According to Psychology Today, crime is the one genre that captures viewers’ interest in both film and television. Crime dramas have proven to be quite well-liked throughout time, and their caliber has improved along with viewership. Currently, they make up a sizable portion of the collection on any streaming service, making it challenging for viewers to decide which one to watch next. The shows based on true crimes, like the most recent HBO Max production The Staircase, are the ones that are attracting the most interest from viewers. This miniseries, which stars a stellar ensemble lead by Colin Firth and Toni Collette, tells the tale of writer Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen when she was discovered dead at the bottom of the family home’s staircase. A little more than a month after the show’s debut, The Staircase has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and viewers, earning a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Similar to The Staircase, there are many excellent real crime shows that have compelling stories that can hold viewers’ attention until the very last episode and are deserving of a spot on true crime enthusiasts’ watch lists. It should be made clear that, if one has appreciated this HBO Max series, (the other) The Staircase, the 2005 TV documentary miniseries directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, which is streamable on Netflix, would be the most appropriate choice. It hasn’t been put to the list because it is a documentary that revisits the same crime as the Colin Firth-starring show. However, it is strongly advised to watch that program as it offers factual information and video of Kathleen Peterson’s passing. Look for some television programs similar to The Staircase to watch next.
American Crime Story
The greatest suggestion for any admirer of true crime is undoubtedly American Crime Story. This Ryan Murphy production is comparable to The Staircase in that it is likewise a fictitious series based on a true story, starring top actors in the field, without ignoring the crime, and offering a very different perspective that incorporates the legal procedure of each case. The anthology now has three seasons, each of which functions as a stand-alone miniseries centered on a particular case: the first season depicts the O.J. Simpson murder trial, the second, the death of Gianni Versace, and the third, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. Although the performers change from season to season, this show has a cast that includes, among many others, Sarah Paulson, David Schwimmer, John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Penélope Cruz.
American Murder: The Family Next Door
American Murder: The Family Next Door, which is based on actual events and is similar to The Staircase, focuses on the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her two young daughters. Chris Watts, the couple’s supposedly worried husband, initially reports their disappearance, but more research into the matter reveals evidence that show he is not as innocent as he claims to be. This Netflix documentary does a good job of summarizing a horrific and heartbreaking crime case that everyone was startled by.
Dirty John
For better or worse, Dirty John is the epitome of all the wild things that may be done in the name of love. The two seasons of this anthology series, each of which is based on a true crime narrative, are inspired by Christopher Goffard’s podcast of the same name. The first season centers on womanizer John Meehan (Eric Bana) and his doomed romance with interior designer Debra Newell (Connie Britton), who excels professionally but struggles romantically. The second one, named The Betty Broderick Story, is comparable to The Staircase in that Betty (Amanda Peet), a woman who is suspected of killing her ex-husband and his girlfriend, is the main character.
I Am the Night
Chris Pine and India Eisley are the leads of this 2019 series, which is based on the book One Day She’ll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel. I Am the Night tells the tale of Fauna, a little child who was given up for adoption by her mother at birth and is determined to learn everything there is to know about her past and biological family. Fauna stumbles into the name of famous gynecologist Dr. George Hodel while conducting her hunt for information about one of the most notorious unsolved murder cases, the Black Dahlia murder. She also runs across Jay Singletary, a reporter who worked on a piece about one of her ancestors, along the way.
The Girl From Plainville
The Girl From Plainville, which stars an outstanding lead performance from Elle Fanning, is based on the trial of Michelle Carter, a teenage girl who was charged with pushing her boyfriend Conrad Roy (Colton Ryan) to commit suicide in a shocking case. A complex narrative involving two kids was handled sensitively and with care in this Hulu drama, adding a human element to a tense situation without sensationalizing it. Along with Fanning and Ryan, Chloe Sevigny has a standout performance as Lynn Roy, the victim’s mother.
The Keepers
A nun named Catherine Cesnik taught drama and English at a high school in Baltimore. When Cesnik is killed in 1969, various long-buried mysteries involving one of the school’s priests are discovered as a result of the investigation into her death. Based on the case, Ryan White created the Netflix documentary series The Keepers, which has seven episodes and include testimonies from numerous participants in the inquiry. This documentary was well received by both critics and viewers, earning a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which described it as frightening and distressing but nevertheless essential viewing for viewers.
The Undoing
This miniseries is one of the ones that most closely resembles The Staircase in that it also scrutinizes a family guy. The Undoing is a suspense-mystery miniseries that stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, among other top actors, and is based on the book You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz. A married couple named Grace and Jonathan Fraser, who are both successful professionals and the parents of a young kid named Henry, are the subject of this 2020 production. However, when Elena (Matilda de Angelis), the mother of a student of Henry’s, is discovered dead in her studio on the same day Jonathan goes missing, their situation radically changes. Grace wonders if her existence is real or if it is based on lies as the inquiry into the case progresses and she learns some disturbing secrets about her spouse.
Unbelievable
This 2019 production is directed by Toni Collette, Kaitlyn Dever, and Merritt Wever. Unbelievable, an eight-episode Netflix miniseries based on actual events, portrays what sexual assault victims must go through when they attempt to expose their attackers in a harsh but realistic manner. The main character of the show is Marie (Dever), a young woman who was the victim of a nighttime intruder’s sexual assault. When Marie reports the incident to the police, however, things quickly turn sour. Rather than focusing on finding the offender, the detectives and those around her become preoccupied with trying to determine whether or not she was telling the truth, subjecting Marie to everyone’s accusatory gaze when she was actually a victim herself. The victim and two female detectives, who appear to be her sole allies, must work through this traumatic experience throughout the course of the series in order to finally restore some peace to Marie’s life.
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