Is 'Mindhunter' Based on a Real Story?

The second season of Netflix's Mindhunter has officially hit the streaming service today, and just like the first season, it's already got people wondering about the real life story behind it. For starters, the short answer is yes, the show is based on a true story. The long answer is that both seasons are based on a few true crime cases, and we're about to break them down for you.

The Real Story Behind Mindhunter Season 2

Season 2 follows Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford again, who is based on the famous FBI Agent John E. Douglas. According to Esquire, their investigations are inspired by what is now known as the Atlanta Child Murders (1979–1981), Charles Manson, who ran the infamous cult most notable for their murders in 1969, the BTK Killer (real name Dennis Rader), who killed at least 10 people between 1974 and 1991—who we saw in Season 1, and David Berkowitz, who committed eight shooting attacks from 1976 to 1977—who we also saw in Season 1.

The Real Story Behind Mindhunter Season 1

Similarly, Season 1 was also based on true crime cases, featuring stories inspired by Rader and Berkowitz, along with Ed Kemper, who murdered 10 people between 1972 and 1973, Monte Ralph Rissell, murdered five women between 1976 and 1977, Jerry Brudos, who killed at least four women between 1968 and 1969, Richard Speck, who killed eight student nurses on one night in 1966, and Darrell Gene Devier, who murdered a 12-year-old girl in 1979.

Along with Groff, Mindhunter stars Holt McCallany, Anna Torv, and Stacey Roca. It was created by Joe Penhall (The Road), and Academy Award nominee David Fincher serves as an executive producer.