Why True Crime Is Captivating Hollywood
Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Anna Delvey. Erik and Lyle Menendez. In recent years, notorious criminals have transitioned from mere news headlines to celebrated figures, akin to celebrities, complete with reality shows, enormous social media followings, and a public captivated by every facet of their lives, from their relationships to their meals in prison.
A June 2024 YouGov survey revealed that 57 percent of American adults engage with true crime content. The entertainment industry has long drawn inspiration from the most notorious cases in history (consider the likes of the Zodiac Killer and Ted Bundy). However, the individuals involved in these modern narratives are not as straightforward as they seem.
Take, for instance, Blanchard. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of her mother, perceived by experts to have suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy. In 2019, Hulu adapted her story in a dramatized series called The Act. Following her release from prison, Blanchard, now 33, starred in a Lifetime docuseries and made an appearance on The Kardashians.
Similarly, Delvey—the infamous “fake heiress” charged with stealing approximately $275,000—was depicted as a cunning criminal by Julia Garner in Netflix’s Inventing Anna. This year, Delvey, aged 33, received permission from ICE to leave New York and compete on Dancing With the Stars, ankle monitor and all.
Law & Crime/YouTube Gypsy Rose Blanchard has garnered attention for more than her conviction. She was released from prison in December 2023 after serving seven years of a ten-year sentence, having been granted parole in September of the same year. Blanchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016, following the death of her alleged abusive mother, Clauddine […].
As criminologist James Pipe notes, the rise of ex-cons as new celebrities is tied to society’s intrigue with the grim aspects of human behavior. He tells Us, “People are attracted to narratives that delve into moral complexity, and these cases challenge conventional views of right and wrong.”
The Menendez brothers exemplify this trend; despite murdering their parents in 1989, they have been rebranded as antiheroes, particularly after the release of Ryan Murphy’s Monsters. “Portraying a criminal in a dramatized format captures people’s interest in the actual case,” explains psychiatrist and forensic expert Carole Lieberman. Without Monsters, criminal defense attorney Stacy Schneider believes it’s unlikely the prosecution would have reconsidered their lengthy sentences.
As more scripted series are greenlit—such as Melissa McCarthy’s upcoming Paramount+ project about JonBenét Ramsey, and Hulu’s Amanda, inspired by the 2007 Amanda Knox case—this trend shows no signs of waning. Joe Berlinger, director of Netflix’s Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?, offers insight into why this genre resonates: “It consists of a quest for justice, with protagonists and antagonists battling for the truth, occasionally culminating in a resolution,” he tells Us, recognizing its “classic dramatic structure.” Lieberman echoes this sentiment: “The truth often surpasses fiction, drawing in more viewers while the industry struggles with a deficit of original ideas.”
These narratives may also play a significant role in educating the public. Renée E. Williams, CEO of the National Center for Victims of Crime, commends “good true crime”—like Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour, focused on serial killer Rodney Alcala—for its educational value. “The choice of images and their presentation can impact storytelling positively or negatively,” she states. Thus, while this genre may be America’s guilty pleasure, it’s crucial to view the underlying stories as cautionary reminders.
“The tales are so sensational that they evoke a ‘you can’t make this stuff up’ feeling,” Schneider remarks to Us.
To discover more about true crime’s Hollywood influence, grab the latest edition of Us Weekly—available on newsstands now.
