How 2019 became the year for true crime TV and movies
Even though we’re only three months into 2019, the true crime genre has been one of the biggest trends. The big question is why?
Despite new shows being introduced every year, TV seems to share a common theme. Whether it be superheroes, epic fantasy or family dramas, networks usually focus on something and then create content based on it. For 2019, there are few trends that keep popping up: book-to-TV, apocalypse and reboots glory. One that stands above the rest is true crime.
Even though we’re only 3 months into the year, true crime TV has been everywhere. No matter what channel you watch or streaming service you have, there’s a show, film or documentary to satisfy you. Regardless, it brings up a question about trends: Why is true crime so popular in 2019 and why we haven’t yet gotten our fill out of it yet.
Before getting started, it’s important to discuss what true crime is. As the name might suggest, it’s a genre encompassing projects about real-life crimes. For TV and movies though, it’s clear they use a little bit more imagination when putting the pieces together. Despite the reality of the crime, we still want to be entertained and thus far, it’s proven effective.
More from Entertainment
- 10 Thanksgiving movies on Disney+ for your holiday watch list
- Strictly spoilers and results 2023: Who is leaving on Strictly Come Dancing Week 9?
- CMT Smashing Glass performers honoring groundbreaking women in music
- Jamie Lynn Spears joins I’m A Celebrity season 23: Who else is set to appear in the British reality series?
- Strictly spoilers and results 2023: Who is leaving on Strictly Come Dancing Week 8?
True crime hasn’t just been popular in 2019. Fans of the ID and Reelz network have loved this type of stuff for years. However, those networks focus more on telling cold hard facts rather than entertainment value. True crime really only came into the mainstream when Hollywood could turn the tables and change a few things to get and keep people interested.
As for why true crime is popular in 2019, there is a multitude of reasons. Mostly, we’re a very cynical society. People would rather focus on the good than the bad. We all love a revenge story and want to see the villain be taken down by someone who wronged them. At the heart of every good true crime, film is an intriguing story or a mystery to keep you invested. As a lover of true crime media, it brings an additional layer to an already complex story as it’s almost too far-fetched to be real.
Looking at 2019 so far, it seems like every network and streaming service is stepping into the true crime ring. Most recently, TNT wrapped the I Am The Night, a mini-series about the Black Dahlia murder. There was Leaving Neverland, a documentary about the abuse children suffered at the hands of Michael Jackson and Surviving R. Kelly, a documentary about the abuse young girls suffered via rapper R. Kelly. Where true crime really came alive was via streaming services.
Both Netflix and Hulu have jumped on the true-crime train. For Netflix, they already had Making a Murderer but have added Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes and Frye. Netflix is also creating a reboot of Unsolved Mysteries, another season of Mindhunter and a new series, Delhi Crime. Hulu also has a Frye Festival documentary and is releasing The Act, a true-crime anthology series.
As for when we’ll get our fill of true crime, likely never. True crime isn’t a new genre by any means but one that somehow never gets old. There is always going to be crime and thus people are going to profit off of it. TV and film aren’t the only one piece of media picking up on the trend, though. There are books, podcasts, Youtube videos and articles to keep people satisfied.
Right now, it seems like the shows and movies aren’t going anywhere. Even though it’s only March, there’s still a lot more to come. As a genre, true crime has never been hotter and we won’t stop watching anytime soon. Let’s cross our fingers that the rest of 2019 does the true crime genre justice.