Adolescence knocked off Netflix top spot by ‘truly heartbreaking’ new TV show

A new true crime docuseries called ‘truly heartbreaking’ by fans has overtaken Adolescence on Netflix to claim the number one spot.

The one-take series Adolescence – following the fallout after a 13-year-old boy is accused of murder – has stormed the Netflix charts in recent weeks becoming the most-watched limited series with a total of 96.7 million viewers and counting.

After reigning supreme for three weeks, it has finally been overtaken by Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer.

The harrowing three-part docuseries follows the several-years-long hunt for the serial killer, told from the perspective of their victims and their loved ones.

‘A 911 call. Corrupt cops. Secrets buried in the sand. This true crime series traces the hunt for a killer who targeted women on Long Island for 15 years,’ the synopsis reads.

The documentary, created by Liz Garbus, comes after law enforcement arrested and charged local architect Rex Heuermann with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

He has pled not guilty to seven murder charges and is currently being held in a 60-square-foot cell at Riverhead Correctional Facility in New York where he awaits trial.

The Oscar-nominated director Garbus is also behind the 2020 drama Lost Girls which focused on the mother of ‘one of the Long Island Serial Killer’s possible victims and her search for justice.’

Garbus explained why she chose to focus on the victims, most of whom were sex workers, and their families in this new series.

‘So much true crime out there is focused on the perpetrator, and so I think there is some weariness about being involved in something that might be about him or his wife, or participating in a show that sensationalizes these crimes. We had to have a lot of conversations, and trust does get built,’ she told Variety.

And added that their stories are far more insightful than that of any alleged perpetrator.

She said: ‘They are just damaged. At the end of the day, the stories of those they harmed, those who loved them and what it takes to get justice are ultimately more sticky and more interesting and more human.’

After Heuermann’s arrest in 2023, Garbus was moved to revisit the case.

She told Netflix Tudum: ‘Now we know who the alleged perpetrator is. In the course of the documentary, we got to examine what was going on in the police department and uncover a corruption scandal that made it clear why so little was being done for these women.

‘I think it’s a really interesting companion piece to the scripted film.’

As well as topping the Netflix charts, the show has clearly had an emotional impact on viewers.

‘Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer was truly heartbreaking ugh,’ X user Devro Ellis wrote.

‘Wow this is so worth a watch!’ BarvoUniversita shared.

‘This documentary is insane,’ Rudy added.

‘Stop everything you’re doing and watch Gone Girls: The Island Long Serial Killer on Netflix,’ Dylan Farella echoed.

‘Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer on Netflix is just heartbreaking. Sex workers are treated so horribly already but it’s sad how it reflects even in death and danger. These women were murdered and their families had to wait years for it to be truly treated as such. Awful!’ modiannee agreed.

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer is available to watch on Netflix now.

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