Picture Credits: Netflix
Netflix has built a massive part of its empire on bringing unbelievable true stories to life. From comprehensive, multi-season dramatizations of the British Royal Family to pulse-pounding portrayals of forgotten American presidents, the streaming giant has adapted some of history’s most fascinating events into must-watch serialized dramas.
While docuseries are fantastic, there’s nothing quite like a high-budget scripted series to really put you in the shoes of historical figures. Retelling real events has been a core pillar of Netflix’s success, and the streamer shows no signs of slowing down—look no further than the highly anticipated upcoming series KENNEDY, starring Michael Fassbender.
Out of the absolute glut of excellent fact-based shows in the library, we’ve narrowed down the field. Whether you’re looking for true crime, political scandals, or monumental catastrophes, here are our top 10 picks for the very best Netflix series based on true events.
The Playlist
Releasing on Netflix in 2022, 6-episode limited drama The Playlist documents and dramatises the rise of global phenomenon music streaming service Spotify. The platform is the world’s biggest music streaming service by a huge margin, boasting over 750 million active monthly users.
How did Spotify become the streaming giant it is today? This series draws back the curtain on the streamer’s origins, exploring how Swedish entrepreneur and self-taught coder Daniel Ek (played by Edvin Endre) set out to revolutionise the music industry. The series takes a few creative liberties. It literally invents certain characters, not least Bobbie T.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has not publicly spoken about or criticized the Netflix series (which is a good sign it’s accurate enough not to spark legal controversies).
The Spy
In 6-episode miniseries The Spy, Sacha Baron Cohen stars as Israeli Mossad spy Eli Cohen, who infiltrated the Syrian government in the 1960s. His undercover work in Syria ultimately changed the course of Israel’s history. It takes place on the lead-up to the 1976 Six-Day War between the nations of Syria and Israel.
The story is hard to believe. Eli Cohen assumed a different identity, being taken under the wing of Syrian high society, so much that he was later appointed Deputy Defence Minister.
The Spy was well-received by critics, especially for Sacha Baron Cohen’s portrayal of of Eli Cohan. He reviewed a nomination for Best Actor at the 77th Golden Globe Awards.
Toxic Town
Toxic Town tells the real-life story of how babies in the English town of Corby were born with disabilities — and the trial against the council whose negligence led to it.
The series chronicles how their mothers — played by Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, and Claudia Jessie — fought for justice against a council that mishandled the clean-up of a former steelworks, seeing toxic dust enter the town.
Toxic Town exemplifies how a show that deals with social and economic issues can have a huge real-world impact. Following its release in 2025, the case was actually reopened after a huge public response, and there were additional, renewed calls for accountability.
Death by Lightning
Based on the 2011 novel ‘Destiny of the Republic’ by Candice Millard, Death by Lightning is a 4-episode political drama that recounts the story of commonly forgotten president James Garfield (Michael Shannon), who rose from poverty to become president of the United States.
Garfield went from self-educated teacher, to college president, to U.S. congressman, and eventually and ultimately, the 20th President of the United States. The series documents his journey, as well as that of Charles Guiteau (played by Succession star Matthew Macfadyen), the man who would assassinate him.
Death by Lightning debuted in 2025 to rave reviews. It’s well-made and realistic, wrapped up in tremendous performances by Shannon and Macfadyen.
The Days
The Days is often overlooked by viewers; it certainly doesn’t have the calibre of other series on this list. The series takes viewers back to March 2011, recounting and dramatising the devastating nuclear accident that happened at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. It occurred when a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast, with its ripple effects causing the Fukushima nuclear power plant to get swallowed up.
This 8-episode series captures the incident from three different perspectives: the government, corporate operations, and those on-site. It’s an intense, minute-by-minute recount, offering viewers a look at a real-world nuclear disaster. It’s perfect for those who loved HBO’s Chernobyl.
Baby Reindeer
Released on Netflix in 2024, Baby Reindeer is based on the true experiences of star Richard Gadd, who also created the series. It chronicles Gadd’s early life as a struggling comedian. While sitting in a bar, he shows an act of kindness to a lonely lady, Martha (Jessica Gunning) — and before long, it spirals out of control as she starts stalking him, making Gadd increasingly uncomfortable.
Baby Reindeer quickly nestled its way into public consciousness, being discussed on a national scale. Its impact was both magnified and intensified by the scandal surrounding it, the $170 million defamation lawsuit filed by Fiona Harvey, who claimed she was the inspiration behind the fictionalised character Martha. Fiona has since appeared in the media, recounting her experience. Most notably, she was interviewed by Piers Morgan Uncensored.
Narcos
Narcos was one of Netflix’s earliest success stories, lasting for three seasons before ultimately concluding in 2017.
Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura) was one of the wealthiest and most notorious drug criminals of all-time. The series documents his immense rise to power. It begins with a DEA agent being sent to Colombia with the aim of capturing Escobar. However, actually capturing the kingpin of cocaine is much easier said than done.
The series also starred Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones) in one of his breakout roles. Other cast members include Boyd Holbrook (The Predator, The Sandman), Paulina Gaitán (The Dead Girls), and Alberto Ammann (Caught, Upon Entry).
After concluding, Narcos was followed by a spinoff, Narcos: Mexico, in 2018.
The Crown
When it first released, The Crown was Netflix’s most expensive series of all-time. Consisting of over 60 episodes, it documents the history, scandals, trials and tribulations of the British Royal Family. From the beginning, it chronicles Queen Elizabeth II’s life and the trials and tribulations that surrounded her reign. Queen Elizabeth is played by different actresses, Claire Foy (S1 & 2), Olivia Colman (S3 & 4) , and Imelda Staunton (S5 & 6).
Netflix’s The Crown is based on real historical events and people, often accurately depicting major historical milestones. But naturally, since it is a dramatisation, it blends both fact and fiction. It’s a portrait of the British Royal Family rather than a photograph. But when it does depict certain historical events, it feels almost one-to-one.
When They See Us
Created by Oscar-nominee Ava DuVernay and produced by Oprah Winfrey, When They See Us is based on the true case from 1989 in which five young men from Harlem were falsely accused and found guilty of raping a jogger in Central Park.
The series spans 25 years, chronicling the moment when the teens were first questioned, through to the ultimate exoneration in 2002, and later the settlement with New York City in 2014.
When They See Us is one of Netflix’s most celebrated and profoundly powerful limited series, which is reflected in its near-perfect 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Monster
Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, Netflix’s Monster biographical anthology series takes some of the most disturbing criminal cases in history and dramatizes them. Each season tackles a different serial killer from the United States, bleakly depicting their crimes, diving into their potential motives, and exploring the fallout and impact of their crimes.
The first season, which was one of Netflix’s biggest-ever launches, documents the crimes of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Brilliantly played by Evan Peters, the season goes extremely dark, covering how Dahmer murdered 17 young men and boys, engaged in cannibalism, and kept bones of his victims as trophies.
Season 2 dramatized the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, while Season 3 explored the crimes of Ed Gein. The series will return for a fourth season, which will focus on Lizzie Borden.
Monster is not for the faint of heart, but for fans of true crime, it’s a must-watch.
Which true crime series on Netflix is your favorite? Tell us in the comments down below!
