Entertainment

The following underrated true crime movies are guaranteed to keep you hooked. Actual crimes have influenced movies for decades. They're tricky to pull off, because if done without sensitivity, they can be exploitative or sensationalistic. That, in turn, proves disrespectful to the victims. Doing it right, on the other hand, sheds important light onto the mindset of criminals and the devastating impact of the crimes.&nbsp;Each of the following films handles its true story properly. They have strong performances, deft direction, and, perhaps most importantly, carefully crafted screenplays that try to provide illumination. Many of them are directly based on real events, whereas a couple were merely inspired by something that actually occurred. No matter which approach is taken, these compelling movies are perfect the next time you want to delve into a true crime story.&nbsp;

Underrated Movies Based On Real-Life Crimes

Film

The Most Underrated True Crime Movies

Mike McGranaghan

A closer look at mysterious disappearances that continue to baffle detectives.

Gone Missing

Unspeakable Times

Bethany Anne Decker was a 21-year-old college senior studying global and economic change when she went missing in early 2011.Decker was also the wife of an Army National Guard private, the mother to a 17-month-old son, and was about three months pregnant with a second child; however, there was tension in Decker's life - her marriage was struggling, and she began an affair with a man named Ronald Roldan, whom she said was abusive. Then one day in late January, Decker seemingly disappeared <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-without-a-trace-cast-list-for-the-show-without-a-trace/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">without a trace</a>.Decker's case was seemingly cold until Roldan was charged in the attempted murder of another woman. In 2020, new evidence led to Roldan's arrest in Decker's disappearance, with a trial scheduled for 2023.

Bethany Decker Was Three Months Pregnant When She Vanished, And Her Whereabouts Are Still A Mystery

General

Bethany Decker Was Three Months Pregnant When She Vanished Without A Trace

Patrick Thornton

Prison

The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Great Escape, and Cool Hand Luke are the most revered and popular films set inside prisons. If you've seen all of them yet still crave a good story set in the Big House, check out one of the following underrated prison movies. Some are little-known titles, others movies that got noticed upon their original release, only to see their status fade over time. All of them are guaranteed to absorb you.What makes people want to spend time watching films about prisons and penitentiaries? Most likely it's because none of us would want to spend time in such places. Viewing movies about them allows us to vicariously face things that would terrify us in real life. Jails are inherently dramatic locations, anyway, where riots, hostage situations, and occasional abuses of authority occur. These underrated examples of prison cinema utilize those elements and more to give audiences a potent experience.

20 Underrated Prison Movies That Deserve To Break Out

Ranking all the new and returning shows and movies that should be on your radar in 2023.

2023: What to Watch

Graveyard Shift

Whether you're rooting for the criminal or those that try to catch them, the best crime shows of 2023 will have you hooked and looking for answers. Featuring special police units, vigilantes, or even straight up mobsters, these shows include newly premiered series to long running favorites.Bosch offshoot Bosch: Legacy brings everyone's favorite grumbling detective back to the forefront, this time working with a former enemy. Meanwhile, returning critical darling Happy Valley boasts another stunning performance from Sarah Lancashire as a strong-willed police sargeant. Other notable shows on this list include Tokyo Vice, Dark Winds, and The Godfather of Harlem.Vote up your favorite crime dramas in 2023 and check out the whole list for more suggestions!

The Best Crime Drama Series In 2023

TV Program

Akansha Kakkad

Weird History

The crime genre is hugely popular these days, with countless movies and books to choose from - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-movies-based-on-true-crimes/mike-mcgranaghan">some less well-known</a> than others. Often when crime is mixed with a bit of horror and jump scares, it makes for engaging entertainment. The only thing to change that is when we learn that our entertainment may not be complete fiction.Some of the most compelling movies and books are actually based on true stories - and sometimes, the true stories are scarier than what we see on the screen. Read on to discover the true stories behind some of the most well-known crime stories out there. Be warned, though - major spoilers ahead!

13 Fictional Crimes We Didn't Realize Were Based On Real Events

Fictional Crimes We Never Knew Were Based On Actual Events

Christina Chilin

Few things are as unnerving as settling down with a book and being plunged into a world of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-loosely-based-on-true-crime/sonja-ska">shocking murders or dark mysteries</a>. Whether readers curl up with a thriller or a horror book, the crimes contained inside can transcend the page, filling a peaceful evening with adrenaline and anxiety.For many novels, the power to shock and awe doesn’t purely come from acts of the imagination - instead, some borrow from real life. The books below use real crimes to create tense and suspenseful stories that will keep you gripped from the first page.

Books That Were Inspired By Famous Crimes

Sonja Ska

Stars: They're just like us! They do things that aren't quite legal, and sometimes, they even get caught. 

Celebrity (In)Justice

Another year means another list of famous people who’ve been arrested. It didn’t take long for the arrests to begin in 2023. An arrest warrant was issued for Dallas Cowboys rookie Sam Williams, following a violent car crash. Andy Dick was arrested for being under the influence, and climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested at a protest for the expansion of a coal mine. Those 2023 celebrity arrests all occurred in January!Some celebrities may find themselves in jail, while others, like Ezra Miller, will make plea deals to avoid prison time. Driving under the influence, assault, and disorderly conduct are just a few of the reasons a star could be arrested. Fraud has also been a fairly “trendy” crime of late, when it comes to reality stars.&nbsp;To check if any of your favorite celebrities have been arrested, or just to keep tabs on criminal activity in Hollywood, be sure to bookmark this list, since it will be updated throughout the year. You can also <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/celebrity-arrests-in-2022/calistylie">check out this list</a> to learn more about celebrity arrests from 2022.

Celebrities Who Were Arrested In 2023

Person

Jules Burke

There are killers, and then there are those who cross all lines of human decency by consuming the flesh of their victims. Here are the grisly details.

People Who Eat People

Horror

Cannibalism is one of the oldest and strongest cultural taboos we possess - and as such, it has been a ripe subject for storytelling and filmmaking for as long as stories have been told and films have been made. The cannibalism subgenre has given rise to plenty of classic films and long-running franchises, from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre to the debonair cannibal antagonist of The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and everything in between. The cannibal clan of The Hills Have Eyes, possibly inspired by the real-life stories of Sawney Bean, have been the basis of two separate franchises, while the hillbilly cannibals of Wrong Turn have kept their franchise going strong for a half-dozen films or more. Italian filmmakers have turned this particular subgenre into a cottage industry, with flicks like Cannibal Holocaust so notorious that they need no introduction.Alongside these well-known classics, however, there are plenty of other movies about cannibalism that are less famous but no less deserving of attention. Vote up the human-eating films that you think are worthy of a second course.

18 Underrated Movies About Cannibalism

Underrated Movies About Cannibalism

Orrin Grey

True Crime

Catch Me If You Can and American Hustle are two of the best-known movies about real-life con artists. If you've seen them but crave more fact-based scam films, try one of these underrated titles. The subject of scamming has long fascinated audiences, likely because it plays into a couple primal emotions simultaneously. We admire the ingenuity and creativity that goes into devising these schemes, yet at the same time, we loathe the idea of amoral scammers ripping off and deceiving other people. Such cognitive dissonance makes it easy to get sucked in.Many big stars appear in the following movies. Among them are Melissa McCarthy, Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, and Robert DeNiro. In each case, the stories provide a captivating look at how true cons were carried out and what the consequences were for the parties involved. They turned to some ethically dubious individuals for inspiration, making great art out of crimes that were often shocking.

Underrated Movies About Real-Life Scammers And Con Artists

Lists for fans who can't get enough of that sweet, sweet T.C.

True Crime on Screen

1980s

The 1980s and '90s were filled with films that became cult classics, like The Outsiders, Footloose, Clueless, and 10 Things I Hate About You. Each film solidified its status in Hollywood as a timeless comedy, romance, or coming-of-age movie.While those three categories continue to dominate the big screen, another genre made its mark on 1980s and ‘90s films: true crime documentaries. With the recent boom in true crime content both online and in film, this roundup of true crime documentaries released during the 1980s and '90s is sure to give true crime fans some ideas - if they haven’t seen these films already.

True Crime Documentaries From The '80s And '90s Every Fan Of The Genre Should See

The Best '80s And '90s True Crime Documentaries

rayven crawford

In need of a crime show or movie to check out? Whenever you're in the mood to watch some bad people pull off some really bad crimes, you might stroll over to your TV and find a movie or a show to watch on the subject. The problem is, there are hundreds of outstanding examples of crime movies and television series to&nbsp;watch, not to mention some you'll want to skip. With so many options, it can be difficult to decide on watching one or the other: a movie or a TV show. This list aims to help you make that decision by ranking the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-crime-shows/ranker-tv" target="_blank">very best in crime shows</a> and movies.If some of the crime shows and movies about crime on this list aren't familiar to you, there are a few sprinkled in that are a bit older you may recognize. The list compiles crime series and and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-crime-movies-or-list-of-crime-movies/all-genre-movies-lists" target="_blank">top crime films</a> that are similar to help identify others you may like. For instance, if you're a fan of&nbsp;The Godfather, odds are you'll also enjoy watching HBO's&nbsp;The Sopranos.&nbsp;Are you a fan of&nbsp;The Silence of the Lambs&nbsp;because you can't get enough Hannibal Lecter? If that's the case, then you might want to check out NBC's take on the character in their hit series&nbsp;Hannibal.How will we&nbsp;ever determine which newer movies and shows about crime deserves&nbsp;the top spot on this list? You can help decide by giving your favorites a thumbs up and adding any good movies or shows missing from the list.

The Very Best Crime Shows and Movies, Ranked

The Best Crime Movies & TV Shows, Ranked by Votes

Ranker Entertainment

Culture

A good thriller novel can keep you on the edge of your seat better than a movie and even when you have to put the book down the upcoming twists and turns stay in your mind. The best thriller audiobooks make it easier to stay in the story, all you have to do is put on your headphones while you commute, are at work, or just doing tasks around the house.

Many of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-suspense-novels/ranker-books?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best thriller books</a> are about <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crime-fiction-books-novels-and-stories/reference" target="_blank">crime and legal drama</a>, such as Split Second and Power Play which are both parts of Cathrine Coulter&#39;s FBI Thriller series. Many great thriller audiobooks are also vengeance or psychological thriller stories, such as The Terminal List, Small Town Spin, and Any Means Necessary. There are even versions of thriller books only available on Audible, such as Malevolent and Daughters of the Lake. There are even multi-book sets available on audiobook, so the suspense never stops.

Which of these thriller audiobooks will you download? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Audible-Free-Trial-Digital-Membership/dp/B00NB86OYE/?ref_=assoc_tag_ph_1485906643682&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=pf4&amp;tag=rankercom2790573-20&amp;linkId=af140b072c99eaf6622f48d67ce4c486" target="_blank">Try Audible and get two free audiobooks</a> - which makes it even easier to start up the thrills. Vote for the crime and thriller audiobooks you would recommend to other thriller lovers and add any must-listen books we might have missed.

The Best Crime & Thriller Audiobooks

Book

The Best Thriller Audiobooks, Ranked By Listeners

Ranker Books

Lists of fascinating and bizarre real cases that continue to stump detectives and amateur sleuths.

Unsolved Mysteries

Some of the most famous true crime cases may never be solved. Even with advancements in DNA testing and forensic technology, we're still faced with seemingly unanswerable questions: Who was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crimes-overshadowed-by-jack-the-ripper/aspen-stevens">Jack the Ripper</a>? Who <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/elizabeth-short-black-dahlia/patrick-thornton">killed the Black Dahlia</a>? How did <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/flannan-isles-disappearance-facts/quinn-armstrong">three lighthouse keepers</a> vanish from their remote post in the British Isles?In the list below, we'll look at a few unsolved cases that occurred between the late 1800s and the mid-20th century. Although theories abound in each of these cases, an air of mystery hangs around all of them.

Unsolved True Crime Cases That May Never Be Solved

Unsolved Cases That May Never Be Solved

William Burke and William Hare were two of the most notorious murderers and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/true-grave-robbing-stories/christopher-myers?&amp;source=fbshare">grave robbers&nbsp;in history</a>. In an era when stealing corpses from graves was big business, Burke and Hare were overachievers. Murder, they discovered, brought a swifter profit.To understand the rise of Burke and Hare, it is necessary to understand the bloody history of medicine. Beginning in 1506, Scottish surgeons first obtained the legal right to dissect bodies of condemned criminals once they were cut down from the gallows. But the demand for bodies soon outpaced the supply, and surgeons and anatomists turned to less-than-legal means of acquiring fresh cadavers. Bodysnatchers - also known as &quot;resurrectionists&quot; or &quot;resurrection men&quot; - dug up freshly buried corpses. These grave robbers then sold the cadavers to medical schools for a handsome profit and pawned the goods.Burke and Hare were not simply bodysnatchers - they were actually murderers who realized that creating their own cadavers was the quickest way to make a profit. They first met and became friends in 1827 and by the end of the year, the two men would begin a bloody career of murdering innocent men, women, and children, and selling the fresh corpses to one of the most famous anatomists in the country. Though their spree lasted less than a year, Burke and Hare continue horrify and fascinate.

Chilling Facts About Burke and Hare, History's Most Notorious Bodysnatchers

Chilling Facts About Burke and Hare, History's Most Notorious Bodysnatcher-Murderers

Setareh Janda

Interesting

Living in the city may present&nbsp;a litany of problems for people who are unprepared for urban&nbsp;life. Living in a metropolitan&nbsp;area comes with a myriad of external problems&nbsp;unique to city landscapes including&nbsp;dense populations, expensive living costs, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hostile-architecture-examples/rachel-souerbry" target="_blank">hostile architecture</a>, as well as health risks including an increased chance of depression and anxiety.&nbsp;

This doesn&#39;t mean that living in the country is the answer to your problems. The realities of rural America comes with its own issues,&nbsp;and when choosing where you want to spend your days, you should think about what&rsquo;s best for you.&nbsp;If, however, you&rsquo;re aware of the problems that can occur within a city, you can be more prepared to combat them.&nbsp;

All The Ways The Design of Cities Are Psychologically Damaging

How Cities Hurt People: Dangerous Urban Design

Jacob Shelton

Whoa Facts

The mob. The Mafia. La Cosa Nostra. We&#39;ve all heard of it, and seen it portrayed in movies such as The Godfather or on&nbsp;TV shows like The Sopranos. But what was the Mafia&nbsp;really like? How did the organized operation that brought us <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/al-capone-trivia-facts/jeffrichard" target="_blank">Al Capone</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-gangster-stories/kate-gardner" target="_blank">Bugsy Siegel</a>, and&nbsp;Lucky Luciano actually operate?

Some believe the presence of the mob was exaggerated from the start, yet others&nbsp;insist that its presence is as pervasive today as it was 100 years ago.&nbsp;To answer some of the most common <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/til-facts-about-the-mafia/will-morgan-1" target="_blank">questions people have about the Mafia</a>,&nbsp;Reddit&#39;s &quot;Ask Historians&quot; community is a handy place to turn. Just as they have helped shed light on everything from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historians-answer-bible-questions/setareh-janda" target="_blank">the Bible</a>&nbsp;to what life was really like in the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historians-answer-wild-west-questions/will-morgan-1" target="_blank">American West,</a>&nbsp;these historians will shine a light on a group that thrived on operating in the dark.

Actual Historians Answer Questions About The Mafia

Chrissy Rose

Unspeakable Times lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories