Top 31 Best Hollywood Psychological Thriller Movies Which Will Bend Your Mind

17. Gone Girl (2014)

Another Fincher movie makes it to the list! And why not? The guy’s just too good with thrillers. Based on Gillian Flynn’s novel with the same title, Gone Girl is about a woman who suddenly goes missing while her husband is being held responsible for it. The film is full of twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seats till the very end. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike showcase extremely strong performances to make this film one of the best psychological thrillers.

IMDb – 8.1

Director – David Fincher

18. Vertigo (1958)

Another one of Hitchcock’s masterpieces, Vertigo, as the name suggests is about a person suffering from Vertigo. But there’s more to it. Detective Scottie has retired as he is suffering from vertigo. But when his friend asks for his help to keep an eye on his wife, he decided to do it. But things go awry as Scottie gets obsessed with her. Starring James Stewart and Kim Novak in pivotal roles, this is one of the best psychological thrillers to be ever made.

IMDb – 8.1

Director – Alfred Hitchcock

19. The Sixth Sense (1999)

Bruce Willis plays the role of a child psychologist in this part horror part psychological thriller. Although he is the one who is dealing with the emotional problems of children, something’s not quite right about the doctor as well. But one day, he comes across a young boy who needs to be treated. This young boy becomes a medium of communication between the doctor and a few spirits. With such an odd premise and a crazy twist in the end, this is one of the best psychological thrillers that you simply cannot miss.

IMDb – 8.1

Director – M. Night Shyamalan

20. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

This horror psychological thriller starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins has earned immense critical acclaim over the years and is one of the best psychological thriller movies. Foster plays an FBI agent who is seeking the help of a serial killer and a former psychiatrist in order to catch another killer who has been committing similar crimes. The movie not only takes you inside a serial killer’s mind but also presents the weird relationship between the investigator and a serial killer.

IMDb – 8.6

Director – Jonathan Demme

21. The Butterfly Effect (2004)

Based on a concept by the same name, The Butterfly Effect is a very unique science fiction thriller wherein Evan, played by Ashton Kutcher, finds out that he can go back in time and change a few things. But he soon realizes that the small altercations back in the past are causing drastic changes in the present. This is what the Butterfly Effect is. This makes it one of the most unique and interesting films amongst the best psychological thrillers.

IMDb – 7.6

Director – Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber

22. Oldboy (2003)

This movie is about a man who has been held captive for many years. But suddenly one day, he is given money, expensive clothes, and a cellphone and set free. This Korean neo-noir thriller is shocking and manages to surprise us in so many ways. Directed by Park Chan-wook, this movie is based on the comic of the same name by Garon Tsuchiya.

IMDb – 8.4

Director – Park Chan-wook

23. Das Experiment (2001)

This film follows a very unique plot wherein 20 recruits are divided into prisoners and guards to carry out a psychological research project. Based on the novel ‘Black Box’, this movie explains that uniforms and their significance play an important role in amplifying our underlying psychological tendencies. The experiment looks quite simple initially but by the end of two weeks, a lot has changed.

IMDb – 7.7

Director – Oliver Hirschbiegel

24. Triangle (2009)

Starring Melissa George and Michael Dorman in significant roles, this movie by Christopher Smith is a thriller like no other. When a yacht is upturned by a storm, a group of passengers from this yacht jump onto a ship close by. But, they soon realize that this ship is even more dangerous.

IMDb – 6.9

Director – Christopher Smith

25. The Talented Mr Ripley (1999)

Tom is a young underachiever who is sent to Italy in order to retrieve Dickie, a millionaire’s spoilt son, back to the U.S. But Tom soon finds himself attracted to both, Dickie as well as his lavish lifestyle. And so, he murders Dickie and assumes his identity since he thinks of it to be quite better than his own life of poverty. The movie, as well as its performances, were very well received and it is thus, one of the best psychological thrillers ever.

IMDb – 7.4

Director – Anthony Minghella

Which are the best Hollywood psychological thriller movies, according to you. Do tell us in the comment section below.

26. The Invisible Man (2020)

After escaping an abusive relationship, Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) discovers that her ex-boyfriend committed suicide and left her his estate. There’s only one catch to the inheritance, and it’s that Cecila must remain sane. Before long, she suspects she’s being stalked by her ex-boyfriend, and that he somehow has the ability to become invisible. Inspired by the classic H. G. Wells novel, The Invisible Man is a visceral examination of emotional and physical abuse, with an incredible central performance from Moss.

IMDb – 7.1

Director – Leigh Whannell

27. The Girl on the Train (2016)

Based on the bestselling book by Paula Hawkins, The Girl on the Train stars Emily Blunt as Rachel, an alcoholic woman traumatized by a messy divorce. Every day she takes a commuter train, despite having lost her job, and fixates on her ex-husband and his new wife. However, when she wakes up covered in blood one day, she’s thrown into a complicated mystery story that she’s desperate to solve.

IMDb – 6.5

Director – Tate Taylor

28. Parasite (2019)

Bong Joon Ho’s South Korean thriller garnered international attention upon its release, taking home four Oscars. Parasite focuses on the Kims, a family struggling to pay their bills, when an unbelievable opportunity presents itself. Despite not having the necessary qualifications, the Kims infiltrate the household of a very rich family. However, an unexpected parasite within the property threatens to ruin everything.

IMDb – 8.5

Director – Bong Joon Ho

29. Emergency (2022)

What starts as a fun college party quickly turns into a nightmare. Sean and Kunle are about to be the first Black men to ever complete the so-called “Legendary Tour,” which involves attending seven frat parties in one night, when they discover a white woman passed out in their living room. Deciding it’s too risky to call the police, they attempt to take the woman to hospital, without realizing her sister is hot on their heels. This fast-paced thriller balances comedic moments with the harsh realities of being a Black person on a college campus, and in the world.

IMDb – 6.2

Director – Carey Williams

30. Master (2022)

Regina Hall stars as Gail Bishop, the first Black master of an elite New England university. Her story is told alongside that of a Black student who grapples with the almost exclusively white student body and the way she’s treated by her peers. Coupled with rumors of witchcraft and haunted dorm rooms, Master is a gritty thriller filled with shocking revelations and damning social commentary.

IMDb – 5.3

Director – Mariama Diallo

31. Knock at the Cabin (2023)

A teen age girl and her parents are being taken to hostages by four unknown people. The life of the family completely gets changes, they are asked to make life changing choices. With no access to the outside world, what will family do? and why this family is been kept hostages. Watch out to know!

IMDb – 6.1

Director – M. Night Shyamalan

Looking for more psychological thriller movies list? Check out the best Bollywood psychological thrillers of all time.