Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy


Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is an eight-episode, American true crime drama miniseries that premiered on October 16, 2025, on Peacock. It dramatizes the life and crimes of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who murdered dozens of young men and boys during the 1970s. In the United Kingdom, the series premiered on ITVX in January 2026.

Plot

The series portrays Gacy as a respected community member and serial killer. It explores the investigation leading to his capture, the lives of his victims, and the grief their families endured. Beyond detailing Gacy's crimes, the series examines systemic failures, societal prejudices, and missed opportunities that allowed him to evade detection for years.

Cast

Production

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is based on the similarly named 2021 Peacock docuseries John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise. The 2025 series shifts focus from the killer himself to the impact on his victims and the investigation that brought him to justice. Showrunner Patrick Macmanus emphasized the importance of highlighting the victims rather than sensationalizing Gacy.

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 22 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads, "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy offers a compassionate, morally clear reexamination of the infamous killer's crimes that honors victims and finds fresh purpose in retelling their stories." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.