The following article contains descriptions of graphic violence.

Some of the best serial killer TV shows on Netflix are factual documentaries or dramatic fiction. Many deal with murder mysteries, but fans seem to be particularly fixated on serial killers, their stories, and their psychology. Because of the rising interest in true crime and cold cases, series inspired by or meant to document real-life killers are popular. Each story is more fascinating than the next, and the streaming service has worked to help satiate the appetites of viewers who love the true crime genre with a wide selection of programming that fits the serial killer interest.

Viewers' intense fascination with serial killers continues, and that translates to an ever-growing list of serial killer shows. Whether it's a story about a real-life killer like the highly documented Ted Bundy, inspired by one, or a completely fictional tale, many seek out the content with fervor, sitting on the edges of their seats. Serial killer TV shows are one of the most binge-able types of shows there are, so it's no surprise that there are always new titles to make up the best serial killer TV shows on Netflix, with many fascinating options in the genre.

30 The Chestnut Man (2021)

6 Episodes

The dark and brutal Danish serial killer show The Chestnut Man is a gripping series, but one that is not for the faint of heart. The series begins in the 1980s with the murder of an entire family, then jumps decades with a new eerie murder to contend with. The show follows two detectives in Copenhagen investigating the murder of a young woman whose body was discovered with a small figurine made of chestnuts.

The show is a dark and twisting mystery that connects to the crime of the past in some shocking ways. The series highlights the grim and haunting Danish crime show trend that has found an international audience on Netflix in recent years. It carries a foreboding tone throughout while also being gruesome in its violence, to the point that it might actually be too much for even those fans seasoned in serial killer shows.

29 Marcella (2016-2021)

3 Seasons, 24 Episodes

Marcella is another excellent British crime series that is as much about the investigation into the murders as it is about the troubled detective at the center of the story. Anna Friel stars as a detective who has stepped away from the job following her husband leaving her. She comes back into the game when an unsolved serial killer case is reignited with new victims.

Friel is especially good in the main role, creating a captivating her while showing her many flaws as well.

The idea of a detective obsessively hunting a killer is a tale that has been told many times, but Marcella finds new and exciting approaches to the familiar story. Marcella dealing with her personal struggles, her violent reputation, and her inability to let go of one possible suspect all contribute to the intense and gripping police procedural. Friel is especially good in the main role, creating a captivating her while showing her many flaws as well.

28 Inside The Criminal Mind (2018)

4 Episodes

For Netflix subscribers interested in criminology or the psychology behind criminal acts at all, Inside the Criminal Mind is a pretty fascinating watch. Each episode of the series spotlights a different type of criminal whose life becomes defined by what they do: crime lords, cult leaders, serial killers, etc. Only the first episode of the series highlights serial killers, so audience don’t have to watch further if that’s all they’re interested in. It’s a broader examination of serial killers compared to some of the more detailed series on Netflix.

The documentary series was originally produced in and released there before Netflix picked it up worldwide. What makes this a unique experience for true crime fans is that it really doesn't feature specific killers in each episode. Instead, each episode focuses on a specific kind of crime and has a laundry list of criminals that it uses to reveal these topics. Fascinating episodes include a look at people "born to kill" and a view of the people who are in prison on life sentences.

27 The Playing Card Killer (2023)

3 Episodes

In 2003, a playing card left at a crime scene connected a string of murders across Spain, and the country was left in terror. The Netflix true-crime documentary The Playing Card Killer recounts the investigation of the crimes and includes interviews with journalists, police officers, investigators, and forensic psychiatrists to paint a full picture of the crimes and the search for the killer. The real-life story behind this chilling serial killer series on Netflix is that of Alfredo Galán, who actually turned himself in on July 3, 2003.

What makes this case so intriguing is that it wasn't over after Galán confessed.

What makes this case so intriguing is that it wasn't over after Galán confessed. The country remained embroiled in this tale of terror because no one knew his motivations, and this Netflix series seeks to figure out why he killed the six people during his murder spree. The downside to this three-part docies is that the information is thrown at the viewer at a very fast pace, making it hard to digest the huge volume. However, it’s still incredibly informative and offers many different points of view.

26 The Serpent (2021)

8 Episodes

A t production between Netflix and BBCOne, The Serpent is inspired by real events but is a fictional of the French serial killer Charles Sobhraj. Sobhraj murdered tourists in Thailand, particularly backpackers, in the 1970s. The eight-part miniseries chronicles the escalation of Sobhraj’s crimes from thieves and scam artists to serial murderer. It is also told in a nonlinear fashion with the audience seeing his crimes play out in the 1970s while also seeing an investigation taking place after the fact.

Though the pacing of the series is a little slow, it’s still one of the best serial killer shows on Netflix because of the stellar acting from Tahar Rahim in the leading role and Jenna Coleman as his accomplice. This series received mostly positive reviews, sitting at 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and Netflix picked it up for streaming in 2021.

25 Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (2021)

3 Episodes

There are multiple series on Netflix that fall under the “Crime Scene” umbrella. 2021's Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer highlights the killings that plagued Times Square in the 1970s. Specifically, the documentary series kicks off by explaining the finding of bodies in a motel room in Times Square in December 1979 and then unravels the circumstances behind the discovery, as well as the aftermath.

Those who participated in club events or worked the Square give their unique perspectives on what it was like when the deaths of sex workers at the hands of a potential serial killer became public knowledge.

The Crime Scene series stands out among true-crime shows that focus on serial killer investigations because they examine how a location and culture can actually help the perpetrators to hide their actions. Few documentaries take the same approach. There was a booming sex industry in Times Square in the 1970s, and those who participated in club events or worked the Square give their unique perspectives on what it was like when the deaths of sex workers at the hands of a potential serial killer became public knowledge.

24 Indian Predator: The Diary Of A Serial Killer (2022)

3 Episodes

While most serial killer documentaries focus on those in Europe or the United States, and the majority also investigate the same handful of serial killers, Indian Predator: The Diary Of A Serial Killer stands out both due to its location and subject — a modern-day killer in India. The documentary is framed around the disappearance of Dhirendra Singh, a journalist in India. The journalist’s death is the jumping-off point for the story of Raja Kolander, who is responsible for the deaths of at least 15 people and is suspected of cannibalism.

Where this Netflix serial killer show is unique is that it features an interview with Kolander himself. It remains incredibly rare to have a true-crime series speaking to the serial killer, although there are many series where common criminals will explain their side of the story. This different perspective helps to make this specific serial killer series on Netflix a darker look at the crimes, because it takes viewers inside the mind of a very dangerous and deadly man, and forces viewers to see things from his point of view.

23 Somebody (2022)

8 Episodes

Somebody is a fictional South Korean drama series that examines the possibility of a serial killer using modern technology to find his victims. In the series, a killer uses a social app to find his victims and ends up connecting with the app developer. The creator of the app just happens to be friends with a police detective investigating the case. A lot of modern crime stories have devoted at least one episode to how social media can play a role in criminal activity.

Somebody goes a step further by devoting the entire series to that idea, allowing it to be a much more detailed (though theoretical) approach to how technology can assist serial killers. This comes across as a series dedicated to the ideas that Black Mirror presented, as it shows the dangers of technology and the idea that someone can use information that people leave freely online to seek them out and kill them. While Somebody is a fictional South Korean drama, it is still a solid look at a very dangerous situation that could happen to anyone in the real world.

22 Slasher (2016- )

8 Episodes Per Season

The Netflix anthology series Slasher centers on a different story each season. While it originally premiered on Chiller, the first three seasons are available on Netflix, with the fourth available on Shudder. By allowing each season to focus on a different story it manages to cover many more bases than most serial killer shows on Netflix.

Each season takes the stereotypical setting and tropes of a slasher movie and brings a fresh story to it. The first is a small town with copycat killings from the main character’s past. The second is former camp counselors picked off after hiding a secret death. Season 3 features a killer taking revenge on those complicit in the death of a man the year before. Each season is an extended horror movie with a different kind of slasher serial killer.

21 Conversations With A Killer: Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes (2022)

3 Episodes

The Conversations With A Killer series, like the Crime Scene series, seeks to offer those interested in some of the most famous serial killer cases another look at historical cases they are already familiar with. The catch is that the series all use previously unreleased to the public audio files of interviews with the killers. Of course, the series doesn’t solely use audio files from Jeffrey Dahmer. It also features interviews with family of victims and investigators, giving a complete picture of the cases.

Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes goes deeper into the frightening mind of Dahmer than any other movie or documentary about the controversial figure.

This is a three-part series that goes through the arrest and confession and breaks down why this specific serial killer was not only one of the most infamous but one of the scariest in the nation's history. Joe Berlinger, who also made the Conversation installments about Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy, leaves no stone unturned and Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes goes deeper into the frightening mind of Dahmer than any other movie or documentary about the controversial figure.