Here are the 10 best serial killer performances, ranked for their unforgettable impact.
Her desperation drives her to kill her clients for money, leading to a police investigation.
Therons portrayal of Wuornos is unforgettable.
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She physically transformed for the role, gaining weight and using makeup to match Wuornos appearance.
Her performance captures Wuornos pain and anger while showing moments of vulnerability.
Therons dedication to the role earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, makingMonstera standout in her career.
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The unsettling story offers a glimpse into the mind of a remorseless killer who sees murder as routine.
Rookers raw and unsettling portrayal helped solidifyHenry: Portrait of a Serial Killeras a landmark in the genre.
Drifter Henry teams up with fellow ex-con Otis for a series of brutal, random murders.
As they descend deeper into violence, Otis' sister Becky becomes entangled in their dark world.
Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) and her friends are terrorized as Freddy turns their nightmares into horrifying realities.
Directed byWes Craven, the film redefined horror, leaving audiences questioning what is real and what is imagined.
Robert Englunds performance as Freddy Krueger is spectacular.
Gunnar Hansen fully embodied Leatherface, creating a deeply unsettling figure with minimal dialogue but maximum impact.
A group of friends traveling through rural Texas encounter a family of deranged cannibals, including the terrifying Leatherface.
As they explore an old homestead, they are systematically hunted down in gruesome ways.
Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre) is a child murderer whose horrific crimes spread fear throughout the city.
As panic spreads, both the police and the criminal underworld launch manhunts to stop him.
This groundbreaking thriller remains a cornerstone of the crime genre andone of the best international serial-killer movies.
Lorres portrayal of Hans Beckert is unforgettable.
His unsettling mannerisms and desperate outbursts humanize the killer without excusing his monstrous acts.
As Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) hunts him down, Myers stalks his victims with relentless precision.
Nick Castles portrayal of Michael Myers is terrifying in its simplicity.
Castles silent, emotionless movements embody pure evil, making Myers a haunting presence.
Image via Greycat Films.
The killer, Jang Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik), is a sadistic predator who preys on women.
Soo-hyun embarks on a harrowing game of cat-and-mouse, inflicting psychological and physical punishments.
This chilling story blurs the line between justice and vengeance, creating an unrelenting exploration of human darkness.
Drifter Henry teams up with fellow ex-con Otis for a series of brutal, random murders. As they descend deeper into violence, Otis' sister Becky becomes entangled in their dark world. The film offers a stark, unflinching portrayal of a serial killer’s psyche and the disturbing impact on those around him.
His performance is chillingly realistic, embodying both brutality and unpredictability.
A secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.
As her disappearance sparks an investigation, shocking truths about Norman and his controlling mother unravel.
Perkins delivers a haunting performance as Norman Bates, blending unsettling charm with a certain madness.
Perkins' portrayal anchorsone of cinemas scariest scenes, with terrifying realism.
By day, Bateman navigates the cutthroat world of finance, obsessed with appearances and materialism.
Bale delivers one of his best performances, balancing charm with chilling menace.
From his obsessive morning routine to his crazy outbursts, Bale masterfully portrays Bateman’s duality.
His ability to seamlessly shift from polished to terrifying makes Bateman unforgettable.
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This is a biting, wry comedy examining the elements that make a man a monster.
With chilling precision and a hypnotic presence, Hopkins turnedLecter into one of cinemas most unforgettable villains.
Whether outsmarting the FBI or tormenting his victims, his portrayal captured Lecters genius and menace perfectly.
Hopkins' nuanced performance won him an Academy Award and created a character who redefined the genre.
Next:The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked
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A secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.
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A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer’s client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
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In New York City in 1987, a handsome, young urban professional, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), lives a second life as a gruesome serial killer by night. The cast is filled by the detective (Willem Dafoe), the fiance (Reese Witherspoon), the mistress (Samantha Mathis), the coworker (Jared Leto), and the secretary (Chloë Sevigny). This is a biting, wry comedy examining the elements that make a man a monster.
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A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.
