Top Ten Fictional Serial Killers

Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs)

Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a 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. He became more widely known after Anthony Hopkins's iconic portrayal in the 1991 film The Silence... read more

Intelligent, he can read you like a book before you have finished your sentence. He can get into your head quickly. He truly is one of the most entertaining fictional serial killers ever.

He's sadistic and blood-thirsty as well as incredibly intelligent. He is also extremely good at getting into your head. He totally deserves number 1!

Hannibal the Cannibal... Surely deserved this spot.

Dexter Morgan (Dexter)

Dexter Morgan is a fictional character who serves as the antihero in a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay. The series begins with Darkly Dreaming Dexter and continues with titles such as Dearly Devoted Dexter, Dexter in the Dark, Dexter by Design, Dexter Is Delicious, Double Dexter, Dexter's Final Cut... read more

This guy is a true serial killer. No doubt Hannibal Lecter is a better killer, but he is not much of a serial killer.

Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th)

Jason Voorhees is a fictional character from the Friday the 13th horror film series. He first appeared in the original 1980 movie as the young son of the killer, Mrs. Voorhees. Over the course of the series, Jason became the central antagonist, known for wearing a hockey mask.

He became a killer because his mother was decapitated by one of the counselors in the first movie. Now he wants revenge on anyone who returns to the camp. He's not totally evil. He just loves his mother.

Michael Myers (Halloween)

Michael Myers is a character from the Halloween series of slasher films. He first appears in John Carpenter's 1978 film Halloween as a young boy who murders his older sister, then returns fifteen years later to kill again. In October 2018, a direct sequel to the original film was released, disregarding... read more

He actually has more victories than any other killer on this list. He kills because he feels like he needs to, not because it's fun or he thinks it's justified. He even gets away with it.

Tall, strongly built, mysterious, quiet, and dangerous.

He has the face of an angel and the mind of a demon.

Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street)

Fred "Freddy" Krueger is the primary antagonist in the A Nightmare on Elm Street film series. He first appeared in the original film, directed by Wes Craven, in 1984. Freddy is known for his burned face, red-and-green striped sweater, and glove with razor-sharp blades.

Freddie Krueger is THE BEST! The burnt face just gives me the creeps. Scary face, nasty words, the dream killer's got it all! He deserves number 1!

Candyman (Candyman)

Daniel Robitaille, colloquially known as Candyman, is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Candyman film series. The character originated in Clive Barker's 1985 short story The Forbidden. In the film series, he is depicted as an African-American man who was brutally murdered in the 19th... read more

He wasn't always this way. This is what he became after he was brutally murdered and had his hand sawn off. Some people have no humanity.

Buffalo Bill (The Silence of the Lambs)

This character was actually inspired by six real life serial killers: Jerry Brudos, Ed Gein, Ted Bundy, Gary M. Heidnik, Edmund Kemper, and Gary Ridgway.

Norman Bates (Psycho)

Norman Bates is a character created by writer Robert Bloch for his novel Psycho. He was portrayed by Anthony Perkins as the primary antagonist of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film adaptation and its three sequels. Bates is known for his disturbing psychological complexity, particularly his alternate personality... read more

It's not his fault... His mother made him do it.

The Joker (DC Universe)

The Joker is a fictional supervillain created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, who first appeared in Batman #1, released on April 25, 1940, by DC Comics. Credit for the Joker's creation remains disputed. Both Kane and Robinson claimed responsibility for his visual design, while Finger is... read more

John Doe (Se7en)

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The Toilet Seat Killer (Death Flush)

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Longlegs (Longlegs)

Kira (Death Note)

Notebook of death. Shall I say more?

Annie Wilkes (Misery)

Anne Marie Wilkes Dugan, usually known as Annie Wilkes, is a character in the 1987 novel Misery by Stephen King. She is a former nurse who holds author Paul Sheldon captive in her home. The character was famously portrayed by Kathy Bates in the 1990 film adaptation, a role that won Bates an Academy Award... read more

The Jigsaw Killer (Saw)

Jigsaw is the alias of John Kramer, a character who first appears in the Saw film series. After losing his unborn child, being diagnosed with terminal cancer, and surviving a suicide attempt, he begins designing elaborate traps to test his victims' will to live. He believes these ordeals help people... read more

"Let's play a game." What more do I really need to say?

Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)

Patrick Bateman is an American yuppie and serial killer who first appeared in The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis. He is best known as the main character in American Psycho, also by Ellis, which was later adapted into a popular film.... read more

Ghostface (Scream)

Ghostface is a fictional identity used by multiple characters in the Scream film franchise. Each killer who assumes the identity dons the signature mask and black robe to carry out a series of murders. The character first appeared in the original Scream film, released in 1996.

Carnage (Marvel Universe)

Carnage is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually as an enemy of Spider-Man. Cletus Kasady made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #344 in February 1991, while Carnage made his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #361 in... read more

The Tooth Fairy (Red Dragon)

He's played by Lord Voldemort himself.

Red John (The Mentalist)

Oh, come on, Hannibal is just a man who has been identified before and caught. Red John is superhuman. He makes no mistakes. He is a true supervillain with psychic powers and criminal genius.

He's awesome. He has supernatural powers. He knew about the names on Jane's suspect list three months before Jane even did, and Jane is the one who made it!

James March (American Horror Story)

Hans Beckert (M)

He was the child murderer in the German movie M. He was so elusive that the law couldn't track him. He had to be caught by the criminal underground.

Chucky (Child's Play)

Charles Lee Ray is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Child's Play horror franchise. He becomes the murderous doll known as Chucky after using a voodoo ritual to transfer his soul into the toy. The franchise began in 1988 and has since expanded into multiple sequels and a television... read more

The coolest thing about this killer is that he transported his soul into the body of a doll so that he could stay alive.

Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

Leatherface is a character in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre horror film series and its spin-offs. He wears masks made from human skin and commits murder alongside his cannibalistic family. The character was inspired in part by the crimes of real-life murderer Ed Gein.

A cannibal with a mask made out of human skin and a house full of decorations made out of human bones. He should be higher.

He was inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein. Gein was also the inspiration for Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates.

I think he should be higher on the list. He's very realistic looking.

Earl Bulford (Criminal Minds)

Johan Liebert (Monster)

Johan Liebert is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Monster, created by Naoki Urasawa. He is the twin brother of Nina Fortner, formerly known as Anna Liebert, and serves as the story's main antagonist. Johan is highly intelligent and manipulative, using his charm to control and influence... read more