Pure Depravity: The 10 Best Serial Killer Movies

I have a question for you, dear reader. What makes a good serial killer movie? Is it an endless cat-and-mouse game? What about the attention to detail of the crime it’s portraying? Is it the psychological portrayal of a real serial killer? Is it the filmmaker that makes the serial killer movie good? Or could it be all of the above and more?

If you said all of that and more, I have a list for you! We’ve compiled the 10 best serial killer movies that you can watch right now. From true crime aficionados to anyone who wants to see a different type of crime thriller, we have you covered on all fronts.

10. “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” (1996)

There’s no better movie that depicts the depravity of a serial killer than “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” Directed and co-written by John McNaughton, the film is loosely based on real life serial killers Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole. The movie is a bone-chilling, slow-burn character study. You watch as Henry makes difficult decisions, keeps Otis (the filmmakers’ spelling) in line, but succumbs to the darkest parts of himself over and over again. The film is effective in almost making you see that there’s a soft spot inside of Henry, but just as that bright spot shines, it quickly fades away.

Where to watch “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” (1996)

You can watch “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” free with ads on Cineverse, Plex, Prime Video, or Tubi. Alternatively, you can rent the movie on demand from Fandango at Home or Prime Video.

9. “SE7EN” (1995)

When you thought you were about to retire, a murder case pulls you back in. Detective Lieutenant William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and his new partner, David Mills (Brad Pitt) must solve a string of gruesome murder by a serial killer using the seven deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, etc.) “Se7en” is a movie that not only put David Fincher as a filmmaker back on the map (we won’t forget “Alien 3”), but its visual violence, superb writing, and shocking ending will continue to have first-time viewers and veterans in a chokehold for years to come.

Where to watch “Se7en” (1995)

Currently, “Se7en” isn’t available on a subscription streaming service. You can, however, rent it on demand from Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Plex, or Prime Video.

8. “Creep” (2014)

Josef (Mark Duplass) is dying from a brain tumor, and hires Aaron (Patrick Brice), a videographer, to film him so that he may give this movie to his unborn son. The only problem is things begin to get more unsettling as filming continues, and when Aaron discovers “Peachfuzz,” the true terror begins. “Creep” is an unusual yet immensely funny serial killer movie that earns its place with the best found footage horror films. The film leaves you hooked from the start — laughing one minute, uneasy the next, but, like Aaron, you can’t leave until the film is done.

Where to watch “Creep” (2015)

You can watch “Creep” on Netflix with a subscription. Alternatively, you can rent the movie on demand from Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Plex, or Prime Video.

7. “Memories of Murder” (2003)

“Memories of Murder” is a film you’ll wish you could see for the first time again. Park Doo-man (Song Kang-ho) and Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang-kyung) work together to solve a string of rapes and murders in a small town. The closer they gete to solving it, the killer seems to move faster and smarter than the last. Bong Joon Ho serves up a contemplative and thoughtful film, bringing the real-life crimes of Lee Choon-jae, or the Hwaseong Serial Killer,to life and showing you sketchy police tactics — coercion and planting evidence — and leaves you on edge of your seat as they race to catch the killer.

Where to watch “Memories of Murder” (2005)

Currently, “Memories of Murder” isn’t available on a subscription streaming service. You can, however, rent it on demand from Fandango at Home or Prime Video.

6. “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

When a group of friends take a roadtrip, they come upon an old house, where they find a cannibalistic family that loves to play with their food. If you’ve never gazed upon “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” I need you to actively take steps to fix that. It’s a bloody yet bloodless time — relying on no information, unsettling vibes, sensory overload, and a mondo-esque (or pseudo documentary) raw footage quality that makes your stomach hurt. This film drops you into the daylight and chases you through the night, and you’ll be lucky if you make it out the other side.

Where to watch “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

You can watch “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” on Peacock, Philo, Prime Video, or Shudder with a subscription. You can also watch the film free with ads on Plex, Prime Video, Tubi, or Xumo Play.

Alternatively, you can rent the movie on demand from Apple TV, Fandango at Home, or Prime Video.

5. “Natural Born Killers”(1994)

Mass murdering lovers, Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis) are on a killing spree that spans three different states. The media, always craving a story to sensationalize, makes them headline news, and the violent couple are praised as cult-heroes. Oliver Stone’s take on mass murderers in their famous era somewhat reflects how we view true crime to this day. If you’re in the mood for a charismatic Woody Harrelson, a wonderfully unhinged Juliette Lewis, and an absolute acid-trip of a wild ride, “Natural Born Killers,” is waiting for you.

Where to watch “Natural Born Killers” (1994)

“Natural Born Killers” isn’t currently on a streaming service, but you can rent the movie on demand from Apple TV, Fandango at Home, or Prime Video.

4. “Manhunter” (1986)

Will Graham (William Petersen) is on the hunt for the serial killer, known as The Tooth Fairy. In his attempts to find him, Will’s sharp mind and empathetic profiling allows him to understand serial killers on a deeper level, including talking to Dr. Hannibal Lecktor (the film’s spelling), a former psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer, who almost killed Will. Michael Mann’s signature crime-drama visual style lends well to Thomas Harris’ adaption of his book “Red Dragon,” allowing for an intimate film that seeps into your mind.

Where to watch “Manhunter” (1986)

You can watch “Manhunter” free with ads on Kanopy (library card required), Plex, Prime Video, or the Roku Channel. Alternatively, you can rent the movie on demand from Apple TV, Fandango at Home, or Prime Video.

3. “I Saw the Devil” (2010)

Brutal, relentless, and savage to its core, the South Korean film, “I Saw the Devil” takes the revenge genre to a whole new level. When National Intelligence Service agent Kim Soo-hyun (Lee Byung-hun) learns that his fiance has been killed, he stops at nothing (and I do mean nothing), to seek revenge on the man responsible for her death, the serial killer, Jang Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik). When “I Saw the Devil” gets going, it does not stop. Even though Choi Min-sik is the villain of the film, Lee Byung-hun acts as the ultimate boogeyman. It’s satisfying, heartbreaking and cleverly executed in howit presents its violence and revenge. This film will not hold your hand, and you shouldn’t want it to.

Where to watch “I Saw the Devil” (2010)

Currently, you can stream “I Saw the Devil” on Philo with a subscription. Alternatively, you can rent the movie on demand from Google Play Movies & TV.

2. “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” (1976)

Shortly after World War II, a serial killer only known as the Phantom Killer, brutally attacks and kills couples on lovers’ lanes and abandoned roads. When each attack escalates its cruelty , the local police department needs to bring in a criminal investigator, Captain J.D. Morales (Ben Johnson), to help solve the crime. “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” is loosely based on the real crime spree, the Texarkana Moonlight Murder, in Texarkana, Texas, leaving five deaths and eight victims. However, just like the film, the killer has never been identified. Speaking of serial killers that have never been identified…

Where to watch “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” (1976)

You can watch “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” on MGM+, Philo, or Prime Video with a subscription. You can also watch the film free with ads on Plex, Prime Video, Tubi, or Xumo Play.

Alternatively, you can rent the movie on demand from Apple TV, Fandango at Home, or Prime Video.

1. “Zodiac” (2007)

David Fincher did his big one with this film. Cartoonist Robert Graysmith becomes enthralled with the murders that have been happening by a serial killer known as “Zodiac.” The police, crime reporters, media and the city are in a panic, but when the Zodiac sends encrypted cyphered letters to the media, it’s a race against time to see where he will strike and who he is. From the cast, the cinematography, the vibes, the script, and the soundtrack, you are engulfed in this crime thriller. Every bit of screentime fills with tension and detail, leaving you with a compulsion to know Zodiac’s identity.

Where to watch “Zodiac” (2007)

You can watch “Zodiac” on the library services Hoopla or Kanopy, or on Paramount+ Premium with a subscription. Alternatively, you can rent the movie on demand from Fandango at Home, or Prime Video.

More of the best serial killer movies

• “Taxi Driver”
• “The Silence of the Lambs”
• “Psycho”
• “American Psycho”
• “The House That Jack Built”
• “Longlegs”
• “Maniac”
• “M”
• “Badlands”
• “The Honeymoon Killers”
• “The Stepfather”

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