10 Best Series About Serial Killers (Based on True Story)

If you’re looking for a deep dive into the darkest corners of human psychology, true crime series offer a unique blend of historical fact and chilling narrative.

As of 2026, these are the 10 best series about serial killers based on true stories, ranging from psychological deep-dives to intense police procedurals.

1. Mindhunter (Netflix)

Widely considered the gold standard of the genre, this David Fincher-produced series explores the early days of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit.

• Why it’s great: It focuses on the interviews rather than the gore, featuring uncanny performances from actors playing real-life monsters.

2. Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix)

This first installment of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology became a cultural phenomenon.

• Why it’s great: It shifted the focus from the killer to the systemic failures of the police and the heartbreaking lives of the victims.

3. Black Bird (Apple TV+)

A psychological thriller based on James Keene’s memoir, In with the Devil.

• Why it’s great: The tension lies in the dialogue between a convict (Taron Egerton) trying to get a confession out of a suspected serial killer in a maximum-security prison.

4. Des (ITV / AMC+)

A three-part British miniseries that is as quiet as it is unsettling.

• Why it’s great: Tennant’s portrayal of the “Muswell Hill Murderer” is terrifyingly bland and narcissistic, capturing how Nilsen hid his crimes behind a mask of normalcy.

5. The Serpent (BBC / Netflix)

Set in the 1970s, this series follows the hunt for a master manipulator and killer on Asia’s “Hippie Trail.”

• Why it’s great: The stylish, non-linear storytelling perfectly captures Sobhraj’s slippery nature and his ability to doctor passports to evade international authorities.

6. Manhunt: Unabomber (Discovery / Netflix)

This series tracks the FBI’s move toward forensic linguistics to capture an elusive domestic terrorist/serial bomber.

• Why it’s great: It’s a fascinating look at how a brilliant mind can be twisted by ideology, and the toll the investigation took on the man who caught him.

7. Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)

The latest entry in the Monster anthology (Season 3) dives into the man who inspired Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

• Why it’s great: It explores the gruesome reality of Gein’s life in Wisconsin and the specific cultural impact his crimes had on 1950s America.

8. Appropriate Adult (ITV)

A gripping two-part drama that views the case of one of Britain’s most notorious killers through the eyes of his “appropriate adult.”

• Why it’s great: It avoids sensationalism by focusing on the legal process and the psychological manipulation West attempted on those around him.

9. The Pembrokeshire Murders (ITV / BritBox)

A procedural that highlights the use of advanced DNA technology to solve decades-old cold cases.

• Why it’s great: It’s a satisfying “slow burn” that shows how a serial killer’s appearance on a TV game show (Bullseye) eventually led to his downfall.

10. Rillington Place (BBC)

A grim, atmospheric miniseries about the man who committed a series of murders in a London flat and allowed his neighbor to be executed for them.

• Why it’s great: Tim Roth’s performance is hauntingly subtle, portraying Christie as a predatory figure who manipulated both the law and his victims.