Who are the best fictional serial killers of all time? These are serial killers featured in television shows and on film. To be clear, there is a difference between a serial killer and a mass murderer. A serial killer is one who kills individually, stalking a victim and murdering them in cold blood.
(See also The 100 Best Serial Killer Movies)
(See also Top 35 Books About Serial Killers)
35. Mr. Earl Brooks
Film: "Mr. Brooks" (2007)
Portrayed by: Kevin Costner
Earl
Brooks (Kevin Costner) is a wealthy, successful businessman recently
honored by the Portland, Oregon Chamber of Commerce as "Man of the
Year". However, Brooks lives a secret life as a serial murderer, known
as the "Thumbprint Killer".
34. Billy Bickle
Film: "Seven Psychopaths" (2012)
Portrayed by: Sam Rockwell
The murderer who kills people and leaves a Jack of Diamonds playing card at the scene of the crime.
33. Slender Man
Slender
Man is a fictional urban legend or horror story that was first created
on an internet forum in 2009. Slender Man (also spelled Slenderman or
Slendy) actually started off as a photo manipulation, by a Something
Awful forum user named Victor Surge. The creature known as Slender Man
has no face, no hair, is very, very thin and wears a dark suit. Several
independent films about the Slender Man have been released or are in
development.
32. Early Grayce
Film: "Kalifornia" (1993)
Portrayed by: Brad Pitt
Early Grayce is a fictional serial killer from the 1993 film "Kalifornia".
31. Joe Carroll
Film: "The Following" (2013)
Portrayed by: James Purefoy
Professor
Joseph "Joe" Carroll is the Main Antagonist of The Following. Joe is a
diabolical serial killer responsible for the Virginia Campus Murders
which claimed the lives of 14 women and later created a cult of serial
killers known as The Followers.
30. Benjamin Linus
Film: "Lost" (2004), "Lost: Missing Pieces" (2007)
Portrayed by: Michael Emerson
Benjamin
"Ben" Linus is a fictional character portrayed by Michael Emerson on
the ABC television series Lost. Ben was the leader of a group of island
natives called the Others and was initially known as Henry Gale to the
survivors of Oceanic Flight 815.
29. Bloody Face
Film: "American Horror Story: Asylum" (2012)
Bloody
Face is a serial killer identity that began a reign of terror in the
early '60s. It is a supporting character in Asylum. The original Bloody
Face (Zombie) was eventually discovered to be Dr Oliver Thredson. After
his death, his illegitimate son Johnny Morgan took up the mantle.
However, in addition to the true killers, additional individuals have
posed as Bloody Face by 2013.
28. Brian Moser
Film: "Dexter" (2006)
Portrayed by: Christian Camargo
Brian
Moser (also known under the pseudonym Rudy Cooper) was a Character in
DEXTER. He was a serial killer and at that, the first major one (aside
from Dexter) introduced into the series, with his total body count
mounting somewhere in the 20's and 30's, maybe more.
27. Henry Lee Lucas
Film: "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" (1990)
Portrayed by: Michael Rooker
Henry
is the central antagonist (and main character) of the highly
controversial horror-film Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer, although
he was based loosely on a real life serial killer known as Henry Lee
Lucas most of the events in the movie are either fictional or heavily
altered.
26. Tom Ripley
Film: "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999)
Portrayed by: Matt Damon
Thomas "Tom" Ripley is a fictional character in a series of crime novels by Patricia Highsmith, as well as several film adaptations. The series of five novels based on Ripley's exploits is commonly dubbed "the Ripliad."
Thomas "Tom" Ripley is a fictional character in a series of crime novels by Patricia Highsmith, as well as several film adaptations. The series of five novels based on Ripley's exploits is commonly dubbed "the Ripliad."
25. The Joker
The
Joker is a fictional supervillain who appears in American comic books
published by DC Comics. The character was created by Jerry Robinson,
Bill Finger, and Bob Kane, and first appeared in Batman #1 (April 25,
1940).
24. Francis Dolarhyde
Film: "Red Dragon" (2002)
Portrayed by: Ralph Fiennes
Francis
Dolarhyde is a fictional character in the 2002 film Red Dragon.
Dolarhyde is a serial killer who murders entire families. He is
nicknamed "The Tooth Fairy" due to his tendency to bite his victims'
bodies, the uncommon size and sharpness of his teeth and other apparent
oral fixations. He refers to his other self as "The Great Red Dragon"
after William Blake's painting The Great Red Dragon and the Woman
Clothed with the Sun. Dolarhyde is diagnosable with Schizoid personality
disorder with strong antisocial and narcissistic features.
Francis Dolarhyde is a fictional character and the primary antagonist of Thomas Harris 1981 novel Red Dragon.
23. Samara Morgan (Sadako Yamamura)
Film: "The Ring" (1991)
Sadako
Yamamura (Samara Morgan in the American films The Ring) is the central
character and antagonist of Koji Suzuki's Ring Trilogy novels, along
with the numerous film and television adaptations of the books. Her name
combines the Japanese words for "chaste" (sada) and "child" (ko).
Sadako's fictional history alternates between continuities, but all
involve her possessing supernatural abilities that cause a number of
unfortunate events for her, leading to Sadako being thrown down and
imprisoned in a well. She uses her powers of nensha to create a cursed
video tape that will kill whoever watches it within a week of viewing
unless copied and shown to another person, who then must do the same.
22. Sylar
Film: "Heroes" (2006)
Portrayed by: Zachary Quinto
Gabriel
Gray, more commonly known by his pseudonym Sylar, is a fictional
character and a primary antagonist of the NBC drama Heroes. Portrayed by
Zachary Quinto, he is a superpowered serial killer who targets other
superhumans in order to steal their powers.
21. Arthur Mitchell
Film: "Dexter" (2006)
Portrayed by: John Lithgow
Arthur
Mitchell, often referred to as the "Trinity Killer", is a fictional
character in the Showtime TV series Dexter. The character is portrayed
by John Lithgow, who won a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award
for his performance. He is the main antagonist in season four.
20. Ghostface
Film: "Scream" (1996)
Ghostface
is a fictional identity adopted by the primary antagonists of the
Scream series. The character is voiced by Roger L. Jackson regardless of
who is behind the mask. The character first appeared in Scream (1996)
as a disguise used by teenagers Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu
Macher (Matthew Lillard), during their killing spree in the fictional
town of Woodsboro.
19. Chucky
Film: "Child's Play" (1988)
Charles
Lee Ray (also known as "The Lakeshore Strangler", and nicknamed
"Chucky") is a fictional character, although he was modeled after the
true life story of Robert the Doll, and the titular antagonist of the
Child's Play series. Chucky is portrayed as a notorious serial killer
whose spirit inhabits a Good Guy doll and continuously tries to transfer
his soul from the doll to a human body. The character has become one of
the most recognizable horror icons, often mentioned alongside Freddy
Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Ghostface and Michael Myers, and has been
referenced numerous times in pop culture.
18. Mallory Knox
Film: "Natural Born Killers" (1994)
Portrayed by: Juliette Lewis
Mallory
Knox is a fictional character from the 1994 film Natural Born Killers.
The film tells the story of two victims of traumatic childhoods who
became lovers and mass murderers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the
mass media.
17. Candyman
Film: "Candyman" (1992)
Portrayed by: Tony Todd
The
Candyman, a murderous soul with a hook for a hand, is accidentally
summoned to reality by a skeptic grad student researching the monster's
myth.
The character
Candyman came in at number 8 on Bloody Disgusting's "The Top 13 Slashers
in Horror Movie History" and ranked the same on Ugo's "Top Eleven
Slashers". The actor who played Candyman, Tony Todd, made #53 on
Retrocrush's "The 100 Greatest Horror Movie Performances" for his role.
16. Catherine Tramell
Film: "Basic Instinct" (1992), "Basic Instinct 2" (2006)
Portrayed by: Sharon Stone
Catherine
Tramell is a fictional character in the 1992 film Basic Instinct and
its sequel, Basic Instinct 2. She is played by Sharon Stone in both
films. In Basic Instinct, Tramell is a serial killer and love interest
of washed-up detective Nick Curran; Basic Instinct 2 pairs her with the
similarly troubled British psychologist Michael Glass.
15. Annie Wilkes
Film: "Misery" (1990)
Portrayed by: Kathy Bates
Anne
Marie Wilkes Dugan, usually known as Annie Wilkes, is a character in
the 1987 novel Misery, by Stephen King. In the 1990 film adaptation of
the novel, Annie Wilkes was portrayed by Kathy Bates, who won the
Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal. The American Film
Institute included Annie Wilkes (as played by Bates) in their "100
Heroes and Villains" list, ranking her as the 17th most iconic villain
(and sixth most iconic villainess) in film history. A nurse by training,
she has become one of the stereotypes of the nurse as a torturer and
angel of death.
14. Mickey Knox
Film: "Natural Born Killers" (1994)
Portrayed by: Woody Harrelson
Mickey
Knox is a fictional character from the 1994 film Natural Born Killers.
The film tells the story of two victims of traumatic childhoods who
became lovers and mass murderers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the
mass media.
13. Sweeney Todd
Film: "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007)
Portrayed by: Johnny Depp
Sweeney
Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the main
protagonist of the Victorian penny dreadful The String of Pearls
(1846–47). The tale became a staple of Victorian melodrama and London
urban legend, and has been retold many times since, most notably in the
Tony award-winning Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh
Wheeler. Claims that Sweeney Todd was a historical person are strongly
disputed by scholars, although possible legendary prototypes exist.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), a film directed by Tim Burton, adapted from Sondheim's musical.
12. Leatherface
Film: "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (1974)
Portrayed by: Gunnar Hansen
Leatherface
is a character in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre horror-film series and
its spin-offs. He wears masks made of human skin (hence his name) and
engages in murder and cannibalism, alongside his inbred family.
Leatherface appeared in the first film in the series (1974) and in its
six subsequent continuations and remakes. Wisconsin killer Ed Gein, who
wore a mask made of human skin, was reportedly the inspiration for the
character.
11. Pennywise the Dancing Clown
Film: "It" (1990)
Portrayed by: Tim Curry
It
(also referred to as Stephen King's It) is a 1990 psychological
horror/drama miniseries based on Stephen King's novel of the same name.
The story revolves around an inter-dimensional predatory life-form,
which has the ability to transform itself into its prey's worst fears,
allowing it to exploit the phobias of its victims. It mostly takes the
form of a sadistic, wisecracking clown called "Pennywise the Dancing
Clown".
It is a 1986 horror novel by American author Stephen King.
10. Jason Voorhees
Film: "Friday the 13th" (1980)
Jason
Voorhees is a fictional character from the Friday the 13th series. He
first appeared in Friday the 13th (1980) as the young son of camp
cook-turned-murderer, Mrs. Voorhees, in which he was portrayed by Ari
Lehman. Created by Victor Miller, with contributions by Ron Kurz, Sean
S. Cunningham, and Tom Savini, Jason was not originally intended to
carry the series as the main antagonist. The character has subsequently
been represented in various other media, including novels, comic books,
and a cross-over film with another iconic horror film character, Freddy
Krueger.
Kane Hodder is the best known of the stuntmen to portray Jason Voorhees, having played the character in four consecutive films.
9. Buffalo Bill
Film: "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991)
Portrayed by: Ted Levine
Jame
Gumb (known by the nickname Buffalo Bill) is a fictional character and
the primary antagonist of Thomas Harris's 1988 novel The Silence of the
Lambs and its 1991 film adaptation, in which he is played by Ted Levine.
In the film and the novel, he is a serial killer who murders overweight
women and skins them so he can make a "woman suit" for himself.
8. Jigsaw
Film: "Saw" (2004)
Portrayed by: Tobin Bell
John
Kramer (also known as The Jigsaw Killer, commonly referred to as
Jigsaw) is a fictional character from the Saw franchise. Jigsaw made his
debut in the first film of the series, Saw, and he later appeared in
Saw II, III, IV, V, VI, and 3D. He is portrayed by American actor Tobin
Bell.
7. John Doe
Film: "Seven (sometimes stylized as Se7en)" (1995)
Portrayed by: Kevin Spacey
John
Doe's master plan is a work of strategic, perverse genius. Inspired by
Christianity's seven deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath,
envy, and pride), the anonymous, mostly unseen (until Kevin Spacey shows
up in Se7en's final act) serial killer handpicks each of his victims
based on which of the aforementioned sins they're guilty of; thus, an
obese man eats himself to death ("Gluttony"), and a criminal gets
strapped to a bed, unfed and immobile, for one year, becoming "Sloth."
6. Michael Myers
Film: "Halloween" (1978)
Michael
Myers is a fictional character from the Halloween series of slasher
films. He first appears in John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) as a young
boy who murders his older sister, then fifteen years later returns home
to murder more teenagers. In the original Halloween, the adult Michael
Myers, referred to as "The Shape" in the closing credits, was portrayed
by Nick Castle for most of the film, with Tony Moran and Tommy Lee
Wallace substituting in during the final scenes. The character was
created by Debra Hill and John Carpenter and has appeared in eleven films,
as well as novels, a video game, and several comic books.
5. Freddy Krueger
Film: "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984)
Portrayed by: Robert Englund
Fred
"Freddy" Krueger is the main antagonist of the A Nightmare on Elm
Street film series. He first appeared in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm
Street (1984) as a burnt serial killer who uses a glove armed with
razors to kill his victims in their dreams, causing their deaths in the
real world as well. In the dream world, he is a powerful force and
almost completely invulnerable to damage. However, whenever Freddy is
pulled into the real world, he has normal human vulnerabilities. Krueger
was created by Wes Craven, and had been consistently portrayed by
Robert Englund since his first appearance. In the 2010 franchise reboot,
he was portrayed by Jackie Earle Haley.
4. Patrick Bateman
Film: "American Psycho" (2000)
Portrayed by: Christian Bale
Patrick
Bateman is a fictional character, the antihero and narrator of the
novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, and its film adaptation. He
is a high-achieving Wall Street investment banker who abuses drugs
including cocaine and has a double life where he perceives himself as
one of the most vicious serial killers ever to live. From his point of
view he commits brutal, repeated, sadistic murders, but he experiences
hallucinations and is an unreliable narrator, and so the veracity of his
"secret life" is left, to the reader, in doubt. Bateman has also
briefly appeared in other Ellis novels.
3. Norman Bates
Film: "Psycho" (1960)
Portrayed by: Anthony Perkins
Norman
Bates is a fictional character created by writer Robert Bloch as the
main character in his novel Psycho, and portrayed by Anthony Perkins as
the primary antagonist of the 1960 film of the same name directed by
Alfred Hitchcock and its sequels. The character was inspired by murderer
Ed Gein.
2. Dexter Morgan
Film: "Dexter" (2006)
Portrayed by: Michael C. Hall
PortrayedDexter
'Dex' Morgan is a fictional character and the antihero of a series of
novels by Jeff Lindsay. In 2006, the first novel was adapted into the
Showtime TV series Dexter and its companion web series Dexter: Early
Cuts. A seventh novel written by Jeff Lindsay entitled Dexter's Final
Cut was released in September 2013.
1. Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Film: "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991)
Portrayed by: Anthony Hopkins
Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a fictional character in a series of suspense novels by Thomas Harris.
Lecter
was introduced in the 1981 thriller novel Red Dragon as a forensic
psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. The novel and its sequel,
The Silence of the Lambs, feature Lecter as one of the primary
antagonists after the two serial killers in both novels. In the third
novel, Hannibal, Lecter becomes a protagonist. His role as the antihero
occurs in the fourth novel, Hannibal Rising, which explores his
childhood and development into a serial killer.
The
first film adapted from the Harris novels was Manhunter (based on Red
Dragon) which features Brian Cox as Lecter, spelled "Lecktor". In 1991,
Anthony Hopkins won an Academy Award for his portrayal of the character
in The Silence of the Lambs. He would reprise the role in Hannibal in
2001 and in a second adaptation of Red Dragon made in 2002 under the
original title.