The true crime genre has enjoyed a major boost over the decades since “Unsolved Mysteries” first aired in 1987, and not necessarily in a good way. With more and more sensationalized TV and movies coming out every year, it's good to see a return to the classics. Of course, “Unsolved Mysteries” is not for everyone. Some people need a solution to help them sleep at night. And that is entirely appropriate.

However, if this type of unsolved case is handled correctly and respectfully, it can attract the attention of many people and help solve seemingly unsolvable cases. That is why series such as Unsolved Mysteries are so compelling. John Cosgrove and Terry Dan Mueller created the original show, which was hosted by Robert Stack. 10 years after OG ended in 2010, Netflix rebooted the series, making it a standout among dozens of similar shows on the streaming platform. It has become a standout among dozens of similar shows on the streaming platform.

Here are some of the best shows to stream next, like “Unsolved Mysteries,” along with other series that focus on unsolved cases, get inside the mind of a killer, and even have a creepy element.

Netflix has certainly come under fire for its treatment of sensationalist imitations of real-life killers on its TV shows (Ryan Murphy, I'm Looking at You). But not all Netflix content exists solely for shock value. While some fictionalized recreations of true crimes are more respected than others, the best way to learn what makes a murderer tick is to hear from experts in the field and from the murderer himself.

This is where the multi-part series “Conversations with the Killer” comes in. Rather than an anthology format in which a new case is tackled each week, each mini-series under the “Conversations with the Killer” umbrella will focus on a single killer. So far, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and Jeffrey Dahmer have been featured. This miniseries and other similar documentaries are often released on Netflix at the same time as controversial fiction. One has to wonder if this is a calculated move to distract people from more sensational programs and films.

Regardless of the reason for its existence, the show features tapes that have a primary source of information: the killers themselves. In addition, viewers will hear from people who knew the killer and were involved in the capture of the killer, giving them a glimpse into the horrific reality that the victims faced. Directed by Joe Berlinger, the series will begin with “Ted Bundy Tapes” in 2019.

Watch on Netflix: (Ted Bundy), (John Wayne Gacy), (Jeffrey Dahmer)

As you may have guessed, the long-running series “48 Hours” initially began as a show tackling a 48-hour investigation. Eventually, it moved away from time constraints. While some investigations quickly concluded with answers and convictions, not all of the cases featured on the show were solved. Some of the cases were featured for decades in this long-running series. In addition, many cases have become public knowledge, and many innocent people have been convicted of crimes they did not commit or have been cleared of wrongful convictions.

Unlike some other programs, 48 Hours specifically focuses on one true crime case per episode. The series also shines a light on the numerous flaws in the justice system, making it one of the most shocking true crime shows we've seen, which may explain why it has been running since 1988. Judy Tigard created the series and now introduces two correspondents who have been on it since the beginning: Erin Moriarty and Peter Van Sant.

Watch it for free on Pluto TV

For those seeking variety in programming, this broadcast television news magazine, Dateline, has a wide range of styles and topics. Lester Holt is the most prominent host, having done more than 600 episodes since 1992. Meanwhile, Keith Morrison, Andrea Canning, and Josh Mankiewicz are longtime correspondents. In fact, many of the correspondents and hosts have been with the program since its inception, even if they have not appeared in every episode.

“Dateline” focuses on often controversial topics such as murders, flaws in the health care system, accidents, and profiles of celebrities. It is long, running approximately 90 minutes. Dateline feels like hard journalism, a nice change of pace from many of the true crime shows these days.”

Watch on Peacock

Some of the mysteries are a bit macabre. Such are the stories that Aaron Murnkey tells on his podcast Lore, and that Prime Video's TV series of the same name dealt with during its two-season run. When it comes to true stories with supernatural elements, there is a delicate balance between leaning toward supernatural explanations without turning them into horror films and offering more rational explanations. And it is up to the viewer to decide which angle he or she believes.

In the case of “Lore,” the first season, narrated by Marnke, was a huge success as the series straddled the line. In the second season, the pace changed and the show switched to a more dramatic approach, which appears to have contributed to its cancellation. In fact, during the “Lore” Season 2 panel at New York Comic-Con, I asked how the neutral balance we saw in Season 1 and the podcast would be honored in the upcoming season. I was then told that the show would take a more dramatic direction. Frankly, the second season feels like a completely different series, but season one is perfect.

So what did we learn from that? When it comes to mysteries, when there is no evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that a hypothesis is correct, it is best to avoid solving it. In between topics like The Changeling and the allegedly cursed Robert the Doll, Season 1 of Lore provided the objective coverage from all sides that fans of “unsolved mysteries” love. Season 2, not so much.

Watch on Prime Video

“Cold Case Files”

There is something incredibly satisfying about when someone solves a cold case. Not only does it give the victim their voice back, but it also holds the perpetrator accountable, sometimes for decades. Most people don't remember what happened before DNA testing, but it wasn't until the 1980s that law enforcement agencies began to adopt DNA testing in a significant way.

As someone born in the 90s, the 80s still feels like 20 years ago. In fact, it was already 40 years ago. Still, before DNA changed the game, many cases went unsolved or wrong killers were convicted - especially when “Cold Case Files” debuted in 1999. Most episodes center on a few unsolved cases at a time, with new evidence and science leading to solutions. Many episodes also delve deeply into specific aspects of the game-changing science of criminology. The Cold Case Files offers the kind of mystery and resolution that viewers love in Unsolved Mysteries. Bill Curtis hosted the original six-season series and the 2017 reboot.

The original series is available on Tubi and the reboot version is available for free on A&E