Films let us explore worlds that are far beyond our reality. One such daring genre of films explores the twisted realities of some individuals. Do you dare to jump into the world of the most heinous criminals in history? Here’s a list of the 15 best movies based on real-life serial killers.
15. Deranged (1974)
Deranged is loosely based on Ed Gein. It follows Ezra Cobb, a middle-aged rural man who lives in a small community with his mother. After his dominating mother dies, he goes on a series of murders and grave robberies.
The film is very disturbing, but you won’t mind, right? That’s what you came for.
14. Gacy (2003)
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Let’s just say this clown was not clowning around. John Wayne Gacy, the Killer Clown, is the antagonist and main character of this biopic. On the surface, he was a respected member of his community, but underneath it all, he was a monster. This wolf in sheep’s clothing committed unspeakable crimes and terrorized his local community.
The film delves into the psyche of this masked murderer and the plots of his murders. If you’re afraid of clowns but love horror movies, this will chill you to the bone.
13. 10 Rillington Place (1971)
Misuse of power, a strong facade, and psychotic tendencies. Literally a killer combo.
10 Rillington Place was the playroom of the 1940s British serial killer John Christie. He lured his victims under the pretense of medical assistance. The film shows the miscarriage of justice and how political power can save a monster from the fist of the law.
An interesting yet not-so-popular horror biopic that we think should be on your watchlist.
12. Summer of Sam (1999)
Based on David Berkowitz’s ‘Son of Sam’ serial murders during the summer of 1977. The movie shows the atmosphere of mistrust, suspicion, and scapegoating that spread in an Italian American neighborhood in the Bronx during that summer.
The collective level of paranoia portrayed in the movie will also make you paranoid as to who the real .44 caliber killer was.
11. The Snowtown Murders (2011)
This 2011 movie takes a gritty look at a series of real-life murders in Adelaide, Australia. A charismatic and dangerous boyfriend takes his girlfriend’s son under his wing and draws him into his violent world. Together with another man, they go on a killing spree that would shock a nation.
It shows how manipulative people can be and the capacity for cruelty that exists in humans.
10. Monster (2003)
A change of ‘stereotypical’ roles. Monster is the tragic real story of Aileen Wuornos, a call girl who became a serial killer. Charlize Theron’s performance did justice to the before and after phases of Aileen’s serial killer career. The circumstances and abuse that forced Aileen to jump off the cliff of normal life and take out the monster within her are a story of a victim and a culprit.
The movie makes the viewer wonder about the societal factors that lead someone to do such heinous crimes.
9. Burke & Hare (1972)
This dark comedy is a unique title on our list. But don’t ignore it because it doesn’t fit the typical horror genre. Burke and Hare tells the grim story of two 19th-century Edinburgh cadaver suppliers. But their lucrative business soon turned into a murder business when they couldn’t meet the demand for natural deaths.
This piece of art keeps us wondering what the true cost of a human life is and how far we are willing to go for scientific progress.
8. D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear (2003)
We’ve all seen in movies or heard about serial killers with stereotypical serial killer weapons like machetes and knives. But how can you protect yourself from a serial killer you can’t see?
A bullet comes flying out of nowhere and kills you. This was the reality of Washington, DC, citizens in October 2002. The whole city was terrorized and paralyzed as random citizens were targeted by a sniper’s bullet.
The movie portrays the law enforcement hunt for the perpetrators and the city-wide terror in those 23 days. From the details of the terror plan to the law enforcement investigation that led to the capture of the perpetrators, this movie takes you on a roller coaster ride with the citizens of Washington, DC in 2002.
7. Citizen X (1995)
A gripping film that chronicles the harrowing pursuit of Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, who was responsible for the brutal murders of 52 women and children over a span of 12 years.
The narrative focuses on detective Viktor Burakov’s relentless quest to apprehend Chikatilo amidst the stifling bureaucracy and denial of the Soviet regime, which refused to acknowledge the existence of such crimes in its society.
Throughout the movie, you feel like you’re with Viktor in his hunt for Citizen X.
6. Unabomber: The True Story (1996)
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This television film dramatizes the intense manhunt for Theodore J. Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, who orchestrated a series of bombings through the mail over nearly two decades.
The film follows the investigation led by a determined postal inspector, the challenges faced by an obstinate detective, and the crucial role played by Kaczynski’s brother, who grew suspicious of Ted after the publication of his anti-technology manifesto.
A unique story that shows that madmen also justify their motives with a so-called ‘positive ideology’.
5. The Boston Strangler (1968)
The true story of strangling murders gripped Boston City with fear in the 60s as the investigators tried to untangle the chain of events that eventually led to the capture of Albert DeSalvo.
The movie follows the investigative journey and shows the challenges faced by detectives as they pieced together the jigsaw puzzle that was the Boston Strangler. A lump in your throat experience.
4. Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (2007)
This is one of the most complete films about the Butcher of Plainfield, Ed Gein. It shows the reasons why a monster is created. The movie is a direct depiction of his life and crimes, and his disturbing fascination with his mother. The grave robber and murderer shocked America in the 50s and has been an inspiration for many films and characters like Norman Bates in ‘Psycho’.
The producers didn’t shy away from depicting the grim realities of Gein’s crimes. It takes a lot of guts to see this movie. Do you have what it takes to see this one alone?
3. My Friend Dahmer (2017)
Though the 2022 TV series ‘Dahmer’ got more recognition, this 2017 movie is a great alternative for someone who can’t invest all those hours in a TV show.
My Friend Dahmer is based on a 2012 graphic novel by John Backderf, who was Dahmer’s high school friend in the 70s. The movie portrays how a high school student struggling with identity and dark impulses became one of the most notorious serial killers in America.
We get to see how Dahmer’s formative years of loneliness and confusion eventually made him the maniac that we know today.
2. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Hannibal Lecter is one of the most iconic and widely recognized serial killer characters in cinema. Although he is not directly based on a single real-life serial killer, writer Thomas Harris based him on a real-life Mexican doctor and serial killer, Alfredo Ballí Treviño.
The real focus of the movie is the capture of Buffalo Bill, a serial killer who skins his victims. The movie is a great case study on the psychology of serial killers and the complex mental capabilities of the minds that hunt them.
1. Zodiac (2007)
This movie has become synonymous with its genre. If you’re a serial killer movie fan and you haven’t watched this one yet, you’re not. The difference between this movie and many others like it is that it delivers the story in a way that highlights the investigators’ obsession with the case as much as it does the mysterious Zodiac Killer.
Mysteries are meant to be solved, but the Zodiac Killer remains unidentified and itches the brains of investigators and movie lovers. This enigmatic movie is one of the most famous and best-written movies in the horror genre.
Honorable Mentions
- Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
- Badlands (1973)
- The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976)
This was our ranking of the best films based on real-life serial killers, but do let us know in the comments section which movie gave you the most chills.
