These true crime films and series about real serial killers will haunt you

The Ongoing Craze for True Crime on Screen

Movies and series based on real-life criminals? Well, Netflix spotted the potential ages ago, and the streaming giant certainly hasn’t let go since. Think of the film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile focusing on Ted Bundy, the mini-series The Serpent starring Tahar Rahim as Charles Sobhraj, and perhaps most notably, the first three seasons of Monsters—Ryan Murphy’s anthology series delving into the crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, and now Ed Gein. As soon as these shows drop, they shoot straight to the top of the viewing charts—it’s like bingeing with your worst nightmares.

Infamous Serial Killers Brought to the Screen

• Zodiac: This film draws inspiration from the notorious serial killer known as Zodiac. Still unidentified to this day, Zodiac is responsible for dozens of victims in California between the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• Dahmer (Season 1): The series’ first season follows the true story of American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, dubbed the Milwaukee Cannibal, who operated between 1978 and 1991.
• From Hell: Based on the true story of British serial killer Jack the Ripper, who haunted London in 1888. To this day, his identity remains one of history’s great mysteries.
• Next Time I’ll Aim For the Heart: Inspired by the real story of French serial killer and police officer Alain Lamare, also known as the “Killer of Oise.” He committed several murders between 1978 and 1979—he even took part in the investigation himself! Only in France…
• Bates Motel: The prequel series to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, inspired by the life of notorious American murderer Ed Gein, whose crimes terrified the United States in the 1950s.
• Psycho: Hitchcock’s masterpiece is itself inspired by the true story of Ed Gein, a serial killer and grave robber from the 1950s. Talk about a disturbing muse.
• The Sambre Rapist: This mini-series is based on the real-life case of French serial rapist Dino Scala, known as “the Sambre Rapist”, who assaulted victims from 1988 to 2018 across France and Belgium.
• Boston Strangler: The film recounts the story of American killer Albert DeSalvo—aka “the Boston Strangler”—and journalist Loretta McLaughlin, who exposed the case in the 1960s. In total, thirteen women were murdered in the state of Massachusetts.
• The Shepherds’ Killer: Inspired by real-life French serial killer Joseph Vacher, called both “the Shepherds’ Killer” and the “Jack the Ripper of the Southeast.” He’s considered one of France’s first serial killers, active at the end of the 19th century.
• The Rue des Marmousets Legend: This film is drawn from a British legend based on a real French news item: the Rue des Marmousets case in Paris, where a barber and a pastry chef committed gruesome crimes in 1397. (Yes, that far back. Paris hasn’t always been the city of love!)
• Monsters, Season 2: The second season is inspired by the true story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers convicted for killing their parents in the 1990s.

True Crime: As Gripping as Ever

The trend shows no sign of slowing. More than just morbid curiosity, these films and series dig into the darkest corners of the human psyche and invite us into investigations that would make even the bravest detective lose sleep. Whether you’re into cold cases, psychology, or just like a good scare (from the comfort of your sofa), these stories of real-life serial killers are guaranteed to haunt you…