The most dangerous TV serial killers have not just carved their way into pop culture — they have made every kill count. From Joe Goldberg’s mind games to Dexter Morgan’s twisted codes, these iconic characters present murder as a calculated, sometimes pleasurable, expression of power. But who stands atop the blood-soaked podium? Read on to discover the deadliest serial killers across TV, ranked by kill count.
Leading our list is Dexter Morgan, a forensic blood-spatter analyst with a hidden life shaped by a compulsion to kill. First introduced in the American thriller series Dexter (2006–2013) and revived in its sequel Dexter: New Blood (2021), the character earned Michael C. Hall a Golden Globe for Best Actor in 2010. Hall is set to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel, Dexter: Resurrection. A continuation of New Blood, the series will release globally on 11 July 2025.
Other iconic names who make it to our list of the deadliest TV serial killers ranked by kill count are Norman Bates and Hannibal Lecter.
A reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic character from the 1960 classic Psycho, Norman Bates (played by Freddie Highmore) from the American series Bates Motel (2013–2017) portrays how a traumatic childhood under a controlling mother turns him into a ruthless serial killer.
On the other hand, Hannibal Lecter (portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen), from the hit TV series Hannibal (2013–2015), finds “discourtesy unspeakably ugly” but feeds on the pain of his victims and kills for the sheer joy of it. The character created by American novelist Thomas Harris was notably portrayed on the big screen by Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Brian Cox in Manhunter (1986), among others.
Interestingly, while these characters fit the textbook definition of a serial killer, others — like Villanelle — blur the line between assassin and murderer, driven as much by personal thrill as by professional duty. As such, Jodie Comer’s Villanelle from Killing Eve (2018–2022) does not feature in our list despite being one of TV’s most iconic killers with an approximate body count of 60.
Additionally, we have also not included on-screen depictions of real-life serial killers to restrict the list to fictional characters only.
TV’s iconic serial killers, ranked by kill count
1 /7
Appeared in: Dexter (2006–2013), Dexter: New Blood (2021–2022), Dexter: Original Sin (2024)
Played by: Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Dexter: New Blood), Patrick Gibson (Dexter: Original Sin)
Direct kills: 150+
Kill method: Knife, throat slashing, stabbing
Profile: A forensic blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who leads a double life as a serial killer. Orphaned at a young age and adopted by police officer Harry Morgan, Dexter develops homicidal urges early in life. Dexter’s inner persona, known as the “Dark Passenger”, is the embodiment of his compulsive need to kill. Detached and calculating, it acts as a constant voice in his mind, pushing him toward violence.
Top victims:
- Arthur Mitchell/Trinity Killer (bludgeoned to death)
- Brian Moser/Ice Truck Killer (throat slashed)
- Travis Marshall/Doomsday Killer (stabbed in the heart)
Also read: All about Dexter: Resurrection, the sequel series to New Blood
2 /7
Appeared in: Hannibal (2013–2015)
Played by: Mads Mikkelsen
Direct kills: 60+
Kill method: Surgical stabbing, slashing, poisoning, cannibalism
Profile: A sophisticated forensic psychiatrist who is secretly a cannibalistic serial killer, Hannibal is known for his chilling calmness. He is also a skilled chef and uses his culinary talents to mask his gruesome appetites.
His childhood was marked by profound trauma. During World War II, Hannibal witnessed the murder of his sister, Mischa, who was killed and cannibalised by soldiers. This horrifying event plays a key role in shaping his violent behaviour.
Top victims:
- Beverly Katz (dissected and displayed)
- Abel Gideon (organs removed while conscious)
- Matteo Deogracias (stabbed in the femoral artery)
3 /7
Appeared in: You (2018–2025)
Played by: Penn Badgley
Direct kills: 23
Kill method: Strangulation, blunt force, stabbing
Profile: A bookshop clerk and later a literature professor, Joe is manipulative and deadly. He becomes fixated on the women he falls for. This eventually leads him to stalk them under the guise of love and go to extreme lengths to eliminate anyone he finds as a threat to their relationship.
Top victims:
- Guinevere Beck (strangled in bookstore basement)
- Peach Salinger (shot in the woods)
- Jasper Krenn (dismembered with a saw)
Also read: Breaking down the ending of You season 5
4 /7
Appeared in: The Following (2013–2015)
Played by: James Purefoy
Direct kills: 32+
Kill method: Strangulation, stabbing, shooting
Profile: A literature professor-turned-serial killer, Joe Carroll is obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe’s works, which heavily influence his brutal killings. Unlike serial killers driven by childhood trauma, Joe’s murders stem from a desire for control and thrill. He also leads a dangerous cult that carries out his deadly commands.
Top victims:
Sarah Fuller (stabbed)
Olivia Warren (strangled)
Wendy Porter (mutilated)
5 /7
Appeared in: Bates Motel (2013–2017)
Played by: Freddie Highmore
Direct kills: 10
Kill method: Stabbing, smothering, blunt force, poisoning
Profile: A troubled teenager suffering from dissociative identity disorder, Norman’s complex relationship with his mother, Norma, leads him to adopt her personality unconsciously. In his “Mother” persona, he mostly kills women he feels drawn to or betrayed by.
Top victims:
- Miss Blaire Watson (throat slashed in bed)
- Bradley Martin (bludgeoned with a rock)
- Norma Bates (poisoned by carbon monoxide)
6 /7
Appeared in: The Fall (2013–2016)
Played by: Jamie Dornan
Direct kills: 10
Kill method: Stalking followed by strangulation
Profile: Peter Paul Spector is a grief counsellor and family man who lives a double life as a methodical serial killer. He grew up in a care home and was subjected to emotional and sexual abuse. This left deep psychological scars that fuelled his later descent into violence.
Top victims:
- Sarah Kay
- Fiona Gallagher
- Alice Monroe
7 /7
Appeared in: You (2019–2021)
Played by: Victoria Pedretti
Direct kills: 5
Kill method: Stabbing, blunt force, poison
Profile: A chef and health guru, Love works at a grocery store and café owned by her family. However, beneath her charming exterior, Love is also a killer driven by a delusional need to protect her loved ones. This makes her both a partner and a deadly threat to Joe Goldberg.
Top victims:
- Natalie Engler (stabbed in the neck)
- Candace Stone (buried alive)
- Ryan Goodwin (stabbed in the throat)
(Image credit: Netflix/X)