We all know that no two human beings are entirely identical and some of us are genuinely evil. People have long been fascinated with the depraved and dark nature of human beings and this interest is exemplified by the current surge in true crime stories.
Serial killer documentaries are one of the most interesting true crime subsets. While serial killers are always among us, the term “serial killer” was introduced back in the 1970s. The documentaries on serial killers allow us to peer deep into the pure evil to reveal flaws in human nature as we as in society as a whole.
The following are some of the best serial killer documentaries that focus on some of the most notorious serial killers from different time periods. Keep in mind that these true crime documentaries are only for the iron-stomached viewers.
1. Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
The first on our list is a Joe Berlinger documentary based on one of the most notorious serial killers of all time, Ted Bundy. He alone is responsible for the death of more than 30 women. The Ted Bundy tapes feature the interviews of Ted Bundy when he was on death row.
It allows you to understand the pure evil nature of this mass murderer as the documentary presents his violent crimes and murders along with his repeated escapes from prison. It’s one of the best serial killer documentaries that help you understand other serial killers such as the Green River Killer.
- Year: 2019
- Total Episodes: 4
- IMDB Ratings: 7.8
- Starring: Ward Lucas, Kathleen McChesney, Bob Keppel, Stephen Michaud
- Director: Joe Berlinger
Watch Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes: Netflix
2. Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer
It’s yet another documentary about Ted Bundy that came after the Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. This documentary also shows the murders that this criminal mastermind committed but in a different way.
In this documentary, you’ll see the killer’s daughter, Molly Kendall, and ex-girlfriend, Elizabeth Kendall. Not only the documentary shows how it was like living with this serial killer but you’ll also hear stories from some of the Bundy’s survivors.
- Year: 2020
- Total Episodes: 5
- IMDB Ratings: 7.8
- Starring: Elizabeth Kendall, Molly Kendall, and Steve Winn
- Director: Trish Wood
Watch Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer: Amazon Prime Video
3. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer explains the true story of America’s one of the most brutal serial killers. It’s about one and only Richard Ramirez, who terrified the whole Los Angeles city for a long period of time.
He raped and killed multiple people and then he was caught by the citizens that he had terrorized for years. The Night Stalker shows the horrific crimes of Richard Ramirez from the perspective of the police, victims, and survivors.
- Year: 2021
- Total Episodes: 4
- IMDB Ratings: 7.5
- Starring: Paul Skolnick, Gil Carrillo, and Frank Salerno
- Director: Tiller Russell
Watch Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer: Netflix
4. The Confession Killer
Henry Lee Lucas is known as one of the most prolific serial killers in the whole world. However, many believe that he claimed more than the number of murders he actually committed. The Confession Killer documentary brings the question that if Henry Lee Lucas didn’t murder all those people then who did? You need to see this documentary to find the answers.
- Year: 2019
- Total Episodes: 5
- IMDB Ratings: 7.4
- Starring: Hugh Aynesworth, Bob Prince, and Nan Cuba
- Writer and Director: Robert Kenner
Watch The Confession Killer: Netflix
5. John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise
John Wayne Gacy, also known as Killer Clown, was one of the most terrifying serial killers. He used to perform at children’s events as “Pogo the Clown” or “Patches the Clown” and he killed at least 33 young men and boys.
The “John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise” documentary presents the story of this monster in detail and you’ll never see clowns the same way again after watching this documentary.
- Year: 2021
- Total Episodes: 6
- IMDB Ratings: 7.2
- Starring: Terry Sullivan, Philip Hersh, and Jay Levine
Watch John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise: Peacock TV
6. This Is the Zodiac Speaking
Zodiac Speaking is one of the most popular documentaries on serial killers compiled and directed by David Prior. It shows the unsolved and ever-famous killings of the Zodiac killer that haunted the people of Northern California for a long time.
The “This is the Zodiac Speaking” documentary examines the killings of the Zodiac killer from the perspective of the people who tried to solve his mysteries.
- Year: 2008
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 7.1
- Starring: Pierre Bidou, Russell T. Butterbach, and Les Lundblad
- Director: David Prior
Watch This Is the Zodiac Speaking: YouTube
7. Unmasking Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper is one of the most famous serial killers of all time and the most interesting thing about this monster is that he never got caught. This documentary shows all the details of this murderer and it’s meticulously filled with decent re-enactments
- Year: 2005
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 7.1
- Starring: Paul Begg, Richard Jones, and Jenny Phillips
- Director: Mark Ubsdell
Watch Unmasking Jack the Ripper: YouTube
8. Tales of the Grim Sleeper
Not much is known about the Grim Sleeper but he’s an infamous serial killer in the city of Los Angeles. The most disturbing thing about this serial killer is that he killed girls and women for over 25 years.
He was caught with the help of the DNA test and then he was brought to court. The Grim Sleeper explores everything that helped this serial killer to stay anonymous for about 2.5 decades. He was a nightmare for women and girls of South-Central Los Angeles.
The real name of this mass murderer is Lonnie David Franklin Jr but he is called Grim Sleeper because the case shows that he took a 14-year break from his monstrous activities.
- Year: 2014
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 7.0
- Starring: Nick Broomfield, Lonnie David Franklin Jr, and Donna
- Directors: Nick Broomfield, Barney Broomfield, and Marc Hoeferlin
- Writers: Nick Broomfield, Barney Broomfield, and Marc Hoeferlin
Watch The Tales of the Grim Sleeper: Amazon Prime Video
9. The Jeffrey Dahmer Files
The next serial killer true crime documentary on our list is the Jeffrey Dahmer Files. This documentary offers the original archived footage and videos in order to prove its point and this is what makes this documentary unique.
This documentary explains how Jeffery Dahmer killed 17 boys and men by disguising himself with his casual and normal lifestyle. You’ll see the true crime content along with the inside life views of this monstrous serial killer.
The details of Jeffery Dahmer are described by a lead detective (the arresting officer) and one of his neighbors. If you want to learn how the mind of a mass murderer works, this is one of the best serial killer documentaries you can watch. You’ll learn what circumstances lead a normal person to become a serial killer.
- Year: 2012
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 6.4
- Starring: Maggie Huculak, Vicki Gabereau, and Tamara Hamilton
- Director: Chris James Thompson
- Writers: Andrew Swant, Pamela Bass, and Jeffrey Jentzen
Watch The Jeffrey Dahmer Files: Amazon Prime Video
10. H.H. Holmes: America’s First Serial Killer
H.H. Holmes was not America’s first serial killer but you must not miss this serial killer documentary. It shows the heinous crimes of H.H. Holmes who is also known as “Torture Doctor. The documentary explores the murder playhouse of Holmes, known as the Chicago Murder Castle, and explains the ways of this serial killer.
H. H. Holmes: America’s First Serial Killer shows how this criminal mastermind targeted people who were attending the first Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.
- Year: 2004
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 6.3
- Starring: Tony Jay, Harold Schechter, and Thomas Cronin
- Writer and Director: John Borowski
Watch H.H. Holmes: America’s First Serial Killer: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
11. Cropsey
Have you ever wondered what if the urban legend is real? The Cropsey is a documentary made by Rachel Mills and Joshua Zeman in which an individual from Staten Island grows up with the urban legend of a cold-blooded killer.
This documentary shows how urban legend can be based on reality. It presents the case of a convicted child kidnapper, Andrew Rand, and his connection with 5 missing children.
- Year: 2009
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 6.3
- Starring: Joshua Zeman, Barbara Brancaccio, and Bill Ellis
- Writers and director: Joshua Zeman
Watch Cropsey: Amazon Prime Video
12. Bayou Blue
Bayou Blue is a 2011 serial killer documentary that presents the disturbing case of the Bayou Strangler, Ronald Dominique. He is America’s one of the most prolific serial killers who raped and killed 23 boys and men around New Orleans.
He remained uncaught for about a decade because of the nature of his heinous crimes and the destruction that Hurricane Katrina caused.
- Year: 2011
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 6.1
- Director: Alix Lambert and David McMahon
Watch Bayou Blue: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
13. Feast of the Assumption: BTK and the Otero Family Murders
In this documentary, you’ll see the story of Charlie Otero, who survived Dennis Rader, a notorious serial killer. Interestingly this serial killer used to call himself “BTK Killer”. He murdered 10 people after torturing them in Wichita, Kansas.
The police spent years to find this notorious killer and during that time he used to send newspapers with the news of his killings and letters to taunt detectives and officers.
- Year: 2010
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 6.1
- Starring: Charlie Otero, Gary J. Caldwell, and Dennis Rader
- Director: Marc Levitz
- Writers: Steve Armstrong and Marc Levitz
Watch Feast of the Assumption: BTK and the Otero Family Murders: Amazon Prime Video
14. The Pig Farm
This documentary must not be confused with the inhumane treatment of pigs. It’s a serial killer documentary that features the life of Robert Pickton who was a pig farmer from Canada. He confessed to the killing of 49 women and young girls and is known as the most prolific serial killer in Canada.
The most disturbing thing about his crimes is that he used to throw human bodies to his pig farm to feed his pigs. This Canadian serial killer was apprehended back in 2002 and this documentary will also show that he used to mix pig meat with human meat and sold that in the market.
- Year: 2011
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 6.0
- Starring: Maggie Huculak, Vicki Gabereau, and Tamara Hamilton
- Writers: Chrisine Nielsen and Christine Nielsen
Watch The Pig Farm: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
15. Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer is one of the best true crime documentaries that features a serial killer who killed seven men. This documentary shows how this psychotic woman killed seven men in cold blood in the 1980s.
However, the motives of this woman were not clear and it’s hard to figure out whether she was doing it with a sane mind or not. The trials of this serial killer show that she was suffering from declining mental health but it still doesn’t justify her actions.
- Year: 2003
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 7.1
- Starring: Terry Humphreys-Slay, Nick Broomfield, and Aileen Wuornos
- Directors: Nick Broomfield and Joan Churchill
Watch Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer: Amazon Prime Video
16. Albert Fish: In Sin He Found Salvation
The “Albert Fish: In Sin He Found Salvation” documentary presents the true and horrific story of Albert Fish. He was an elderly serial killer, sadomasochist, and cannibal who lured kids to their death in New York City during the depression era.
Distorting biblical takes, this serial killer used to take the themes of atonement, torture, pain, and suffering literally while killing his targets. He’s one of the most brutal killers of all time indulged in child abuse. The “Albert Fish: In Sin He Found Salvation” documentary will give your goosebumps.
- Year: 2007
- Total Episodes: 1
- IMDB Ratings: 5.6
- Starring: Oto Brezina, Joe Coleman, and Bob Dunsworth
- Director and Writer: John Borowski
Watch Albert Fish: In Sin He Found Salvation: Amazon Prime Video
Conclusion
All of these documentaries are chilling and they’ll show you the dark side of human nature. If you’re not a faint-hearted person and like the true crime genre, consider watching these serial killer documentaries.
