Lifetime can have a stereotype of being overly dramatic. Some of the movies they create are wild or unexpected. Some may even call them cheesy, but if you wade through that, you will surely find some hidden gems. From the lives of icons to dark true crime, if you need a bit of drama, this is the place to look. You can see into the lives of others through Lifetime Original Movies, and they often make you stop to think. Especially those rooted in truth. Here are ten of the best Lifetime movies of all time.
10 The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey (2016)
When JonBenét died in 1996, it rocked the entire nation. The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey takes another look at her death and tries to answer, what exactly happened to the little girl. This is more of a two-part documentary that acts as a new, fresh look at the case. It does claim to have solved the case of the child pageant queen’s death, though it is worth noting that the production company did have issues when it came to JonBenét’s older brother. A lawsuit was filed for defamation, as Burke Ramsey is a key point in the main documentary.
The entire documentary is fascinating nonetheless, as it is an interesting angle on the case. They speak with experts and dive into the science of the strange case. If you like true crime, and have never heard of this case, this is a fantastic starting point. The details are explained well, with an unexpected but interesting conclusion.
9 Anna Nicole (2013)
Lifetime created an original movie around the life of model, Anna Nicole Smith. The film, Anna Nicole, tells her story, starting from her rough childhood to the spiral and eventual death of the model. It is the story of Anna Nicole (Agnes Bruckner), a single mother whose life shifted and became a nightmare from addiction, reckless behavior, and living in the spotlight.
Of course, this type of film isn’t going to be 100% accurate. However, the story is told with a lot of respect for her life and the situations she was dealing with. If you are a fan of the model, it is a great movie to watch, but even if you know nothing about her, this is a fascinating drama that will keep your attention.
8 She Made Them Do It (2013)
In She Made Them Do It, Jenna Dewan-Tatum plays Sarah Jo Pender. It is a true tale of murder and deception. When her two roommates were murdered, it was discovered that Sarah’s boyfriend was found guilty. Later, it was revealed that Sarah orchestrated the murder plot, and she is rightfully arrested. With help, Sarah escapes prison and was then featured on America’s Most Wanted.
This is a fascinating tale, that leaves you wondering if she was innocent or not. It is an interesting, off-the-beaten-path true-crime story with escape and a semi-modern setting. It is even possible you may have seen the episode of America’s Most Wanted where she is in the line-up. Often, true crime has the filter of time to guard the viewers, but this happened not so long ago, and in some ways, it is still an ongoing story.
7 An Amish Murder (2013)
Sometimes, no matter where you go or how different our lives can be, people will often be the same. In An Amish Murder, it shows us just how we can all be the same. Unlike the others, this tale is more in the realm of a who-done-it fictional mystery. Kate Burkholder (Neve Campbell) faced death when she escaped a serial killer in her Amish community. After that incident, she realized she does not belong anymore, so she leaves. Kate becomes a police officer, and years later, she comes home.
Kate becomes chief of police in her hometown, only for a body to be discovered in a field. She is determined to find the killer before he can take another life. It is an interesting take on the genre. This is a fictional story, however, there have been murders in Amish communities just like they happen in any other community. However, there has only been one Amish man convicted of murder so far. It is a wild and exciting story with twists that will keep you wanting more.
6 The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe (2015)
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe is another celebrity model’s life story in a made-for-TV movie. She is probably the most famous model of all time, however, it is not very often we hear about her life before the fame and how she got to this point of celebrity. It shares some interesting secrets, her relationship with her mother, and just how she survived being famous. Kelli Garner does a fantastic job, she clearly did her homework before donning the Marilyn Monroe role.
Marilyn’s story is notoriously difficult to pin, as her life has been spun into a million different stories. She hid her private life well, while at the same time, the world, even to this day, has made up some of the strangest rumors. Sometimes, these rumors even revolve around her death.
5 Coco Chanel (2008)
Coco Chanel is another tale of a legend’s life. However, this time, instead of a model, it is about the life of Coco Chanel (Shirley MacLaine), a designer and entrepreneur. It is the story of Chanel, from her poor upbringing to her successes. She starts her career as a milliner, and builds up to her most famous contributions to fashion. The film does well to live up to the modern fashion icon, while also keeping us entertained with a historical romance to the main plot. Of course, the is what happened in her life, so it just goes to show how interesting the woman was.
This biography really shows us how Chanel’s influence changed the literal fabric of fashion, introducing costume jewelry and the classic little black dress. The details are emaculate, the writers cared a lot about how her story was told. In fact, the entire production seemed to want to respect her life and show us what her life was about, and not just inflate the drama. It is a great historical piece and is something that can be watched over and over again.
4 The Night Stalker (2016)
This one isn’t completely a true story. Yes, Richard Ramirez was the Night Stalker, and he is a character in this movie; this a completely fictional story. The Night Stalker only uses him as a jumping board for the rest of the film. A homeless person is face to face with the death penalty for a murder he did not commit, and his only hope is a confession from Richard Ramirez (Lou Diamond Phillips).
As part of his legal team, Kit (Bellamy Young) travels to visit Ramirez to get the killer to tell the truth. Throughout their interactions, she struggles to get the Night Stalker to talk. He does his best to irritate Kit and avoid confession, which is just like the man in real life.
It is a strange combination of reality and fiction. Richard Ramirez was a terrible man, and this film doesn’t completely shy away from that. In fact, Lou Diamond Phillips does a great job of portraying someone like Richard Ramirez. There is a certain coldness that he plays well, which unfortunately outshines his co-stars, but it is enough to carry the entire film. It is an interesting what-if scenario, and if you have any interest in the Night Stalker case, it is an interesting watch.
3 Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014)
It is said that Lizzie Borden killed her father and stepmother with an ax. It is such a notorious tale, that there is even a children’s rhyme that follows her name. It has always been a question if she really did kill them, or if it was an outside party. In Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, we take a look at the crime and the trial Lizzie (Christina Ricci) goes through. The defense takes the stance that a woman could not have committed the act, but the headlines disagreed. They ran with the scandal as a story for the time. Of course, as history shows, she was acquitted for the crime, though her name was never cleared, and this film does nothing to help.
It is a great and entertaining view of what happened to Lizzie, though there is a lot of suggestion that she was in fact guilty. She was snubbed from the town. The costuming was fantastic and relevant for the time period, but of course it suffers the usual fate of historical make-up, and it is just a bit too modern to match the time period. But that is just how it goes, from Mary Poppins to the Vikings series. The movie does lose some integrity outside of that, with the strange musical choices. Electric guitars would certainly offend the Victorian sensibilities.
2 Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001)
Judy Garland is one of the most iconic faces and voices of early television. Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows tells her story, starting from an early age until her death in 1969. It shows the darkest parts of her reality that contrast with the rainbow of her roles on screen. This biopic shows all of Judy’s (Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis) secrets, and makes you fully understand who she was. Even though this depicts her darkest hours at times, it also respects who she was.
Judy Davis did all of her homework to the point that it can be hard to tell where one Judy starts and the other ends. She was able to pin her mannerisms and even how she danced for shows with accuracy. The film is based on a book written by Judy Garland’s daughter, Lorna Luft, so there is a lot of care with this film that is incredibly important.
1 Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret (2013)
The story of Jodi Arias (Tania Raymonde) and the tragic death of Travis Alexander (Jesse Lee Soffer) is heartbreaking, to say the least. Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret doesn’t shy away from the details of the murder. The movie follows the romance and the alleged affair between Jodi and Travis, leading to his eventual shocking death. The accuracy of the movie to the details of the case is chilling, even to the point of using quotes made by those involved in the case. Travis is a motivational speaker, and that is how he meets Jodi.
They become intimate, and Jodi falls in love, or rather, obsession, with Travis. Their secret relationship and one-sided romance slowly boil over into the murder of Travis.
It shows what happens when stalking isn’t taken seriously. It is incredibly unfortunate that this is based on the truth, yet at the same time, the story is compelling. This movie might be scarier than even the biggest blockbuster horror movie, simply due to how accurate it is to the truth. Travis’s story is a tragedy wrapped in a nightmare, and this movie will help us remember him. Overall, it is a fantastic movie, that, if it weren’t a TV movie would deserve all the awards.
