When “Psycho” premiered on June 16, 1960, audiences had never seen anything like it. Alfred Hitchcock’s black and white thriller broke every rule in the book, killing off its star early, showing shocking violence, and diving deep into psychological horror in a way that was unheard of at the time.
More than six decades later, “Psycho” is not just a classic. It is a foundation of modern horror, with its influence echoing through everything from low-budget slashers to elevated psychological thrillers. These 10 films owe a debt to Hitchcock’s masterpiece.
Halloween (1978)
John Carpenter has never been shy about the influence of “Psycho” on “Halloween,” even casting Janet Leigh’s daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, in the lead role. The film mirrors Psycho’s minimalist score, point-of-view shots, and theme of evil lurking in everyday places. Carpenter’s masked killer Michael Myers, like Norman Bates, is both terrifying and enigmatic—silent, repressed, and lethal.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Tobe Hooper’s grim nightmare shares the same sense of implication and restraint found in “Psycho”. While far more graphic in tone, it creates dread through suggestion and silence. Leatherface, like Norman, is shaped by isolation, disturbing family dynamics, and a house that seems alive with secrets.
Dressed to Kill (1980)
Brian De Palma’s stylish thriller pays direct homage to “Psycho” by killing off a central character midway and echoing themes of voyeurism and repressed identity. Instead of hiding his influences, De Palma modernizes them with his signature visual flair and controversial twists.
Friday the 13th (1980)
This iconic slasher hides its killer until the end, just as Hitchcock did. Pamela Voorhees’s murderous rampage is rooted in a disturbing maternal bond, closely mirroring the twisted emotional core explored in “Psycho”.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Buffalo Bill carries clear echoes of Norman Bates, from his troubled relationship with identity to the eerie domestic setting he inhabits. While Hannibal Lecter commands the spotlight, the film’s deeper horror is rooted in the psychological complexity that “Psycho” first introduced to mainstream audiences.
Scream (1996)
Wes Craven’s horror classic opens with the shocking death of its most famous actress, a direct nod to “Psycho”. Like Hitchcock’s film, it plays with audience expectations, blending suspense with sudden violence to keep viewers constantly off-balance.
Hereditary (2018)
Ari Aster’s debut film uses grief, family trauma, and a deeply disturbing narrative structure to create lasting unease. Its early plot twists and psychological focus are clear descendants of what Hitchcock achieved with “Psycho”.
American Psycho (2000)
Though satirical and set in a very different world, this film shares thematic DNA with Hitchcock’s classic. Patrick Bateman, like Norman Bates, is a man hiding his psychosis behind a carefully constructed persona, revealing horror through repression and control.
Maniac (1980)
William Lustig’s character study follows a deranged killer in New York who speaks to mannequins as if they were his mother. The film takes the fractured-mind motif introduced in “Psycho” and cranks it up to disturbing new levels. Like Norman Bates, the main character is both pitiful and terrifying, driven by unresolved trauma linked to a domineering maternal figure.
The Eyes of My Mother (2016)
Nicolas Pesce’s black-and-white debut channels the eerie quiet and psychological isolation that made “Psycho” so haunting. Its minimalist dialogue, sparse setting, and fixation on familial trauma echo Hitchcock’s method of using silence and space to build tension. The lead character’s chilling calmness in the face of horrific acts recalls Norman’s unnerving duality.