5 best movies like Zodiac you shouldn't miss

Intro: How far will you go to uncover a mystery? How does obsession affect your judgment and impact your life? Director David Fincher, who returned to films five years after his previous work, Panic Room, explores this idea in Zodiac. The movie follows the fabled story of the Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area between December 1968 and October 1969.

An adaptation of Robert Graysmith's nonfiction books Zodiac (1986) and Zodiac Unmasked (2002), this movie compiles definitive events and records such as police reports, eyewitness testimony, ciphers, handwriting, and fingerprints. In fact, the Zodiac Killer case remains one of the famous unsolved crimes in American history. The movie itself studies human obsession and touches upon nihilism, a constant trope in Fincher’s films.

Dermot Mulroney, Adam Goldberg, and Mark Ruffalo in Zodiac. Credits: IMDb

Plot: On July 4, 1969, an unknown person attacks Darlene Ferrin (one of the victims of the Zodiac Killer) and Mike Mageau with a handgun at a lovers' lane in Vallejo, California. A month later, the San Francisco Chronicle received an encrypted letter written by the killer, "Zodiac," who threatens to kill a dozen people unless his coded message containing his identity is published.

What follows is the pursuit of the crime reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), political cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), and San Francisco police inspectors Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) in cracking the code and finding the killer. While the circumstantial evidence points to a certain person, the justice system requires physical evidence. Where they found the killer and what sacrifices they had to make to crack the code formed the crux of this movie.

Summary: When writer James Vanderbilt sent the script of Zodiac to David Fincher, he never expected Fincher to latch onto this story. However, as a child who spent his formative years in San Francisco, he instantly connected with the story. The writer and director were laser-focused on the fact that the film doesn’t depict any murder sequence in which there were no survivors to provide accurate details.

This movie was a technical masterpiece and marked David Fincher’s first experiment with the digital camera. Donald Graham Burt’s meticulous production design makes the 1960s setting feel authentic. The movie showcases a period from the late 1960s to the mid-80s, and these shifts are marked by music as it shifts genres between jazz, R&B, and psychedelic folk rock. Zodiac has been acclaimed as one of the most definitive crime thrillers of the 21st century.

Movies like the Zodiac for true-crime drama fans

True-crime dramas are indeed captivating and appeal to our curiosity. Explore more captivating crime and mystery movies to satisfy that investigative instinct. The list of five movies is underrated and deserves a retrospective view to uncover what's underneath.

#5: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

This is another perfect representation of Fincher's ability to capture a murder mystery with a dark and unsettling backdrop. The movie offers the same essence of Zodiac in its investigative approach and delivers as many suspenseful scenes as expected. Moreover, it has also been reviewed as more compelling and thrilling than the original 2009 Swedish-Danish crime movie.

Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Credits: IMDb

Director: David Fincher

Screenplay: Steven Zaillian

Story by: Stieg Larsson

Based on the book: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Awards:

Academy Award for Best Film Editing in 2012

Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Costume Design for a Contemporary Film in 2012

Where to watch

Summary: The adaptation of the Danish crime movie The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo follows a troubled journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, played by Daniel Craig, and his investigation of a forty-year-old unsolved murder of Swedish industrialist Henrik Vanger. With the aid of Lisbeth Salander, more is uncovered about the suspense behind what appeared to be an ordinary case of disappearance.

In the pursuit, they discover the dark secrets of murder and sexual abuse and the dark history of Sweden's industrial past. The movie uncovers the violence against women, the power of influence to cover a crime, and leaves a daunting question about the moral ambiguity.

#4: Memories of Murder (2003)

Director Bong Joon-ho leaves no stone unturned when he released this epic crime-thriller. Memories of Murder showcases the story of South Korea's first serial killer case. Based on the serial murders in 1986, the movie offers an immersive experience with a mix of psychological tension, emotional depth, and the scope of real-life detective work, much like Zodiac.

Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Byun Hee-Bong, Kim Roe-ha, and Park No-shik in Memories of Murder. Credits: ARTHAUS

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Screenplay: Bong Joon Ho, Shim Sung-bo

Based on: Come to See Me by Kim Kwang-lim

Produced: Cha Seung-jae

Cinematography: Kim Hyeong-gu

Awards:

Grand Bell Award for Best Actor in 2003

Grand Bell Award for Best Director in 2003

Blue Dragon Film Award Audience Choice Award for Most Popular Film in 2003

Where to watch

Summary: This investigative thriller by Bong Joon-ho is an exhilarating South Korean crime drama based on an active serial killer in the 1980s. In the movie, Park Doo-man, played by Song Kang-ho, and Seo Tae-yoon, played by Kim Sang-kyung, are two detectives who seek to investigate and solve the mysterious, violent murder. However, the plot brings two distinct approaches to solving the case.

The case of multiple murders in a small South Korean town traces the disagreement that looms between the two detectives and also draws the unfriendly relationship with the North. In a similar tone to Zodiac, the serial killer of this movie and the real-life murderer was never caught and conclusively identified, revealing the inefficiency of the investigative methods.

#3: No Man of God (2021)

If you are familiar with the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, this movie will intrigue you in exploring the mind of this infamous murderer. The movie is staged in an enclosed interrogation room and portrays the unsettling interaction between FBI analyst Bill Hagmaier and Ted Bundy.

An interrogation that delves into the psychological profile of America's most infamous criminal, originally named Theodore Robert Bundy. The interaction reveals the killer's clinical observation on good and evil and the thin line drawn between empathy and manipulation. Similar to Zodiac, the movie also explored the cryptic mentality of the killer.

Elijah Wood and Luke Kirby in No Man of God. Credits: IMDb

Director: Amber Sealey

Screenplay: C. Robert Cargill, Kit Lesser

Written by: C. Robert Cargill

Cinematography: Karina Silva

Awards:

Nominated for the Golden Frog in 2021

Nominated for Chlotrudis Awards in 2022

Where to watch

Summary: This claustrophobic drama captures intense interviews with death row inmate Ted Bundy, where an FBI profiler played by Elijah Wood digs into the mind of this serial killer. The suspenseful settings and rigorous taunts result in the true-life psycho killers confessing to the crimes committed. Luke Kirby's portrayal of Ted Bundy seems to have hit the right chord, including the physical resemblance, which is viewed as flawless.

What's more enigmatic about No Man of God is that the movie is adapted from a real-time audio tape recording. It reveals the eerie bond or relationship between Bundy and Bill Hagmaier during their interaction. In this calculative game of interaction, the plot centers on “knowing” Ted Bundy.

#2: Insomnia (2002)

Most movie enthusiasts are familiar with Christopher Nolan and his mind-bending work, including films such as Memento, Prestige, and Inception. However, this movie is a psychological and intense detective thriller. Interestingly, this is the only movie he has not written or co-written, and is an adaptation of a remake of the Norwegian film of the same name.

Insomnia follows the investigation of a teenager's murderer, where detective Will Dormer, played by Al Pacino, lands in a remote Alaskan town to investigate this grisly murder. The movie showcases him struggling with insomnia, which acts as a symbol of his inability to escape his own conscience.

Al Pacino and Robin Williams in Insomnia. Credits: IMDb

Director: Christopher Nolan

Screenplay: Hillary Seitz

Based on: Insomnia by Nikolaj Frobenius Erik Skjoldbjærg

Cinematography: Wally Pfister

Awards:

Nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture

London Critics Circle Film Award for British Director of the Year

Where to watch

Summary: Insomnia is set in a small town in Alaska in the summer months following a brutal murder. The plot begins with seasoned detective Will Dormer, played by Al Pacino, who has arrived in the Alaskan town with his partner. In the backdrop, Will's mind is threatened by Insomnia and his sanity when he accidentally shoots his partner.

The chaotic settings become more intense when novelist Walter Finch, played by Robin Williams, witnesses the accidental shooting and begins blackmailing Dormer. This tragic incident compels the protagonist to undertake a morally challenging decision. This movie treads the line of moral ambiguity, with a psychological breakdown of Dormer’s character similar to the Zodiac. It also shows how small ethical compromises can spiral into something more evil.

#1: Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Saving the best for last, The Silence of the Lambs is a psychological thriller masterpiece and one of the greatest movies ever made about a serial killer. At the 64th Academy Awards, it clinched the top five Oscars. This movie examines various shades of evil behavior and the idea of instilling fear to manipulate others.

The horror-suspense movie centers on young FBI trainee Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster, and the cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins. In one of his most iconic roles, Hopkins helps the FBI locate "Buffalo Bill," another serial killer. Does Hannibal Lecter’s escape scene ring a bell?

Jodie Foster & Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs. Credits: Film Affinity

Director: Jonathan Demme

Story by: Thomas Harris

Cinematography: Tak Fujimoto

Based on: The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Awards:

Academy Award for Best Picture in 1992

Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1992

Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 1992

Academy Award for Best Directing in 1992

Academy Award for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) in 1992

Where to watch

Summary: This movie reflects the cataclysmic image of a sociopathic and cannibalistic serial killer. In the movie, Anthony Hopkins's first appearance flawlessly manifested the look of a brilliant psychiatrist and a mass murderer. As the movie proceeds, “Hannibal the Cannibal” comes in contact with the FBI agent, Clarice Starling, who seeks his expertise in finding another mass murderer, “Buffalo Bill,” who skins his victims.

In this adaptation of Thomas Harris's best-selling novel, director Jonathan Demme produced a psychological thriller that delivers a bone-chilling experience with each watch. The never-dying character of Hannibal manifests how humanity, at times, unleashes unthinkable evils and how humankind can go wrong. Such dark narratives and haunting performances by iconic characters, such as John Carroll Lynch's in Zodiac, serve as milestones in the American psychological crime thriller.

Why psychological thrillers & movies like Zodiac haunt you?

Robert Downey Jr. and Jake Gyllenhaal in Zodiac. Credits: IMDb

Any “based on a true story” movie will instantly connect with the audience. Most might have heard of it, and maybe some of them lived through it. So they hook the audience as they imagine the reel characters playing the real-life characters, and the visual impact it leaves can be disturbing. Also, humans have a tendency to find a reason behind everything. An investigative thriller movie works well with the audience if it pulls it off with conviction.

Also, the characters in these movies have relatable issues, and we might put ourselves in their shoes and imagine the movie. Moreover, the pacing is deliberate and slow, which makes us feel what the character is going through. These movies also build an eerie atmosphere that disturbs and haunts you, but above all, it all feels authentic and true to life.

Final thoughts: Why do the best movies like Zodiac​ keep you guessing?

When the answers are offered to us on a platter, we are forced to think and solve the puzzle. As the characters in the movie unravel the mystery, we also tend to participate in the maze to resolve that particular case. Not just that, a movie that provides ambiguity will always open the room for discussion long after we leave the screen.

Deliberate pacing also gives the audience a sense of the depth of the world and the characters they follow. These movies touch upon the harsh realities of our current society, including limitations of justice, sexual abuse, and the power of manipulation.

People also ask

What movies are similar to Zodiac?

Movies like Memories of Murder, No Man of God, and The Silence of the Lambs are known to be similar to Zodiac.

Is Zodiac a hit or a flop?

Though it was critically acclaimed, the movie was a box office flop.

Is Zodiac 2007 based on a true story?

Yes, the Zodiac movie is based on the true story of the Zodiac Killer.

How many Zodiac films are there?

Zodiac Killer (1971) and The Zodiac (2005) are based on the Zodiac Killer.

Who was the real Zodiac?

As fascinating as it is to know the real identity of the Zodiac Killer, the mystery remains unknown, and the case is unsolved.