The 20 best TV shows about real people

This series traces the final days of Gianni Versace and the investigation surrounding his murder, highlighting both his impact on the fashion world and the troubled path of his killer. The Assassination of Gianni Versace, executive produced by Ryan Murphy, blends luxury, ambition, and tragedy into a stylish true-crime portrait.

A look at Elizabeth Holmes and the rise and fall of Theranos, this show follows her quest to become a Silicon Valley icon and the mounting deception that unraveled her empire. It’s a grounded look at ambition, image, and one of tech’s biggest scandals.

Based on Anna Sorokin’s real-life high-society hustle, the series follows her path from unknown outsider to headline-making con artist. It captures her boldness, her reinvention, and the world she managed to charm... at least for a while.

A sweeping dramatization of Queen Elizabeth II’s life, The Crown follows historical events, family dynamics, and the pressures of leading a monarchy through decades of change. It offers a human perspective on the public figures behind the royal titles.

This series revisits the Menendez brothers' case, following their upbringing, the family tensions behind the headlines, and the trials that made them national figures. It offers a closer look at the dynamics that shaped one of the most talked-about cases of the ’90s.

The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story revisits the trial that reshaped modern media and courtroom culture. Instead of retelling the case beat for beat, the series digs into the strategy, pressure, and personalities surrounding the NFL star and the legal teams on both sides. It’s a layered look at an event that grew bigger than the people at its center.

Masters of the Air tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group, a unit whose missions in World War II helped define the air war over Europe. The series emphasizes the friendships, losses, and resilience among the airmen rather than just the combat itself. It’s a moving production about the real servicemen who carried out some of the war’s most dangerous flights.

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker celebrates the life of Sarah Breedlove as she builds a beauty empire from the ground up. The series highlights her determination, her business brilliance, and the community she uplifted along the way. It’s an energetic tribute to a woman who changed the beauty industry and created a legacy that lasted far beyond her lifetime.

This series traces Aaron Hernandez’s journey from celebrated NFL star to convicted murderer, exploring his early life, his athletic rise, and the personal and environmental factors that shaped his path. It highlights the complexity behind his public and private worlds, making his downfall even more saddening. 

A dramatization of Jeffrey Dahmer’s life and crimes, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story walks through his early years, his victims, and the systemic failures that allowed him to continue for so long. It centers on the real individuals impacted by Dahmer rather than just the crimes themselves.

This docuseries explores the Murdaugh family's long-standing influence in South Carolina and the events that exposed decades of power, secrets, and criminal allegations. It focuses closely on Alex Murdaugh’s downfall and the people affected along the way. 

A portrait of Ed Gein’s life and the crimes that influenced some of horror’s most famous characters, this Netflix series digs into his upbringing, isolation, and psychological unraveling. 

We Own This City breaks down the rise and collapse of Baltimore’s Gun Trace Task Force, following the officers involved and the corruption that unraveled their unit. It’s a grounded look at policing, accountability, and the people caught in the middle of it all.

A powerful retelling of the Central Park Five case, When They See Us follows the boys from their arrests through their exoneration, focusing on their families, their experiences, and the long-term impact of the justice system’s failures.

Narcos traces the rise of Pablo Escobar and the forces that mobilized to stop him, showing how one man shifted the balance of power across Colombia. The first season of the Netflix series also highlights the agents, politicians, and communities impacted by the cartel’s reach. 

Unorthodox follows Esther Shapiro as she leaves her insular Hasidic community in Brooklyn to build a life on her own terms. Inspired by Deborah Feldman’s memoir, the series explores her search for identity, creativity, and the world beyond her upbringing.

Based on the real work of Mossad agent Eli Cohen, The Spy traces his infiltration of Syria and the relationships he built while living undercover. It also shows how Cohen balanced loyalty to his mission with the risks that grew larger with each passing year. His story remains one of the most significant and costly intelligence operations in Israeli history.

Five Days at Memorial recounts the crisis inside Memorial Medical Center during Hurricane Katrina, following the staff and patients as conditions deteriorated. The series examines the choices made under extreme pressure and the investigations that followed. It’s a close look at real people navigating an impossible situation.

Inspired by true events, The Watcher centers on a family who moves into their dream home only to be haunted by anonymous letters and bizarre neighborhood tensions. The series blends mystery with suburban unease as it unpacks the story that fueled headlines years ago. It keeps its focus on the real-life case while leaning into the strangeness that made it unforgettable.

Unbelievable follows Marie Adler, a young woman falsely accused of lying about her sexual assault, and the two detectives who eventually uncover the truth. The series highlights both her struggle for justice and the systemic failures that allowed her case to be dismissed for so long.