Ted Bundy Movies Ranked from Best to Worst

Ted Bundy was an American serial killer who has become a staple figure in the true-crime world, and through books, movies, documentaries and television series the story of his crimes has become well known.

Bundy kidnapped, raped and murdered at least 30 women during the 1970s, potentially earlier. In 1978, he was tried for the murders of Lisa Levy, 20, Margaret Bowman, 21, and Kimberly Diane Leach,12. He received three death sentences.

Just days before his execution Bundy confessed to 30 murders during a series of interviews with Stephen Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth, which were the basis for the Netflix documentary series Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. He died in the electric chair on January 24, 1989.

Two movies about Bundy premiered in U.S. theaters on Monday, August 16, No Man of God and Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman, sparking an online discussion, particularly on Twitter, about why so many films and documentaries are made about him. In particular, the release of the film's trailers earlier this summer (within 48 hours of each other) raised eyebrows online, with some pointing out his popularity in Hollywood would have been exactly what he wanted.

Another user took to Twitter to voice their opinion. They wrote: "When will we be free of Hollywood painting Ted Bundy as this handsome genius?" Others made jokes about a world without Ted Bundy films.

The reviews have yet to come flooding through for No Man of God and Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman. However, you can go see both films in U.S. cinemas now.

No Man of God, which was released on Monday, August 16, is directed by Amber Sealey and written by Doctor Strange's C. Robert Cargill. It's based on real life transcripts between Bundy (Luke Kirby) and GFBI analyst Bill Hagmaier (Elijah Wood) between 1984 and 1989.

Speaking to Refinery 29, Sealey shared her belief other films have glorified the killer while No Man of God, shows a different side.

She said: "They always glorify him. They make him out to be a male model — so smart, so charismatic, a master of disguise. I don't see that. When I look at him and I watch interviews and I listen to the tapes, I see a deeply insecure, needy — almost like an incel — kind of guy who just wants accolades and wants people to tell him how great he is."

In a similar vain to Joe Berlinger's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, American Boogeyman features an early 2000s teen heartthrob in the main role.

Chad Michael Murray, best known for playing Lucas Scott in One Tree Hill from 2003 until 2009, portrays Ted Bundy in Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman, which retells Bundy's killing spree, and the manhunt to catch him.

Ted Bundy Movies Ranked Best to Worst

1. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, released in 2019 starred High School Musical star Zac Efron in the role of Ted Bundy.

Joe Berlinger directed the film, which was also at the helm of Netflix's Conversations with a Killer. It featured extensive interviews with Bundy while he was on death row.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile takes its name from judge Edward Cowart (John Malkovich), who made the remarks when sentencing Bundy to death.
The film was told mainly from the perspective of Bundy's longtime girlfriend, Liz Kloepfer (Lily Collins), whose book The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy served as the inspiration for the film.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile begins in 1969 when Elizabeth and Bundy met and follows Bundy's murderous spree up until his imprisonment.
Starring alongside Efron is Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario and Jim Parsons.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile received mixed reviews from critics, but Efron's performance was praised.

At the moment, the film holds a score of 52 out of 100 on popular review site Metacritic and just 54% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is streaming on Netflix now.

2. The Deliberate Stranger

The Deliberate Stranger is the oldest film about Ted Bundy and premiered while he was still on death row. He was executed in 1989.

Based on the book of the same name, The Deliberate Stranger was a two-part television movie broadcast on NBC in May 1986.

The film begins with the murder of Georgann Hawkins and subsequent murders in Washington, Utah, Colorado and Florida.

This meant it omitted significant parts of the Bundy case, including his first six known victims, including Karen Sparks who was bludgeoned and sexually assaulted in her bed in January 1974, but survived as detailed by Hugh Aynesworth and Stephen Michaud in The Only Living Witness: The True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy. Michaud and Aynesworth were the two journalists who interviewed Bundy while on death row.

NCIS star Mark Harmon received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Bundy with Bundy's lawyer, Polly Nelson, in her book Defending the Devil describing the film as "stunningly accurate."

The Deliberate Stranger is streaming on Netflix now.

3. The Stranger Beside Me

The Stranger Beside Me, released in 2003 is a television movie based on the book of the same name by Ann Rule.

The film follows Ann Rule, who knew Bundy before his arrest and capture in 1978 when they worked together at a crisis call center.

Bundy was played by Billy Campbell, and Barbara Hershey played Rule.

At the moment, The Stranger Beside Me holds a rating of just 41% on Rotten Tomatoes.

You can watch The Stranger Beside Me on Amazon Prime Video now.

4. Bundy

Bundy is a 2003 American crime film directed and co-written by Matthew Bright.

The film stars Michael Reilly Burke as Bundy, alongside Boti Bliss as Bundy's girlfriend Lee.

Bundy is often ranked as one of the worst Bundy films, considering the film strays from true events and real people.

For example, Bundy's girlfriend Lee didn't exist. Instead, the character is based on his real-life girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer.

The film received mixed reviews from critics at the time of its release, with many calling it "exploitative," Screenrant reported.

Just like Zac Efron in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, Michael Reilly Burke received high praise for his performance in a very average film.

At the moment, the film holds just 5.8 out of 10 on popular review site IMDb.

Bundy is streaming on Amazon Prime Video now.

5. Bundy: A Legacy of Evil

Originally known as Bundy: An American Icon, Bundy: A Legacy of Evil is a 2008 horror film about the early life and criminal career of Bundy.

The film attempts to give the audience an insight into Bundy's childhood in a bid to try and explain why and how Bundy became a serial killer.

Corin Nemec portrayed Ted Bundy, opposite Shannon Pierce Wilkins as his mother.

David DeLuise starred as Detective Jennings and Jay Pickett as Ross Davies.

The film received mostly negative reviews due to its questionable timeline and fabricated plot points.

Bundy: A Legacy of Evil is streaming on Amazon Prime now.

No Man of God and Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman are out in U.S. theaters now.