Either in terms of unreliable narrators, illustration of psychological deterioration, or believable chilling atmospheres, the psychological thriller genre can easily be one of the scariest. Although this is subjective — especially considering that we all have different fears — these films often manage to get into the audience’s head because they draw on realistic anxieties and delve into the darkest and most complex aspects of the human psyche.
While there have been several prominent psychological thrillers in the industry, some have stood out more than others by managing to spook audiences with their complex stories. And what better way to celebrate the genre than to gather the best entries? From Black Swan to The Vanishing, we take a look back at some of the scariest psychological thriller movies of all time, ranking them from least to most scary and analyzing what makes them so effective.
20
‘The Invitation’ (2015)
Following a grieving father (played with precision by Logan Marshall-Green) attending a dinner party at the LA mansion he once shared with his ex-wife, Eden (Tammy Blanchard), The Invitation transforms a simple social gathering into a 97-minute study on escalating dread. Two years earlier, their son died in this house, fracturing their marriage. Now Eden has remarried David (Michiel Huisman), a serene Californian radiating an almost unsettling air of tranquility.
Karyn Kusama‘s movie exposes how cults thrive on vulnerability, weaponizing our conditioning to prioritize harmony over survival. It’s an engaging and scary psychological film because it traps you in the same agonizing dilemma as its protagonist, whose every instinct screams “leave!” but social obligation chains him to the table. Audiences are forced to negotiate with the horror alongside Will, rationalizing red flags and ultimately understanding that it’s horror lands because it’s far from just paranormal.
19
‘The Night House’ (2020)
Rebecca Hall delivers a powerful performance as Beth, a woman reeling from her husband Owen’s suicide, who wanders through their lakeside home searching for answers in his belongings. But the more she investigates, the more haunted the house becomes, whether that’s by supernatural phenomena or her own fractured psyche.
In The Night House, grief horror is blended with supernatural ambiguity with thought-provoking results, forcing audiences to question whether Beth is experiencing hauntings or PTSD hallucinations. The scares work because they’re (obviously) psychological, with Hall’s portrayal grounding the supernatural. That said, expect a few jumpscares that land hard—but also know that here the horror is mostly existential, unlike traditional ghost stories. All in all, the film highlights how monsters aren’t exactly the ones with faces, but the questions we can’t seem to escape from.
18
‘The Autopsy of Jane Doe’ (2016)
André Øvredal‘s supernatural horror film stars Succession‘s Brian Cox and Emilie Hirsch as father and son coroners who undergo supernatural phenomena while examining the corpse of an unidentified woman, played by Olwen Kelly, who is found dead at the scene of a puzzling multiple homicide.
This clever and undeniably creepy psychological thriller is a strong watch for anyone who enjoys slow-burning tension and unsettling ambiance in film, proving to be a consistently scary horror movie in equal parts gory and entertaining. At the same time, The Autopsy of Jane Doe does not shy away from delivering visceral, horrifying moments and perfectly balancing psychological horror with graphic imagery.
17
‘Speak No Evil’ (2024)
Directed by James Watkins, Speak No Evil follows American couple Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Ben Dalton (Scoot McNairy) as they are invited to visit a deceptively charming British family’s farmhouse. What begins as an attempt to repair a fractured marriage quickly devolves into a nightmare of escalating discomfort and manipulation.
James Watkins’ remake of Speak No Evil weaponizes politeness as a tool of predation; the horror doesn’t rely on jump scares but methodically explores how ordinary people choose social courtesy over survival instinct. Much like in The Invitation, each small transgression compounds until escape becomes psychologically impossible. While less traditionally horrific than other entries on this list, it’s still a must-see, effective movie whose power lies in its exploration of social anxiety and the way it taps into deeply human fears about confrontation.
16
‘Black Swan’ (2010)
A critically acclaimed psychological thriller, Black Swan has received great feedback from critics and audiences alike from the get-go. Additionally, it understandably earned Natalie Portman her first Best Actress Oscar. The story follows a talented but mentally unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom who is pushed to the limit by her artistic director and her opponent.
Although less traditionally scary compared to other entries on this list, this psychological horror thriller movie is guaranteed to leave a strong imprint on audiences, especially because of its body horror components and the realistic themes it deals with while exploring its protagonist’s psyche as a struggling artist. Despite not being a supernatural movie, it includes nightmarish elements and taps into fears that make it a chilling and haunting viewing experience.
15
‘Suspiria’ (2018)
While Luca Guadagnino‘s arguably isn’t the best out of the two films, with the original Dario Argento picture enduring a much more groundbreaking and visually stunning surrealist viewing, 2018’s Suspiria is likely the most disturbing of the two. The story sees a young American dancer, played by Dakota Johnson, audition for a world-renowned company. When she vaults to the role of the lead dancer, the woman she replaces breaks down and accuses the company’s female directors of witchcraft.
There are several reasons why Suspiria is arguably one of the scariest psychological thrillers of recent times, starting with its body horror and gruesome brutality. While not nearly as stylish as the original picture, Guadagnino’s take on the timeless story does a wonderful job of replacing the vibrant aesthetics with a muted and oppressive atmosphere, emphasizing its psychological dread and making for an unsettling experience.
14
‘Diabolique’ (1955)
In a French boarding school run by a tyrannical headmaster (Paul Meurisse), two women—his neglected wife Christina (Véra Clouzot) and his flaunted mistress Nicole (Simone Signoret)—hatch an audacious plan: seduce him to a remote location, drown him in a bathtub, and dump his corpse in the school’s pool. The problem? The murder goes perfectly—almost too perfectly. And then the body vanishes.
Years before Hitchcock‘s Psycho, Henri-Georges Clouzot‘s Diabolique pioneered the art of weaponizing intimate spaces against viewers, becoming one of the most iconic psychological thrillers and horrors of all time. This twisty Clouzot transforms the school itself into a claustrophobic prison where safety is an illusion, every shadow can hide a threat, and every unexpected encounter collapses certainty. At its core, it asks the deceptively simple question of whether you can escape a trap when the trap is yourself.
13
‘Zodiac’ (2007)
Those keen on crime stories may want to give this David Fincher must-see a try. Based on the nonfiction books by Robert Graysmith, Zodiac is set between 1968 and 1983 and centers around an amateur detective’s (Mark Ruffalo) obsession with tracking down the Zodiac killer, an unknown individual who terrorizes Northern California by going on a killing spree. Not only does the movie focus on the lives of the detectives, but also the news media.
Zodiac benefits from a strong, star-studded cast and a genuinely gripping narrative that cements it as one of the best psychological thrillers of recent times. While it may not be scary in a traditional horror film way (it’s more about the investigation), the movie features plenty of disturbing elements, with the fact that it is based on a real-life story making it even more frightening.
12
‘Get Out’ (2017)
Next is Jordan Peele‘s social commentary Get Out. Although advertised as a psychological horror, it arguably fits the psychological thriller genre more. Starring the Oscar-winning Daniel Kaluuya, this astounding 2010s directorial debut sees a young African-American man visit his white girlfriend’s (Allison Williams) parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener) for the weekend with wild results that quickly begin to escalate into a terrifying boiling point.
Powerfully acted and quite disturbing throughout, this sharp satire on racial injustices, the deep-seated fears about racism, and Black exploitation and oppression is intense and will have audiences on the edge of their seats. Get Out may not be scary in the traditional sense, but the way it builds up psychological tension, a sense of dread, and paranoia makes it an unforgettable viewing.
11
‘Misery’ (1990)
Rob Reiner‘s movie sees a famous author (James Caan) rescued from a car crash by a fan (unforgettably played by Kathy Bates) of his novels, only to realize that the care that he is getting is the beginning of a nightmare, including captivity and abuse. It is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name.
As previously portrayed through the “obsessed fan” trope in film and television, Misery is quite scary because it is something we can see happening in real life. Its claustrophobic setting (the movie takes place in Anne’s remote house entirely) helps enhance the feeling of entrapment and isolation, making it easy for audiences to feel and root for the kidnapped character. Additionally, Bathes’ character is quite unpredictable, scarily manipulative, and increasingly violent, adding to the story’s terror.
