The 5 Most Chilling Serial Killer Documentaries Of 2025 You Can't Afford To Miss

The true crime genre continues its unstoppable dominance in 2025, with streaming giants and premium networks unleashing a new wave of documentaries and docuseries that delve into the darkest corners of human history. This year, the focus shifts to cases with fresh, explosive developments, offering viewers unprecedented access and new perspectives on some of the world's most notorious serial killers. The current date is December 13, 2025, and the information below represents the most up-to-date schedule for the most chilling true crime content of the year.

For aficionados of the macabre, 2025 promises a deep dive into the psychological fallout of murder, moving beyond the simple retelling of facts to explore the lives of the killers' families and the communities they terrorized. From a deep-seated exploration of the Long Island Serial Killer case following a major arrest to the intimate confessionals of a serial killer's own daughter, these are the must-watch serial killer documentaries and series that are defining the true crime landscape this year.

The Long Island Serial Killer Case: A Post-Arrest Deep Dive

The Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) case, also known as the Gilgo Beach Murders, has captivated and frustrated investigators and the public for over a decade. The shocking arrest of architect Rex Heuermann in 2023 breathed new life into the cold case, and 2025 is the year this seismic development is chronicled in detail. This docuseries is poised to be one of the most talked-about true crime releases of the year.

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1. Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (Netflix)

Release Date: March 31, 2025

This highly anticipated Netflix docuseries, titled Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, promises to be the definitive account of the Gilgo Beach investigation in the wake of the arrest. Directed and produced by the acclaimed Liz Garbus, the series revisits the harrowing decade-long search for the perpetrator responsible for the murders of at least 10 people, many of whom were sex workers.

• Focus: The series will meticulously chart the timeline of the Gilgo Beach murders, which began in 2010 with the discovery of the "Gilgo Four"—Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello.
• New Perspective: A significant portion of the docuseries is expected to cover the stunning 2023 arrest of Rex Heuermann, a seemingly ordinary architect from Massapequa Park.
• Key Entities: Gilgo Beach, Long Island, Suffolk County Police Department, Rex Heuermann, Liz Garbus, LISK, The Gilgo Four, Shannan Gilbert.
• Intention: To provide a comprehensive narrative that connects the initial cold case with the modern forensic techniques and digital evidence that finally led to a suspect. The series explores the impact on the victims' families and the complex relationship between the police, the victims, and the media.

The timing of this release is crucial, as the legal proceedings against Heuermann are ongoing, making the public's appetite for background information on the case particularly intense. True crime fans are eager to see the detailed investigative work and the emotional toll the case took on the Long Island community.

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The Intimate Horror: Serial Killers Through Their Families' Eyes

A growing trend in true crime is shifting the focus from the killer's actions to the devastating ripple effects on their immediate family. This perspective offers a unique, deeply personal, and often heartbreaking look at the psychological trauma of discovering a loved one is a monster. The 2025 slate features a major documentary that exemplifies this approach by focusing on the daughter of a notorious killer.

2. My Father, The BTK Killer (Netflix)

Release Date: October 10, 2025

This Netflix original documentary offers a chilling and intimate portrait of Dennis Rader, the infamous "BTK Killer," told through the eyes of his daughter, Kerri Rawson. Rader, who terrorized Wichita, Kansas, for decades, was a church council president and a seemingly normal family man until his arrest in 2005. The documentary explores the profound shock and betrayal experienced by those closest to him.

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• Focus: Kerri Rawson is the central figure, sharing her personal journey of trauma, denial, and eventual acceptance following the revelation of her father's double life as a serial killer who murdered 10 people.
• The Killer: Dennis Rader, known by his self-given moniker "BTK" (Bind, Torture, Kill), maintained his façade for over 30 years. The documentary features new interviews and insights into the man behind the mask.
• Key Entities: Dennis Rader, Kerri Rawson, BTK Killer, Wichita Kansas, Park City, Otero family, Nancy Fox, Netflix Originals.
• Intention: To explore the concept of inherited trauma and the psychological toll of being the child of a mass murderer. It is a story of survival and reclaiming one's identity after a catastrophic family secret is revealed.

The Return of the Classics: New Looks at Infamous Killers

No true crime schedule is complete without revisiting the foundational cases that shaped the genre. 2025 sees new series and documentaries that either re-examine the crimes of historical serial killers with modern context or explore the infamous figures whose names are synonymous with murder.

3. Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)

Release Date: October 16, 2025

While technically a true crime drama miniseries and not a documentary, this eight-episode Peacock series is a major 2025 event that falls squarely within the serial killer content space. It focuses on John Wayne Gacy, one of America's most infamous serial killers, known as the "Killer Clown." Gacy was convicted of the sexual assault and murder of at least 33 young men and boys in the 1970s.

• Format: True Crime Drama Miniseries (eight episodes).
• The Killer: John Wayne Gacy, a respected member of his community in Cook County, Illinois, who performed as a clown at children's parties. His crimes were among the most shocking in US history.
• Key Entities: John Wayne Gacy, Pogo the Clown, Cook County, Illinois, True Crime Drama, Peacock Streaming Service, Mass Murderer.
• Intention: To use the dramatic format to explore the psychological complexity of Gacy's double life, the failures of the police investigation, and the cultural impact of his horrific crimes on the American psyche.

4. Chaos: The Manson Murders (Platform TBD)

This documentary is listed among the top true crime releases for 2025 and focuses on the infamous cult leader Charles Manson and the horrific murders committed by his followers in 1969. The Manson Family killings, which included the murder of actress Sharon Tate, remain a chilling benchmark in American criminal history.

• Focus: The enduring legacy of Charles Manson, the manipulative nature of his cult, "The Manson Family," and the senseless brutality of the Tate-LaBianca murders.
• New Angle: Though the case is well-covered, a 2025 documentary is likely to incorporate newly declassified information, interviews with former family members, or analysis from modern criminal psychologists to provide a fresh perspective on the "chaos" Manson unleashed.
• Key Entities: Charles Manson, Sharon Tate, The Manson Family, Tate-LaBianca Murders, Helter Skelter, Cult Leader, True Crime History.

Beyond the Killer: Other Anticipated True Crime Docs

While not strictly "serial killer" focused, the broader true crime genre in 2025 is saturated with high-profile murder and mystery cases that will appeal to the same audience, offering deep dives into the criminal mind and the pursuit of justice.

5. Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders (Platform TBD)

The Tylenol murders of 1982, in which seven people in the Chicago area died after consuming Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide, is one of the most significant unsolved mass murder cases in American history. This upcoming docuseries is expected to revisit the case with a focus on modern forensic technology and the enduring impact on pharmaceutical safety.

• Case Type: Mass Murder/Product Tampering.
• Focus: The series will likely explore the panic that gripped the nation, the revolutionary changes to packaging and safety standards that resulted, and the decades-long efforts to identify the killer responsible for the poisoning deaths.
• Key Entities: Tylenol Murders, Cyanide Poisoning, Chicago, James W. Lewis, Unsolved Cases, Product Tampering, FBI.

The 2025 lineup of serial killer documentaries and true crime series is a testament to the public's unceasing fascination with the dark side of humanity. These productions are not just about the crimes; they are critical examinations of justice, trauma, and the complex psychological profiles of the individuals who commit unspeakable acts.