Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers

Between 1989 and 1990, Aileen Wuornos killed seven men across central Florida. The investigation quickly drew added attention because the female perpetrator didn’t fit the typical serial-killer profile. Wuornos was eventually convicted and, after years on Florida’s death row, executed in 2002. In the years since, the case has continued to reverberate in the culture, including through Charlize Theron’s Oscar‑winning portrayal of Wuornos in 2003’s Monster. Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers, directed by Emily Turner, reexamines Wuornos’ life and crimes nearly 40 years after they occured. Produced by the BBC Studios Documentary Unit in collaboration with NBC News Studios, the documentary features powerful audio interviews with those who knew her best, along with archival footage of former Dateline correspondent Michele Gillen. It also includes prison interviews with Wuornos herself, offering new insights into her crimes.