The Top 13 Serial Killer Films of All Time, Ranked

      Here are the 12 finest serial killer films we’ve encountered, arranged from least to most impressive.

      Ranging from dark comedies to deep dives into empathy disguised as serial killer narratives, each offers insights into crime and society as a whole.

      Below are the most outstanding serial killer films ever produced — some of which are gaining renewed interest due to Netflix’s new release, Monster: The Ed Gein Story.

      12 – Freeway (1996)

      Republic Pictures

      Matthew Bright’s Freeway is as exaggerated as Henry is realistic: it reimagines Little Red Riding Hood, with Kiefer Sutherland portraying the Big Bad Wolf Bob Wolverton and Reese Witherspoon as our heroine, an illiterate runaway named Vanessa.

      In this clever, distinctly ’90s retelling of the fairy tale, no one believes Vanessa, even when she shoots Bob to end his rampage across California’s highways.

      It perfectly captures an era when trash TV and televised murder trials blurred the lines between death and entertainment.

      11 – My Friend Dahmer (2017)

      FilmRise – Credit: C/O

      Based on an exceptional graphic novel by Derf Backderf, who actually grew up with Jeffrey Dahmer, this profoundly unsettling coming-of-age film by Mark Meyers is disturbing not due to any exploitative elements — it remains quite restrained — but because it encapsulates a moment when a horrific serial killer could have been intercepted, had anyone predicted the pain he would inflict.

      The film draws a distinct connection between Dahmer’s lack of empathy towards both animals and peers and his eventual murders, without being overly forceful. (His imitation of someone with a disability serves as an early indication of his casual cruelty.)

      The entire cast excels — particularly Ross Lynch as Dahmer and Alex Wolff as Derf — prompting reflection on early warning signs.

      10 – Seven (1995)

      New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

      Released a year prior to Freeway, Seven received significantly more acclaim and stands as the archetypal serial-killer-as-mad-genius film, reveling perhaps a bit too much in the varied ways John Doe (Kevin Spacey) eliminates his victims.

      Like all great antagonists, he believes he has a noble purpose — executing sinners guilty of the seven deadly sins — but it’s difficult to view the film as anything beyond pulp.

      Nonetheless, it's well-made pulp. Credit goes to the exceptional craftsmanship of director David Fincher and stellar performances all around. Besides the standout roles by Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow’s role marked her breakout.

      9 – From Hell (2001)

      20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O

      Adapted from the graphic novel From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, the Hughes brothers’ remarkable film provides an unexpected fresh perspective on Jack the Ripper.

      Johnny Depp stars as a Victorian-era detective while Heather Graham plays a sex worker targeted by Whitechapel's most notorious killer. From Hell spares no effort in piquing your grim curiosity, even featuring a cameo by the Elephant Man.

      It also offers a hauntingly plausible and narratively satisfying theory about Jack's identity.

      8 – Monster (2003)

      Newmarket Films – Credit: C/O

      Patty Jenkins’ portrayal of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos is audacious and ambitious in a way few films achieve: it allows us to comprehend and even sympathize with its female serial killer before ultimately turning against her.

      Charlize Theron underwent a dramatic transformation that garnered her the Best Actress Oscar, illustrating in a way few serial killer films do that monsters aren’t born; they’re created.

      7 – American Psycho (2000)

      Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, Lionsgate

      The funniest serial killer film ever, American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale in his breakout role), a yuppie who either kills people or vividly imagines killing them, depending on your interpretation of the movie.

      Our interpretation: he committed those murders. This makes it all the more darkly humorous when everyone assumes otherwise, based on his good looks, designer attire, great physique, and decent business card.

      Perhaps the most amusing aspect is the subversion of the hero-detective archetype: Willem Dafoe’s Donald Kimball is as much a superficial, ambitious yuppie as Bateman. The script, penned by director Mary Harron and co-star Guinevere Turner, expertly captures many of the most humorous elements from Bret Easton Ellis’ brilliant novel while omitting those that would push the film beyond many viewers' comfort levels.

      If you’re interested, you may enjoy our Oral History of American Psycho. We're also eager for Luca Guadagnino's upcoming adaptation of Ellis’ novel, although it’s hard to envision anyone enhancing Harron’s version.

      6 – Zodiac (2007)

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      David Fincher’s Zodiac, which we prefer over Seven, presents a nearly