| Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy | |
|---|---|
| Genre | True crime drama |
| Created by | Patrick Macmanus |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Peacock |
| Release | October 16, 2025 |
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.
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.
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. [1]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Ten Days" | Larysa Kondracki | Patrick Macmanus | October 16, 2025 |
| 2 | "Johnny" | Ashley Michel Hoban | Gregory Locklear | October 16, 2025 |
| 3 | "Samuel and Randy" | Maggie Kiley | Matthew White | October 16, 2025 |
| 4 | "Billy" | Maggie Kiley | Yasmin Almanaseer | October 16, 2025 |
| 5 | "Billy and Dale" | Bille Woodruff | Sebastián Rea | October 16, 2025 |
| 6 | "Tim, John and Rob" | Larysa Kondracki | Ashley Michel Hoban | October 16, 2025 |
| 7 | "David" | Bille Woodruff | Ahmadu Garba | October 16, 2025 |
| 8 | "Jeffrey" | Patrick Macmanus | Gregory Locklear & Matthew White | October 16, 2025 |
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." [2] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [3]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astra Creative Arts Awards | December 11, 2025 | Best Hairstyling - Television | Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy | Nominated | [4] |
| Best Main Title Design - Television | Nominated | ||||
| Best Makeup - Television | Won | ||||
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | January 4, 2026 | Best Limited Series | Nominated | [5] | |
| Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made For Television | Michael Chernus | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made For Television | Marin Ireland | Nominated |