Since its initial inception into original programming, HBO has become synonymous with quality content. That is to say that an HBO project comes with a certain level of higher expectations solely because of its network. This reputation for consistently quality content has extended into the network's original documentaries, some of which have garnered major film critic recognition.
With HBO Max now in full swing, the service has served as a launching platform for some of HBO's newest documentary offerings, specifically in the wildly popular true-crime category. Some of the best true crime docs ever created have hailed from HBO, and these are just a few.
Class Action Park (2020)
While still telling a story that has its roots firmly in the true-crime camp, Class Action Park also employs a healthy sense of humor when telling the story of an infamous theme park in the 1980s that became notorious for its lack of oversight and extremely dangerous ride attractions.
Using archival footage and talking-head testimonials from comedians and grown-up park visitors, as well as former employees, the film paints a fair and entertaining look at a failed experiment that led to injuries and numerous lawsuits.
The Mystery Of D.B. Cooper (2020)
Released exclusively on HBO Max in 2020, this historical true crime doc takes a look at one of the most enduring mysteries and pieces of conspiracy theory fodder in the American canon.
In 1971, a mysterious man hijacked a plane and successfully carried off the crime before jumping out of the aircraft with a briefcase of money and a parachute, only to never be seen or heard from again. It's a piece of crime history that has infinite layers and crannies to explore and makes for an excellent addition to HBO's already impressive 2020 lineup.
McMillion$ (2020)
This six-episode docuseries explores the famed "McDonalds Monopoly Scam," in which a subcontracted firm was exposed for fraud in relation to the prizes advertised in the annual McDonalds Monopoly promotion.
Undeniably compelling from its very first moments, McMillion$ captures the same zany truth-is-stranger-than-fiction energy that made Tiger King the other big true-crime sensation at the time. Fairly thoroughly researched and presented in the most entertaining way conceivable, McMillion$ was one of the year's early highlights.
I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth Vs Michelle Carter (2019)
HBO's typical approach to true-crime releases features a focus on an unusual or precedent-setting crime, choosing not to simply tell the story of a heinous murder with a high budget.
This approach is fully on display with the gripping, scary, and heartbreaking two-part film I Love You, Now Die, which gives audiences an intimate and comprehensive look into the bizarre death of Conrad Roy, who committed suicide after being encouraged by his girlfriend, Michelle Carter. The film explores the case and the trial in a way that will leave viewers satisfied, but emotionally exhausted.
Baby God (2020)
Hannah Olson's stunning film was released by HBO on December 2, 2020, and flew under the radar of some outlets and true-crime enthusiasts. However, the film's unique presentation of the unusual crimes of a fertility doctor who secretly inseminated his own patients with his sperm without their knowledge is such an unbelievable story, it must be seen to be believed.
The film's focus on his biological children's search for answers grounds the material in a raw and emotional way that provides the perfect angle for the film's singular power.
The Jinx: The Life And Deaths Of Robert Durst (2015)
In 2015, Andrew Jarecki and his crew, on what would become The Jinx, managed to stumble into a piece of footage that any documentary filmmaker would kill for.
In this miniseries, Jarecki takes a deep dive into the alleged crimes of millionaire and eccentric accused murderer, Robert Durst. Durst himself participates in the film, which is engaging enough on its own, but it is in the final moments of the show when Durst is presented with new evidence against him and seemingly confesses to himself on a live mic. This is a shocking and a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck mixed with persistent filmmaking.
The Cheshire Murders (2013)
Focusing on both a horrific crime and the wide impact the crime and ensuing investigation had on the small town of Cheshire, Connecticut, lends The Cheshire Murders a potent poignancy that has made it one of HBO's more revered true-crime offerings.
Centered around a brutal home invasion that left three members of a family dead, the film's unflinching examination of human depravity makes it a tough watch for the casual viewer, however, the filmmakers are careful throughout to avoid the more exploitative sides of the true-crime genre at large, making it a mature entry in the repertoire.
I'll Be Gone In The Dark (2020)
Based partly on the best-selling book of the same name, and partly about the writing of said book, I'll Be Gone In The Dark was an achievement in and of itself, as it blended the true-crime necessities with the story of Michelle McNamara, a woman who was obsessed with finding the answer behind the identity of the "Golden State Killer," as she named him.
The miniseries manages to juggle both Michelle's story with the story of the crime spree of the GSK, which finally come together after McNamara's untimely passing. A fitting tribute and demonstration of talent for a truly impressive figure in the world of true-crime.
Murder On Middle Beach (2020)
Not since Dear Zachary has a true-crime documentary managed to be so addictively enthralling and emotionally wrenching as Murder On Middle Beach. The limited series, an HBO Max exclusive, chronicles the efforts of a young filmmaker to figure out who killed his mother, and more importantly, why it happened.
The series is unusually intimate and personal and the bias present is part of what makes the material so powerful. A meditation on grief and closure as much as it is a whodunit, the work by director Madison Hamburg is both unimaginably brave and cinematically prodigious.
The Paradise Lost Trilogy (1996/2000/2011)
These are technically three different films, but they work better as a cohesive whole to create an epic experience unlike any other. Over the three films, the directors assemble a holistic disambiguation and borderline real-time exposition on the wrongful imprisonment of three metal-loving outcasts in rural Arkansas, who were charged with the vicious murder of three young children.
An indictment on the justice system and the paranoia of a small town, the three films provide the most comprehensive true-crime experience on the service and iconic entries in the genre as a whole.