New documentaries & true crime October 2023: Netflix, Hulu, Prime & more

Here’s your guide to all of the true crime and documentary films and series arriving on streaming in October 2023, from Netflix and Prime Video to Hulu, Disney Plus, Max, and more. 

The scripted world of big and small screen content has been on pause recently. Although the writers’ strike in the US has drawn to a close, actors continue to stand at the picket lines in a bid for fairer pay and regulation on the use of AI. While this may mean many of your favorite TV shows and movies will be halted for the time being, it’s a different story for documentaries. 

This year has seen some poignant entries to the genre so far, whether that be The Curious Case of Natalia Grace shocking viewers with its stranger-than-fiction tale or the Depp v Heard series providing a hindsight perspective on the trial that shook the world. 

While Netflix continues to dominate the true crime arena, all of the streaming platforms have something unique to offer, with plenty of real-life stories and shows coming out in October 2023. So, here’s a rundown of all the documentary films and shows to mark in your calendar over the next month.

Top documentary & true crime picks for October 2023

The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime (Max) – October 9

As per the synopsis for this two-part documentary: “When Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was brutally tortured and left for dead in Wyoming, this shocking act of violence captured the nation’s attention and sparked a debate about the discrimination, danger and violence that many LGBTQ+ Americans face. Regarded as one of the worst anti-gay hate crimes in American history as well as a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime is a timely tribute to Matthew’s story at a time when the LGBTQ+ community is once again under attack.”

The Greatest Show Never Made (Prime Video) – October 11

The IMDb synopsis for The Greatest Show Never Made reads: “In the early 2000s, reality TV as we know it was born. Set against the backdrop of a new millennium, this series follows six young people attempting to find fame and fortune by being part of the greatest reality TV show ever made. They left jobs, homes and partners, and in June 2002 – after a grueling audition process and months of waiting – traveled to south-east London to start their adventure. But the show didn’t exist. Twenty years after their dreams were shattered, the people caught up in this miss-adventure are still searching for answers; trying to understand how the fallout from ‘Project MS-2’ – and the disappearance of the man who orchestrated it all – changed their lives forever.”

John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams, Season 1 (Peacock) – October 13

John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams is said to be a “genre-busting” unscripted horror series from the mind of legendary director, writer, and producer, John Carpenter. “The series explores the dark secrets and unspeakable evil that sometimes lurks beneath the surface of the sun-drenched streets, manicured lawns and friendly neighbors of suburbia. Each episode focuses on one true tale of terror, told by the real people who lived through it. Their firsthand accounts are brought to life through premium cinematic scene-work, news clips, home photos, and archival footage, combining the visual language of horror films with the tools and techniques of documentaries, creating a uniquely frightening experience for viewers.”

The Devil on Trial (Netflix) – October 17

What better way to mark the spooky season than by watching The Devil on Trial, a documentary that “explores the first – and only – time ‘demonic possession’ has officially been used as a defense in a US murder trial.” The film includes “firsthand accounts of alleged devil possession and a shocking murder, this extraordinary story forces reflection on our fear of the unknown.”

Crush, Season 1 (Paramount+) – October 17

As per Deadline, Crush will “explore the Halloween tragedy in Seoul, South Korea, that left 159 dead and hundreds injured.” The incident unfolded in the Itaewon neighborhood, and was the largest crowd crush in South Korean history. The outlet goes on to say: “The multi-part series will be an immersive moment-by-moment dive into how the tragedy unfolded and the forces that make crowds panic.”

New documentaries & true crime October 2023: Full list

Here are all the documentary series and films hitting Netflix, Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, Apple TV, and Peacock in October 2023:

Netflix

October 4

• Beckham, Season 1
• Race to the Summit

October 11

• Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul

October 17

• The Devil on Trial

October 20

• Vjeran Tomic: The Spider-Man of Paris

October 24

• Get Gotti

October 25

• Life on our Planet, Season 1

October 27

• Yellow Door: Looking for Director Bong’s Unreleased Short Film

Amazon Prime Video

October 6

• Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe, Season 1

October 10

• Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe

October 11

• The Greatest Show Never Made

October 24

• Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles

October 27

• The Girl Who Killed Her Parents – The Confession

Max

October 3

• Hostage 911, Season 1

October 4

• Ghost Adventures: Devil Island

October 8

• Last Stop Larrimah

October 9

• The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime

October 10

• No Accident

October 22

• AKA Mr. Chow

Hulu

October 6 

• Bobi Wine: The People’s President

October 12

• Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House

October 18

• Living for the Dead, Season 1

October 25

• Primal Survivor: Extreme African Safari, Season 1

October 27

• Explorer: Lake of Fire

Disney+

October 6

• Bobi Wine: The People’s President

October 25

• Primal Survivor: Extreme African Safari, Season 1

October 27

• Explorer: Lake of Fire

Paramount+

October 4

• Louis Tomlinson: All of Those Voices

October 10

• Painkiller: The Tylenol Murders

October 17

• Crush, Season 1

October 24

• Milli Vanilli

Apple TV

October 20

• The Pigeon Tunnel 

October 27

• The Enfield Poltergeist

Peacock

October 9

• The Turning Point: Martha’s Vineyard v. Desantis

October 13

• John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams, Season 1

October 24

• Krishnas: Gurus. Karma. Murder

That’s everything we know about the new documentaries and true crime coming to streaming in October 2023. Check out our other documentaries coverage below:

The Lucie Blackman Case | The Isabella Nardoni Case | Where is Natalia Grace? | Who are the Duggars? | Victim/Suspect explained | Missing Dead or Alive explained | True story behind The Playing Card Killer | True story behind Take Care of Maya | HBO’s Burden of Proof explained | How to watch David Fuller: Monster in the Morgue | How to watch the Hart family murders documentary | True story of The Deepest Breath | True story of Last Call