The Guardian publishes list of 25 standout true-crime series, spanning decade-long scams and big-cat mysteries

The Guardian has published a new roundup of what it calls TV’s 25 best true-crime shows, tracing how the genre’s popularity has surged since the true-crime wave that began roughly a decade ago. The piece, published Aug. 6, frames the list as a catalog of series and documentary formats that have moved beyond single-case mysteries into longer-running investigations, including large-scale scams and disappearances.

In setting up the list, The Guardian points to Netflix’s Making a Murderer as a catalyst for the modern true-crime explosion. The article describes a steady period in which audiences have been offered repeated viewing hours built around real-life “awfulness,” including cases involving murder investigations, catfishing and fraud, and alleged cult activity. It also situates the current moment in a larger media ecosystem shaped by streaming platforms and documentary-style storytelling.

A central through-line in The Guardian’s overview is variety, both in subject matter and in investigative time horizons. The roundup’s description indicates that the included programs range from “mind-boggling” homicide and case-file narratives to decade-long scams, suggesting that the genre’s appeal extends to cases where investigators, victims, and alleged perpetrators remain intertwined over many years.

The Guardian also emphasizes that the genre continues to attract attention by expanding beyond conventional criminal-justice frameworks. The description indicates that some entries involve unusual or distinctive elements, including a reference to “big cats,” while others focus on the mechanics of deception, such as catfishing scams. By combining conventional crime reporting with more niche or visually striking subject matter, the list argues that true-crime programming remains a durable format for viewers seeking documentary-style narratives of wrongdoing.

The roundup’s publication arrives as streaming remains the main distribution channel for many of the most visible true-crime titles. The Guardian’s framing points to the way platform commissioning and release strategies have kept the genre consistently present in viewers’ schedules, even as individual series vary in outcome and investigative structure.

While the article does not present the listed shows as a single continuous narrative, its description indicates that the list is intended as a “best of” guide for viewers who want a curated selection rather than a full survey. The Guardian’s approach, according to the piece summary, is to capture both standout cases and the broad range of true-crime subgenres that have grown since the earlier wave.

The Guardian does not provide a broader policy or institutional review in the description, but the roundup still touches the practical reality that true-crime series can keep public attention on unresolved questions and alleged harms. In the genre, such sustained visibility can influence public understanding of cases and the ongoing conversation around investigations and accountability, even as viewers may encounter competing interpretations of evidence across different productions.

The next step for readers is simply to consult the list itself for the specific program entries, since the roundup is structured as a ranking or selection of 25 titles. For those using the article as a viewing guide, the practical outcome is a curated path into a wide swath of streaming-era true-crime programming, organized around themes the outlet describes as murder investigations, fraud and catfishing, alleged cult activity, and other real-life criminal stories.