The release of Longlegs has had me thinking quite a bit about serial killer movies recently – and how the long lineage of horror and thriller genre pieces have kept this subgenre alive and thriving despite the recent struggles at the domestic box office.

And serial killer movies can be a rather broad term. From slashers to procedurals, it’s hard to define what a down-the-line serial killer picture is and isn’t. And there are many angles a director or screenwriter can take one of the movies: from the eyes of the killer or the eyes of the investigators.

I specifically like seeing the procedure in these movies, watching the rigorous steps it takes to solve a murder, the obsessive reluctance to let the case go, and the race against time. They culminate in the perfect genre mixture, where technical craft and style can shine while still paying homage on classic storytelling in multiple genres.

Between Longlegs and M. Night Shyamalan’s forthcoming Trap, the serial killer subgenre has seen a bit of a resurgence. A noteworthy murder-mystery would be great in a sluggish 2024, and while Longlegs won’t make this list, I’d recommend it as a unique, divergence from the classic structure of one of these movies.

I tried to refrain from listing too many slashers from the ranking down below because slashers have always been a horror subgenre of their own. I’ve paid my dues to the classics down below, without drowning this list out in the obvious slashers you’d expect (Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre aren’t represented on this list, but they certainly would be on one strictly interested in slashers).

And there are a few more honorable mentions I’d like to give a shoutout to before I list the best serial killers out, including Manhunter, Deep Red and Se7en (although David Fincher is represented quite well regardless). With that being said, here are the ten best serial killer movies of all time:

10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

9. Targets

8. Psycho

7. M

Germany had seen it’s fair share of horror-adjacent, haunting films leading up to the thirties. The country that sparked the expressionist movement in film had been responsible for silent era classics like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) and Lang’s very own Metropolis (1927), but it wasn’t until the inclusion of sound could a director like Fritz Lang truly create a harrowing atmosphere of unease and despair. When he had all of those tools at his disposal, he directed the mystery thriller M. A retrospective on M

6. Scream

Scream is an incredibly important film in horror movie history. It helped to redefine the genre and set the stage for a new wave of more violent, self-aware horror movies. The film’s impact can still be felt today, and it remains a must-watch for horror movie fans. Scream review

5. The Silence of the Lambs

4. Cure

3. The Vanishing

2. Memories of Murder

1. Zodiac

Zodiac is a timeless masterpiece that transcends the crime drama genre. David Fincher’s direction, coupled with outstanding performances from the cast, creates an immersive experience that lingers in the minds of viewers. Its intricate narrative, incredible attention to detail, and thematic depth make it not just a film of its time but a work of art that continues to find new audiences time and time again.