As the streamer corners the market on murder content, here are the serious series worth your time.

The 13 best serial killer shows streaming on Netflix

As the streamer corners the market on murder content, here are the serious series worth your time.

By Declan Gallagher

and Kevin Jacobsen

on February 4, 2026 8:26 a.m. ET

Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford on 'Mindhunter'; Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg on 'You'; Richard Ramirez in 'Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer'. Credit:

Patrick Harbron/Netflix; Netflix (2)

For some reason, we feel an inextricable pull to understand the impulses of dangerous people, and Netflix has profiled just about every shade of serial killer content you could imagine. But how do you weed out the notable installments from the bunk?

EW has compiled a must-watch list of Netflix serial killer shows, including gripping documentaries and a handful of well-articulated narratives. Here are the 13 best streaming options.

The Chestnut Man (2021–present)

Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Mark Hess and Danica Ćurčič as Naia Thulin on 'The Chestnut Man'.

Nikolaj Thaning Rentzmann/Netflix

In the great tradition of nihilistic Danish mystery novels comes this delightfully spooky, occasionally transcendent twist on the successful formula. A woman is found brutally murdered on a playground with a bizarre totem constructed of chestnuts left next to her body. Solving the case, which is almost immediately tied to the missing child of a prominent politician, falls to detective Naia Thulin (Danica Ćurčič) and her partner, Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard). Cue ruminative looks from rain-dotted windows and some properly toe-curling violence. *—Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *The Chestnut Man*: Netflix

**Cast:** Danica Ćurčič, David Dencik, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Iben Dorner

The Confession Killer (2019)

Joyce Lemons (mother of victim Debbie Sue Williamson, in photograph) in 'The Confession Killer'.

Netflix/Courtesy Everett

One of Netflix's twistiest serial killer shows is this fascinating (though exhausting) five-part docuseries about Henry Lee Lucas, who confessed to hundreds of murders that he may or may not have committed. Lucas was tied to few or none of the crimes through physical evidence but was able to parrot sufficient details of the attacks to convince investigators and victims' families that he was to blame. At times you may worry *The Confession Killer* is attempting to exonerate Lucas or make him into some sort of folk victim, but, in fact, the show turns the mirror rather successfully on the audience. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Confession Killer*: Netflix

Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (2021)

Richard Cottingham (left, with head down), a.k.a. the Torso Killer in 'Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer'.

Joe Berlinger has made a career out of Netflix serial killer content, having helmed both *The Ted Bundy Tapes* and *Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile* (2019), the narrative twist on Bundy's crimes. *The Times Square Killer*, the second installment in the *Crime Scene* documentary series, finds Berlinger telling the story of New York City's "Torso Killer," who carved a bloody swatch across midtown Manhattan in the 1970s.

There's a satisfying balance struck here between the facts of a little-known murder spree and respectful portraits of the victims, many of whom came from underserved communities and were only discovered to be missing when their family members took charge of the investigation. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer*: Netflix

Dirty John (2018–2020)

Eric Bana as John Meehan and Connie Britton as Debra Newell in season 1 of 'Dirty John'. Jordin Althaus/Bravo

This positively gripping anthology series based its first season (the only one worth your time) on the Wondery podcast of the same name. Connie Britton stars as a successful designer who falls for John Meehan (Eric Bana), a man who claims to be a doctor but harbors dark secrets. What follows is compulsively watchable television, with nice twists on the genre's typical trappings that keep viewers on their toes despite its nominally based-on-true-events status. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Dirty John*: Netflix

**Cast: **Connie Britton, Eric Bana, Juno Temple, Julia Garner

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (2025)

Shannan Gilbert in 'Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer'.

Courtesy of Netflix

This three-part documentary series is a satisfying deep dive for those familiar with the Long Island Serial Killer case and those learning about it for the first time. Directed by Liz Garbus, *Gone Girls* centers on the Gilgo Four, a group of four women whose bodies were found on Gilgo Beach, contextualizing their lives with a grace and sensitivity not often seen in other true-crime series. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer*: Netflix

A Killer Paradox (2024)

Choi Woo-shik as Lee Tang and Lee Hee-jun as Song Chon in 'A Killer Paradox'.

Song Kyoung Sub/Netflix

This surprisingly white-knuckle South Korean thriller, based on an animated web series, follows Lee Tang (Choi Woo-shik), a convenience store worker who accidentally murders a serial killer in a holdup gone wrong. As a hard-nosed detective (Son Suk-ku) continues his search for the deceased slasher, Tang finds he has quite a knack for knocking off bad guys.

While the plot never truly acquits itself of comparisons to *Dexter* and *I Saw the Devil*, it's still a well-constructed, devious little thriller that benefits from sharp writing and a willingness to wade into tricky territory. It's the sort of show you could see really beginning to fly in its second season, if it's allowed one. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *A Killer Paradox*: Netflix

**Cast:** Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku, Lee Hee-joon, Hyun Bong-sik

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Mindhunter (2017–2019)

Holt McCallany as Bill Tench and Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford on 'Mindhunter'.

Patrick Harbron/Netflix

David Fincher's eerily credible procedural follows FBI agents Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) and Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), who develop the modern method of profiling serial killers by conducting interviews with some of the most fearsome criminals in the annals of history, including Charles Manson (Damon Herriman) and Dennis Rader (Sonny Valicenti). *Mindhunter* is, in many ways, the perfect distillation of Fincher's detailed approach to cinema and his fixation on the minds of murderers. It plays as a welcome follow-up to his 2007 masterpiece, *Zodiac*, while offering its own singular approach to the genre. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Mindhunter*: Netflix

**Cast:** Holt McCallany, Jonathan Groff, Anna Torv, Cameron Britton, Hannah Gross

Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)

Richard Ramirez (left) in ‘Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer’.

This straightforward, horrifying docuseries gives an admirable just-the-facts recitation of Richard Ramirez, surely one of the most fearsome serial killers in history. It's one of Netflix's most blunt offerings, and there's little enhancement or drama here, as it's entirely unneeded, as Ramirez's crimes read like a depraved horror novel. His more or less accidental ability to elude police (until he couldn't) was so incredible that, if not for the fact that it actually happened, it would defy credulity. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer*: Netflix

The Ripper (2020)

Peter Sutcliffe in ‘The Ripper’.

Looking across the Atlantic, this four-part docuseries examines the crimes of Peter Sutcliffe, a.k.a. "The Yorkshire Ripper," who murdered 13 women between 1975 and 1980 in England. It's an exhaustive, well-told account of Sutcliffe's terror reign, which isn't particularly well-known Stateside. This series also thoughtfully examines how the police response might've been different if his victims were men. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Ripper*: Netflix

The Sinner (2017–2021)

Jessica Biel as as Cora Tannetti on 'The Sinner'. Brownie Harris/USA

*The Sinner* is another reliable anthology thriller, with the first stellar season based on German mystery novelist Petra Hammesfahr's novel about homicide detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman). All four seasons concern Ambrose as he attempts to solve murders that are more complicated than they initially appear, and each is nicely old-fashioned, with Pullman making for a grounding guide through all this mayhem.

As the series goes on, it adopts the pleasantly antiquated feel of something like *Prime Suspect*, where we follow a single detective on an understated journey without the noise of multiple side characters or killing-of-the-week distractions. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Sinner*: Netflix

**Cast: **Bill Pullman, Jessica Biel, Christopher Abbott, Carrie Coon, Tracy Letts

Slasher (2016–2023)

Eric McCormack as Basil Garvey and Thom Allison as Georges in season 5 of 'Slasher'.

Cole Burston/Shudder

As with any slasher series — or, in this case, anthology — some installments are better than others. Across its five seasons (three are on Netflix), *Slasher* has covered tried-and-true genre territory and delved (at times less successfully) into more experimental fare. Season 1, one of the best, follows a series of vicious present-day copycat murders after an '80s Halloween massacre. Then there's season 3, which feels like one of those particularly cruel straight-to-video cheapies.

*Slasher* is more straight-faced and restrained than the similarly structured* **American Horror Story**,* calling back to the genre's heyday with a bit more realism and genuine reverence. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Slasher*: Netflix

**Cast:** Paula Brancati, Christopher Jacot, Katie McGrath, Brandon Jay McLaren, David Cronenberg

The Watcher (2022–present)

Naomi Watts as Nora Brannock and Bobby Cannavale as Dean Brannock on 'The Watcher'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Of course, being a Ryan Murphy creation, this fictionalized account of a bizarre case in upstate New York is one very full sink. It stars Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale as a testy married couple battling with independent kids, a whacked-out realtor (Jennifer Coolidge), nosy neighbors (Mia Farrow), and spooky notes from someone who really, really wants them to leave their new estate.

One of the joys of a Murphy production is watching all of the spinning plates and wondering which will topple first, but this one actually keeps most of them airborne throughout the season finale. No one does the blend of crime and soap quite like Murphy, and his ability to goad some of our generation's best actors into increasingly wide-eyed theatrics remains unparalleled. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Watcher*: Netflix

**Cast: **Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Isabel Gravitt, Mia Farrow, Jennifer Coolidge

You (2018–2025)

Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg on 'You'. Netflix

A blessedly perverse spin on both CW shows and classic psycho-thrillers, *You* confidently and effortlessly reinvents itself throughout four seasons (with a fifth/final one on the way). It follows bookstore employee and serial killer Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), who develops an obsession with Guinevere (Elizabeth Lail) and wiggles his way into her friend group.

*You* is wonderfully knowing and often surprising, never content to milk one narrative thread for too long. As the later seasons segue into a sort of twisted serial killer version of *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*, the show finds its satirical feet. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *You*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Cast: **Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Jenna Ortega, Victoria Pedretti, Dylan Arnold

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