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The Best Episodes of Dateline

Every episode of Dateline ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Dateline!

The Best Episodes of Dateline

Dateline NBC, or simply Dateline, is a weekly American television newsmagazine series. It was previously the network's flagship newsmagazine, but now focuses mainly on true...
  1. Background image for The Necklace
    8.8/10(33 votes)

    #1 - The Necklace

    S29:E43

    When a private investigator and former police officer vanishes, detectives think there may be more to the story when strange text messages start to appear... Keith Morrison reports.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for To Catch a Predator: Behind the Scenes
    8.7/10(50 votes)

    #2 - To Catch a Predator: Behind the Scenes

    S15:E40

    Tonight we follow Chris Hansen behind the scenes of this remarkably popular series. Whether you love it or hate it, it's hard to look away. The personal accounts and some very memorable confrontations are equally riveting in this episode.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Body of Evidence (a.k.a. Bigamy Murder)
    8.6/10(164 votes)

    #3 - Body of Evidence (a.k.a. Bigamy Murder)

    S15:E23

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Honey, You're on Hidden Camera
    8.3/10(40 votes)

    #4 - Honey, You're on Hidden Camera

    S15:E41

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Infamous
    8.3/10(21 votes)

    #5 - Infamous

    S30:E9

    Drew Peterson speaks to Natalie Morales in his first on-camera interview in over a decade about the murder of his ex-wife, Kathleen Savio, and the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Jonestown: An American tragedy
    8.2/10(25 votes)

    #6 - Jonestown: An American tragedy

    S26:E44

    An in-depth look at the journalists who exposed the dangers of cult leader Reverend Jim Jones; interviews with witnesses to murders carried out by Jones' followers.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  8. Background image for The Thing About Pam
    8.2/10(53 votes)

    #7 - The Thing About Pam

    S28:E1

    The unbelievable story of how the murder of Betsy Faria set off a chain of events leaving one man dead, another man implicated and a diabolical scheme exposed. Keith Morrison reports.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Abducted
    8.2/10(23 votes)

    #8 - Abducted

    S28:E18

    An inside look at the case that made national headlines in December 2019, when a Texas mother was found murdered after she and her newborn daughter disappeared. Andrea Canning reports.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Return to Shalimar Way
    8.2/10(21 votes)

    #9 - Return to Shalimar Way

    S29:E11

    When a woman dies after what appears to be an accidental fall in the shower, two friends join forces to seek justice on her behalf. Andrea Canning reports.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Point Blank
    8.2/10(38 votes)

    #10 - Point Blank

    S29:E16

    After Todd Chance is murdered, police follow a trial video evidence as they work to track down the killer;

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for Kristin Smart Case & Murdaugh Saga
    8.2/10(20 votes)

    #11 - Kristin Smart Case & Murdaugh Saga

    S30:E6

    Josh Mankiewicz reports the latest developments following an arrest in the Kristin Smart case; Craig Melvin reports on the mysteries surrounding the powerful Murdaugh family of South Carolina.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Echoes in the Canyon
    8.2/10(34 votes)

    #12 - Echoes in the Canyon

    S30:E15

    Insiders close to the case of missing Colorado mother Suzanne Morphew speak out for the first time.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for The Curious Case of Sherri Papini
    8.2/10(34 votes)

    #13 - The Curious Case of Sherri Papini

    S30:E23

    California detectives reveal new details about the alleged kidnapping of Sherri Papini.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for The Blue Blanket Mystery
    8.2/10(29 votes)

    #14 - The Blue Blanket Mystery

    S30:E24

    New Jersey detectives investigate a report that a 5-year-old boy vanished from a carnival.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Haunted
    8.1/10(19 votes)

    #15 - Haunted

    S28:E2

    Nearly 10 years after Utah mother Susan Powell vanished, private journals, home videos and emails shed new light on what happened to her. Keith Morrison reports.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for While They Were Sleeping
    8.1/10(29 votes)

    #16 - While They Were Sleeping

    S28:E10

    A husband is shot dead in his own bed; no one else in the house was hurt, including his wife, who was sleeping beside him. Keith Morrison reports.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for The Perfect Guy
    8.1/10(51 votes)

    #17 - The Perfect Guy

    S28:E23

    A fugitive steals millions of dollars by conning numerous women and businesses over 25 years. Will law enforcement finally be able to catch him? Andrea Canning reports.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Into the Night - Part 2
    8.1/10(14 votes)

    #18 - Into the Night - Part 2

    S29:E19

    The latest in the case of a missing young Oregon woman, whose disappearance led to an intense manhunt, after a suspect embarked on a two-state crime spree;

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for The Woman at the Bar
    8.1/10(44 votes)

    #19 - The Woman at the Bar

    S29:E26

    A nationwide manhunt is launched after a woman dubbed the “killer grandma” goes on the run through the Gulf Coast. Dennis Murphy reports.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for Shannon's Story
    8.1/10(28 votes)

    #20 - Shannon's Story

    S29:E27

    A college student goes missing in broad daylight from her off-campus job. As police begin to investigate, they receive a mysterious phone call that changes everything.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for The Phone Call
    8.1/10(40 votes)

    #21 - The Phone Call

    S29:E39

    Kathleen Schroll makes a phone call that names her killer right before her death, it leads to the arrest of a father for murder. But two trials and 12 years later, authorities begin to wonder if he was the victim, not the villain.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for The Ascension of Mother God
    8.1/10(24 votes)

    #22 - The Ascension of Mother God

    S30:E4

    Family members and investigators speak out for the first time on network television since the death of “Love Has Won” spiritual leader Amy Carlson, known to her followers as “Mother God.” The case gained worldwide attention after deputies found her mummified body covered with Christmas lights in a Colorado house where members of the group stayed.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Evil Paid a Visit
    8.1/10(30 votes)

    #23 - Evil Paid a Visit

    S30:E13

    A Connecticut mother speaks out about her fight to keep her assailant from walking free.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for The Hands of a Killer
    8.1/10(33 votes)

    #24 - The Hands of a Killer

    S30:E21

    Detectives search for a motive in the fatal stabbing of former Sen. Linda Collins of Arkansas.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for The Real Thing About Pam
    8.1/10(34 votes)

    #25 - The Real Thing About Pam

    S30:E22

    New interviews reveal the latest twists and turns in the case of Pam Hupp, charged in the murder of her close friend Betsy Faria; Betsy's daughter, as well as the prosecutor behind the wrongful conviction of Betsy's husband speak out.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

Best Episodes Summary

"The Necklace" is the best rated episode of "Dateline". It scored 8.8/10 based on 33 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/23/2021. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "To Catch a Predator: Behind the Scenes".