On average, a person has the chance of walking past 36 serial killers in their lifetime. Just the thought of this has led the media and movie fans into the intrigue of what makes monsters like this tick and how law enforcement finally catches them. This leads to the 1990s: the decade with some of the most memorable movies. The 1990s were generally a good time for the film industry and in particular, the horror genre got a lot of love. It was a great time for directors to play around with different storylines to get a feel for what fans really wanted. In particular, there came a time when slasher films became a permanent fixture for the horror genre and the audience really took to it. After all, some of the more iconic movie villains can be found in films from the 1990s.
Coming off of the 1970s and 1980s, horror movies had a lot to live up to since classics such as Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th. To really make an impression, the 1990s were filled with serial killer flicks, that people couldn't get enough of. While there were some duds along the way, there were definitely noteworthy films as well that will stand the test of time.
Copycat (1995) - 6.6
During a trial for the accused criminal Daryll Lee Cullum, played by Harry Connick Jr., criminal psychologist Helen Hudson is nearly killed by Daryll. Because of the near-death experience, she becomes agoraphobic. Leaving her past behind, she lives a simpler life until a wave of crimes comes across her desk.
After realizing it's a copycat murderer, Helen tries to warn the police department before it's too late. All the while, she's being stalked by the killer, while trying to stop him. Starring Sigourney Weaver, Copycat is one of her most recognized characters to date.
Kiss The Girls (1997) - 6.6
Based on the novel by crime writer James Patterson, Kiss the Girls centers around a cop turned forensic psychologist Alex Cross, played by the iconic Morgan Freeman. When his niece goes missing from college, he believes she's been abducted by a serial killer that's wreaking havoc all over town.
While the killer's victims are never let go, a woman named Kate manages to escape and ends up helping Alex locate this monster. This film is filled with twists and turns and even though it might not be among the best films Freeman has done, it still deserves recognition.
Kalifornia (1993) - 6.7
This gem of a movie is everything fans of serial killers enjoy: mystery, thrill, and one heck of a story. It starts out with Brian Kessler, played by David Duchovny, wanting to do background research on serial killers. He decides to venture out on a road trip with his photographer girlfriend, Carrie.
They decide to tour the site of the killings and to save on money, carpool with strangers Early Grayce, played by Brad Pitt, and his girlfriend, Adele. What Brian and Carrie don't know if that they might have a real live serial killer in the car with them.
The Bone Collector (1999) - 6.7
Barely making the role call for the 1990s crime thrillers, The Bone Collector tells the story of a quadriplegic and former homicide detective named Lincoln Rhyme that is trying to track down a sadistic serial killer. The killer poses as a taxi driver and abducts his passengers in evil ways. Lincoln seeks out a fellow cop named Amelia Donaghy, played by Angelina Jolie, to help out on the case.
After a bit of persuasion, she decides to help but is terrified she's next on the killer's list. The Bone Collector is a fun little flick with great acting and even if fans have seen it, it's a 1990s thriller to re-watch.
Scream (1996) - 7.2
When it comes to iconic and well-known films from the 1990s, Wes Craven's Scream is among the several that stand out. Scream took nods from prior slasher flicks and made a great story of its own by keeping it simple: a masked killer with an unknown motive.
At the one year anniversary of her mother's death, teenager Sidney Prescott and her friends are terrorized by a serial killer in a Halloween mask. The killer's game? Using horror flicks to taunt and tease the unsuspecting teens to untimely deaths. Starring Neve Campbell, it's obvious that this is one of her most well-known roles and one of the best at the same time. Scream is a great franchise and will continue to be timeless in the serial killer realm.
Deep Crimson (1996) - 7.3
Deep Crimson is a stand-out serial killer film because it shows that even the evilest minds can feel and find love; except it might not be as innocent as that. Set in Mexico in the 1940s, this film centers around the real-life killers dubbed "The Lonely Hearts Killers." This was a man and woman that targeted wealthy widows in the United States and murdered them for their belongings.
It's obvious this isn't a typical love story, as the lovebirds are schemers and swindlers that ban together to kill. This film is a romance and crime flick rolled into one, which makes it a favorite.
Natural Born Killers (1994) - 7.3
When Mickey Knox and Mallory Wilson decide to hit the road after murdering Mallory's abusive father, they decide to embark on a killing spree at every stop. What is unique about their M.O. is that they choose to leave at least one victim alive to tell their story.
They become sensationalized by the media, which leads them into becoming infamous. Based loosely on a true story, this is one of Oliver Stone's best and most controversial movies to date, but that doesn't mean it wasn't well perceived. Natural Born Killers isn't just a great serial killer flick, it also has some depth and an inside look into what abuse does to a person.
Man Bites Dog (1992) - 7.5
In 1992, directors Rémy Belvaux and André Bonzel decided to make a little flick called Man Bites Dog. Their idea was that a camera crew would take a deep dive into the life of a serial killer and capture his craft on camera. The killer doesn't let up and takes out whoever and wherever.
At one point, it becomes much more personal, as the killer wants to involve the film crew, which leads them to believe this might not be a good idea. Rivals collide and tensions are high in this film and it's definitely one to see.
Se7en (1995) - 8.6
When rookie cop Mills, played by Brad Pitt, and an out-the-door cop Somerset, played by Morgan Freeman, are on the hunt for a serial killer, their lives are ultimately turned upside down. The serial killer lives by the "Seven Deadly Sins," as he believes the world is ignorant of these things. As serial killer John Doe goes down the list of sins, Mills and Somerset are cast into the deadly game of cat and mouse, always seeming to be one step behind the mouse.
Se7en shows the true realities of depravity in human beings and an ending no one saw coming. Directed by David Fincher, this is one of his best films to date.
The Silence Of The Lambs (1991) - 8.6
Lastly, the serial killer movie to end all serial killer movies in the 1990s is definitely The Silence of the Lambs. It would be hard to be a fan of the horror genre and not to have seen this already. As a young F.B.I. cadet goes through training, she's thrust into a case involving a man named Buffalo Bill and a governor's daughter that was abducted by him.
In order to stop this serial killer, she must get the help of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, an incarcerated cannibal, and find out who Buffalo Bill actually is. Starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, this is one of the best films ever made. Anthony Hopkins was on-screen for a total of 16 minutes, but he still received a well-deserved Oscar for one of the scariest villainous roles.