There's nothing like a psychological thriller keep you guessing until the very last minute. Films of this genre boast all the chills and thrills of a good scary movie or mystery thriller but with perhaps even more shocking twists and turns. Psychological thrillers are also known for exploring the complexities of the human mind and challenging viewers to question their own beliefs and perceptions.
Films of this genre intrigue and will probably leave you feeling uneasy long after the credits have rolled. (Hey, you can't say we didn't warn you!) They also often have unexpected endings that will make you say, "What the heck did I just watch?!" If you're an old-school movie buff, you'll love classic murder mysteries like The Silence of the Lambs, Psycho, and Misery. But don't sleep on modern thriller movies. (You really won't sleep after watching them. Ha!) Recent hits like Get Out, The Invisible Man, and Joker are as chilling as they are thought-provoking.
After you've watched one or two of these top psychological thrillers, you might be in need of a little palate cleanser. That's the perfect time to make some popcorn, pop on a romantic movie on Netflix, and wait for your goosebumps to go away!
Vic (Ben Affleck) and Melinda (Ana de Armas) Van Allen seem to have a picture-perfect marriage and family—but beneath the surface they're both hiding deadly secrets.
Amy Adams stars as a troubled agoraphobic woman who witnesses a violent crime while spying on her neighbors. When no one believes her story, she begins to question her own sanity.
Ever wonder where the term "gaslighting" came from? You'll find out when you watch this 1944 thriller about a young woman whose husband manipulates her into believing she's losing her mind.
Jong-su is excited to reconnect with his childhood friend Hae-mi. But his romantic interest quickly turns to concern as he grows suspicious of her mysterious new friend Ben.
It's man versus machine in this Oscar-winning sci-fi psychological thriller. To make matters worse, the main character happens to be falling in love with the machine.
Rosemary is young, in love, and about to welcome her first child. It should be a happy time in her life, but when strange things start happening all around her, she spirals into paranoia.
The Kim family is struggling to make ends meet. When one of the children becomes employed by the wealthy Park family, the Kims seize the opportunity to work their way into their good graces. You won't believe the twists and turns in this critically acclaimed South Korean thriller.
A man's teen daughter goes missing, but no one can seem to figure out what happened. So, the father takes it into his own hands, and searches for hints in his daughter's laptop. What he finds is beyond shocking.
A woman is forced to think about her past when her estranged first husband dedicates a book with a looming message to her. She realizes that sometimes, you can't escape the past.
Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles) live in a nice, picture-perfect 1950s town named Victory. They seem to have their life made for them. But when Florence begins to have odd experiences, she begins to wonder if her life is even real at all.
Six civilians are chosen to participate in a fated game of puzzles, riddles, and tricks. You probably won't be visiting an escape room anytime soon after watching this.
Two women instantly form a connection when they meet in their small, but wealthy town. When one of them disappears, the other makes it her mission to uncover the mystery behind it all. That's when she finds that her friend may not be who she says she is after all.
When a married couple relocates to Los Angeles, they run into an old "friend" of the husband. The energy starts to shift when the friend shows up to their home unannounced with gifts.
What's your dream job? For Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), it involves recording violent crimes and selling the footage to local news stations. But how far will he go to capture the picture-perfect crime scene?
We will definitely not be checking into the Bates Motel in this lifetime! This classic by director Alfred Hitchcock centers around proprietor Norman Bates and his unlucky guests. The iconic shower scream will live in your head for days.
This film follows the true story of the search for the Zodiac Killer. The serial murderer, who reigned terror on the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1960s, famously teased officials with letters, evidence from crime scenes, and ciphers mailed to newspapers. This film will make you squeamish, even during the day.
Kelly O’Sullivan is the senior editor for The Pioneer Woman and manages the website’s social channels, in addition to overseeing content strategy and news.