Learning and developing life skills through entertainment is evident in many species.

After years of the media portraying women as victims it's not surprising that people are attracted to these types of shows. It could be a way to develop empathy or strategies for self defence.

I personally enjoy biopics that present the true story as though it was a fictional crime drama. This removes the real world bias and allows you to consider events or motivations that lead to the person acting in the way they did.