Ever find yourself watching a true crime doc at 2 a.m. and ignoring Netflix‘s “Still Watching?” pop-up to watch “just one more episode”? Well, you’re not alone. The grip serial killer documentaries have on viewers is undeniable. The way they unravel the twisted minds behind the most shocking crimes, the slow drip of revelations, and the realization that these stories, however strange, are not fiction. They are real.
Serial killer docs tap into our collective curiosity about what happened, and why. What is it that makes someone cross the line? Is it nature, nurture, or something darker? These documentaries and docuseries explore the psychology of killers, the effect on victims’ families, and the blind spots in society. And when done right, these stories leave us with more questions than answers. Netflix, of course, has become the go-to hub for this genre because the platform has mastered the art of turning real-life horror into bingeworthy content.
Whether you’re drawn to unsolved mysteries or the haunting aftermath of delayed justice, here are the 10 best serial killer docs on Netflix that will keep you hooked and horrified at the same time.
10
‘Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes’ (2021)
Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes is a chilling British documentary by director Michael Harte, who hands the mic to one of the UK’s most notorious serial killers, Dennis Nilsen. Through a series of first-person audiotapes recorded from his prison cell, Nilsen recounts his life and crimes with a calm that is unnerving.
A Killer’s Unfiltered Voice
The film traces his five-year killing spree in 1980s London, where he lured young men to his flat, murdered them, and then hit their bodies under floorboards and in cupboards. It features interviews with journalists, detectives, and surviving family members, with Nilsen’s own voice blending with bleak recreations of Thatcher-era Britain. It does not glorify Nelson. Instead, it exposes his contradictions and manipulations.
9
‘The Ripper’ (2020)
Set against the backdrop of 1970s northern England, The Ripper dives into the five-year reign of terror unleashed by Peter Sutcliffe, later dubbed the Yorkshire Ripper. It is a four-part docuseries directed by Jesse Vile and Ellena Wood, and it reconstructs the timeline of 13 brutal murders and the botched investigation that allowed Sutcliffe to evade capture for years, along with layers of police missteps, media frenzy, and public panic.
Misogyny and Media Frenzy
The Ripper is one of the most compelling serial killer docuseries on Netflix because it doesn’t just depict the horror of the crimes, but also the systematic breakdown that let them happen. It critiques the police’s narrow focus on sex workers, which delayed justice and allowed the Yorkshire Ripper to continue killing. The tight and purposeful direction, the cultural and political climate, and the scenes of protest are sobering and thoughtful.
8
‘Catching Killers’ (2021)
Rather than spotlighting the killers, this one flips the camera to the investigators who hunted them down. Across three seasons, Catching Killers traces infamous cases like the Green River Killer, Aileen Wuornos, the Happy Face Killer, BTK, and the DC Sniper. But each episode dives into the emotional toll and procedural complexity of solving these crimes, with detectives recounting decades of frustration.
Fascinating Look at the Pursuit of Justice
The opening episode, “Body Count,” is about tracking Gary Ridgway, a serial killer with a staggering number of victims across Seattle. From there, each episode becomes a case study in forensic evolution and persistence, with interviews revealing how the cases affected the personal lives of detectives and prosecutors alike. The show’s editors, Richard Granberry and Wesley Poole, choose not to sacrifice depth with the use of firsthand accounts, and it works.
7
‘The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness’ (2021)
The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness, directed by Joshua Zeman, is less about the infamous Son of Sam murders and more about the man who could not let them go. Journalist Maury Terry believed that David Berkowitz didn’t act alone in the 1976 – 1977 killing spree in New York City. Through archival footage, interviews, and Paul Giamatti’s narration as Terry, the series follows his decades-long obsession with proving that Berkowitz was part of a satanic cult.
Cult Conspiracies and Obsession
The Sons of Sam has a dual narrative. One about a killer, and one about a man consumed by the need to expose a larger evil. Zeman’s perspective is controlled yet evocative, and it lets Terry’s passion speak for itself. The Netflix series does not confirm Terry’s theories, but it doesn’t dismiss them either, leaving viewers and fans of conspiracy-laced true crime in a liminal space of doubt and intrigue.
6
‘Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes’ (2022)
A chilling three-part installment of Joe Berlinger’s Conversations with a Killer series, this one gives viewers access to the mind of Jeffrey Dahmer through archival audio recorded during his incarceration. It opens with Dahmer’s 1991 arrest and slowly presents his horrific crimes, which include 17 murders committed between 1978 and 1991, through his own words. From luring victims from Milwaukee’s gay bars to the legal and psychological aftermath, the series covers it all.
The Psyche of the Milwaukee Cannibal
Berlinger’s approach is stark and journalistic. He avoids dramatization of events and lets Dahmer’s voice, paired with interviews from attorneys, journalists, and police, to paint a disturbingly intimate portrait of a man who stays calm and clinical during all recollections. Released shortly after Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, the series benefited from our collective curiosity about the case and made it a must-watch.
5
‘Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer’ (2021)
Tiller Russell and James Carroll’s four-part docuseries is a gripping and harrowing exploration of the killing spree of Richard Ramirez, a middle-aged sadistic killer who left behind a trail of murder, assault, and fear across Southern California from 1984 to 1985. It follows detectives Gil Carrillo and Frank Salerno as they race against time to connect random crimes committed by a man with no consistent pattern.
True Crime With a Dose of Adrenaline
The episodes build tension through real-time accounts and survivor testimonies, ending in a finale where Ramirez is finally captured by a group of civilians who recognize him from a newspaper photo. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer has a distinct cinematic intensity and noir aesthetic, but at the same time, it also sheds light on Ramirez’s childhood, how he grew up with an alcoholic father and an older brother, who was also a serial killer.
4
‘The Confession Killer’ (2019)
Five episodes long, The Confession Killer unravels the bizarre saga of Henry Lee Lucas, a drifter who confessed to over 200 murders across the U.S. in the 1980s. The series kicks off with Lucas’s arrest and spirals into a media circus as officials, desperate to close cold cases, accept his confessions without further question. But cracks begin to show. Lucas’s timelines don’t add up, and families of victims start investigating on their own. It is later revealed that he was lying about all but 11 murders.
A Hoax That Shook the System
The documentary is all about revealing how DNA testing and investigative journalism dismantled the myth of America’s most prolific serial killer. It focuses on Lucas, but also on institutional failure and how the law enforcement agencies let him become a convenient scapegoat. The Confession Killer earned a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and praise for its precision. Do watch it if you’re interested in how truth can be twisted.
3
‘Capturing the Killer Nurse’ (2022)
Directed by Tim Travers Hawkins, Capturing the Killer Nurse offers a glimpse into the story of Charles Cullen, a seemingly mild-mannered ICU nurse who confesses to killing dozens of patients across nine hospitals over the span of 16 years. Based on Charles Graeber’s book The Good Nurse, the documentary opens with Cullen’s work history, and then it dives into the silence and corporate negligence that allows him to keep moving from one hospital to another.
Systematic Failure and Real-Life Heroism
Netflix’s documentary is more than just a straightforward true crime narrative. While it looks at the societal and institutional factors that may have enabled Cullen’s horrific crimes to go undetected for so long, it also makes Amy Loughren, a fellow nurse and close friend, the emotional core of the film, as she’s the one who ultimately helps the investigators bring Cullen down. Also, a chilling aspect is how relaxed Cullen is when he’s admitting to the murders.
2
‘Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes’ (2019)
Released on the 30th anniversary of Bundy’s execution, Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes is a four-episode docuseries that offers a rare and unfiltered glimpse into the mind of one of America’s most infamous serial killers. Using over 100 hours of death row interviews recorded by journalists Stephen Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth, it lets Bundy narrate his childhood, his crimes, and his delusions.
Seminal Work in the Genre
Through a clever blend of expert interviews, first-hand accounts, and statements from law enforcement officials, the series paints a portrait of a man who weaponized his charm and manipulated everyone around him. Joe Berlinger’s direction is restrained, but it also presents Bundy as a man who insisted he was innocent while describing his crimes in detail. One standout moment is Bundy’s taped confession, where he speaks in third person, which is a tactic that underscores his detachment.
1
‘Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer’ (2025)
Directed by Liz Garbus, Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer is a three-part docuseries on Netflix. It revisits the Gilgo Beach murders through the eyes of the victims and their families. It begins in 2010 with the disappearance of Shannan Gilbert, whose 911 call and subsequent vanishing led police to uncover 11 sets of human remains along Ocean Parkway.
Justice Long Delayed
The first episode features interviews with loved ones, journalists like Jaclyn Gallucci and Robert Kolker, and law enforcement officials. Episode 2 dives into the corruption scandal that plagued Suffolk County police, while the final episode reveals how a long-ignored tip finally led to an arrest in 2023. Garbus, who previously directed Lost Girls, brings an empathetic lens to the voices of women who are dismissed due to their work in the sex trade and sparks renewed interest in the Gilgo Beach case, especially after the real-life arrest of Rex Heuermann.
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