True crime is arresting. In September, the movie “Primetime,” based on behind-the-scenes stories of Chris Hansen and Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator,” earned $19.2 million at the box office. Earlier this year, more than 18 million people turned on Netflix to binge “The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare” in its first five days of release.
In 2024, Edison Research found that 84% of the United States population consumes true crime media in any format, from TV documentaries to podcasts. “Serial,” the OG of podcasts, still generates millions of downloads every month, and brought freedom to the convicted killer from its first season. Salacious tales of ne’er-do-wells and the detectives, professional and amateur, that bring them to justice remain popular.
Since the success of “Serial” in 2014, true crime has been the fastest-growing subject and theme for podcasts, as well as the most listened to. In 2024, Edison found 42% of the population 13 and older have listened to at least one true crime podcast. Those numbers dipped slightly in recent years, but 15% of all new podcasts released in 2026 center around true crime.
Numbers don’t lie
As the name implies, true crime is content that examines real criminal acts involving real people, often with some entertainment elements. Cases of murder, especially serial killers,are popular, but subject matter can range from vandalism to fraud, theft to corruption, heists to cult activities. A 2023 study commissioned by Vivant Home Security found true crime fans spend 62% of their crime time viewing on Netflix. YouTube and Prime Video follow, both averaging about 40% apiece.
On average, consumers spent 3.8 hours a week watching shows or listening to podcasts. Gen Z adds another hour to that figure. A 2023 Pew Research study, including analysis from 2022, found 41% of that age group regularly listen to true crime podcasts. By comparison, only 15% of those ages 65 and older listen regularly. They are more likely to feed their natural attraction to disaster and misfortune watching the nightly news.
Of those who listen most to true crime, 84% want to fill their ears, and sometimes eyes, while they do something else. The most common reason cited, though, is entertainment. And the best true crime podcasts manage to seamlessly blend facts and theories with entertainment.
Women consume more, for good reason
In multiple studies over the past 50 years, women are consistently found to report higher levels of fear of crime than their male counterparts. Speculation runs rampant, but the most cited root cause seems to be the likelihood of being a victim.
That may be why nearly twice as many women regularly consume true crime podcasts. It may be as a result of the unconscious desire to prepare for the chance of becoming a victim. Like watching horror films, true crime content can be a cautionary tale, teaching people what to look out for.
Researchers say exposing oneself to violence while in a safe place, eating your chia pudding, can serve as an inoculation against fear. That way, you build a tolerance for what scares you and might cause you to freeze in the real world. Anecdotally, 1 in 3 true crime fans who were themselves victims of a crime claim true crime content helped them better react to the incident.
While men are more likely to consume true stories about war, women prefer reading about the psychological content of true crime stories. They also enjoy the unpredictability. Unlike Hallmark films, the final resolution of true crime cases may still be years away when the podcasts and shows air. In a suitable true crime twist, explicitly emotional or sexual content does not increase interest, among men or women.
The psychology and history of true crime
True crime sensationalism didn’t start with “Serial,” CourtTV live broadcasts of the Menendez brothers’ trials or even Truman Capote. In “The Invention of Murder,” author and social historian Judith Flanders traces the origins of our fascination back to Victorian England, where crime scene photographs were not only printed in newspapers, but the scenes themselves often became tourist attractions.
Since then, interest in true crime has come in waves. At times, it feels like everyone is watching. For example, the O.J. Simpson trial. Other times, it drifts under the radar, mostly drawing in true enthusiasts. In the last few years, it’s become so popular it’s inspired fictional depictions of true crime presentations, like “Only Murders in the Building” and NBC’s “Based on a True Story.”
True crime has several draws. For some people, they are fascinated by what motivates criminals or perhaps the excitement of solving a crime, even if it’s just following along with the clues as someone else guides them to a conclusion. Others believe the court system is broken, and this is their way of witnessing justice being done.
In addition to dealing with fear, some people acquire pleasure from simulated aversive experiences. True crime offers controlled encounters with danger and moral disorder. But from a distance, so anxiety and social discomfort are countered with the assurance of closure, in most cases. Much like riding a roller coaster, the witness remains fundamentally safe while getting to experience heightened emotions.
Message trumps medium
True crime exists in all media forms, from books and novels to documentaries and limited series, ongoing anthologies like “American Crime Story” and so, so many podcasts. Podcasts, in fact, are the most widespread way to consume true crime these days, in part because they make the pursuit more mobile and easier to access. The players come pre-installed on your phone.
It’s estimated 100 million Americans listen to at least one podcast a week. Most listen to a lot more. It’s easy: just pop in your earbuds while you go for a walk or prepare roasted almonds for your kids’ snack time. Of course, not every podcast has the same reach, but as of March 2024, Podchaser listed some 23,000 shows tagged “true crime.”
On the other hand, only a small fraction of theatrical documentaries focused on crime. That may be because it seems like a bigger commitment and is less likely to be enjoyed with coconut oil popcorn.
Entertainment is definitely a factor. On Netflix, fictionalized docudramas like “The Speedway Murders” or “The Murdaugh Murders” draw larger audiences than traditional documentary-style true crime. Hybrids of the two, like “Our Father” and “In Ice Cold Blood,” are also popular.
On the television side. True crime shows attract a smaller audience than what makes prime time successful. Many of these live as low-cost programming for declining niche cable channels or as FAST, or free ad-supported streaming TV, on platforms like Tubi and Prime Video. That includes shows like “Cops” and “Forensic Files.”
Overstepping boundaries
There is a danger in producing and believing true crime that’s oriented more towards entertainment. Portrayals on podcasts and TV shows don’t have to stick to only what’s admissible in court. In fact, many shows revel in revealing what juries could never hear. But that also opens up ethical questions. Sometimes what’s not presented has legal issues or is excluded for good reason.
When you’re not bound by rules of courts or journalistic integrity, you can present theories without foundation, opinions, feelings and speculation. Some shows offer junk science. The opinions may come from experts, but the methods have yet to be rigorously tested in court.
Another trap shows can fall into is presenting only one side of a story or offering evidence that’s inadmissible for various reasons. This can potentially mislead listeners. In a worst-case scenario, a true crime podcast handled improperly can compromise investigations and cause harm to victims, suspects and more, even jeopardizing a convicted prisoner their right to appeal.
Using fiction to sell facts
Several recent court cases have seen prosecutors and defense attorneys taking a new approach. Lawyers are now studying and utilizing the narrative techniques of true crime entertainment to strengthen their cases and connect better with juries.
This can take the form of immersive digital exhibits. As technology improves, lawyers can almost literally go inside a crime scene at trial, presenting 3D models, both physical and virtual, to walk the judge and the panel of 12 peers through the timeline. Editing software can clarify video and unite disparate camera sources, from body cam to surveillance footage, to recreate the crime.
Lawyers may also prep their witnesses, using investigative journalism techniques to better humanize the victims or the accused. People who cannot speak for themselves are portrayed in a more sympathetic light.
Opening and closing statements made by the attorneys now use true crime courtroom basics, such as dual timelines. Or lawyers can start with the most intense or shocking moments to capture the jurors’ attention, then rewind to the more mundane or circumstantial elements.
Handling the truth
True crime is here to stay. While its popularity may be waning a bit compared to the last four or five years, it still has more people interested than at any other time in history. In fact, society may be moving backward, as crime scenes are once again becoming local attractions, and not just around Halloween.
Experts say oversaturation may be damaging the brand and making it harder to stand out in a crowded field. That’s a big part of the story in the “Primetime” film with Robert Pattinson. But others point to the top-charting podcasts and shows getting more creative in their approach. As long as it attracts viewers without misleading them, that’s probably a good thing.
Sharon Rhodes is the creative force behind the food blog The Honour System. Passionate about all things homemade, Sharon is a seasoned recipe curator focused on making healthier cooking and baking accessible to all.