10 Disgraceful Times True Crime Dramas Made Real Killers Sexy

10 Disgraceful Times True Crime Dramas Made Real Killers Sexy

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at films and TV shows that cast attractive actors to play actual murderers.

Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (2018)

When it comes to portraying a killer who was actually considered attractive, true crime drama creators obviously want to cast a good-looking actor. For the second season of “American Crime Story,” Ryan Murphy turned to Darren Criss, best known as Blaine Anderson on “Glee,” to embody Andrew Cunanan. Famously, the spree killer murdered multiple men, with his final victim being Italian designer Gianni Versace. Cunanan has been described as outgoing and intelligent, but also known to be a compulsive liar. Compared to Murphy’s other salacious works, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” wasn’t as offensive, though the Versace family did speak out on the show’s inaccuracies. Viewers still loved Criss’ outstanding performance, which earned him a Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice, SAG Award, and Emmy.

Rob Lowe as Drew Peterson

“Drew Peterson: Untouchable” (2012)

Since making a name for himself in the late 1980s, Rob Lowe has become a bona fide movie star, member of the Brat Pack, and an all-around national treasure. Although he made several comedies and dramas, people weren’t sure what to expect with 2012’s “Drew Peterson: Untouchable.” The two men look nothing alike, and Lowe has always been considered handsome. To become a convicted murderer, the actor dyed his hair blonde and donned a prominent mustache, along with old-age makeup. Of course, fans could still see the Hollywood hunk underneath. Lowe accepted the challenge, showing his range. The Lifetime movie wasn’t deemed salacious, though the real Drew Peterson was not a fan.

Young Actors as The Broward Seven

“Bully” (2001)

Based on Jim Schutze’s 1997 book, indie filmmaker Larry Clark dramatized the 1993 murder of Bobby Kent in Florida. Kent mentally and physically abused his best friend Marty Puccio, Marty’s girlfriend Lisa Connelly, and her friend Ali Willis, motivating their decision to kill him. Clark cast Brad Renfro as Puccio and Nick Stahl as the titular tormentor, both former child stars and ‘90s heartthrobs. Well-known model/socialite Bijou Phillips played an overly-sexualized Willis. Phillips and up-and-comer Kelli Garner’s Heather Swallers were often scantily clad, as was Rachel Miner’s Connelly, noticeably slimmer than her real-life counterpart. While the young actors, including Michael Pitt’s Donny Semenec, Daniel Franzese’s Derek Dzvirko, and Leo Fitzpatrick’s Derek Kaufman, delivered powerful performances, viewers found the gratuitous nudity exploitative.

Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer

“Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (2022)

When it comes to true crime, Ryan Murphy knows how to make the retellings binge-worthy and controversial. In the inaugural season of his “Monster” anthology, the prolific producer told the story of Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who took the lives of over 15 young men between 1978 and 1991. Frequent Murphy collaborator Evan Peters slightly favored Dahmer, but the distinct glasses and mannerisms made the resemblance uncanny. Like former “Disney” star Ross Lynch, who played a high school version in 2017’s “My Friend Dahmer,” Peters has a massive fanbase, particularly young women. Although they were actually thirsting after shirtless Evan Peters, fans on social media found Dahmer was sympathetic and attractive. Despite the mixed reactions, Peters and Lynch were widely praised for their portrayals.

Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (2025)

For the third installment of Netflix’s “Monster,” Ryan Murphy dramatized the life and crimes of Ed Gein, aka the Butcher of Plainfield. In an episode of “The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” Shane Kerwin played Gein in a brief scene. Charlie Hunnam led this season, a surprising choice considering the actor’s age and appearance. Often mistakenly labeled a serial killer, Ed Gein was confirmed to have murdered at least two women, though suspected of more. The notorious graverobber is mostly known for his, erm, proclivity for human skin that inspired classic films, including “Psycho,” “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” and “The Silence of the Lambs.” Hunnam showed off his toned physique, drawing criticism for depicting an uncharacteristically ripped Gein.

Peyton List as Aileen Wuornos

“Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman” (2021)

For many audiences, they first learned about serial killer Aileen Wuornos from Patty Jenkins’ “Monster.” The acclaimed 2003 biopic starred Charlize Theron, who went through an impressive transformation, earning an Oscar for her portrayal. Set in the 1970s, Daniel Farrands’ “American Boogeywoman” sees a 20-something Wuornos as a swindling femme fatale, forcing her way into the lavish life of affluent yacht club president Lewis Fell. Disney and “Cobra Kai” star Peyton List plays the runaway sex worker, but unlike Theron, her appearance wasn’t significantly altered. Instead, the movie depicts List’s Wuornos as a young, irresistible seductress. Farrands has a reputation for embellishing true crime cases for entertainment. While the real Wuornos was briefly married to Lewis Fell, “American Boogeywoman” takes a lot of creative liberties.

Nicholas Alexander Chavez & Cooper Koch as Lyle & Erik Menendez

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” (2024)

When it came to season two of “Monster,” fans weren’t sure how to feel about Ryan Murphy taking on the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, the brothers convicted of killing their parents in 1989. Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who play Erik and Lyle, respectively, were acknowledged for their phenomenal performances. But most viewers were put off by the hypersexualization of the siblings, beginning with the teaser trailer, and called Murphy out for implying they had an intimate relationship. The homoerotic moments between Lyle and Erik, including a kiss, were especially problematic considering the brothers allegedly suffered years of their father’s horrific abuse. Family members, legal professionals, and the real brothers themselves condemned Murphy’s series, which they deemed inaccurate and sensationalized.

Zach Villa as Richard Ramirez

“American Horror Story: 1984” (2019)

Ryan Murphy doesn’t just depict real-life killers in his “American Crime Story” and “Monster” anthology series. In the slasher-centric “AHS: 1984,” one of the main characters was Satanic serial killer Richard Ramirez, aka the Night Stalker, played by Zach Villa, who bears a strong resemblance to a young Ramirez. In addition to making a convicted murderer into a sexy, bad-boy rebel, Murphy gave him supernatural abilities and a love interest who finds his brutality alluring. Like many serial killer enthusiasts who fawn over Ramirez, “AHS” forgoes his reportedly poor hygiene and decayed teeth, instead reimagining him as a sexy, rockstar-like figure. While some fans found Villa’s fictionalized version compelling, others derided the series for being tasteless and disrespectful to the very real victims.

The Manson Family

Various

Cult leader Charles Manson has been the subject of countless documentaries and dramatizations, with the “family” regularly depicted as beautiful, scantily clad hippies. While there’s truth to that, most movies and shows overly sexualize the Manson girls, namely Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten. For “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino cast rising starlets Mikey Madison, Margaret Qualley, Sydney Sweeney, and heartthrob Austin Butler as family members. Sometimes Manson himself is romanticized, like when he was played by beloved “Doctor Who” star Matt Smith in “Charlie Says.” The most egregious example is 2009’s “Manson, My Name Is Evil,” a campy dark comedy centered on Kristen Hager’s Leslie, and a young juror’s growing sexual attraction and obsession with her.

Zac Efron as Ted Bundy

“Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” (2019)

When people hear “serial killer,” more often than not, they’re thinking of Ted Bundy. Netflix’s “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” is based on the 1981 memoir “The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy,” written by his longtime girlfriend Elizabeth. Since it’s from her perspective, the film forgoes detailing his heinous crimes, only presenting the charismatic facade. Bundy has often been described as handsome and charming. So casting the famously good-looking Zac Efron of “High School Musical” fame didn’t seem like too much of a stretch. Fans posted scores of “thirst edits,” but the director, Joe Berlinger, stood firm that his film wasn’t glorifying Bundy. Unlike the oddly miscast Chad Michael Murray in “American Boogeyman,” Efron at least captured Bundy’s nuances.

What did you think of these casting choices? Let us know in the comments below.