New True Crime Documentaries to Watch in January 2026
January 2026 brings a new lineup for true crime fans. As the new year unfolds, new docuseries and documentaries are hitting streaming platforms with a wide range of stories – some of which you may not have heard of before.
Here are 6 new true crime documentaries to watch throughout January 2026.
The Cult of the Real Housewife – January 2 (HBO Max)
“The Cult of the Real Housewife is a three-part TLC docuseries that investigates allegations of spiritual and financial misconduct surrounding The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby and her church, Faith Temple Pentecostal Church. The series explores the church’s history, the controversial transfer of leadership to Mary’s husband, Robert Cosby Sr., and the subsequent allegations against Cosby. The docuseries also features investigative journalists and bloggers who have been tracking this story from the beginning, as well as a leading cult expert who can offer insight around a playbook designed to enforce loyalty in mind-control cults.”
Harlan Coben’s Final Twist – January 7 (Paramount+)
“Harlan Coben, the best-selling author who has built a global reputation for twist-laden murder mysteries, brings his signature storytelling to real-life cases. Driven by finding out what makes a killer cross the line, Coben steps into these cases himself, following threads that expose the hidden lives of seemingly ordinary people. Each episode is a new mystery, exploring hidden motives, buried secrets and unanswered questions. Coben focuses on uncovering shocking revelations where nothing is what it seems, and reveals that truth is often stranger than fiction.”
Killer Confessions: Case Files of a Texas Ranger – January 13 (Investigation Discovery/HBO Max the next day)
“Introduces audiences to Texas Ranger, James B. Holland, who has built a reputation as one of the most remarkable investigators in modern law enforcement. With more than 26 years with the Texas State Police, Holland has cracked hundreds of cases, including some of the country’s most haunting unsolved crimes. But his rare gift lies in drawing confessions from the unthinkable: serial killers. Through Holland’s masterful psychological approach, viewers are immersed in the tension of real-time confessions and given a front-row seat to retired Texas Ranger, James Holland, as he reveals his tactics in cases once considered unsolvable. Through interrogation footage, case files, and with the personal reflections of Holland himself, each episode of Killer Confessions traces the path from the crime scene to the confession chair and offers unprecedented access into the minds of killers through one of law enforcement’s most enigmatic, and successful, figures.”
The Hillside Strangler – January 18 (MGM+)
“In the late 1970s, Los Angeles was the serial murder capital of the world. The Freeway Killers. The Toolbox Killers. The Dating Game Killer. The Skid Row Slasher. But none terrorized this city of millions more than the Hillside Strangler, a phantom who struck without warning, abducting, raping, and murdering a dozen women and girls and leaving their bodies displayed on the hillsides like grim trophies. These crimes sparked the largest manhunt in LA’s blood-soaked history, led by a relentless homicide detective named Frank Salerno. His dogged pursuit led to the strangler’s capture and the revelation that these vicious acts were perpetrated by two men, Kenneth Bianchi and his cousin Angelo Buono. Now, for the first time in over 40 years, Frank Salerno tells his story, revisiting the case that changed him forever.”
Handsome Devil: The Charming Killer – January 20 (Paramount+)
“Handsome Devil: The Charming Killer unravels the story of how Wade Wilson, a 25-year-old Florida man arrested for the brutal murders of two women, unexpectedly became a social media fixation. Wilson’s mugshot ignited an online frenzy among people drawn to his “bad boy” bravado, surprising tattoos and seductive smile. Dubbed as the “Deadpool Killer,” he became an object of fascination for online fans, even as the details of his crimes grew more disturbing. Through police bodycam footage and chilling first-hand accounts from those closest to the case, the series explores how a man who committed unimaginable violence ended up with a devoted online following. “
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart – January 21 (Netflix)
“In the early hours of June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, igniting one of the most intense and widely covered missing-person cases in American history. Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is a gripping documentary feature that takes viewers inside the real story—told in Elizabeth’s own words and through exclusive interviews with her family, investigators, and those closest to the case. Blending archival footage and never-before-seen material, the film traces the harrowing nine months of Elizabeth’s captivity at the hands of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. It explores the psychological and emotional toll on Elizabeth and her family, the relentless media attention, and the community’s tireless search for answers. The documentary not only revisits the events that shocked a nation but also spotlights Elizabeth’s journey of healing and her ongoing mission to inspire and protect others.”
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