Top 250 Tv Shows Like The Act Of Killing

A story of killers who win, and the society they build.

A list of the best tv shows similar to The Act of Killing. If you liked The Act of Killing then you may also like: Peaky Blinders, The FBI Files, Medical Detectives, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, The Keepers and many more great tv shows featured on this list.

Filmmakers expose the horrifying mass executions of accused communists in Indonesia and those who are celebrated in their country for perpetrating the crime.

Peaky Blinders

A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England and centered on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby, who means to move up in the world.

The FBI Files

Witness the crime busting techniques and forensic science used by the FBI to break the most baffling cases. From crime scene analysis to the most up-to-date laboratories, FBI agents relentlessly comb through mountains of evidence to narrow their search, ultimately prevailing over the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

Medical Detectives

Real crimes, disease outbreaks and accidents around the world are solved by experts using scientific laboratory analysis which helps them find previously undetectable evidence. Brilliant scientific work helps convict the guilty and free the innocent.

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst

Robert Durst, scion of one of New York’s billionaire real estate families, has been accused of three murders but never convicted. Brilliant, reclusive, and the subject of relentless media scrutiny, he’s never spoken publicly—until now. During interviews with Andrew Jarecki, he reveals secrets of the case that baffled authorities for 30 years. In 2010, Jarecki made the narrative film All Good Things based on the infamous story of Robert Durst. After Durst saw the film, he contacted Jarecki wanting to tell his story. What began as a feature documentary ultimately became a six-part series as more and more of his incredible story was revealed.

The Keepers

This docuseries examines the decades-old murder of Sister Catherine Cesnik and its suspected link to a priest accused of abuse.

Killer Kids

Killer Kids provides an in-depth profile of the lives of kids who kill. What can possibly motivate kids to commit criminal acts and even murder? From hate crimes to gang initiations, murders of family members to occult ceremonies, each case in the series exposes different motives and methods of murders by children.

Making a Murderer

Filmed over 10 years, this real-life thriller follows a DNA exoneree who, while exposing police corruption, becomes a suspect in a grisly new crime.

Person of Interest

John Reese, former CIA paramilitary operative, is presumed dead and teams up with reclusive billionaire Finch to prevent violent crimes in New York City by initiating their own type of justice. With the special training that Reese has had in Covert Operations and Finch's genius software inventing mind, the two are a perfect match for the job that they have to complete. With the help of surveillance equipment, they work "outside the law" and get the right criminal behind bars. 

The Purge

Set in a dystopian America ruled by a totalitarian political party, the series follows several seemingly unrelated characters living in a small city. Tying them all together is a mysterious savior who’s impeccably equipped for everything the night throws at them. As the clock winds down with their fates hanging in the balance, each character is forced to reckon with their pasts as they discover how far they will go to survive the night.

Snapped

The fascinating cases of every day, seemingly average moms, wives and girlfriends accused of murder. Did they really do it? And if so, why?

Wonder Showzen

Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that aired between 2005 and 2006 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR. The show is rated TV-MA. The show's format is that of educational PBS children's television shows such as Sesame Street and The Electric Company, parodying the format with adult-oriented content. In addition to general controversial comedy, it satirizes politics, religion, war, sex, and culture with black comedy. Every episode begins with a disclaimer, accompanied by the sound of someone screaming "Don't eat my baby!", which reads: "Wonder Showzen contains offensive, despicable content that is too controversial and too awesome for actual children. The stark, ugly and profound truths Wonder Showzen exposes may be soul-crushing to the weak of spirit. If you allow a child to watch this show, you are a bad parent or guardian."

Penn & Teller: Bull!

This daring original series stars postmodern bad boys of magic Penn & Teller as they question many of our culture's most cherished and widely held beliefs. From the truth about palm readings and TV psychics to the reality behind Feng Shui and Ouija boards, the archly comic masters of misdirection host this eye-opening analysis of the middle-ground between perception and reality.

The World at War

A documentary series that gives a historical account of the events of World War II, from its roots in the 1920s to the aftermath and the lives it profoundly influenced.

Jam

Jam is a postmodern British dark comedy series created, written and directed by Chris Morris, and was broadcast on Channel 4 during March and April 2000. It was based on the earlier BBC Radio 1 show, Blue Jam, and consisted of a series of unsettling sketches unfolding over an ambient soundtrack.

Walking with Cavemen

Professor Robert Winston meets Lucy, the first upright ape, and follows her ancestors on the three-million-year journey to civilisation.

Nuremberg

Justice Robert H. Jackson leads Allied prosecutors in trying 21 Germans for Nazi war crimes after World War II.

The Chicago Code

The series follows officers of the Chicago Police Department as they fight crime on the streets and try to expose political corruption within the city.

Famous Crime Scene

Famous Crime Scene is a VH1 show that follows a documentary format. This show exposes the evidence and the last moments and the subsequent chaos about their deaths; all this through the view of special investigators, and even exposes the point of view and details that only the ones present are able to give.

The Third Reich: The Rise & Fall

An intimate, authentic portrait of Hitler's Germany as recorded by the people who lived it. Never-before-seen home movies, Nazi propaganda films and personal recollections culled from German's diaries, journals and letters provide a rare look inside the darker pages of world history.

Mafia's Greatest Hits

Uncovers the extraordinary truth behind some of the Mafia's most notorious outlaws, and reveals how the FBI and law enforcement developed the techniques to crack the organization and bring it to justice. This is the story of the rise and fall of the Mafia, told by the people who brought it down.

Gangsters: America's Most Evil

A cinematic documentary series that explores the rise and fall of some of the most nefarious and notorious criminals brought to justice by the United States government. From thugs to lethal beauties, outlaws to kingpins, each episode profiles these gangsters and reveals their sinister motives, transgressions and the circumstances that eventually led to their downfall.

Cry Wolfe

Cry Wolfe combines the work of veteran private eye Brian Wolfe and Investigation Discovery's signature dramatizations to create a hybrid reality/procedural-crime series. It's inspired by actual cases investigated by Wolfe and his assistant, Janine McCarthy, and whether the target is a cheating spouse, dishonest employee, or scammer, each half-hour episode follows the two from the initial client consultation to evidence-gathering stages and finally a confrontation with the accused. Wolfe, a no-nonsense guy with a thick Boston brogue, conducts field work using an arsenal of tried-and-true P.I. tricks; McCarthy picks up the data trail left on the Internet; and re-enactments give each case life, disclosing a shadowy world where things aren't always as they seem.

WWI: The First Modern War

When ancient war tactics became overwhelmed by powerful new weapons like tanks, air attacks, weapons of mass destruction and submarines, a pivotal game-changing moment in history occurred. History is delving into the background of each weapon explaining the how and why they were developed, the strategy, and their ultimate effectiveness.

The Bastard Executioner

A blood-soaked, medieval epic that tells the story of Wilkin Brattle, a 14th century warrior, whose life is forever changed when a divine messenger beseeches him to lay down his sword and lead the life of another man: a journeyman executioner. Set in northern Wales during a time rife with rebellion and political upheaval, Wilkin must walk a tight rope between protecting his true identity while also serving a mysterious destiny. Guided by Annora, a mystical healer whose seeming omniscience keeps Wilkin under her sway; manipulated by Milus Corbett, a devious Chamberlain with grand political aspirations; and driven by a deepening connection with the Baroness Lady Love, Wilkin struggles to navigate political, emotional and supernal pitfalls in his quest to understand his greater purpose.

The Mafia with Trevor McDonald

Trevor McDonald embarks on an eye-opening journey inside the secretive world of the American Mafia, gaining unprecedented access to people who have experienced first-hand, the money, glamour and violence of the United States’ most famous organised crime network. In this two-part documentary series, Trevor delves into the lives of people with a fascinating story to tell, some of whom have never appeared on television before.

Real Detective

With narrative driven exclusively by the detectives themselves, each episode ventures deep into the mind of a homicide detective as they describe in vivid detail the one case forever ingrained in their memory.

The Killing Season

Follow documentarians Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate one of the most bizarre unsolved serial killer cases of our time – the deaths of ten sex workers discovered on Gilgo Beach, Long Island.

Dead Silent

A snap of a twig. A rustling leaf. In the woods, myth, urban legend, and horror collide with real-life killers. Transporting viewers into a vortex of dark mystery and psychological terror, each episode tells the true story of a crime set in a desolate location.

Roman Empire

This stylish mix of documentary and historical epic chronicles the reign of Commodus, the emperor whose rule marked the beginning of Rome's fall.

Five Came Back

The extraordinary story of how Hollywood changed World War II – and how World War II changed Hollywood, through the interwoven experiences of five legendary filmmakers who went to war to serve their country and bring the truth to the American people: John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens. Based on Mark Harris’ best-selling book, “Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War.”

Murder by Numbers

Each episode of this true-crime series begins with the grisly discovery of a body and the onset of an intense investigation. When police think they've solved the case, shocking twists sends each investigation into the depths of evil.

Bad Blood

A dramatization of the life and death of Montreal mob boss Vito Rizzuto.

Corrupt Crimes

Corrupt Crimes investigates recent crime stories in complete detail, with expert analysis and dramatic storytelling. Cases include crimes of passion, espionage, treason, insider trading, government corruption, murder and conspiracies.

World's Most Evil Killers

World’s Most Evil Killers delves into the gripping real-life stories of the world’s most terrifying and prolific killers. From Fred and Rose West to Ed Gein – The Clown Killer – and even to The Milwaukee Cannibal. Each episode focuses on one notorious killer and features authentic first-hand accounts of their behavior, from detectives who ran the case, journalists who reported on the stories, relatives, and at times survivors, alongside series experts who provide analysis. These criminologists, crime journalists and psychologists examine how the infamous killers made headlines both nationally and internationally and why they still continue to evoke fear and fascination in the public eye.

Dirty Money

From crippling payday loans to cars that cheat emissions tests, this investigative series exposes brazen acts of corporate greed and corruption.

Drug Lords

Witness the stories of history's most notorious kingpins, their terrifying enforcers, and the men and women who've sworn to bring them down.

Wild Wild Country

When a controversial cult leader builds a utopian city in the Oregon desert, conflict with the locals escalates into a national scandal.

Flint Town

Over a two-year period, filmmakers embedded with cops in Flint, Michigan, reveal a department grappling with volatile issues in untenable conditions.

The Killer Beside Me

The Killer Beside Me exposes the dark underbelly of workplace evil where rivalry, romance, and the abuse of power culminate in a brutal slaying. Each episode in this series retells the shocking events leading to a horrific murder. How well do we really know our co-workers?

Evil Genius

This baffling true crime story starts with the grisly death of a pizza man who robs a bank with a bomb around his neck - and gets weirder from there.

The Case Against Adnan Syed

Explore the 1999 disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee, and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, a case brought to global attention by the hugely popular Serial podcast.

The Last Defense

This docu-series explores and exposes flaws in the American justice system through emotional, in-depth examinations of the death row cases of Darlie Routier and Julius Jones.

Gotti: Godfather and Son

This documentary serves as the complete and definitive father and son story of two men who were raised in the mob and became the reigning king and heir apparent with John Gotti Jr. providing his most extensive on-camera interview to-date.

I Am a Killer

Death row inmates convicted of capital murder give a firsthand account of their crimes in this documentary series.

The Innocent Man

In a story that gained national attention with John Grisham’s best-selling non-fiction book, The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town, the six-part documentary series The Innocent Man focuses on two murders that shook the small town of Ada, Oklahoma, in the 1980s — and the controversial chain of events that followed.

Surviving R. Kelly

Celebrated as one of the greatest R&B singers of all time, R. Kelly’s genre defining career and playboy lifestyle has been riddled with rumors of abuse, predatory behavior, and pedophilia. Despite damning evidence and multiple witnesses, to date, none of these accusations have seemingly affected him. For the first time ever, survivors and people from R. Kelly’s inner circle, are coming forward with new allegations about his sexual, mental, and physical abuse. They are now finally ready to share their full story and shed light on the secret life the public has never seen.

Mark of a Killer

All serial killers commit murder to satisfy their grand fantasies, but the murderers featured in this true-crime docuseries take it one step further, committing heinous acts that allow them to extend their fantasies and relive the excitement of their crimes again and again.

Very Scary People

A chronicle of the twisted lives of some of the most frightening, diabolical characters in recent history. Each two-hour episode traces the heinous, criminal acts of these elusive miscreants and the eventual road to justice.

Killer Ratings

Brazilian TV personality and politician Wallace Souza faces accusations of masterminding the violent crimes he reported on and rallied against.

Greatest Events of World War II in Colour

Using highly advanced colourisation techniques, critical moments from World War II, from Stalingrad to The Battle of Britain, are shown in a whole new light.

Becoming Evil: Serial Killers

This 7-part season is filled with expert interviews and in-depth portraits of some of America's most infamous killers including John Wayne Gacy, David Berkowitz, Richard Ramirez, James DeAngelo, Aileen Wuornos, Jeffrey Dahmer, Andrew Cunanan, Ted Bundy and many others.

Free Meek

This intimate documentary series chronicles Meek Mill's transformation from chart-topping rapper to galvanizing face of criminal justice reform. As Meek, his family and his legal team fight for his freedom, cameras capture the birth of the #FREEMEEK movement and re-investigate a case filled with allegations of dirty cops and systemic corruption in a broken judicial system.

Relatively Evil

Inspired by the box office smash, GET OUT each episode of this intimate psychological thriller will explore the terrifying, real-life events of an outsider who falls for someone in a seemingly normal family only to find themselves entangled in an evil clan capable of abuse, kidnapping, or something even more sinister.As each story unfolds, this fatal fish-out-of-water series is a reflection of life's own unpredictable path of twists and turns, in a journey that exposes the shady underbelly of the family tree. All the while the newcomer is questioning their own sense of reality and in some cases, morality as small signs of trouble become dark and deadly. Once you join the family, can you ever get out?

McMillion$

A detailed account of the McDonald's Monopoly game scam during the 1990s as told by the participants in the case, including the prizewinners and the FBI agents who caught the security officer who orchestrated the entire scheme.

The Pharmacist

After his son's tragic death, a Louisiana pharmacist goes to extremes to expose the rampant corruption behind the opioid addiction crisis.

Who Killed Malcolm X?

Decades after the assassination of African American leader Malcolm X, an activist embarks on a complex mission seeking truth in the name of justice.

Tiger King

A zoo owner spirals out of control amid a cast of eccentric characters in this true murder-for-hire story from the underworld of big cat breeding.

The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez

A boy’s brutal murder and the public trials of his guardians and social workers prompt questions about the system’s protection of vulnerable children.

The Oland Murder

In 2011, multimillionaire Richard Oland of the Moosehead Brewing family was found bludgeoned to death. His son, Dennis, quickly became the prime suspect. It is a bewildering true-crime mystery that became a public obsession.

The Innocence Files

The personal stories behind eight cases of wrongful conviction that the Innocence Project and organizations within the Innocence Network have worked to highlight and overturn.

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich

Stories from survivors fuel this docuseries examining how convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein used his wealth and power to carry out his abuses.

The Last Narc

In 1985, American DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by Mexico’s most notorious drug lords. Thirty-five years later, three former cartel insiders share unprecedented details. This is the story of Camarena, the drug cartel he infiltrated, and the narc who risked everything to discover the truth.

MATARIFE

Matarife, an unmentionable genocide | The series has generated great controversy in Colombia because it exposes former president Alvaro Uribe Vélez in its plot like never before.

Fear City: New York vs The Mafia

New York City in the 1970s was ruled with a bloody fist by five mafia families, until a group of federal agents tried the unthinkable: taking them down.

Unsolved Mysteries

Real cases of perplexing disappearances, shocking murders and paranormal encounters fuel this gripping revival of the iconic documentary series. The official website is unsolved.com

First Ladies

Blending in-depth interviews, rare archival footage, and cinematic recreations, this docuseries on the lives of America's most iconic First Ladies is a bold revision of each woman's traditional portrayal, revealing how they were impacted during their time in the White House, and how their achievements fundamentally shaped American and global history.

Murder on Middle Beach

A four-part documentary series revolving around the case of single mother Barbara Hamburg, who was brutally murdered in 2010 near her home in the upper-middle class enclave of Madison, Connecticut. The series presents first-time filmmaker Madison Hamburg’s complicated journey as a young man determined to solve an unspeakable crime and absolve the people he loves, while looking for answers within his fractured family and community.

Trial 4

Charged as a teen in the 1993 killing of a Boston cop, Sean K. Ellis fights to prove his innocence while exposing police corruption and systemic racism.

Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults

What started in 1975 with the disappearance of 20 people from a small town in Oregon, ended in 1997 with the largest suicide on US soil and changed the face of modern New Age religion forever. This four-part docuseries uses never-before-seen footage and first-person accounts to explore the infamous UFO cult that shocked the nation with their out-of-this-world beliefs.

Confronting a Serial Killer

The timely story of the unprecedented relationship between acclaimed New York Times best-selling author and memoirist Jillian Lauren and the most prolific serial killer in American history, Samuel Little, and her race against time to identify his victims before it's too late. As she slips deeper into his sordid world, Jillian realizes that she may become, psychologically, Little's last victim.

Ghost Brothers: Lights Out

The Ghost Brothers (Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass and Marcus Harvey) are the dopest brothers on television hunting ghosts. These candid and unorthodox paranormal investigators explore disturbed hotspots across the country, checking out and sizing up local legends and supernatural stories. They are ready to expose the haunted holdouts still hanging around these locations … and why they don’t leave.

Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.

After marrying a mysterious man who claimed he could make her dog immortal, a celebrated vegan restaurateur finds her life veering off the rails.

Catching Killers

The investigators behind infamous serial killer cases reveal the harrowing, chilling details of their extraordinary efforts in this true crime series.

JFK: Destiny Betrayed

Thirty years after his film JFK, filmmaker Oliver Stone takes viewers on a journey though recently declassified evidence in the assassination of President Kennedy - the most consequential American murder mystery of the twentieth century. Joined by Oscar-winning narrators Whoopi Goldberg and Donald Sutherland, as well as a distinguished team of forensics, medical and ballistics experts, historians, and witnesses, Stone presents compelling evidence that in the Kennedy case “conspiracy theory” is now “conspiracy fact.”

The Man Who Bought Cricket

Money laundering, the FBI, drugs, Ponzi schemes, extramarital affairs, offshore banks and of course some cricket. Who exactly is Allen Stanford?

The Rape of Britain

Investigation which scratches the surface of the child grooming gangs in Telford, U.K. Allegations of police corruption and bribery between senior officers and local businessmen.

The Big Conn

The unbelievable true story of the larger-than-life attorney, Eric C. Conn, who defrauded the government over half a billion dollars in the largest Social Security fraud case in history.

The Real Peaky Blinders

Exploring the mass gang movement that originated in Birmingham and other industrial cities in the 19th century and evolved into modern gangsterism in the early 20th.

Not So Pretty

The first-ever comprehensive large-scale investigative expose of the trillion-dollar cosmetics, beauty and personal care industry. Celebrated and groundbreaking filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering take this unregulated industry to task via rigorous investigations, incisive wit and emotional storytelling to inform audiences of the hidden hazards of cosmetics and safe, budget-friendly alternatives for their daily products.

Crime Stoppers: Case Files

Unforgettable cases, featuring dedicated homicide detectives and forensic scientists to hunt down the perpetrators. Crime Stoppers is an 8-time Emmy award-winning program that exposes horrifying, unsolved homicide and kidnapping cases across the United States. The crime stories go behind the headlines to reveal compelling insights with reenactments, narrated by the detectives and victims' families to and involve the viewer to ensure justice is served.

First Blood

“First Blood" examines some of America’s most notorious serial killers through the prism of their first known kills to reveal what drove them to the moment when violent fantasy and curiosity became a devastating reality.

11 Minutes

A four-part documentary that takes viewers inside the heart-stopping stories of terror and survival experienced by those who were at the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas.

No One Can Hear You Scream

Survivors and investigators tell the true stories of horrifying crimes in the most isolated corners of the country, and one thing is perfectly clear -- no one is safe when they are alone.

Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields

An overgrown field and a stretch of highway connect a series of grisly murders spanning several decades as grieving families search for answers.

Snapped: She Made Me Do It

Snapped: She Made Me Do It profiles true stories of women accused of manipulating men to do their evil bidding. Although the crimes differ in nature, they all share a common theme – a woman is credited to being the chief mastermind behind-the-scenes. Through witness testimonies, expert interviews and dramatic reenactments, each episode explores criminal cases surrounding the femme fatale....

Dangerous Breed: Crime. Cons. Cats.

A filmmaker spends years documenting controversial wrestler and cat breeder Teddy Hart, but the project is thrown into chaos when Teddy is accused of wrongdoing; as Teddy defends himself, his protégé and ex-girlfriend Samantha Fiddler disappears.

Flordelis: A Family Crime

The haunting story of Flordelis, an acclaimed pastor and former member of the Brazilian parliament revered by many as a saint, accused of planning the death of her own husband, and her struggle to prove her innocence.

How I Caught My Killer

The real-life stories behind unique homicide cases with in-depth interviews, authentic archival material and cinematic recreations all packaged together into a fresh spin in the genre.

Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal

Shocking tragedies shatter a tight-knit South Carolina community and expose the horrifying secrets of its most powerful family.

The Playboy Murders

Investigating murders that intersect with Playboy, exposing the pitfalls of fame for those appearing on their pages and forcing audiences to question everything they thought they knew about one of America's most recognizable publications.

Dublin Narcos

Over the 1980s and 1990s Dublin transformed from a recession-blighted backwater to one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. As its fortunes changed so did those of its criminals, who began selling heroin, ecstasy and cocaine. Dublin Narcos tells the story of the rise in addiction, violence and organised crime which persists to this day, with first hand testimony from the kingpins and cops to the ravers and users. We also hear from the fearless journalists whose attempts at exposing the drugs barons led to the death of one of their bravest, Veronica Guerin.

The Ashley Madison Affair

The rise, fall, and improbable resurgence of Ashley Madison, the dating website aimed at marriage cheats. Pioneers in outrageous viral advertising, the company stops at nothing to gain publicity and by 2015 it appears to be on the brink of world domination. Then a team of hackers expose the intimate sexual secrets of millions of members, with devastating consequences. But in the aftermath of the data breach, are the site's adulterous users the only ones with dirty secrets?

Mother Undercover

Follow mothers who go to extreme lengths to save and protect their children from murder, international kidnapping, mass suicide and judicial corruption. The episodes will reveal how each mother took matters into their own hands and organized covert operations.

Audacity of Host

A documentary series that charts the Haitian-American experience of Motown Maurice, a future cultural icon, featuring interviews from his past and present.

Get Gotti

Murder. Extortion. Drug smuggling. Racketeering. The charges are mounting against John Gotti — but will any of them stick to the "Teflon Don"? Told from both sides of the law, this docuseries from the makers of "Fear City" follows the FBI's battle to bring down infamous mob boss.

Le contrat

This documentary shines light on the underbelly, the causes and the consequences of some bloody gang executions which marked Quebec society.

Mafia Killers With Colin McLaren

Colin McLaren shares stories about his undercover work inside organized crime families; chilling firsthand details about how mafia families operate and why their ruthlessness was often their downfall.

Helluva Boss

Follow Blitzo (the 'o' is silent) as he attempts to run a startup killing company in a very competitive market, along with his weapons specialist Moxxie, his powerhouse Millie, and his receptionist hellhound Loona. With the help of an ancient book obtained by one of the princes of Hell, they manage to make their work possible and together they attempt to survive each other while trying to keep their business afloat.

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