Netflix offers a compelling selection of serial killer TV shows that explore the dark, psychological depths of some of the most infamous criminals, fictional and real. From chilling dramas to gripping thrillers, here are the 10 best serial killer TV shows on Netflix right now:
Mindhunter
- Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
- Synopsis: This series delves into the early days of criminal psychology and criminal profiling at the FBI. Set in the late 1970s, FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, along with psychologist Wendy Carr, interview imprisoned serial killers to understand how they think, with the aim of applying this knowledge to ongoing cases.
Dexter
- Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery
- Synopsis: Dexter Morgan leads a double life as a forensic technician for the Miami Metro Police Department and a vigilante serial killer. By day, he solves crimes, but by night, he takes the law into his own hands, targeting other criminals who have slipped through the cracks of the justice system.
Hannibal
- Genre: Crime/Drama/Horror
- Synopsis: This psychological thriller revolves around the relationship between FBI special investigator Will Graham and Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a forensic psychiatrist destined to become Graham’s most cunning enemy. As Graham hunts down brutal serial killers, he seeks Lecter’s help, unaware that he is consulting with one of the most dangerous killers of all.
The Sinner
- Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery
- Synopsis: Each season of this anthology series follows Detective Harry Ambrose as he investigates chilling, unusual crimes and tries to uncover the motives behind them. The show delves deep into the psyche of the perpetrators and the intricate circumstances surrounding their crimes.
You
- Genre: Crime/Drama/Romance
- Synopsis: This thriller follows Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager who becomes obsessed with the women he dates. Using the internet and social media, Joe meticulously plans and executes his pursuit, which often turns deadly as he removes any obstacles to his twisted notion of love.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer
- Genre: Documentary/Crime
- Synopsis: This true-crime documentary series details the harrowing pursuit of Richard Ramirez, the notorious “Night Stalker” who terrorized Los Angeles in the mid-1980s. It combines firsthand interviews, archival footage, and reenactments to tell the story of how the detectives caught one of America’s most feared serial killers.
Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
- Genre: Documentary/Crime
- Synopsis: Featuring never-before-heard interviews with Ted Bundy on death row, this documentary series explores the psyche of one of America’s most notorious serial killers. It provides chilling insights into Bundy’s life, crimes, and the investigation that eventually led to his capture.
The Alienist
- Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery
- Synopsis: Set in 1896 New York City, this period drama follows Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a pioneering criminal psychologist, as he teams up with newspaper illustrator John Moore and police detective Sara Howard to investigate a series of gruesome murders of boy prostitutes.
Criminal: Spain
- Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
- Synopsis: This gripping police procedural focuses on intense interrogation scenes set within the confines of a police interview room. Each episode follows detectives as they try to extract confessions and uncover the truth behind heinous crimes.
Marcella
- Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery
- Synopsis: Marcella Backland, a former London detective, returns to the force to investigate a series of unsolved murders while grappling with her own personal demons. As she delves