There is something about serial killers and their cold-hearted ways that keep us hooked. Be it their unique modus operandi or the days of horror faced by the victims’ families, every aspect of these killers seems to appeal more and more to viewers. Banking on this, the library of the best serial killer series to watch on Apple TV+ has some of the most riveting and gripping stories.
When it comes to serial killer series, it is tough to beat unfathomable titles on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar. For instance, the three-season anthology series Conversations With A Killer on Netflix dives into the psyche of Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy in each instalment. Each season has raked in high IMDb ratings of 7.7, 7.3 and 7.1, respectively, proving that despite them showcasing true crimes of the real world, there’s a large pool of takers who would want to watch them.
In fact, Dahmer: Monster – The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) is one of the most-watched shows on Netflix with 115,600,000 hours viewed. Then there is Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003) on Prime Video which talks about a woman killer and what provoked her to cross the line.
This list of some of the best serial killer series on Apple TV+ contains other noted thriller shows like Black Bird (2022), Living With A Serial Killer (2021-2022) and Shining Girls (2022) where the best murder mystery cases unfurl as the audiences get engrossed in the narrative.
Audiences are taken on yet another ride to witness one murder case after another in Monster in My Family as kin of some of the dreaded killers confront their reality and show sympathy towards victims. The serial killer shows on Apple TV+ dig up instances of heinous crimes from over the years or even offer a fictional killer who can easily terrorise your screens and senses, making the streamer a strong burgeoning player in the OTT business.
These are some of the best serial killer series on Apple TV+
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- Living With A Serial Killer (2021-2022)
- Twisted Killers (2022)
- Based on a True Story (2023-)
- John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise (2021)
- Shining Girls (2022)
- Monster in my Family (2015- )
- Black Bird (2022)
IMDb rating: 6.4
Directed by: David Foulkes
No. of episodes: 11
Runtime of each episode: 45 to 65 minutes
Synopsis: One of the most gripping documentary shows on Apple TV+, it asks a very poignant question to viewers — how would you feel when you discover that the person you spent your life with is actually a dreaded serial killer? Highlighting real-life incidents like Scotland’s worst predator, Peter Tobin; The Black Widow’s Web, Joanne Dennehy; and the Suffolk Strangler, Steve Wright, this series dives deep into the personal lives of those living with the criminals.
Image: Courtesy Apple TV
IMDb rating: 6.7
Created by: Nick Clarke Powell
No. of episodes: 10
Runtime of each episode: 40-43 minutes
Synopsis: Delving into America’s darkest phases, this serial killer documentary series on Apple TV+ examines some of the most unique and eerie acts of violence in the country. From hunting down a young man who is on a killing spree with a shotgun in Columbia to a New York stabber who targets women with increased ferocity, each episode of this murder mystery series is a compelling study into their motives and triggers that will leave you peeping through your fingers.
Image: Courtesy Twisted Killers/ IMDb
IMDb rating: 7.2
Created by: Craig Rosenberg
Cast: Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina, Tom Bateman
No. of episodes: 8
Duration of each episode: 25-30 minutes
Synopsis: Ava (Cuoco) and Nathan (Messina) are a married couple dealing with the complexities of life and pregnancy. Ava is an ardent true-crime follower and when she suspects the plumber and family friend Matt (Bateman) is a serial killer behind a string of brutal murders, she convinces Nathan to start a podcast with Matt. But, soon they realise talking to a killer about his “work” may not be as easy as they thought.
IMDb rating: 7.3
Directed by: Rod Blackhurst
No. of episodes: 6
Duration of each episode: 45-50 minutes
Synopsis: Dreaded and cold-blooded serial killer John Wayne Gacy, nicknamed the ‘killer clown’ as he performed at children’s events, speaks about his infamous murders while the victims’ families share their harrowing experiences. Gacy was convicted for taking the lives of 33 men and boys before he was sentenced to death in 1980 and finally executed in 1994.
5 /7
Shining Girls (2022)
IMDb rating: 7.4
Created by: Silka Luisa
Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Wagner Moura, Phillipa Soo
No. of episodes: 8
Runtime of each episode: 45-50 minutes
Synopsis: A brutal assault left newspaper archivist Kirby Mazrachi (Moss) on a constantly shifting reality. Years later, when the corpse of a woman is discovered, she finds the case to be linked to her culprit. She teams up with a veteran reporter and embarks on a perilous journey to get to the serial killer. However, her changing reality makes the endeavour riskier.
About the show: One of the highly rated shows on Apple TV+, it is based on the 2013 novel The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes.
IMDb rating: 7.7
Directed by: Bill Evashwick
No. of episodes: 10
Runtime of each episode: 35-40 minutes
Synopsis: One of the gripping documentary serial killer shows on Apple TV+, this series offers a completely different take on the genre. It shows the family members of some of the most unforgivable murderers come out of the shadows and express sympathy for victims as they meet their family members.
Image: Courtesy Monster in My Family/ IMDb
7 /7
Black Bird (2022)
IMDb rating: 8.1
Created by: Dennis Lehane
Cast: Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Greg Kinnear
No. of episodes: 6
Runtime of each episode: 55-60 minutes
Synopsis: The biography is based on the true story of Jimmy Keene (Egerton), who was convicted for 10 years on drug dealing charges. However, Keene is offered a reduced sentence on the condition that he can coax out a confession from another incarcerated criminal — suspected killer Larry Hall (Hauser). For this, Keene must enter a maximum security prison and befriend the serial murderer before unearthing the shocking secrets of his wrongdoings.
About the show: Black Bird is adapted from the book In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene.
(Hero and Feature image: Courtesy Black Bird/ IMDb)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-What are some of the Apple TV+ serial killer shows?
Some of the best serial killer shows on Apple TV+ include Black Bird, Monster in My Family, Shining Girls and Living With A Serial Killer.
-Does Apple TV+ have true crime shows?
True crime shows on Apple TV+ include Living With A Serial Killer, John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise, Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn and The Big Con.
-Is Black Bird a true story?
Black Bird is a true crime story based on the trial of Jimmy Keene who is offered a reduction of sentence if he could get a confession from another convicted serial killer.
(The information in this article is accurate as on the date of publication.)
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