Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer

Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer

Seen it?

1992 | 87 min | Documentary, Crime

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime fans and the curious. If you loved 13th or Michael Clayton, start here.
The mood
Gritty, eye-opening.
The pace
Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 27 min.
What might put you off
Rated R: meant for adults.

In this documentary, filmmaker Nick Broomfield follows the saga of Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute who has been accused of committing a brutal series of murders. Broomfield conducts interviews with Wuornos herself, and his crew films her trial as well as her interactions with religious fanatic Arlene Pralle, who gives Wuornos dubious advice and legally adopts her. The cameras also roll as the accused's attorney ignores the case at hand to negotiate a deal to sell his client's story.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerWeak

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 26K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Nick Broomfield

  • Aileen WuornosSelf
  • Nick BroomfieldSelf
  • Arlene PralleSelf
  • Tyria MooreSelf - Aileen's Girlfriend
  • Mike ReynoldsSelf - Biographer
  • Steve GlazerSelf - Lawyer
  • Merle CannonballSelf - Bartender, Last Resort
  • Jesse 'The Human Bomb' AvilesSelf
  • Brian JarvisSelf
  • Stéphane MarkcovichSelf