Ed Gein, a notorious serial k-----, was arguably so creative at the heinous job that he single-handedly spawned not one but several fictional villains. His grizzly crimes have been inspiring and holding the horror cinema and television lines for decades. Filmmakers and authors used his life as an inspiration to create unforgettable antagonists.

Ranging from pure psychological fear to slasher mayhem, Gein has been the model for quite a few fictional monsters whom true-crime enthusiasts adore.

Looking for a comprehensive list of all the Ed Gein-inspired movies and TV shows? Dive right in. 

Psycho (1960) remains one of the greatest horror films in existence. Director Alfred Hitchcock launched his famous taxidermy enthusiast loner protagonist in Norman Bates through this film that changed Hollywood forever. His preoccupation with his mom and the creepy hotel where they both reside has uncanny parallels to Ed Gein's life. 

Author of Psycho's source novel, Robert Bloch, on the other hand, denied the connection directly. But the likenesses between Bates's obsession and Gein's horrific existence are easily sensed in the psychological terror depicted in the film. It is available to rent on Apple TV.

After Ed Gein's 1957 arrest and the movie, Psycho, several horror productions flooded the coming decades with the Ed Gein curiosity.

Tobe Hooper brought in an innovative touch to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,  but he did not directly portray the life of Ed Gein. However, the film's cannibalistic antagonist, Leatherface's skinning of his victims, and making masks out of them came straight out of Gein's playbook. 

The legendary horror icon, Leatherface, offered the wide-ranging creativity of Gein's terror, particularly his flesh masks. Revealing the notorious graverobber as his inspiration, director Hooper, according to The Flashback Files, said, “To me [Gein] was like a real boogeyman."  

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Peacock, Apple TV and more.

Loosely based on the crimes of Ed Gein, this psychological horror film is directed by Alan Ormsby and Jeff Gillen and stars Roberts Blossom as Ezra Cobb. Cobb takes the lead in the film as a serial k----- who embarks on a brutal m----- and grave-robbing spree.

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Deranged (1974) currently has limited streaming options; however, true crime fanatics invested in chilling stories can rent it on Apple TV, Amazon Video, or Fubo in the US.

Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins' Oscar-winning, terrifying thriller is a mind-numbingly psychological masterpiece. In this film, Buffalo Bill was partly inspired by Ed Gein's skinning of body parts to create garments. 

Thomas Harris's source novel intermingled several real-life ki----- in the character, but Gein's spooky objects clearly have a say in Buffalo Bill’s motives and expressions. Stream The Silence of the Lambs (1991) on Kanopy, hoopla, plex, or rent on Apple TV.

The Hannibal series further probes into the The Silence of the Lambs lore and its cannibalistic criminal, Hannibal Lecter, portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen. Hannibal's genius thrives in blurring the lines between body horror and psychological terror. 

With 3 seasons and 39 episodes in total, the show also stars Hugh Dancy, Gillian Anderson, Caroline Dhavernas, and more. It is available to stream on Prime Video. 

Rob Zombie’s black comedy horror pays a homage to Ed Gein’s creepy souvenirs, grotesque skull bowls, and flesh masks. A refreshing take on Gein's wild legacy, this movie blends humor with gore. It is streaming on HBO Max and is also available to rent on Apple TV.

House of 1000 Corpses (2003) is essentially a product of inspiration drawn from Leatherface and Buffalo Bill, making it an intriguing watch throughout.

On the documentary front, Netflix’s anthology, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, literally revolves around Ed Gein’s life. This 2025 show, led by Charlie Hunnam playing the infamous k----- single-handedly sparked massive interest in Ed Gein's chilling real-life events. 

From major silver screen hits to the contemporary explorations in Netflix’s anthology, Ed Gein has continued to guide and inspire true crime horror movies and TV series that are worth viewing even almost half a century after his death. 

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What is your favorite movie or show inspired by Ed Gein? Comment your thoughts below.