Law enforcement opens its case files and gives viewers an intimate look at the legal process in these 12 true crime shows.

The 12 best true crime shows on Amazon Prime Video worth investigating

Law enforcement opens its case files and gives viewers an intimate look at the legal process in these 12 true crime shows.

By James Mercadante, Sammi Burke, and Ilana Gordon

on February 9, 2026 7:12 a.m. ET

Jill Duggar Dillard and Derick Dillard in 'Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets'; Elizabeth Smart in 'Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography'; 'Forensic Files'. Credit:

Amazon Studios; A+E Networks; FilmRise

True love is hard to find, but true crime is always there for you. From murderers and financial con artists to the authorities and whistleblowers who bring them to justice, the desire to instill a sense of law and order into life's chaos is strong.

For those interested in diving deeper, there’s no shortage of documentaries, docudramas, podcasts, and tell-all books to explore. And since Amazon Prime Video doesn’t offer a guide to their true criminal activity, ** decided to step up and save you the trouble. Here are the 12 best true crime shows to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Cold Case Files (2017–2022)

'Cold Case Files'.

A reboot of a beloved true crime series from the turn of this century, *Cold Case Files *digs into languishing, unsolved murders in the hopes of using modern technology to turn old evidence into new convictions. The original *Cold Case Files *aired on A&E from 1999 to 2002, but the new one is back, better than ever, and produced by the Oscar-nominated team behind Jordan Peele’s *Get Out*. With new eyes examining old forensics, witnesses, and leads both big and small, *Cold Case Files *is one of the OG pioneers of the true crime genre. *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Cold Case Files*: Amazon Prime Video

Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography (2017)

Elizabeth Smart in 'Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography'.

A+E Networks

On June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted by a self-proclaimed religious prophet, who, with the help of his wife, held her in a wooded area where she endured repeated sexual abuse. Fifteen years later, Smart — now a child safety activist and ABC News commentator — tells her story in her own words via this three-part A&E docuseries.

Featuring interviews from Smart, her family, eyewitnesses, and law enforcement, *Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography* doesn't just recount the violent crimes of her captors but unveils Smart's road to recovery and how she's used her trauma to help others. —*James Mercadante*

Where to watch *Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography*: Amazon Prime Video

The FBI Files (1998–2009)

'The FBI Files'.

One of the longer-running true crime series, *The FBI Files *was produced with the cooperation of the FBI — including host James Kallstrom, a former head of the FBI's Manhattan office — documenting instances where they assisted local police departments.

With cases like the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, the Unabomber, the kidnapping/murder of Polly Klaas, and countless others, *The FBI Files *allows viewers to step into the investigative process, including dramatized reenactments and interviews with the agents and forensic scientists involved. *—Sammi Burke*

Where to watch *The FBI Files*: Amazon Prime Video

**Cast: **James Kallstrom

The First 48 (2004–present)

A detective on 'The First 48'.

Homicide is tragic, but it makes for compelling TV. Premiering during the summer of 2004 on A&E, *The First 48* offers behind-the-scenes info into murder investigations, pulling back the curtain on the forensic tools, analysis, interviews, and other law enforcement techniques used to identify suspects and close cases. The show’s title refers to the fact that the first 48 hours of an investigation are the most crucial in determining a case’s chances of being solved, and to prove it, this docuseries focuses on homicide investigations of various lengths — from the cases detectives close quickly to ones that take years to resolve.

A show meant for true crime fans long before true crime was a legitimate genre, *The First 48 *offers 24 seasons of episodes, 8 of which are currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. As former EW writer Gillian Flynn writes in her 2004 review of the show, “*48* flies by, but moments along the way linger.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The First 48*: Amazon Prime Video

**Cast: **Dion Graham

Forensic Files (1996–2011)

'Forensic Files'.

*Forensic Files* is a must-watch for true crime buffs who don't feel like sitting through hours of material just to learn about a single case. Each episode unravels like a 22-minute whodunnit — with forensic scientists scouring through evidence and performing lab tests to get their answers. (Some episodes, however, explore accidents instead of crimes.)

One of the show's perks is its crisp storytelling, but its atmospheric visual style and Peter Thomas' narrations make it nearly impossible to resist pressing play on the next episode. If you finish this series, *Forensic Files II* (available to watch on HBO Max) has been airing more investigations since 2020. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *Forensic Files*: Amazon Prime Video

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The Last Narc (2020)

Felix Rodriguez (a.k.a. Max Gomez) in 'The Last Narc'.

This docuseries explores the death of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was kidnapped and eventually killed by some of the most notorious drug lords in Mexico, allegedly with the help of the CIA. Decades later, former cartel members, along with other DEA agents and Camarena’s family, have come forward to share insider details about the events leading up to his death.

*The Last Narc* chronicles how the agent infiltrated the cartel; how his investigation cost them billions of dollars; and how he racked up enemies throughout his time there — including members of American intelligence — in his search for the truth. —*S.B.*

Where to watch *The Last Narc*: Amazon Prime Video

Lorena (2021)

Lorena Bobbitt in 'Lorena'.

Executive produced by Jordan Peele, this limited docuseries explores the 1993 case of Lorena Bobbitt and her husband, John, which became a news sensation despite the lack of social media and instant reporting. Lorena cut off her husband’s penis with a kitchen knife the night of the incident, and she became the laughingstock of the country as her version of events battled against his. (At the time, the inflammatory tabloid inclusions and constant jokes suffocated any opportunity for an equally strong open discussion about domestic violence and the silencing of victims.)

This four-part investigation, featuring interviews with both Lorena and John, reviews Bobbitt’s trial, as well as everything that led to it and the aftermath they each faced. *—S.B.*

Where to watch *Lorena*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** B

On Death Row (2012)

Hank Skinner and Werner Herzog in 'On Death Row'.

Each episode of this series profiles a specific death row inmate in Texas, featuring criminals like two members of the Texas Seven, a man who hired two contract killers to murder his wife, and a woman who stole an infant after murdering the mother, among other maximum security prisoners sentenced to die in Texas.

Director Werner Herzog developed the series because he disagreed with capital punishment. *On Death Row*, which sees Herzog speak with inmates himself, also includes interviews with others involved in their cases and personal lives, such as lawyers and family members. *—S.B.*

Where to watch *On Death Row*: Amazon Prime Video

One Night in Idaho: The College Murders (2025)

Scott Laramie (Madison Mogen's stepfather) in 'One Night in Idaho: The College Murders'.

Courtesy of Prime Video

Nov. 13, 2022, is a day that will live in infamy in Moscow, Idaho. In the middle of the night, four college students were brutally murdered in their beds, seemingly for no reason. Three years later, the murderer has been sentenced to life behind bars, but curiosity and questions about the four young people he killed remain.

The Idaho Four case captured national attention, but a gag order issued within the state prevented law enforcement from sharing specific details with the public. That gag order wasn’t lifted until after Amazon’s four-part docuseries was released, but the series is still the most comprehensive accounting of what happened that night. The case is presented through interviews with close friends, family members, and others who ensure the names Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves will live on. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *One Night in Idaho: The College Murders*: Amazon Prime Video

Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets (2023)

The Duggar family in 'Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets'.

The Duggars once charmed TV audiences with their exceptionally large family — parents Michelle and Jim Bob, along with their nine daughters and 10 sons — on TLC's *19 Kids and Counting*. However, their Potemkin village crumbled when the show was canceled following reports that the oldest son, Josh, had molested five underage girls.

This four-part docuseries delves further into Josh's history of sexual abuse and child pornography possession, as well as the family's connection to the Institute in Basic Life Principles (a cult-like fundamentalist group led by Bill Gothard). With interviews from Duggars like Jill Dillard and Amy King, *Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets* presents a thorough investigation into pure sin, prioritizing the voices of survivors over sensationalism. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets*: Amazon Prime Video

**Cast: **Jill Duggar Dillard, Derick Dillard, Jennifer Sutphin

Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (2020)

'Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer'.

One of the most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy is often romanticized for using his devilish good looks and charm to lure dozens of women to their deaths. Yet, how many people know the names of his victims or about his then-girlfriend, Elizabeth Kendall? *Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer* aims to fill that gap by decentering Bundy from the narrative and focusing on Kendall, her daughter Molly, colleagues, survivors, and the families of his victims.

This five-part docuseries — told by women and directed by Trish Wood — approaches this case through a critical feminist lens, exploring the social context during Bundy's reign of violence and the long-lasting impact on those he took away from. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer*: Amazon Prime Video

The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith (2022)

Beverly Lynn Smith in 'The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith'.

It's been more than 50 years since 22-year-old Beverly Lynn Smith was found shot dead in her Oshawa, Ontario, home — and her case remains cold. Though her next-door neighbor, Alan Smith, was the No. 1 suspect and coerced into confessing by undercover authorities, the true killer seems to have gotten away scot-free.

Incorporating interviews with key figures like Beverly's twin sister and artful shots of small-town Oshawa, *The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith* is a twisty four-part docuseries that examines a muffed investigation and the unethical tactics used to expedite the case. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith*: Amazon Prime Video

- TV Reviews & Recommendations

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW TV”