Two Decades Before Evan Peters’ Golden Globe, Jeremy Renner Played the Same Chilling Role

Here is a fun bit of movie history trivia that always surprises people: long before Evan Peters turned Jeffrey Dahmer into a Netflix lightning rod, Jeremy Renner played him in a scrappy 2002 indie. Two very different projects. Same monster.

Yes, Jeremy Renner played Jeffrey Dahmer

The film is called 'Dahmer,' released in 2002 and directed by David Jacobson. It is a down-and-dirty horror-drama that tracks Dahmer’s spiral and his deeply broken past, covering the real murders of 17 young men between 1978 and 1991. It is smaller, moodier, and more character study than grand true-crime sweep, which makes sense for the budget and the era.

Evan Peters made it a phenomenon two decades later

Fast forward to 2022 and Netflix drops 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,' with Evan Peters in the lead. That version exploded in the culture, reigniting the public’s obsession with the case and earning Peters a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Television Film. Different format, different tone, much bigger spotlight.

Renner’s shoot was a whirlwind

Renner took the role before The Hurt Locker made him a household name, and he jumped in at a dead sprint. He told Interview Magazine that the whole thing came together at a speed that would give most actors whiplash:

"I didn't even know who Jeffrey Dahmer was, and then four days later after reading the script we're shooting principal photography, and two weeks later we're done. It was such a whirlwind..."

Because the prep window was basically nonexistent, he says he had to push himself into some uncomfortable headspace to make the performance work. That quick turnaround shows on screen in a good way: it is raw, unnerving, and not at all polished.

Where to watch it now (and the essentials)

• What it is: A 2002 indie horror-drama about Jeffrey Dahmer’s crimes and psychological decline
• Director: David Jacobson
• Cast: Jeremy Renner, Artel Great, Matt Newton, Dion Basco, Bruce Davison
• Running time: 102 minutes
• US streaming: Included with Prime Video; available to rent on Apple TV+
• Theatrical release: Limited run starting June 21, 2002
• Remaster: Blu-ray released August 11, 2020 by MVD Entertainment Group
• Scores: IMDb 5.6/10; Rotten Tomatoes 73%
• The Netflix version: 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' (2022) streams on Netflix in the US; Evan Peters won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Television Film

Which version works better?

Renner’s movie is a lean, eerie character piece. Peters’ series is a full-on cultural event with the production value to match. If you have the stomach for Dahmer on screen, they are oddly complementary takes: one intimate and scraped-raw, one expansive and meticulously engineered.

Seen both? Curious which portrayal hits harder for you. Renner’s 'Dahmer' is on Prime Video, and 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' is on Netflix in the US.