019)
Jaroslav Krupka on Wikimedia Commons
The Act dramatizes the murder of Dee Dee Blanchard by her daughter Gypsy Rose Blanchard in 2015. Dee Dee had abused Gypsy for years by fabricating illnesses in a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. The series closely follows media interviews and police reports. It portrays both the abuse and the events leading to the crime.
6. When They See Us (2019)
إبراهيم الشعيبي on Wikimedia Commons
This series tells the story of the Central Park Five, five teenagers wrongfully convicted in 1989 of attacking a jogger in New York City. It is based on court transcripts, media coverage, and interviews with the men involved. The show focuses on the investigation, trial, and eventual exoneration. It highlights systemic problems in the justice system.
7. Waco (2018)
Waco Aircraft Company on Wikimedia Commons
Waco is based on the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Texas. The standoff between federal agents and the religious group lasted 51 days and ended in a deadly fire. The series draws from memoirs written by a survivor and an FBI negotiator. It examines both the actions of the Davidians and the government’s response.
8. American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson (2016)
Mockingjedi on Wikimedia Commons
This season of American Crime Story covers the 1994–1995 murder trial of O.J. Simpson. It uses court transcripts, media coverage, and books written by people involved in the case. The show examines legal strategies, media influence, and racial tensions during the trial. It became one of the most-watched true-crime dramatizations on television.
9. Underbelly (2008–2013)
RJ on Wikimedia Commons
An Australian crime drama, Underbelly is based on real criminal events, including gang wars and organized crime activities. Each season focuses on a different time period and set of cases. The show uses court records and police files as references. Some episodes were banned in certain states due to ongoing trials.
10. Dirty John (2018–2020)
Netflix on Wikimedia Commons
Based on a true-crime podcast, Dirty John tells the story of conman and criminal John Meehan. The first season focuses on his relationship with Debra Newell, which escalates into violence. The show uses police reports, interviews, and trial records. It portrays both the psychological manipulation and the criminal acts.