The best true-crime documentaries on HBO Max range from engrossing murder mysteries to notorious serial killers. Among these infamous cases of notorious criminals are the stories of Robert Durst and Gypsy Rose Blanchard. The streamer comprises sensational murders, high-profile cases, and spectacular trials that remained in the headlines for decades.
Here is a look at a few of the best true-crime documentaries on HBO Max for viewers to stream.
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
As the name suggests, HBO’s The Jinx chronicles the story of Robert Durst, a New York hotel heir who was convicted of murder. The engrossing tale delves into Durst’s role in the disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen McCormack, in 1982. The documentary also examines the murder of his friend Susan Berman in 2000 and the shooting death of his neighbor, Morris Black, in 2001.
Directed by Andrew Jarecki, The Jinx has won an Emmy Award as well as a Peabody Award. The six-part docuseries premiered in 2015 and remains one of the most acclaimed true-crime documentaries on HBO Max.
Mommy Dead and Dearest
Mommy Dead and Dearest tells the infamous tale of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Director Erin Lee Carr, who directed Britney vs. Spears, examines the events surrounding Dee Dee’s 2015 murder. It became a classic mystery before turning into a highly debated murder case. Gypsy Rose and her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, were behind the murder.
According to Entertainment Weekly, for most parts, the 2017 documentary centers around the murder and its aftermath. The case gained notoriety after detectives uncovered that Gypsy Rose was a victim of emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of Dee Dee. The latter reportedly suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental disorder. She often fabricated Gypsy’s chronic conditions, poisoned her, and kept her wheelchair-bound despite the girl’s ability to walk.
Mommy Dead and Dearest is another of the best true-crime documentaries on HBO Max. It also features firsthand accounts from Gypsy Rose Blanchard and other family members.
There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane
HBO’s hit documentary looks into the 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash after Diane Schuler drove her minivan in the wrong direction. The accident resulted in a deadly collision with an SUV, killing Schuler, her daughter, and three nieces, who were in the minivan. Three other people present in the SUV also died in the tragedy.
There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane refers to a phone call one of Schuler‘s nieces made shortly before the crash. A subsequent examination revealed her toxication levels as the cause of the accident in the media. Emmy-winning filmmaker Liz Garbus directed this documentary. Garbus and her team examined the timeline leading up to the horrific incident. Their conclusion of the happenings offered a different explanation for the horrific motor vehicle accidents.
Beware the Slenderman
The 2016 documentary closely looks at the infamous Slenderman stabbing that took place in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in May 2014. EW reported that Beware the Slenderman premiered at the 2016 SXSW festival and remains one of the best true crime documentaries on HBO Max.
It examines the stabbing of Payton Leutner by her friends, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser. The duo slashed Leutner 19 times, making the crime seem like the sinister Slender Man case. Moreover, the documentary offers a detailed look into the motives behind the stabbing and includes insights from the families of Weier and Geyser.
These are a few of the best true-crime documentaries on HBO Max and are available to stream on the platform.
