- Do you like to watch thriller movies?
- Are you looking for a movie that has got good ratings, and gets good reviews?
- If you like movies and TV series then what do you like to watch?
- Do you have a subscription to Criterion and Hulu?
- Do you want to make your weekend a great weekend?
Let's make this weekend a memorable one by watching these 12 psychological thriller movies!
A psychological thriller is a genre that combines the thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological stories in a thriller or thriller setting. It is often told from the point of view of psychologically stressed characters, revealing their distorted mental perceptions and focusing on the complex and often tortured relationships between obsessive and pathological characters.
Psychological thrillers often include elements of Mystery, Drama, Action, and Paranoia. The genre is closely related to and sometimes overlaps with, the Psychological Drama and Psychological Horror Genres, the latter typically involving more horror and terror elements and themes and more disturbing or frightening situations.
Which are the 12 psychological thriller movies that will make us think?
ARRIVAL (2016)
A 2016 movie - Arrival is an American Science Fiction Movie directed by Denis Villeneuve and adapted by Eric Heisserer, who conceived the project as a spec script based on the 1998 short story "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang. The film stars Amy Adams as Louise Banks, a linguist recruited by the United States Army to figure out how to communicate with extra-terrestrial aliens who have arrived on Earth before tensions lead to war. 
On September 1, 2016 "Arrival" had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and on November 11, 2016, Paramount Pictures released it theatrically in the United States. It grossed $203 million worldwide and received critical acclaim, with special praise for Adams' performance. It is considered one of the best films of 2016, Arrival appeared on numerous critics' year-end lists and was selected as one of the ten films of the year by the American Film Institute.
It received eight nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Sound Editing. For her performance, Adams received BAFTA, SAG, and Critics' Choice nominations, and at the 74th Golden Globe Awards, Adams was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and Johan Johansson was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. The film won the Ray Bradbury Award for Best Dramatic Performance and the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Performance in 2017.
| Directed by | Denis Villeneuve |
| Starring | Jeremy Renner, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amy Adams, Tzi Ma, Forest Whitaker |
| Release Dates | 11 November 2016 (United States), 1 September 2016 (Venice) |
| Running time | 116 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Vudu | Google users |
| 7.9/10 | 95% | 4.1/5 | 87% liked this film |
BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (2014)
"Before I Go to Sleep" is a Mystery Psychological Thriller Movie written and directed by Rowan Joffe that was released in 2014. This movie is based on Watson's 2011 novel "Before I Go to Sleep". The film is an international co-production between the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Sweden.
| Directed by | Rowan Joffe |
| Starring | Colin Firth, Anne-Marie Duff, Nicole Kidman, Mark Strong |
| Release Dates | 4 September 2014 (New Zealand), 5 September 2014 (United Kingdom) |
| Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | Google users |
| 6.3/10 | 37% | 41% | 72% liked this film |
GET OUT (2017)
"Get Out" is an American Psychological Horror Movie directed by Jordan Peele in 2017. The plot follows a younger black guy (Kaluya) who uncovers stunning secrets when he meets the family of his white lady friend (Williams).
On January 23, 2017, at Sundance Film Festival "Get Out" movie premiered and on February 24, 2017, become launched theatrically inside the US, with the aid of customary pictures.
In this movie Chris, an African-American man decides to visit his Caucasian girlfriend's parents during a weekend getaway. Although they seem normal at first, she is unwilling to experience the horrors ahead.
| Directed by | Jordan Peele |
| Starring | Catherine Keener, Allison Williams, Daniel Kaluuya, Bradley Whitford, Stephen Root, Caleb Landry Jones |
| Release Dates | February 24, 2017 (United States) |
| Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Vudu | Google users |
| 7.7/10 | 98% | 4.3/5 | 87% liked this film |
ENEMY (2013)
The "Enemy" is a Psychological Drama Movie produced by Faura and Niv Fichman in 2013. It was loosely adapted from José Saramago's 2002 novel "The Double". The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal in the dual role of two men who are physically identical, but different in personality.
At the Toronto International Film Festival of 2013, on September 8, "Enemy" premiered in the Special Presentations section. Enemy received ten nominations at the Second Canadian Screen Awards, winning five, including the Canadian Screen Award for Best Director for Villeneuve and Best Supporting Actress for Gadon.
| Directed by | Denis Villeneuve |
| Starring | Isabella Rossellini, Melanie Laurent, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sarah Gadon |
| Release Dates | 14 March 2014 (Canada), |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Canada, France, Spain |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Letterboxd | Google users |
| 6.9/10 | 71% | 3.7/5 | 76% liked this film |
SHUTTER ISLAND (2010)
"Shutter Island" is an American Neo-Noir Psychological Thriller Movie directed by Martin Scorsese in 2010. This movie is based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane. Leonardo DiCaprio as Deputy U.S. Marshall plays Edward "Teddy" Daniels, who investigates a psychiatric hospital on Shutter Island after one of the patients goes missing. On February 19, 2010, this movie was released, and the film received mostly positive reviews from critics. This Psychological Movie was selected by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2010.
| Directed by | Martin Scorsese |
| Starring | Max von Schadow, Mark Ruffalo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Michelle Williams |
| Release Dates | February 19, 2010 (United States) |
| Running time | 139 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Vudu | Google users |
| 8.2/10 | 68% | 4.2/5 | 91% liked this film |
PARASITE (2019)
"Parasite" is a South Korean Black Comedy Thriller Movie directed by Bong Joon-ho in 2019. In this Comedy movie, a plan is to hire a wealthy family and infiltrate their home by posing as an unrelated, highly qualified individual.
At the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, on May 21, this movie premiered, where it became the first South Korean film to win the Palme d'Or. "Parasite" also won the leading four awards at the 92nd Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. "Parasite", a comedy thriller movie is the first South Korean film to receive an Academy Award nomination, as well as one of three films to win both the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Picture.
| Directed by | Bong Joon-ho |
| Starring | Lee Sun-kyun, Choi Woo-shik, Song Kang-ho, Jung Hae-jin, Lee Jung-eun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Park So-dam |
| Release Dates | 30 May 2019 (South Korea) |
| Running time | 132 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Letterboxd | Google users |
| 8.5/10 | 99% | 4.6/5 | 90% liked this film |
THE GIFT (2015)
A psychological thriller film "The Gift" (2015) was directed by Joel Edgerton.
In this psychological thriller film, a married couple, Simon and Robin, meet an old acquaintance, Gordo. Things take a turn when Gordo starts visiting their house unannounced and floods them with mysterious gifts.
| Directed by | Joel Edgerton |
| Starring | Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton, Jason Bateman |
| Release Dates | 7 August 2015 (United States) |
| Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | Australia, United States |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Google users |
| 7/10 | 91% | 74% liked this film |
SEVEN (1995)
An American Neo-Noir Psychological Crime Thriller Movie "Seven" (1995) directed by David Fincher. The film tells the story of detective David Mills (Pitt), who partners with retired William Somerset (Freeman) to track down a serial killer who uses the Seven Deadly Sins as motives in his murders.
On September 22, 1995, this movie was released by New Line Cinema. Seven was the seventh-highest-grossing film in the year 1995.
| Directed by | David Fincher |
| Starring | Gwyneth Paltrow, Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, John C. McGinley |
| Release Dates | 22 September 1995 (United States) |
| Running time | 127 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Filmaffinity | Google users |
| 8.6/10 | 82% | 8.3/10 | 91% liked this film |
ZODIAC (2005)
Zodiac is a 2005 American Crime Psychological Thriller Movie based on the true events of the Zodiac: a serial killer active in and around northern California during the 1960s and 1970s. Alexander Bulkley directed it.
The film was released in limited release (with an r-rating by the MPAA) in only 10 theaters on March 17, 2006, and was later released on DVD in North America on August 29, 2006.
| Directed by | Alexander Bulkeley |
| Starring | Brad Henke, Philip baker hall, robin Tunney, Justin chambers, Rory Culkin, William Mapother, rex Lynn, and Marty Lindsay |
| Release Dates | March 17, 2006 (United States) |
| Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | Google users |
| 5.3/10 | 27% | 21% | 81% liked this film |
SPLIT (2016)
"Split" is an American Psychological Thriller Movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan in 2016. This hit film follows a man with 24 different personalities who kidnaps three teenage girls and imprisons them in an isolated underground facility.
At Fantastic Fest, the film premiered on September 26, 2016, and was released in the United States on January 20, 2017, by Universal Pictures.
"Split" is a standalone sequel to Shyamalan's 2000 film Unbreakable, although not marketed as such, saving the reveal for a scene in which Bruce Willis reprises his Unbreakable role in an uncredited cameo.
| Directed by | M. Night Shyamalan |
| Starring | Betty Buckley, James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy |
| Release Dates | January 20, 2017 (United States) |
| Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Letterboxd | Google users |
| 7.3/10 | 78% | 3.5/5 | 85% liked this film |
Inception (2010)
Inception (2010) is a Science Fiction Film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Chose wife Emma Thomas Pond.
In this science-fiction film, Cobb steals information from his targets by entering his dreams. Saito offers to clean up Cobb's criminal history as payment for performing Inception on the son of his ailing competitor.
In London on July 8, 2010, "Inception" premiered. On July 16, 2010, it was released in conventional and IMAX theaters.
| Directed by | Christopher Nolan |
| Starring | Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ken Watanabe, Elliot Page, Tom Berenger, Si Murphy. |
| Release Dates | 16 July 2010 (the United States and the United Kingdom) |
| Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom, United States |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Letterboxd | Google users |
| 8.8/10 | 87% | 4.2/5 | 90% liked this film |
Wrath of Man (2021)
"Wrath of Man" is a Heist Action Thriller Film directed by Guy Ritchie in 2021. This movie is based on the 2004 French film "Cash Truck". In this action movie, H is a mysterious man who starts working for a cash-moving truck company. He is known to use amazing accuracy and dexterity to neutralize the robbers. However, H is out for revenge.
| Directed by | Guy Ritchie |
| Starring | Debbie Oparei, Raul Castillo, Holt McCallany, Josh Hartnett, Jeffrey Donovan, Jason Statham, Laz Alonso |
| Release Dates | May 7, 2021 (United States) |
| Running time | 119 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom, United States |
| Language | English |
Reviews by other Media:
| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Google users |
| 7.1/10 | 67% | 82% liked this film |
List of 12 Psychological Thriller Movies You Must Watch |
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What's the Conclusion of this Amazing Post?
While watching these above-mentioned movies you will experience that the characters often have an internal struggle in psychological thrillers. Psychological thrillers can be complex, and critics may recommend a second or third viewing to "unravel the mystery." Sensational novels, examples of early psychological thrillers, were considered socially irresponsible due to their themes of sex and violence. These novels, among others, were inspired by the exploits of real-life detective Jack Visser.
Water, especially flooding, is frequently used to represent the unconscious mind, such as in What Lies Beneath and In Dreams. Psychological thrillers are not always associated with plausibility. Peter Hutchings defines Giallo, an Italian subgenre of psychological thrillers, as violent murder mysteries that focus on style and spectacle rather than rationality, and its transformation into films with Kandaberi. So I would like to tell you that this is a brief overview of the origin of psychological thriller movies, and you will enjoy this movie.
