There are some film scenes you can’t look away from—no matter how gruesome. Serial killer movies unveil the mindset of those who are evil and satisfy the innate curiosity you have about these people who live on the fringes. You follow a storyline that introduces mystery and thrill, giving you an adrenaline rush as you sit and take in every new moment.
While these movies are entertaining, they also invite you to explore the complexity of the characters. Not only are you getting insight into a serial killer, but you’re also learning how those who catch them navigate an investigation. These films explore the ambiguous reality of human nature and delve into some of those grey areas where opposing perspectives meet.
Consider “Se7en” (1995), where the serial killer explores morality through his own sadistic lens, choosing to target those who he feels represent each of the deadly sins. The murders are intricate and the detectives on the case are left perplexed—yet intrigued and motivated. Then there are films like “Friday the 13th” (1980), where the serial killer is straightforward with his murderous intentions.
Whether a film is based on a true story or a creative exploration of taboo topics, there is artistic expression to be admired. From how a story is told visually to the cinematic techniques used, these films captivate you, hold you hostage for short periods, and leave you pondering all the wickedness in the world around you. (Also See 15 Movies That Sparked Debate and Outrage)
Methodology:
To determine the best serial killer movies, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of May 2024, weighting all ratings equally. Only movies with at least 1,000 reviews on IMDb were considered, and documentaries were not excluded. Director information is from IMDb.
50. The Last House on the Left (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Rogue Pictures
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Rogue Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (89,041 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 52% (1,003,751 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 43% (167 reviews)
- Directed by: Dennis Iliadis
49. Halloween II (1981)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (79,397 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (77,151 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 32% (41 reviews)
- Directed by: Rick Rosenthal
48. Kiss the Girls (1997)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (70,062 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62% (60,767 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 33% (33 reviews)
- Directed by: Gary Fleder
47. Saw III (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (185,688 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (560,988 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 29% (93 reviews)
- Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
46. Saw II (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (241,980 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 59% (32,524,689 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 37% (122 reviews)
- Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
45. Malevolence (2004)
Source: Courtesy of MVD Distribution
Source: Courtesy of MVD Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 5.1/10 (3,317 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (2,623 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 33% (18 reviews)
- Directed by: Stevan Mena
44. Maniac (1980)
Source: Courtesy of Analysis Film Releasing Corporation
Source: Courtesy of Analysis Film Releasing Corporation
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (16,029 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 58% (6,812 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 40% (20 reviews)
- Directed by: William Lustig
43. Laid to Rest (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 5.3/10 (8,091 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 38% (2,072 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (5 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Hall
42. The Last House on the Left (1972)
Source: Courtesy of American International Pictures (AIP)
Source: Courtesy of American International Pictures (AIP)
- IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (35,694 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 50% (4,848 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 62% (39 reviews)
- Directed by: Wes Craven
41. Hannibal (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (263,542 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62% (403,230 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 40% (171 reviews)
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
40. Funny Games (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Attitude Films
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Attitude Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (93,851 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 54% (30,987 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 52% (145 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Haneke
39. Alone in the Dark (1982)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (5,226 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 40% (8,549 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (11 reviews)
- Directed by: Jack Sholder
38. High Tension (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (75,331 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 67% (48,597 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 40% (131 reviews)
- Directed by: Alexandre Aja
37. The Prowler (1981)
Source: Courtesy of Sandhurst
Source: Courtesy of Sandhurst
- IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (10,513 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 49% (3,318 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 67% (6 reviews)
- Directed by: Joseph Zito
36. Scream 4 (2011)
Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
- IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (132,900 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 56% (76,995 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 60% (187 reviews)
- Directed by: Wes Craven
35. The Exorcist III (1990)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (29,282 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 56% (34,111 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 59% (41 reviews)
- Directed by: William Peter Blatty
34. Psycho II (1983)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (25,822 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55% (20,142 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 60% (35 reviews)
- Directed by: Richard Franklin
33. Friday the 13th (1980)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (128,039 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 60% (229,312 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 63% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Sean S. Cunningham
32. The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (32,989 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 58% (44,515 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 67% (30 reviews)
- Directed by: Wes Craven
31. Kalifornia (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (52,595 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 64% (46,909 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 59% (32 reviews)
- Directed by: Dominic Sena
30. From Hell (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (157,785 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 66% (203,256 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 57% (153 reviews)
- Directed by: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
29. Scream 2 (1997)
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (164,227 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 57% (412,768 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (79 reviews)
- Directed by: Wes Craven
28. Child’s Play (1988)
Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Communications Co.
Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Communications Co.
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (93,329 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (267,702 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (48 reviews)
- Directed by: Tom Holland
27. The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (96,185 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (112,428 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 55% (139 reviews)
- Directed by: Rob Zombie
26. The Burning (1981)
Source: Courtesy of Filmways Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Filmways Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (17,416 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 60% (6,590 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (10 reviews)
- Directed by: Tony Maylam
25. Lady in White (1988)
Source: Courtesy of New Century Vista Film Company
Source: Courtesy of New Century Vista Film Company
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (6,564 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 69% (5,757 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (16 reviews)
- Directed by: Frank LaLoggia
24. Death Proof (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (279,011 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (289,741 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 65% (43 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
23. Copycat (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (57,126 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 64% (41,148 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (38 reviews)
- Directed by: Jon Amiel
22. Identity (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (235,237 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (190,894 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 62% (173 reviews)
- Directed by: James Mangold
21. Saw (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (396,891 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (853,003 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 51% (188 reviews)
- Directed by: James Wan
20. Red Dragon (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (262,088 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (275,635 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 68% (189 reviews)
- Directed by: Brett Ratner
19. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (22,887 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (15,231 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: Scott Glosserman
18. Cape Fear (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (183,201 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (68,903 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (52 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
17. Frailty (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (80,635 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (53,331 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (152 reviews)
- Directed by: Bill Paxton
16. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Source: Courtesy of Greycat Films
Source: Courtesy of Greycat Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (34,078 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (11,655 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (63 reviews)
- Directed by: John McNaughton
15. The Boston Strangler (1968)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (9,730 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (447 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (14 reviews)
- Directed by: Richard Fleischer
14. American Psycho (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (525,565 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (304,898 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (150 reviews)
- Directed by: Mary Harron
13. Scream (1996)
Source: Courtesy of AMC Theatres
Source: Courtesy of AMC Theatres
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (301,022 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (478,893 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (75 reviews)
- Directed by: Wes Craven
12. Martin (1977)
Source: Courtesy of Libra Films
Source: Courtesy of Libra Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (10,610 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (7,256 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (30 reviews)
- Directed by: George A. Romero
11. Manhunter (1986)
Source: Courtesy of De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
Source: Courtesy of De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (69,912 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (53,362 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Mann
10. Zodiac (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (547,567 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (494,558 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (259 reviews)
- Directed by: David Fincher
9. Grindhouse (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (181,333 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (330,360 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (196 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Rodriguez, Eli Roth, Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, Rob Zombie
8. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Source: Courtesy of Bryanston Distributing
Source: Courtesy of Bryanston Distributing
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (145,895 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (202,791 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (63 reviews)
- Directed by: Tobe Hooper
7. Cape Fear (1962)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (27,788 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (17,757 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (23 reviews)
- Directed by: J. Lee Thompson
6. No Country for Old Men (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (900,943 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (399,547 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (288 reviews)
- Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
5. Halloween (1978)
Source: Courtesy of Aquarius Releasing
Source: Courtesy of Aquarius Releasing
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (244,066 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (303,558 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (73 reviews)
- Directed by: John Carpenter
4. Se7en (1995)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,517,067 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (468,879 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (82 reviews)
- Directed by: David Fincher
3. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (85,564 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (24,773 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (77 reviews)
- Directed by: Charles Laughton
2. Psycho (1960)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (630,728 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (240,418 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (104 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,332,128 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (847,443 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (104 reviews)
- Directed by: Jonathan Demme