Happy Face is a true crime drama series created by Jennifer Cacicio. Based on the 2018 podcast of the same name by Meissa Moore and Moore’s 2009 autobiography Shattered Silence, the Paramount+ series follows Melissa Jesperson-Moore, who discovered that her father is the notorious serial killer Happy Face Killer at the age of 15. Now, she is contacted by her father, who promises to tell her about his unknown victims. Happy Face stars Annaleigh Ashford, James Wolk, Dennis Quaid, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne, and Benjamin Mackey. So, if you loved the psychologically thrilling mysteries, intense story, and compelling characters in Happy Face, here are some similar shows you should check out next.
Mindhunter (Netflix)
Mindhunter is a psychological crime thriller drama series created by Joe Penhall. Based on the 1995 true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, the Netflix series follows FBI Agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as they travel to various prisons to interview notorious serial killers so that they can understand their psychology to create a way to catch serial killers by using psychology. Mindhunter stars Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv, Hannah Gross, Cotter Smith, Stacey Roca, Cameron Britton, and Michael Cerveris.
The Serpent (Netflix)
The Serpent is a British crime drama series created by Richard Warlow and Toby Finlay. Based on the life of French serial killer Charles “the Serpent” Sobhraj, the Netflix series is set in the mid-1970s, and it follows serial killer Charles Sobhraj and his girlfriend, who kill people and use their passports to travel the world and sell his victim’s possessions. The Serpent stars Tahar Rahim, Jenna Coleman, Billy Howle, Ellie Bamber, Amesh Edireweera, and Tim McInnerny.
The Act (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
The Act is a biographical crime drama series created by Nick Antosca and Michelle Dean. Based on the life of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the Hulu series revolves around a single living with her chronically ill mother. It is soon discovered that the daughter is not actually ill and her mother is the one who’s making her sick. The Act stars Patricia Arquette, Joey King, AnnaSophia Robb, Chloë Sevigny, and Calum Worthy.
Black Bird (Apple TV+)
Black Bird is a true crime thriller drama series created by Dennis Lehane. Based on the 2010 autobiographical novel In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene and Hillel Levin, the Apple TV+ series follows James “Jimmy” Keene, a once-promising football star who is arrested and faces 10 years in prison. He is soon offered a deal that will see him walk free, but in return, he must make a dangerous serial killer in the same prison to confess to his murders. Black Bird stars Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Sepideh Moafi, Greg Kinnear, and Ray Liotta.
Prodigal Son (Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Prodigal Son is a police procedural crime drama series created by Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver. The Fox series follows former FBI profiler Malcolm Bright, who’s the son of the notorious serial killer known as “the Surgeon.” He soon begins consulting with the NYPD to catch disturbing killers. Prodigal Son stars Tom Payne, Lou Diamond Phillips, Halston Sage, Aurora Perrineau, Frank Harts, Keiko Agena, Bellamy Young, and Michael Sheen.
Hannibal (Prime Video, Pluto TV & AMC+)
Hannibal is a psychological crime thriller drama series created by Bryan Fuller. Based on the Hannibal books by Thomas Harris, the NBC series follows FBI Special Investigator Will Graham, who possesses the unique ability to see the crime scene through the eyes of the killer, but he struggles with various psychological issues. To get some help with that, he frequently attends sessions with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter. But Will doesn’t know that Hannibal is a notorious serial killer. Hannibal stars Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Hettienne Park, Laurence Fishburne, Scott Thompson, Aaron Abrams, and Gillian Anderson.
The Following (Plex & Rent on Prime Video)
The Following is a psychological crime thriller drama series created by Kevin Williamson. The Fox series follows retired FBI Agent Ryan Hardy, who is brought back into the action after a serial killer he caught escapes from death row with the help of his followers. The Following stars Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, Jessica Stroup, Valorie Curry, Nico Tortorella, Adan Canto, Kyle Catlett, and Maggie Grace.