Serial killers have been stalking the silver screen, through true crime or compelling performances, since the early days of cinema. The greatest films about them expand

beyond the terror of psychopaths, instead using them to create intimate stories and vehicles for commentary on society. Ranging from shocking slashers to exquisitely crafted black-and-white masterpieces, these are the best serial killer movies on HBO Max.

9. Pandora’s Box (1929)

Helmed by G.W. Pabst, ‘Pandora’s Box’ is a classic German silent film that follows the story of Lulu, played by Louise Brooks, an enigmatic woman whose destructive charm thrusts her into a life of unending misfortune. She appears capable of seducing anyone with her charms, and her involvement with several men brings ruin to her life and those around her, culminating in murder and tragedy. Pabst’s direction is marked by an airing of societal decay and moral ambiguity, while Brooks presents a performance that is both magnetic and disconcerting. The climax also involves one of history’s most infamous serial killers. You can see the movie here.

8. Trap (2024)

Helmed by master mind-bender M. Night Shyamalan, ‘Trap’ follows a serial killer who tries to evade capture while stuck at a concert he brings his daughter to. Realizing it’s a ploy by the FBI to capture him, he only has until the end of the concert to try and find a way out. Here’s the catch: all exits are sealed. Starring Josh Hartnett and Ariel Donoghue, ‘Trap’ is a signature Shyamalan film replete with twists and turns, anchored by a father-daughter relationship. You can view it here.

7. Funny Games (1997)

‘Funny Games’ is an Austrian psychological thriller that takes us along a harrowing journey with a small family whose idyllic vacation is violently interrupted by two psychopaths. The intruders subject the family to a series of brutal games, manipulating them with a chilling sense of detachment. Written and directed by Michael Haneke, we are presented with many lengthy takes that often have the brutality taking place slightly offscreen, letting our imagination fill in the horrors being experienced by the victims. The violence itself is visceral and unglamorized, presented in a provocative and painful manner. Only those with the strongest of stomachs should dare to stream ‘Funny Games’ here.

6. The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927)

‘The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog’ is an Alfred Hitchcock directorial silent thriller, considered one of Hitchcock’s earliest masterpieces. Adapted from Marie Belloc Lowndes’s 1913 novel of the same name, it tells the story of a mysterious lodger who rents a room in a boarding house in London against the backdrop of a series of gruesome murders, known as the “Avenger” killings, that are terrorizing London and targeting blond women. The owner of the lodge begins to suspect her new guest is connected with the murders and begins to observe his odd behavior. This results in two parallel universes of suspense and paranoia. It is considered Hitchcock’s greatest silent film, which developed his thriller style in future works. The movie can be streamed here.

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

The titular franchise started with Wes Craven’s ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’ which came out in 1984. From 1984 to 2010, the original franchise spun nine movies, all of which feature grotesque and undead Freddy Krueger, a serial killer who infiltrates people’s dreams to kill them in the fictional town of Springwood, Ohio. In Samuel Bayer’s ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’ which is a remake of the first movie, we have Rooney Mara as Nancy, a girl whose friends are being killed one after another by Krueger in their dreams. She is the one who tries to find out how to stop the entity, though she cannot risk sleeping till then. It can be streamed here.

4. MaXXXine (2024)

A serial killer and a pornstar-turned-Hollwyood-actress lock horns in Ti West’s horror drama ‘MaXXXine,’ the third film in the ‘X’ film franchise. As Maxine Minx navigates her way into the glamorous world of the 1980s movie industry while running from her dark past, she is tracked by the Night Walker, a serial killer out killing women. ‘MaXXXine’ does a commendable job blending the moral complexities of the titular protagonist with satanic entertainment, giving us a thrilling genre-bending movie that is retro-stylized, vibrant, alluring, and gory. You can experience the film right here.

3. Citizen X (1995)

Helmed by Chris Gerolmo, ‘Citizen X’ chronicles the hunt for a Russian serial killer and the challenges faced by the investigators as they navigate the sluggish bureaucracy to find him. Lt. Viktor Burakov (Stephen Rea) leads the hunt for a killer on the loose who targets women and children. However, Soviet propaganda and incompetency plague the police response, with the serial killer’s presence not being declared publicly for fear of tainting the country’s image. The performances are outstanding, and Jeffrey DeMunn’s Andrei Chikatilo somehow inspires empathy despite being a monster. What elevates the serial killer film beyond its masterful execution is its status of being based on a true serial killer hunt that spanned over a decade. The movie can be watched here.

2. M (1931)

Director Fritz Lang’s magnum opus, ‘M’ is a pioneering serial killer film that remains a landmark in the history of cinema. The German film centers on a city gripped with fear as a serial killer has gone on a kidnapping and killing spree in kids. The police remain hapless while searching for him, and the only clues were the letters he sent to the newspaper. As the police increase its presence to the maximum, the city’s underworld cannot do business, and the leading felons start searching for the predator too. The first of Lang’s movies with sound, it exploits its technology to full effect, with the killer’s compulsive whistling an unforgettable cue. It is also notable for the use of expressionistic techniques, the exploration of the criminal mind, and Peter Lorre’s haunting performance. You can stream the movie here.

1. The Batman (2022)

In Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman,’ we see the dark knight investigating a series of murders by the criminal known as the Riddler. As he digs deeper, the stakes get higher and higher, with multiple deaths and even more lives on the line. With a dark conspiracy within the government waiting to be unearthed, Batman must put all his skills to good use and track down the criminal mastermind who may be known for his complex riddles, but he also has many answers. Starring Robert Pattinson as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Jeffrey Wright as Officer James Gordon, Paul Dano as the Riddler, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, and Colin Farrell as Penguin, ‘The Batman’ offers the most gritty and noir onscreen version of the iconic comic character underscored by a powerful story and brilliant performances. You can watch the film here. Read More: Best Taboo Movies on HBO Max