Media has long been fascinated by the figure of the serial killer, from Victorian ‘penny dreadfuls’ to modern true-crime podcasts. Fictional accounts of serial killers have been popular in cinema since early in the medium’s inception, with audiences being fascinated by the gruesome details of the crimes, the thrilling hunt for the perpetrators, and the twisted psychology of serial murderers.
1990s cinema featured numerous high-profile serial killer characters, with films likeSe7enandThe Silence of the Lambsbeing some of the decade’s most acclaimed releases. Additionally,’90s serial killer media frequently took a satirical approach to the subject, exploring the relationship between cinema and true crime through dark comedyin response to the perceived glorification of violence in late-20th-century entertainment. Spanning a range of genres, these are the best 1990s serial killer movies.
10’I Know What You Did Last Summer' (1997)
Directed by Jim Gillespie
Directed byJim Gillespieand written byKevin Williamson,I Know What You Did Last Summeris a 1997 slasher filminspired byLois Duncan’s 1973 novel. The film follows a group of young adults who accidentally hit a man with their car and dump his body rather than alerting authorities. A year later, the friends find themselves stalked and murdered one by one by a raincoat-clad serial killer with a hook weapon as revenge for their shameful actions.
The protagonist Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) is a strong final girl whose dark past comes back to haunt her through the killings. The film’s serial killer, the Fisherman (Muse Watson), is an interesting slasher villain due to his thematic resonance, representing the characters' guilt and providing brutal karmic retribution.One of the 1990s' most beloved teen horror films due to its smart screenplay and menacing villain,I Know What You Did Last Summeris a great serial killer horror film.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
9’Man Bites Dog' (1992)
Directed by Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, and Benoît Poelvoorde
Written and directed byRémy Belvaux,André BonzelandBenoît Poelvoorde,Man Bites Dogis a 1992 Belgian mockumentary film. Presented as raw footage from a documentary crew, the film follows a charismatic serial killer (Benoît Poelvoorde) as he demonstrates his daily activities, ranging from mundane interactions with his family and girlfriend to his brutal and senseless killings. As the film progresses, the documentarians become increasingly complicit in Benoît’s crimes by moving and disposing of bodies and eventually even participating actively in the assaults and murders.
Despite its at times highly graphic content,Man Bites Dognever feels gratuitous or exploitative in its violence. The film is a black comedy that presents a satirical interrogation of the media’s obsession with violence, raising the question of how responsible both fictional and “true crime” entertainment is for real-life crime sprees. Certainly not for everyone, earning a reputation for being shocking and disturbing,Man Bites Dogis an intelligent and darklyhumorous ’90s mockumentary serial killer film.
Man Bites Dog
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8’Fallen' (1998)
Directed by Gregory Hoblit
Directed byGregory Hoblit,Fallenis a 1998 supernatural crime thriller. The film follows John (Denzel Washington), a police detective, as he investigates a series of mysterious occult murders seemingly connected to a recently executed serial killer. What begins as a somewhat conventional police procedural eventually turns much more sinister and even hints toward an impending apocalypse when the villain’s true nature is revealed.
The film features strong performances from its great cast, including Denzel Washington,John Goodman,Donald Sutherland, andJames Gandolfini, which work to elevate the material even at slower points in the film.The film provides a compelling blend ofcrime thrillers and supernatural horror, heavily featuring the demon Azazel from the Hebrew Bible. Making chilling use of “Time Is on My Side: by The Rolling Stones,Fallenis one of the 90s' more unique takes on serial killer cinema.
7’Natural Born Killers' (1994)
Directed by Oliver Stone
Natural Born Killersis a 1994 crime thrillerdirected byOliver Stone. The film follows married couple Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Juliette Lewis) as they embark upon a motiveless murder spree across the US, becoming national icons in the process. The two are greatly glamorized in the media, in particular by true-crime journalist Wayne Gale (Robert Downey Jr.), who becomes fixated on securing an interview with Mickey to boost his fame.
The film was highly controversial upon release due to the juxtaposition of its graphic violence and the romance between Mickey and Mallory, with some critics believing the film to be glorifying the killings. However,this framing within the film is purposeful and deliberate, aiming to expose and critique 1990s media’s obsession with murderersthrough the characterization of the protagonists and journalist Wayne Gale. Experimental, dark, and extremely unique,Natural Born Killersis an essential ’90s serial killer movie.
Natural Born Killers
6’The Exorcist III' (1990)
Directed by William Peter Blatty
Written and directed byWilliam Peter Blatty,The Exorcist IIIis a 1990 supernatural crime-horror film. The film follows William Kinderman (George C. Scott), a police lieutenant, as he investigates a succession of gruesome and highly elaborate murders that appear to fit the M.O. of a previously executed serial killer. The situation escalates when Kinderman discovers that the spirit of the murderer, known as the Gemini Killer (Brad Dourif), has infiltrated the body of Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller) in order to continue his crime spree.
The film is a fascinating change of pace forThe Exorcistfranchise, focusing far more on the criminal investigation into the crimes than on the titular exorcism itself. Dourif gives a formidable performance as the Gemini Killer, creating a vivid picture of how evil his crimes are without the audience ever needing to see him commit them.Highly underrated, with an intelligent and unique screenplay and excellent performances all around,The Exorcist IIIis a fantastic marriage of the supernatural and serial killer horror genres.
The Exorcist III
5’Summer of Sam' (1999)
Directed by Spike Lee
Summer of Samis a 1999 crime thriller directed bySpike Leeand co-written by Lee,Michael Imperioli, andVictor Colicchio. Set in an Italian-American community in the late 1970s, the film centers on the friendship between Vinny (John Leguizamo) and Ritchie (Adrien Brody) and follows as they are pulled apart by societal tensions. The film is set against the backdrop of the Son of Sam murders, exploring the way that the crimes caused fear and paranoia in the people of New York.
The film is energetic and dark, with strong characters and dialogue. Focusing on the way that ordinary people’s lives are uprooted by serial killings and on the mistreatment experienced by people in alternative subcultures in conservative 1970s communities, the film is a highly unique take on serial killer cinema. The cast is stacked with great performers, with Brody and Leguizamo both excelling in the lead roles. One of the best ’90s serial killer movies,Summer of Samis a great ensemble piece withan excellent ’70s soundtrack.
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4’Scream' (1996)
Directed by Wes Craven
Screamis a 1996 meta-slasher film written byKevin Williamsonand directed byWes Craven. The film focuses on a group of teenagers, most notably the intelligent and grief-stricken Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), as they deal with a series of murders committed by the mysterious Ghostface killer. Forced to question the intentions of everyone around her as the killer’s identity remains unknown, Sidney is placed directly at the center of the crime spree.
Featuring one ofhorror’s greatest final girlsin Sidney Prescott,Screamredefined the slasher genre for a new generation by taking a self-aware and satirical approachto the genre’s tropes. The murders in the film, especially the tense and brutal opening sequence, are violent and often gruesome despite the film’s overall more comedic tone. One of the best horror films of the 1990s,Screamis an excellent example of 90s serial killer media’s deconstructionist approach to its subject matter.
3’Se7en' (1995)
Directed by David Fincher
Se7enis a 1995 crime thriller directed byDavid Fincher. The film centers on the hunt for a serial killer known only as John Doe (Kevin Spacey) who focuses his crimes around the seven deadly sins, setting up elaborate and horrifying crime scenes to convey his message. Doe is tracked by two police detectives, the disillusioned William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and passionate rookie David Mills (Brad Pitt), who are thrown directly into the center of the killer’s sick game.
Serial killing is absolutely central toSe7en, with the cat-and-mouse game between John Doe and the detectives forming the film’s primary tension. While the audience is only shown the aftermath of most of the crimes, the ideas presented are conceptually stomach-churning and the filmmaking gives the crime scenes a visceral and realistic atmosphere.Considered to be one of themost disturbing thrillers ever madedue to its gruesome murders,Se7enis one of Fincher’s best filmsand one of the best serial killer movies of the 1990s.
2’The Talented Mr. Ripley' (1999)
Directed by Anthony Minghella
Adapted from the 1955Patricia Highsmithnovel,The Talented Mr. Ripleyis a thriller written and directed byAnthony Minghella. Set in the 1950s, the film follows closeted con artist Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) as he becomes obsessed with Dickie (Jude Law), the man he has been paid to bring home from Italy to the US. Throughout the film, Ripley is characterized as sensitive, intelligent, and extremely quick to murder, resorting to it any time he feels his cover story may have been compromised.
The film features strong performances from the entire cast, with great supporting performances fromPhilip Seymour Hoffman,Gwyneth Paltrow, andCate Blanchettas associates of Ripley and Dickie. In contrast to other serial killer media,The Talented Mr. Ripleystands out due to the titular character’s sympathetic and likable personality in spite of his crimes, making the audience root for him despite their better judgment. Using Ripley’s status as a con man as an allegory for the experiences of closeted gay men in the 1950s, the film is an intelligent and gripping thriller with strong social themes.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
1’The Silence of the Lambs' (1991)
Directed by Jonathan Demme
The Silence of the Lambsis a 1991 psychological horror film directed byJonathan Demmeand adapted from the 1988Thomas Harrisnovel of the same name. The film follows Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), an FBI agent tasked with tracking down a sadistic serial killer called Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). to better understand the psychology of a killer, Clarice begins talking with Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a highly intelligent yet evil cannibalistic serial killer imprisoned in a secure unit.
Inspired by famous murderers likeEd GeinandTed Bundy, Buffalo Bill is a chilling antagonist brought to life by Levine’s extremely menacing performance. Additionally, Hannibal Lecter himself is one ofcinema’s greatest serial killer characters, with Hopkins bringing immense charm, gravitas, and threat to the role, dominating the film despite having overall relatively little screen time.One of the greatest films of the 1990s and the only horror film to have won the five most prestigious Academy Awards, including Best Picture,The Silence of the Lambsis an iconic pop-culture staple.
