We know you all love a good serial killer flick. While your favorites might start as early as Psycho (1960) or are more with the recent times of Conversations with a Serial Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes or Mindhunter, we can’t ignore the classic decade of the 1990s, and all of the wickedly horrible serial killer films it had to offer.
In case you’re looking for your next binge, and the current Hollywood isn’t making enough serial killer films fast enough, we made you a list. We’d also like to argue that these films are way better than the 2000s and forward had to offer us, anyways. Here are the 10 best serial killer films of the ’90s, ranked.
The Bone Collector (1999)
The Bone Collector stars Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Lincoln Rhyme is a quadriplegic ex-police detective. However, when he hears about some serial killer abducting people and sadistically killing them, he jumps back on the job with Amelia, who is haunted by her own father’s death.
This is a pretty classic crime thriller with some pretty classic actors, and it checks off all the boxes of a serial killer film. If you’re looking for a good cop mystery flick with a lot of murder, this one’s for you.
Copycat (1995)
This movie follows a psychologist with agoraphobia and a female detective as they try and work together to take down a serial killer. The trick though, is that this killer copies the scenes and deaths from serial killers of the past, making it all the more difficult to catch him.
This copycat theme is interesting, especially for serial killer buffs who probably know a bit too much about these murderers. Nonetheless, here is a flick you’ll probably love watching.
Summer of Sam (1999)
True fans of this genre will likely be familiar with the infamous killer, “Son of Sam”, from the 1970s in New York City. Spike Lee directs this film, and gives his take of this story from the perspectives of the residents in a Bronx neighborhood, in a time of severe fear and distrust.
We know you’re a Spike Lee fan, and you know there’s going to be a whole lot of crazy twists and turns along the way. If you like the story of this infamous killer, look no further than this ’90s flick.
Nightwatch (1994)
When a law student gets a job as a nightwatchmen at the Department of Forensic Medicine, he finds himself in the spotlight of an investigation when the victims of a serial killer start to pile up.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau stars in this one (yes, that’s Jaime Lannister), and this film is directed by the mastermind behind Deliver us From Evil and The Possession. So, this one’s probably creepy, but we know you’ll enjoy it anyways.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
This film is definitely not your typical serial killer investigation flick. Rather, Matt Damon plays Tom Ripley, a young man who is sent by the father of Dickie Greenleaf, his rich son who fled off to Italy, to retrieve him and bring him back home. However, Ripley becomes close with Dickie and his girlfriend, and things take a very violent turn in a case of stolen identity and greed.
This movie also has Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Cate Blanchett, and it’s honestly an intriguing and intense movie about friendship and, well, murder. It’s a must see, especially for Matt Damon fans.
Kalifornia (1993)
This film is criminally underrated. A couple, who are journalists, go on a road trip to California while visiting serial killer murder sites along the way. However, to help pay for the trip, they post an ad at the university, and are joined by another, seemingly less fortunate and uneducated couple. What they don’t know though, is that they’re actually travelling with a serial killer.
Brad Pitt plays Early Grayce, the murderer, and his performance is outstanding. This is definitely an intense, humorous, tragic, and enthralling serial killer film that we more than recommend.
Citizen X (1995)
This biography crime drama takes place in 1980s. Soviet authorities embark on a hunt for a serial killer who targets railway stations, and leaves his victims in the woods.
This movie has Donald Sutherland, Stephen Rea, and Max von Sydow, and has an impressive 7.6/10 on IMDb. It even won a Golden Globe, so it’s definitely been noticed by critics. If you haven’t seen this classic already, we suggest you get on it for a true taste of ’90s serial killer films.
Natural Born Killers (1994)
This film will always be one of our favorites. When two individuals with traumatizing childhoods meet and become lovers, they also become psychopathic serial killers. This film is directed by Oliver Stone, who is the brilliant mind behind Platoon.
It stars Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis (you can also find Lewis in Kalifornia), who are both incredible. This film is a classic, and you can’t love the genre without loving this film. Oh yeah, it’s also written by Quentin Tarantino, so you know things will get crazy.
Se7en (1995)
We’re not sure we can get a more classic detective film than this one. This crime drama has a whopping 8.6/10 on IMDb, and stars the brilliant Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey. This movie follows a rookie and a veteran detective as they pair up to hunt down a serial killer, who bases his motives on the seven deadly sins.
This is a very dark film, and it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. However, if you love detective and serial killer films, you literally shouldn’t look any further, because this movie is amazing.
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
How could this classic not take the #1 spot on the list? Jodie Foster plays an F.B.I. cadet who enlists the help of an infamous serial killer, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), to better understand the mind of a serial killer on the loose.
This is one of three movies of ALL TIME to win Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars. So, it’s safe to say this movie is absolutely intense, brilliant, and timeless. We’d be crazy ourselves if we didn’t say this was the best serial killer flick of the decade, and maybe even of all time.
