🗞️ True Crime Watchlist— January 2026 Edition
Welcome to your January 2026 true‑crime briefing — a month that kicked off the year with a surprisingly dense lineup of new docuseries and standalone investigations. Networks and streamers cleared out holiday programming and came back with force, delivering cult exposés, billion‑dollar fraud stories, celebrity‑adjacent scandals, and deep dives into unsolved mysteries.
⭐ The Cult of the Real Housewife
- Premiere: January 2
- Platform: Max (TLC production)
- What it covers: A three‑part investigation into allegations of spiritual and financial misconduct tied to Real Housewives of Salt Lake City figure Mary Cosby and her church.
⭐ Paparazzi King
- Premiere: Early January (Jan 8–11 window)
- Platform: Netflix
- What it covers: A deep dive into the rise and fall of a notorious paparazzi mogul whose empire blurred the lines between journalism, stalking, and celebrity exploitation.
⭐ Harland Coben’s Final Twist
- Premiere: Early January (Jan 8–11 window)
- Platform: Netflix
- What it covers: A true‑crime documentary tied to the real‑world case that inspired Coben’s fictional universe — focusing on a shocking disappearance and the investigation that followed.
⭐ Handsome Devil: The Charming Killer
- Premiere: January 2026
- Platform: Netflix
- What it covers: A profile of a charismatic serial offender whose public persona masked a violent double life.
⭐ Desert Patrol
- Premiere: January 2026
- Platform: Television / Streaming (varies by region)
- What it covers: A documentary following real‑world policing in remote desert regions, highlighting cases involving trafficking, disappearances, and cross‑border crime.
⭐ Billion‑Dollar Betrayal
- Premiere: January 2026
- Platform: Television / Streaming (varies by region)
- What it covers: A financial‑crime investigation into a massive fraud operation that spanned multiple countries and left investors devastated.
📺 Additional Documentaries Highlighted in January 2026 Roundups
Other crime‑related documentaries on major platforms
📌 Quick‑Reference Table
| Title | Premiere Date | Platform | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cult of the Real Housewife | Jan 2 | Max (TLC) | Alleged cult & financial misconduct |
| Paparazzi King | Jan 8–11 | Netflix | Celebrity‑industry crime & exploitation |
| Harland Coben’s Final Twist | Jan 8–11 | Netflix | Real case behind a famous disappearance |
| Handsome Devil: The Charming Killer | January | Netflix | Charismatic serial offender |
| Desert Patrol | January | TV/Streaming | Remote‑region policing & investigations |
| Billion‑Dollar Betrayal | January | TV/Streaming | International fraud case |
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