SummaryThe disappearance of a 15-year-old boy leads the police (James Badge Dale and Gabriel Luna) to John Wayne Gacy (Michael Chernus) and the breadth of his crimes in the limited series that focuses on the stories of the victims and their families. Peacock also released a documentary series in 2021 called "John Wayne Gacy: Devil In Disguise."
Created By:Patrick Macmanus
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Season 1 Premiere:
Oct 16, 2025
Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
User score
Generally Favorable
7.7
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All Seasons
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
92% Positive
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
8% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Oct 15, 2025
90
The result is a haunting series that emphasizes the humanity of the victims and the loss they experienced to their loved ones and the world. .... The show is also very clear about who’s at fault. Of course, primarily, it’s John Wayne Gacy, played by a phenomenal Michael Chernus.
Oct 16, 2025
88
Macmanus expertly weaves in how Gacy was brought to justice and highlights both the dogged determination of those involved with the law — detective Rafael Tover (Gabriel Luna) and prosecutor Bill Kunkle (Chris Sullivan) — as well as how the system failed to stop Gacy before. It adds depth and context, but it is the overwhelming sadness over how Gacy robbed these boys and young men of their futures that hits the hardest.
User score
Generally Favorable
88% Positive
23 Ratings
23 Ratings
8% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
4% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Nov 20, 2025
9
Chris Sullivan is a top-of-the-line actor and easily the standout performance of the cast. That's saying a lot because everyone did such an outstanding job at realizing this narrative with Peacock finally finding the secret to making outstanding television; and that is making the victims the main characters and breathing their humanity once more.
Feb 22, 2026
8
Me pareció una serie muy intensa e interesante. Cuenta una historia bastante dura, pero enfocándose más en las víctimas y en cómo falló el sistema, lo que la hace más impactante. Las actuaciones son muy buenas y me enganchó de principio a fin.
Oct 16, 2025
80
Devil in Disguise makes a lot of unexpected choices that set it apart both from the Monster franchise and typical true-crime genre fare.
Oct 15, 2025
80
The series’ pacing is uneven in spots and its messaging about media and law enforcement’s bias against the lifestyles of Gacy’s victims can feel a bit repetitive, but overall it tells a compelling story about one of the darkest chapters in America’s crime archives.
Oct 16, 2025
70
There’s a well-articulated sense of why we’re revisiting one of the most picked-over, thoroughly covered killing sprees of the 20th century, and what the series wants to say about the people and events it depicts. That quality is missing from so much true crime it’s worth praising, whatever flaws emerge in the telling.
Oct 15, 2025
70
It isn’t completely effective, but it’s substantive and avoids sensationalizing one of the most sensational cases of the 20th century. I’d call it “bordering on worthwhile” in a genre too oversaturated for anything to be “necessary.” Some bloodthirsty audiences will call it “dull.”
Oct 17, 2025
50
This is not feel-good television or easy watching after a long day at work. This is challenging, distressing and harrowing storytelling about some of the worst things humanity has ever witnessed. But like so many similar shows in the genre, "Devil" can't transcend beyond a rehash of the facts.
Oct 16, 2025
8
I was intrigued when I first saw this it was very well written and very well adapted and the main character Michael Chernus played Gacy very well.. even tho I wanted more horror gore they kept it respectful for the family and loved ones. It's highly recommended I was hooked from the start
Oct 17, 2025
8
"Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy" makes a lot of unexpected choices that set it apart both from the Monster franchise and typical true-crime genre fare.
Production Company:
- Littleton Road Productions
- NBC News Studios
- Universal Content Productions (UCP)
Initial Release Date:Oct 16, 2025
Number of seasons:1 Season
Rating:TV-MA
Awards
Astra Creative Arts Awards
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Critics Choice Awards
• 3 Nominations
Critics Choice Awards Celebration of Cinema & Television
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
