8 shows and movies like ‘Woman of the Hour’ to watch next for your true crime fix
Tony Hale as Ed and Anna Kendrick as Sheryl in “Woman of the Hour.”
Netflix’s vast collection of true crime shows and films continues growing with its latest addition, “Woman of the Hour.”
The thriller stars Anna Kendrick as an aspiring actor named Sheryl, who takes a job as a bachelorette on the reality TV show “The Dating Game.” Unbeknownst to her, one of the three bachelors competing for her heart is a serial killer named Rodney (Daniel Zovatto).
The wild premise is actually rooted in the real-life story of a woman named Cheryl Bradshaw’s brush with murderer Rodney Alcala on the ABC dating show. Since the movie was released on Netflix on October 18, it has spent two weeks at the number two spot on Netflix’s weekly top 10 list of the most-watched films.
Netflix isn’t the only place where you can find intriguing true crime stories. If you’ve already watched “‘Woman of the Hour” and are eager to consume more, here are eight other shows and movies to check out.
“The Tinder Swindler”
Cecilie Fjellhøy in “The Tinder Swindler.”
“The Twinder Swindler” doesn’t deal with murder, but it does center on a man who fools unsuspecting women.
The 2022 documentary tells the story of Simon Leviev (born Shimon Hayut) a convicted fraudster who posed as a billionaire playboy on the dating app Tinder. He was accused of scamming women and his fraudulent activity came to light in an exposé published by the Norwegian newspaper VG in 2019.
“The Twinder Swindler” features three of these women — Cecilie Fjellhøy, Ayleen Charlotte, and Pernilla Sjöholm — sharing their experiences.
Where to watch: Netflix
“Love & Death”
Elizabeth Olsen as Candy in “Love & Death.”
“Love & Death” is inspired by Jim Atkinson and Joe Bob Briggs’s book “Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs” and a collection of articles published in Texas Monthly.
The seven-episode limited series stars Elizabeth Olsen as Candy Montgomery, a real-life Texas housewife who was accused of killing her friend Betty Gore with an ax in 1980. Montgomery was later acquitted following a highly publicized trial.
Olsen’s performance landed her a Golden Globes nomination, while costar Jesse Plemons earned an Emmy nomination for his role as Allan Gore, Betty’s husband with whom Candy had an affair.
Where to watch: Max
“Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer”
Dr. Ann Burgess in “Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer.”
Hulu’s “Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer,” pulls back the curtain on Dr. Ann Burgess, the famed psychiatric nurse and professor who joined the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit to help catch serial predators. The series details how Burgess came to work with the task force and how her approach to cases shaped modern serial-killer profiling.
Where to watch: Hulu
“Mindhunter”
Jonathan Groff in “Mindhunter.”
“Mindhunter,” which lasted for two seasons, is inspired by Burgess’ work with FBI agents Robert Ressler and John Douglas.
In the series, FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) dig into the minds of serial killers with the help of psychologist Wendy Carr in the hopes of applying their findings to ongoing cases.
Where to watch: Netflix
“Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”
Even Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in “‘Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.”
Emmy nominee Evan Peters plays serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in Ryan Murphy’s wildly popular anthology series “Monster.” The first season dramatizes the life of Dahmer, who murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991.
Niecy Nash-Betts won an Emmy for her portrayal of Glenda Cleveland, Dahmer’s neighbor whose attempts to alert police about strange activity went unheard.
Where to watch: Netflix
“Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile”
Zac Efron holds a phone as Ted Bundy in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.”
Zac Efron goes from being a Disney heartthrob to portraying infamous serial killer Ted Bundy in the film “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” The real Bundy, who had a charming demeanor, confessed to murdering 30 women in the 1970s. He was executed by an electric chair in 1989.
Joe Berlinger’s film is told from the point of view of Elizabeth Kloepfer (also known as Elizabeth Kendall), Bundy’s longtime girlfriend in real life. Her movie counterpart is Liz Kendall, portrayed by Lily Collins.
Where to watch: Netflix
“Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer”
Elizabeth Kendall in “Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer.”
For the real story of Bundy’s crimes, told by the women who were affected, check out Prime Video’s 2020 docuseries “Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer.”
The five-part series includes interviews with Kendall (who speaks out for the first time), her daughter Molly Kendall, Bundy’s younger brother Rich Bundy, and other survivors.
Where to watch: Prime Video
“The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst”
Robert Durst in court in March 2020.
Before Netflix dominated the true-crime genre, HBO released the Emmy-winning docuseries “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst” in 2015.
The six-part series centers on Robert Durst, a New York real-estate heir and convicted murderer. In 2022, Durst died of natural causes associated with unspecified health issues while in the custody of California’s Department of Corrections. Two years later, HBO released a second part of the docuseries comprised of six episodes and more findings from the filmmakers’ investigation into Durst.
Where to watch: Max
