If you’re fascinated by the dark and twisted world of serial killers, this list is for you. Here are 25 of the best serial killer movies that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Each film features gripping plots, chilling performances, and masterful direction, making them must-watches for any true crime aficionado. We’ve also included where you can stream or rent these films in the United States.
1. Se7en (1995)
IMDb Rating: 8.6
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey
Available On: HBO Max, Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: In this dark, atmospheric thriller, two detectives (Freeman and Pitt) are on the hunt for a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi. Fincher’s direction, combined with a chilling performance by Kevin Spacey, makes this a must-watch for any fan of the genre.
2. Silence of the Lambs (1991)
IMDb Rating: 8.6
Director: Jonathan Demme
Cast: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Lawrence A. Bonney
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: This iconic film features FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Foster) seeking the help of imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins) to catch another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. Hopkins’ portrayal of Lecter is both terrifying and mesmerizing, solidifying the film’s place in cinematic history.
3. Zodiac (2007)
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo
Available On: Netflix, Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: Based on true events, “Zodiac” follows a cartoonist who becomes obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac Killer. Fincher’s meticulous attention to detail and the stellar performances from Gyllenhaal, Downey Jr., and Ruffalo make this film a gripping watch.
4. Psycho (1960)
IMDb Rating: 8.5
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles
Available On: Peacock, Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: Hitchcock’s classic horror film about a secretary who ends up at a secluded motel run by a disturbed young man is a masterpiece of suspense and psychological horror. Perkins’ performance as Norman Bates remains one of the most iconic in film history.
5. American Psycho (2000)
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Director: Mary Harron
Cast: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas
Available On: HBO Max, Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: This darkly satirical film stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a wealthy New York City investment banking executive who hides his psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends. Bale’s chilling performance is both captivating and disturbing.
6. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Director: Tobe Hooper
Cast: Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A terrifying film about a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals in rural Texas, including the infamous Leatherface. The film’s gritty realism and relentless tension make it a landmark in horror cinema.
7. Monster (2003)
IMDb Rating: 7.3
Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern
Available On: HBO Max, Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: Charlize Theron delivers an Oscar-winning performance as Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute who was executed in 2002 for killing six men. Jenkins’ direction and Theron’s transformation make “Monster” a compelling and heartbreaking watch.
8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer
Available On: Netflix, Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A journalist and a hacker team up to solve a decades-old disappearance case involving a wealthy family. Fincher’s adaptation is dark, gripping, and visually stunning, with Rooney Mara delivering a standout performance as Lisbeth Salander.
9. No Country for Old Men (2007)
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
Available On: HBO Max, Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: This violent and intense film follows a hunter who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and the relentless killer who pursues him. Bardem’s portrayal of Anton Chigurh is one of the most memorable and chilling performances in recent cinema.
10. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Director: John McNaughton
Cast: Michael Rooker, Tracy Arnold, Tom Towles
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A disturbing and realistic portrayal of the life of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. Michael Rooker’s chilling performance and the film’s unflinching depiction of violence make it a haunting watch.
11. The Bone Collector (1999)
IMDb Rating: 6.7
Director: Phillip Noyce
Cast: Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A quadriplegic detective (Washington) and a young patrol officer (Jolie) work together to track down a serial killer who leaves clues for them at each crime scene. The film’s suspenseful plot and strong performances make it an engaging thriller.
12. Mindhunter (2017–2019)
IMDb Rating: 8.6
Creator: Joe Penhall
Cast: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv
Available On: Netflix
Review: While technically a series, “Mindhunter” delves deep into the FBI’s early days of criminal psychology and profiling to catch serial killers. The show’s meticulous attention to detail and compelling performances make it a standout in the genre.
13. Saw (2004)
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Director: James Wan
Cast: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: This horror film about two men who find themselves trapped in a deadly game set by a notorious serial killer known as Jigsaw is both gruesome and gripping. The film’s innovative plot and shocking twists make it a must-watch for horror fans.
14. The Snowtown Murders (2011)
IMDb Rating: 6.6
Director: Justin Kurzel
Cast: Lucas Pittaway, Daniel Henshall, Louise Harris
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: Based on the true story of the Snowtown murders in South Australia, this film explores the chilling events through the eyes of a teenager. Kurzel’s direction and the film’s unflinching realism make it a disturbing but compelling watch.
15. My Friend Dahmer (2017)
IMDb Rating: 6.2
Director: Marc Meyers
Cast: Ross Lynch, Alex Wolff, Anne Heche
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A biographical drama that depicts the high school years of Jeffrey Dahmer, the infamous serial killer. Ross Lynch’s performance as Dahmer is both nuanced and haunting, providing a chilling glimpse into the early life of a notorious murderer.
16. The Clovehitch Killer (2018)
IMDb Rating: 6.6
Director: Duncan Skiles
Cast: Dylan McDermott, Charlie Plummer, Samantha Mathis
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A teenage boy suspects his seemingly perfect father is the infamous Clovehitch Killer, a serial killer who terrorized their town a decade earlier. The film’s suspenseful plot and McDermott’s chilling performance make it a gripping watch.
17. Summer of Sam (1999)
IMDb Rating: 6.7
Director: Spike Lee
Cast: John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: Set during the 1977 New York City blackout and heatwave, this film follows the impact of the Son of Sam murders on a group of friends. Spike Lee’s direction and the film’s tense atmosphere make it a compelling watch.
18. Scream (1996)
IMDb Rating: 7.3
Director: Wes Craven
Cast: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A meta-horror film where a high school student becomes the target of a mysterious killer known as Ghostface. Craven’s innovative direction and the film’s self-aware script make it a standout in the slasher genre.
19. The House That Jack Built (2018)
IMDb Rating: 6.8
Director: Lars von Trier
Cast: Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A psychological horror film that follows the development of a highly intelligent serial killer over a span of 12 years. Von Trier’s direction and Dillon’s chilling performance make it a disturbing but thought-provoking watch.
20. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Director: Tom Tykwer
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: An 18th-century Frenchman with an extraordinary sense of smell becomes obsessed with creating the perfect scent, leading him to murder. Tykwer’s visually stunning direction and Whishaw’s compelling performance make it a unique and captivating film.
21. Copycat (1995)
IMDb Rating: 6.6
Director: Jon Amiel
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, Dermot Mulroney
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: An agoraphobic psychologist and a detective team up to catch a serial killer who copies the methods of infamous murderers from the past. The film’s suspenseful plot and strong performances make it an engaging thriller.
22. Nightcrawler (2014)
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Director: Dan Gilroy
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
Available On: Netflix, Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A gripping thriller about a man who becomes a freelance crime journalist in Los Angeles, exploiting the dark side of human nature. Gyllenhaal’s chilling performance and Gilroy’s sharp direction make it a standout film.
23. The Black Dahlia (2006)
IMDb Rating: 5.6
Director: Brian De Palma
Cast: Josh Hartnett, Aaron Eckhart, Scarlett Johansson
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A film noir mystery that delves into the infamous and gruesome 1947 murder of aspiring actress Elizabeth Short. De Palma’s direction and the film’s atmospheric style make it an intriguing watch.
24. Manhunter (1986)
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Director: Michael Mann
Cast: William Petersen, Kim Greist, Joan Allen
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: The first film to feature the character Hannibal Lecter, following an FBI profiler who tracks down a serial killer known as the “Tooth Fairy.” Mann’s stylish direction and Petersen’s strong performance make it a compelling thriller.
25. The Boston Strangler (1968)
IMDb Rating: 7.1
Director: Richard Fleischer
Cast: Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A chilling dramatization of the Boston Strangler murders, focusing on the police investigation and the eventual capture of Albert DeSalvo. Curtis’s performance and the film’s tense atmosphere make it a gripping watch.
Conclusion
These 25 serial killer movies offer a thrilling glimpse into the minds of some of the most notorious and fictional murderers. Whether you’re interested in psychological thrillers, true crime dramas, or classic horror, this list has something to keep you captivated.
