Credit: Netflix

Serial-killer mysteries on Netflix force viewers to put on their detective hats, daring them to piece together the clues faster than the detectives on screen.

Although serial-killer mysteries are not exactly suitable for casual or background viewing, the intended audience generally doesn’t shy away from commitment when it comes to this particular genre.

And since we’re talking movies, there’s always room for more than one, even if it means weekday viewing.

So, if you’re looking for serial-killer thrillers, here are five disturbing movies to binge on Netflix when you feel like playing detective.

Five disturbing serial-killer thrillers to stream on Netflix

Apex (Baltasar Kormákur, 2026)

Apex is one of the most-watched Netflix Original movies from the first half of 2026 for a reason, which you’re about to find out rather soon. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, the exhilarating survival thriller follows grieving rock climber Sasha, struggling to make peace with the tragic death of her partner, who decides to go solo kayaking through the remote Wandarra National Park with the intention of spreading his ashes.

Although a ranger initially warns her about recent disappearances in the region, Sasha decides to carry on, only to get harassed by hunters on the way. While Ben, a seemingly local, intervenes, he also gives Sasha directions to a secluded campsite, oblivious to the fact that the man is not who he claims to be. Apex centres on Sasha as she goes into ultimate survival mode when she soon finds herself trapped in a cat-and-mouse chase with a cannibalistic serial killer.

The Whisper Man (James Ashcroft, 2026)

Based on Alex North’s bestselling 2019 novel, The Whisper Man is Netflix’s latest serial killer mystery, starring Adam Scott, Robert De Niro, and Michelle Monaghan. Directed by James Ashcroft, the crime thriller follows recently widowed crime novelist Tom Kennedy, who moves into the sleepy town of Garretton, unaware of its haunting history, seeking a fresh start with his eight-year-old son Jake following the tragic death of his wife.

But their plans are derailed when their arrival coincides with the disappearance of a young boy, and before they know it, the danger reaches home. With the rumours flying that the Whisper Man who preyed on young boys decades ago has returned, and Jake kidnapped a few days into their move, Tom is forced to turn to his estranged father, retired cop Pete, who originally put the serial killer away. Now they must figure out whether a copycat killer has given birth or if the killer had an accomplice.

Woman of the Hour (Anna Kendrick, 2023)

Based on the true story of Rodney Alcala, a contestant who appeared on The Dating Show in 1978 and later was identified as a serial killer, Woman of the Hour follows an aspiring, struggling actor, Sheryl Bradshaw, who appears on the popular television matchmaking show, only to end up choosing a gruesome psychopathic killer as the winner. While there, she has to choose one of three bachelors based on their answers, among whom is Rodney Alcala, an outwardly charming photographer.

Although Alcala manages to sway Sheryl effortlessly, what she and the producers don’t know is his dark rap sheet. However, as soon as she meets him backstage for a drink, the red flags just keep coming, prompting her to excuse herself from their planned date. Woman of the Hour revolves around Sheryl’s story and Alcala’s reign of terror during the 1970s, highlighting the shocking scale of his crimes.

The Good Nurse (Tobias Lindholm, 2022)

Inspired by real-life serial killer Charles Cullen and based on Charles Graeber’s 2013 true-crime book, The Good Nurse is a crime thriller that follows Amy Loughren, a struggling single mother and ICU nurse at Parkfield Memorial Hospital in New Jersey with a critical heart condition, who’s overworking to qualify for health insurance to get a life-saving heart transplant, unbeknownst to anyone, fearing dismissal.

But soon, when a seemingly kind, experienced new nurse, Charles Cullen, starts working at the hospital, life gets easier for Amy, who finds a trusted friend and confidante. However, right after his arrival, mysterious patient deaths at the hospital prompt police to launch an inquiry, zeroing in on Cullen, although hospital administration conceals crucial details to avoid liability. The Good Nurse revolves around Amy’s pursuit of unmasking the serial killer as she figures out Charlie’s real identity.

Lost Girls (Liz Garbus, 2020)

The final entry, Liz Garbus’ Lost Girls, is based on Robert Kolker’s nonfiction book Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery, about a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter that unknowingly exposes a dangerous web of serial killings. The film opens with the disappearance of 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert, who goes mysteriously missing following a visit to a gated Long Island community.

But when local law enforcement fails to treat the investigation with the urgency it requires, Shannan’s mother, Mari, launches her own investigation, forcing authorities to dispatch a search party in the area, which leads to the discovery of mutilated, murdered bodies of sex workers, believed to have been killed by a suspect referred to as the Long Island Serial Killer. Lost Girls sheds light on the psychological toll faced by the victims’ families, serving as a brutal critique of systemic apathy towards marginalised individuals.