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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If you like Netflix true-crime documentaries built around an investigation and a major reveal, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is a strong next watch. The 2025 documentary follows two Michigan teenagers targeted by taunting messages from an anonymous sender; its central question is who sent them and why. The comparison to Trainwreck is about appeal to twist-driven documentary viewers, not a shared subject or format.
What is Unknown Number about?
Netflix describes vulgar, taunting texts overwhelming the phones of a teen and her boyfriend, then poses the mystery of who is sending them. Netflix Tudum identifies the students as Beal City, Michigan teenagers Lauryn Licari and Owen, who were 13 when the harassment began. As authorities investigate, the story challenges the assumptions people made about the sender. Netflix categorizes the movie as a true-crime documentary, rather than a series.
The documentary premiered on August 29, 2025. Netflix’s US title page lists a runtime of 1 hour 35 minutes and a TV-MA rating; ratings, catalog availability, and viewing options can differ by region and change over time. Check Netflix’s title page for current availability where you are.
Why it may appeal to Trainwreck fans
TechRadar recommended the film to viewers who enjoyed Trainwreck. That is a useful taste signal if you want a Netflix documentary that draws you into a mystery and builds toward an answer—not a claim that the films cover similar events or use the same format. Netflix itself calls Unknown Number twisty, and the unknown sender is the engine of its story.
#1 Best Overall
For the best experience, go in knowing as little as possible about the investigation’s conclusion. The documentary’s hook is not simply that the messages are cruel, but that the inquiry changes how the people around the teenagers understand what happened.
Content note before you stream
Netflix Tudum warns that the documentary includes cyberbullying, emotional and verbal child abuse, and mentions of self-harm. These are central to the case, not incidental background, so consider that material before choosing to watch.
Spoilers: what authorities concluded
Spoiler warning: The following identifies the person authorities attributed the messages to and describes the reported legal outcome.
TIME reported on August 29, 2025, that authorities attributed the messages to Kendra Licari, Lauryn’s mother. The outlet also reported that a judge sentenced Licari in 2023 to at least 19 months in prison. These are reported case details, not a substitute for court records. TIME says the documentary uses interviews with Lauryn, Owen, their families, classmates, school officials, local police, and an FBI liaison, alongside text messages and arrest body-camera footage.
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Rank #3
The reason for the suicide-related texts has not been fully explained. TIME reported that director Skye Borgman said the motive remained unclear; the outcome should not be mistaken for a definitive explanation of why the harassment happened.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is a Netflix documentary movie. Netflix’s catalog page offers the current market-specific details, including availability and supported audio or subtitle options. Use Netflix’s listing for your region to confirm whether you can stream it.
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- Co-Created With: Courtney Hermann
- Author's Credentials: Story Ideas & Directing Techniques
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