10 True Crime Documentaries That Actually Changed Laws

10 True Crime Documentaries That Changed Laws

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at true crime documentaries so powerful and popular that they inspired either activists or policymakers to revise the law.

“Tiger King” (2020-21)

Netflix users were captivated by the epic feud between an eccentric zoo owner and a big cat advocate. Whatever “Tiger King” viewers thought about Joe Exotic’s conviction for attempted murder-for-hire, everyone agreed that the cats caught in the middle deserved better. The three-season docuseries raised awareness about the little-known exotic animal trade industry and the risks it presented for both humans and big cats. So in 2022, the U.S. passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act to ban private ownership, breeding and novel contact with these creatures. Violators could face a hefty fine and up to five years behind bars. So at least some faith in humanity was restored after the world witnessed “Tiger King.”

“Murder on Middle Beach” (2020)

Madison Hamburg utilized his resources as a filmmaker to personally investigate his mother’s murder. Sadly, the case remains unsolved, but the docuseries “Murder on Middle Beach” still had an important impact. The Madison Police Department denied producer Anike Niemeyer access to records related to the case on the grounds that an arrest was imminent. When the Freedom of Information Commission made a limited order, the department’s appeal went all the way to the Connecticut Supreme Court. After almost four years with no arrest, the court ruled that police must prove actionable progress in an investigation when withholding public records. Hopefully, this will at least help other people in Connecticut do their part in seeing justice done.

“Icarus” (2017)

The crimes of a nation’s government affected policy on a global scale. But not before “Icarus” exposed rampant use of illegal performance-enhancing substances among Russian athletes, ironically sponsored by the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory. Whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov’s story prompted investigations that led to sanctions and the International Olympic Committee officially banning Russia. Her athletes have since had to represent neutral Olympic delegations with uniquely strict drug screenings. Finally, the U.S. passed the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act in 2022. This strengthened whistleblower protections within the sports industry and established penalties for doping conspiracies in any games with American sponsorship. Rodchenkov has been in witness protection in the U.S. ever since.

“Time: The Kalief Browder Story” (2017)

There has long been debate about whether solitary confinement constitutes cruel and unusual punishment for adult prison inmates. Never mind juveniles like Kalief Browder, whose brutal pretrial detainment at Rikers Island was the subject of a six-episode docuseries. “Time: The Kalief Browder Story” didn’t just inspire a successful civil lawsuit over the deceased young man’s treatment. New York State passed “Kalief’s Law” in 2019, requiring the early production of crucial evidence to ensure speedier trials. The state also restricted cash bails and prolonged solitary confinement, before the latter practice was banned entirely in New York City jails. This may only mark the beginning of greater judicial reform inspired by the tragedy shared by “Time.”

“The Keepers” (2017)

Father Anthony Joseph Maskell was stripped of his title over child abuse, with many believing he killed Sister Catherine Cesnik after she discovered him. He passed away in 2001. It would be another 16 years before the docuseries “The Keepers” prompted Maryland to take real action. The state legislature promptly approved an extension on the civil statute for survivors of sexual abuse in childhood. The Child Victims Act of 2023 later removed the statute altogether. Although this was not a direct response to “The Keepers,” many of its participants pushed for the investigation which confirmed the Baltimore Archdiocese’s massive cover-up. Survivors taking a stand usually starts with demonstrating the public’s readiness to listen.

“Making a Murderer” (2015-18)

Netflix’s first true crime docuseries supercharged both the genre and scrutiny of its credibility. Two seasons of “Making a Murderer” ultimately failed to clear Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey of homicide. They did, however, inspire the public to question the methods by which the Wisconsin men were convicted. Experts linked this to the public pressure behind Colorado’s law requiring full recordings of police interrogations for certain crimes. Similar policies have since been proposed or enacted across the United States. “Making a Murderer” remains popular in academic circles as both a representation of judicial failings and an example of biased journalism. Whether Avery and Dassey are indeed guilty, the public agrees that it shouldn’t be this hard to trust the system.

“The Invisible War” (2012)

Little was known about the crisis of sexual assault and its denial within the U.S. military before “The Invisible War.” Following the documentary’s premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was given a private screening, and immediately ordered that these cases be handled by senior officers. The theatrical release coincided with the Marine Corps developing methods for cracking down on cultures of assault. Finally, the 2013 U.S. defense budget called for systematic protection, all thanks to “The Invisible War.” Filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering continued this streak with 2015’s “The Hunting Ground,” which influenced policies to hold universities accountable for sexual assaults on campus. Though these tragedies remain rampant, acknowledging that can count for a lot.

“Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father” (2008)

Kurt Kuenne endured incredible anguish to tell the world about his friend Andrew Bagby. After his ex-girlfriend was charged with his murder, she was released on bail, and took their child’s life along with her own. Kuenne thus decided to complete the documentary he started to come to terms with the initial tragedy. All profits for “Dear Zachary” would be donated to scholarships in Andrew and his son’s names. Zachary's was also applied to a bill to strengthen protection of children of people charged with serious crimes. Canada’s House of Commons passed the law unanimously in 2010. As personally difficult as it was for Kuenne to make “Dear Zachary,” it may have saved many lives.

“The Central Park Five” (2012)

In 1990, five teenagers were convicted for a vicious assault in New York’s Central Park. It wasn't until the real perpetrator’s confession 11 years later that they were released from prison. Another 11 years later, the acclaimed documentary “The Central Park Five” widened discussions about racial bias, police coercion and the media’s influence on the American justice system. This compelled the now-called “Exonerated Five” to push New York State for $41 million in restitutions, plus a law requiring recording of interrogations for felony cases. Moreover, Netflix’s 2019 dramatization “When They See Us” inspired mandatory recording of all police interrogations of minors. It also proved that such cases can have an impact for as long as they stay in the public’s consciousness.

“The Thin Blue Line” (1988)

The whole documentary genre was impacted by private detective-turned-filmmaker Errol Morris’s investigation of the supposedly solved murder of a Dallas police officer. “The Thin Blue Line” even featured a confession from suspect David Harris, leading to Randall Dale Adams’s release from prison. The ensuing scandal increased pressure on a judicial system that many Americans trusted innately. Texas gradually passed laws on credible evidence, restitution for wrongful convictions, and other policies that could have served Adams sooner. Meanwhile, true crime rose from an obscure subgenre of documentary into one of the most prominent and impactful. “The Thin Blue Line” may not have directly changed legislation, but there's endless evidence of how it changed the relationship between the media and the system.

What are some documentaries that you feel did or should affect real change? Review the comments below.