One of the most feared serial killers in American history was John Wayne Gacy. He murdered, raped, and tortured several boys, before eventually putting an end to their lives. His victims were 33 boys from various age groups. He operated mainly from Norwood Park Township, which is situated near Chicago, Illinois.

Gacy was nicknamed the Killer Clown because he was known for performing as a clown before officials discovered his crimes. He committed unspeakable acts from 1967 to 1978 but eventually got apprehended on December 21, 1978. His execution via lethal injection took place on May 10, 1994.

There have been a number of shows and films on the life of John Wayne Gacy. Here is a list of some of the best ones.

1. Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes

Netflix released Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes on April 20, 2022. It has never-before-heard audio footage from the infamous trial of the serial killer. It is a part of the Conversations with a Killer series. This series also includes Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes and Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes.

According to IMDb, its synopsis reads,

“Never-before-heard audio from the interrogation of serial killer John Wayne Gacy threads through this chilling look at his 1970s murder spree.”

It was created and directed by Joe Berlinger.

2. Gacy 

Clive Saunders directed and released on May 13, 2003, in the United States. The film showcases the exploits of the killer from all stages of his life. Mark Holton plays Gacy in the movie.

According to IMDb, the synopsis of the film reads,

“Model citizen, devoted father, loving husband, and serial killer John Wayne Gacy – a man with over 30 dead men and boys entombed in the crawl space underneath his family house. Based on a true story.”

Apart from Holton, it also stars Charlie Weber, Glenn Morshower, Allison Lange, etc.

3. House of 1000 Corpses

The film’s antagonist, Captain Spaulding, is inspired by John Wayne Gacy’s modus operandi. One similarity between Spaulding’s real-life counterpart was his affection for fried chicken.

According to IMDb, the synopsis of the film reads,

“Two young couples traveling across the backwoods of Texas searching for urban legends of murder end up as prisoners of a bizarre and sadistic backwater family of serial killers.”

House of 1000 Corpses stars Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon Zombie, Karen Black, and several others.

4. To Catch a Killer

Obviously, a list of John Wayne Gacy films is incomplete without the mention of 1992’s To Catch a Killer. Directed by Eric Till, the film showcases the elaborate pursuit of the Killer Clown.

According to IMDb, its synopsis reads,

“To Catch a Killer tells the true gruesome story of John Wayne Gacy – a good friend and helpful neighbor, a great child entertainer, a respectful businessman, and a violent serial killer who raped and murdered over 30 young boys.”

To Catch a Killer stars Brian Dennehy, Michael Riley, Margot Kidder, and several others.