The Films About Serial Killers subgenre is typically in the Crime, History, Horror and Thriller genres and also intersects with subgenres including Slasher Films, Films About Cops, Films About Hostages & Kidnappers, Whodunit & Detective Films and Suspense Thrillers. There is also a microgenre within the Serial Killer subgenre that often includes Biopics or Docudramas that recount real-life Serial Killers in a True Crime or Biopic fashion.
Prior to 1970, there was one film that established the Films About Serial Killers subgenre and is still a classic subgenre film to this day – Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). This film helped define many of the Serial Killer and Slasher film tropes that are still popular over 60 years later. There were also other classic Serial Killer films during this time period with The Night of the Hunter (1955), Peeping Tom (1960), The Collector (1965) and The Boston Strangler (1968).
In the 1970’s, the Serial Killer subgenre gained in popularity within the Horror genre. The Horror genre featured The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Don’t Look Now (1973), and Martin (1977). Other classic and notable subgenre films from this decade included 10 Rillington Place (1971), Dirty Harry (1971), Frenzy (1972), The Toolbox Murders (1978), Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) and Time After Time (1979).
The 1980’s saw an increase of Serial Killer-themed films within multiple subgenres. Films About Cops often featured Serial Killers as the main antagonist in Cruising (1980), 10 to Midnight (1983), Tightrope (1984), Manhunter (1986), The Dead Pool (1988) and Sea of Love (1989). Historical Biopics and Docudramas (often under the Horror genre) featured Serial Killers as their main subject matter in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), The Deliberate Stranger (1986) and Murder One (1988). Other classic and notable films of the decade included Dressed to Kill (1980), Fade to Black (1980), Looker (1981), Psycho II (1983), The Mean Season (1985), The Hitcher (1986), The Stepfather (1987) and Black Widow (1987).
The 1990’s would kick off The Golden Age of Serial Killer Films that would last for next two decades. As Films About Serial Killers became a staple of Cinema, there were an increasing number of subgenres that involved various incarnations of Serial Killers. Biopics and Docudramas continued to be popular in highlighting real-life Serial Killers with To Catch a Killer (1992), Citizen X (1996) and Summer of Sam (1999). Sci-fi and Fantasy also became realms where Serial Killers appeared both in digital and physical form with Ghost in the Machine (1993), Virtuosity (1995) and Fallen (1998). And the Serial Killer subgenre, as a whole, became much darker and grittier with classic films such as The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Natural Born Killers (1994), Se7en (1995), Funny Games (1997) and 8MM (1999). Other classic and notable subgenre films of the decade included Mister Frost (1990), Body Parts (1991), Body Puzzle (1992), Man Bites Dog (1992), Dr. Giggles (1992), Kalifornia (1993), So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Nightwatch (1994), Copycat (1995), Turbulence (1997), Kiss the Girls (1997), Intensity (1997), Switchback (1997), Psycho (1998), Arlington Road (1999), Eye of the Beholder (1999), The Bone Collector (1999) and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).
As the 2000’s continued the Golden Age of Serial Killer Films, there was also a microgenre within the subgenre that experienced a Golden Age of its own – Serial Killer Biopics and Dramatizations. The 2000’s saw an influx of these True Crime films and Biopics that covered real life Serial Killers including Ed Gein in Ed Gein (2000), Jeffrey Dahmer in Dahmer (2002), Ted Bundy in Ted Bundy (2002), John Wayne Gacy in Gacy (2003), Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003), Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono Jr. in The Hillside Strangler (2004), Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka in Karla (2006) and the still unknown Zodiac Killer in Zodiac (2007). This decade also featured classic films of the subgenre including American Psycho (2000), The Cell (2000), Hannibal (2001), Along Came a Spider (2001), Joy Ride (2001), Frailty (2001), Red Dragon (2002), Identity (2003), Creep (2004), Wolf Creek (2005), Grindhouse (2007), Inside (2007), The Chaser (2008), The Strangers (2008), The Midnight Meat Train (2008), The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2009), The Lovely Bones (2009), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) and The Collector (2009).
The 2010’s saw the emergence of classic World Cinema films featuring Serial Killers. I Saw The Devil (2010), The Prey (2011), Confession of Murder (2012), Lesson of the Evil (2012), Rage (2016), Memoir of a Murderer (2017) and The Golden Glove (2019). The 2010’s also produced classic films of the Serial Killer subgenre with We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), The Collection (2012), Stoker (2013), Creep (2014), Kristy (2014), The Guest (2014), Creep 2 (2017), The House That Jack Built (2018), Monster Party (2018), The Clovehitch Killer (2018) and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019).
The 2020’s haven’t yet produced any classic films of the subgenre but some notable Serial Killer films from the decade include The Devil All the Time (2020), The Call (2020) and The Little Things (2021).
Our list of Films About Serial Killers includes 274+ films from 1955 – 2021. Most films in this collection reside within the Horror, Crime and Thriller genres and also feature subgenres like Films About Whodunit & Detectives, Suspense Thrillers, Films About Slashers and more. For our list of Films About Serial Killers You Haven’t Seen, we’re going to make two lists given the number of great films to see. This Part 1 of the list had many honorable mentions that didn’t make the list including Time After Time (1979), Black Widow (1987), Sea of Love (1989), Body Parts (1991), Nightwatch (1994), Turbulence (1996), Funny Games (1997), Fallen (1998), Eye of the Beholder (1999), The Crimson Rivers (2000), Frailty (2001), Dahmer (2002), The Hunt for the BTK Killer (2005), The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2009), The Collector (2009), I Saw the Devil (2010), The Guest (2014) and Monster Party (2018).
We have embedded a compilation video of our Top Films About Serial Killers You Haven’t Seen and more details on these films can be found in the list below. Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
#10
Body Puzzle
Plot: Homicide detective tracks serial killer and discovers a link between the brutal crimes and a young widow’s late husband.
KBZ’s Take: Directed by Lamberto Bava (Demons (1985)), Body Puzzle plays like a Giallo film but with some shockingly demented kills by the serial killer. As you can guess from the title, the serial killer takes body parts from his victims. While the film itself isn’t all the special, it’s the serial killer and the unique ‘kill scenes’ that raise it above more standard fare of the subgenre. It also has one scene that you won’t soon forget involving a teacher of blind children.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3H2yePJ
#9
Switchback
Plot: FBI agent tries to catch a serial killer who kidnapped his son.
KBZ’s Take: Unlike most Films About Serial Killers, this film offers a few unique differentiators. First, it’s set in a wintery Colorado with some amazing scenery and suspenseful thrill scenes. Second, it keeps you guessing who the serial killer might be for a good portion of the film. Third, it somehow meshes the investigation of the serial killer with politics that isn’t often seen in films. It’s not a great film, but it’s one of the better films of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3VrTPFu
Plot: A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy, from the perspective of his longtime girlfriend.
KBZ’s Take: Of all the films about Ted Bundy, there are two that rise above the rest – this film and The Deliberate Stranger (1986). While Mark Harmon gives a chilling performance in the latter film, we’re going with Zac Efron’s portrayal in the former for this list. Both films are worth checking out and standouts of the subgenre, but Efron’s turn as the despicable Bundy reveals more of the manipulative side of Bundy and how he got away with so much.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://www.netflix.com/title/81028570
Plot: A schoolteacher devises a new plan to curb the rise of bullying in his school.
KBZ’s Take: This is a Takashi Miike film, so you know what you’re going to get when you watch his films – weirdness, gore and extreme violence. And this film has all of that and more. Without going too much into the plot, let’s just say this film examines what happens when a serial killer becomes a teacher and decides he’s going to teach his students a lesson.
Additional Lists: Top Slasher Films You Haven’t Seen #6
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3ESE9UQ
#6
Karla
Plot: Based on Canada’s most notorious serial killers, Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.
KBZ’s Take: This is a quite difficult film to watch so be warned ahead of time. While it chronicles the events and murders that took place by the serial killers, it also goes into detail on the murders themselves, rape, domestic abuse and more. While the film tries to make a case of domestic abuse turning Karla into a serial killer herself (or at best watching it happen and doing nothing about it), the end credits of the film help shed light on the reality of her situation and the law.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3B1RCIR
#5
Intensity
Plot: Psychology student with a troubled past, survives the murder of a family by a serial killer, and then tracks the serial killer to his home to rescue a kidnapped girl.
KBZ’s Take: Dean R. Koontz has had the misfortune of having many of his great novels translated into horrible movies. Watchers (1988), Whispers (1990), and Phantoms (1998) are a few examples of these subpar film adaptions based on great novels. Intensity though, finally hits the mark as the best Koontz adaptation and one of the best films of the subgenre. This was initially a TV mini-series with a 3-hour runtime, but it is paced well with suspense throughout. Highly recommended film to watch for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XId27v
Plot: A cop and his partner skirt the law to catch a serial killer of women.
KBZ’s Take: Between stints of vigilantism and saving the U.S. president from assassination, Charles Bronson somehow made this little-seen gem of the 1980s’. While the film has achieved cult classic status, it’s a great lesser-known film about cops in pursuit of a serial killer. This film is heavy on the violence, nudity and sexual situations, so be warned before going in. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3FixOU1
Plot: The story of Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy.
KBZ’s Take: Of all the Biopic or True Crime films about real-life Serial Killers, this is the best one hands down. Brian Dennehy gives a career-defining performance as Gacy and his portrayal of the killer will chill you to the bone. This was a TV mini-series, but it doesn’t hold back in telling the story of Gacy and his murder of at least 33 young men and boys. If you somehow have not seen this film yet, it’s highly recommended for any fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3gPIPTn
Plot: The son of a family begins to suspect his father is the killer of 13 women ten year prior.
KBZ’s Take: One of the best recent efforts of films in this subgenre, The Clovehitch Killer stands above the rest due to its story and cast. The story is ‘inspired by’ the real life killer Dennis Radar (aka The BTK Killer) and features many suspenseful moments in the film that will have you either cringing or on the edge of your seat. Second, the father and son dynamic throughout the film is increasingly tense as the son grows increasingly suspect of his father. Charlie Plummer (as Tyler the son) and Dylan McDermott (as Don the father) both give commanding performances that makes this film one of the best of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3ivmISp
#1
The Chaser
Plot: Ex-detective turned pimp notices several of his girls have gone missing. He soon finds clues that a serial killer is behind their disappearance.
KBZ’s Take: We cannot say enough about this film as it’s not only one of the best films of this subgenre, but one of the best films you’ll ever see. It’s a film we often recommend to people who are looking for something dark yet exciting to watch. And dark this film is. Inspired by real-life Korean serial killer Yoo Young-chul, this film will hit you in the gut with it’s juxtaposition between many brutal scenes involving the serial killer against an inept and politically driven police force that allows the serial killer to be set free. But where this film will really hit you, is how it goes against conventional narratives and scenes – where what you expect and hope to happen, often won’t. Note: We had a hard time deciding between The Chaser and I Saw the Devil (2010) for the top slot as they’re both amazing films of the subgenre, so we would also recommended checking out I Saw the Devil as well…you won’t be disappointed.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3EOGkIS
