10 Best Serial Killer Movies That’ll Leave You Shook and Horrified

10. Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003)

More acclaimed than the first movie about her, Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer, the second installment focused on Aileen’s court trial. Notorious for killing and robbing her clients while working as a prostitute on highways in Florida, this serial killer pleaded self-defense but was sentenced to death after long trials.

You can watch Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer on Apple TV and Prime Video.

9. Citizen X (1995)

Before he was identified and caught, he was referred to as the Red Ripper — but arguably, his real name induces much more fear today. Andrei Chikatilo was the worst Soviet serial killer, having an absurd body count of over 50 murders. For years, he terrorized the Rostov Oblast; Citizen X follows the long hunt for that monster.

You can watch Citizen X on Max, Hulu, and Prime Video.

8. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

Loosely based on the crimes of Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer tells the story of an unlikely trio: Henry, the unhinged serial killer; his former cellmate Otis whom Henry teaches in the way of murder; and Becky, Otis’ sister who falls in love with Henry. But beware: this movie is X-rated. It’s… Brutal.

You can watch Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer on Prime Video.

7. The Deliberate Stranger (1986)

Often referred to as America’s most terrifying serial killer, Ted Bundy has assaulted and murdered dozens of victims, but the exact number is a mystery to this day. The Deliberate Stranger picks up Bundy’s story after he’s already honed his repulsive “craft,” following his notorious crimes and detective Robert D. Keppel’s hunt for him.

You can watch The Deliberate Stranger on Prime Video.

6. In Cold Blood (1967)

All serial murderers are terrifyingly inhumane, especially when you learn about their crimes… But some of those crimes don’t make a slither of sense, at the same time. Two ex-cons break into a presumably wealthy family’s farmhouse and don’t find any money; frustrated, they brutally kill every member of the family and go on the run.

You can watch In Cold Blood on Max and Prime Video.

5. Dahmer (2002)

No words could fully describe the true extent of Jeffrey Dahmer’s depravity. One of America’s most notorious serial killers, Dahmer killed, dismembered, and cannibalized his victims, young men, while committing other atrocities with their bodies. This movie follows Dahmer’s crimes and trials in the past and the present.

You can watch Dahmer on Prime Video.

4. My Friend Dahmer (2017)

Following the beginning of Jeffrey Dahmer’s murderous career, My Friend Dahmer shows his time as a student. An unpopular and deeply troubled young man, Dahmer tried to befriend other students with his weird tricks, and one day, they worked. But those who called Dahmer their friend had no clue what a monster he was.

You can watch My Friend Dahmer on Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.

3. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)

Back to the potentially most disgusting serial killer in US history, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile also tells the story of Ted Bundy, but from a different perspective: that of Liz, Bundy’s longtime girlfriend who refused to believe he was capable of such atrocities even as his crimes were happening all around her.

You can watch Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile on Netflix, Apple TV, and Prime Video.

2. Monster (2003)

Back to the first recorded female serial killer, Monster follows the life of Aileen Wuornos — the Florida prostitute who fell in love with a charming woman and felt the need to keep going for her. Wuornos would later be called Monster in the media as her questionable job led her to start killing her clients out of rage at their existence.

You can watch Monster on Netflix and Prime Video.

1. Zodiac (2007)

Unlike others on this list, the Zodiac Killer is most often referred to as the most mysterious killer; and unlike the others, he was never found. Zodiac follows a cartoonist-turned-detective who got obsessed with the serial killer after his first murders and decided to investigate his crimes. The best of the genre, this one.

You can watch Zodiac on Max, Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV, and Prime Video.