50 Mind Bending Psychological Thrillers That Will Leave You Thinking for Days

Psychological thrillers are the movies that keep us awake at night, wondering what is real and what is not.

And they are the movies that we love to watch, even if they leave us feeling disturbed and unsettled for days.

We will share with you 50 mind bending psychological thrillers that will mess with your head.

These movies have twisted plots, unreliable narrators, shocking twists, and ambiguous endings.

Every movie in this selection will make you think, and think again.

As with all of our lists, we provide a free movie checklist for you to download for later reference.

Who is this list of psychological thriller movies for?

• People who love a thriller movie that keeps them guessing until the end
• Mystery, Suspense, Crime genre fans
• Those who love to be left thinking about a movie long after it is over, left wanting to watch it again
• People who love a good plot twist

What information is provided about each thriller movie in this selection?

• The movie title and release year of the movie
• Movie Image
• Director
• A list of actors in the movie
• Genre
• The MPAA rating
• Link to the movie in IMDb – For movie reviews, where to stream, ratings, trailers and lots more.
• A movie summary

Don’t forget to download the FREE MOVIE CHECKLIST to keep track of what movies you want to watch!

50 Mind Bending Psychological Thrillers

1. Gone Girl (2014)

• Director: David Fincher
• Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Gone Girl’ on IMDb

Gone Girl is a rollercoaster of psychological suspense. It keeps you on the edge of your seat as it unravels the mysterious disappearance of Amy Dunne. As her husband Nick becomes the prime suspect, the plot takes unexpected twists and turns, leaving you questioning everyone’s motives and sanity.

2. Shutter Island (2010)

• Director: Martin Scorsese
• Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Shutter Island’ on IMDb

Set in an eerie mental institution on an isolated island, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is on a quest to find a missing patient. However, as he delves deeper into the investigation, the line between reality and delusion blurs, and you’ll find yourself questioning what’s real and what’s a figment of Teddy’s imagination. The film keeps you guessing until its shocking conclusion, leaving you pondering the nature of memory, trauma, and the human psyche.

3. Enemy (2013)

• Director: Denis Villeneuve
• Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Enemy’ on IMDb

Enemy is a twisted psychological thriller that will challenge your perception of reality. The story follows a history professor who discovers his exact doppelganger in a movie, setting off a series of events that spiral into an enigmatic psychological puzzle. The ending is a jaw dropping revelation that will have you contemplating the boundaries of one’s own mind.

4. Donnie Darko (2001)

• Director: Richard Kelly
• Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Donnie Darko’ on IMDb

Donnie Darko is a cult classic in the realm of psychological thrillers. It takes you on a surreal journey into the troubled mind of a young man named Donnie. After a bizarre accident involving a jet engine, Donnie starts experiencing disturbing visions and encounters with a sinister bunny figure. As you delve into the depths of Donnie’s psyche, you’ll grapple with concepts of time travel, destiny, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination. Donnie Darko will haunt your thoughts long after the credits roll.

5. Zodiac (2007)

• Director: David Fincher
• Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Zodiac’ on IMDb

Zodiac is a chilling psychological thriller based on the true story of the hunt for the notorious Zodiac Killer in San Francisco. It is a complex web of mystery and obsession, as it follows a newspaper cartoonist and a pair of journalists who become engrossed in the case. They delve deeper into the mind of the killer and the mind games and cryptic messages left by the Zodiac Killer.

6. In the Tall Grass (2019)

• Director: Vincenzo Natali
• Cast: Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Patrick Wilson
• Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
• Rating: TV-MA
• IMDb: ‘In the Tall Grass’ on IMDb

In the Tall Grass, based on a novella by Stephen King and Joe Hill, is a psychological thriller that takes you on a terrifying journey into an expansive field of tall grass. When a brother and sister hear a young boy’s cries for help within the grassy labyrinth, they venture in to save him. What seems like a simple act of heroism quickly turns into a disorienting nightmare as they become lost and entangled in a supernatural force that distorts time and reality.

7. Nightcrawler (2014)

• Director: Dan Gilroy
• Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Nightcrawler’ on IMDb

Nightcrawler is a gritty and intense psychological thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of the media industry. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a freelance videographer who will go to extreme lengths to capture sensational footage of crime scenes. As Lou’s obsession with the pursuit of shocking news stories intensifies, the film takes you on a disturbing journey into his twisted psyche.

8. The Guilty (2018)

• Director: Gustav Möller
• Cast: Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Dinnage, Omar Shargawi
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Guilty’ on IMDb

The Guilty is a Danish thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story centers on a police officer who is assigned to emergency dispatch duty. When he receives a distressing call from a kidnapped woman, he becomes deeply involved in the case.

The film unfolds in real time, creating an intense and suspenseful atmosphere as he races against the clock to save the woman. However, as the story unfolds, you’ll be left questioning the reliability of the information and the blurred lines between heroism and culpability.

There is a US remake also called “The Guilty” with Jake Gyllenhaal, but this Danish version is the better version in my opinion.

9. Midsommar (2019)

• Director: Ari Aster
• Cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, Vilhelm Blomgren
• Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Midsommar’ on IMDb

Midsommar is a visually stunning and psychologically disturbing thriller that follows a group of friends who travel to a remote Swedish village to attend a midsummer festival that only occurs once every 90 years. What starts as an opportunity to experience a unique cultural event takes a sinister turn as the group becomes entangled in the village’s dark rituals.

10. Annihilation (2018)

• Director: Alex Garland
• Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson
• Genre: Adventure, Drama, Horror
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Annihilation’ on IMDb

Annihilation tells the story of a biologist who joins a mission to investigate a mysterious and mutating environmental zone known as “The Shimmer.” Inside, the laws of nature seem to bend and mutate in bizarre ways, and the team encounters inexplicable phenomena. As the team members face the unknown and confront their inner demons, the film weaves a complex narrative that blurs the lines between science and the supernatural.

11. The Prestige (2006)

• Director: Christopher Nolan
• Cast: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDb: ‘The Prestige’ on IMDb

The Prestige is a mesmerizing tale of rivalry and obsession between two magicians, played by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. Set in the late 19th century, the film explores the lengths these illusionists are willing to go to outdo each other, leading to a series of reality testing tricks and dark secrets.

12. Vivarium (2019)

• Director: Lorcan Finnegan
• Cast: Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg, Jonathan Aris
• Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Vivarium’ on IMDb

Vivarium is a truly unsettling and surreal psychological thriller that follows a couple, played by Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg, who find themselves trapped in a mysterious suburban neighborhood with no way out. Their only objective is to raise a child, but they struggle with the bizarre and repetitious nature of their surroundings and the claustrophobia of suburban life.

13. Cube (1997)

• Director: Vincenzo Natali
• Cast: Nicole de Boer, Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlett
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Cube’ on IMDb

Cube is a cult classic in the realm of psychological thrillers. It centers on a group of strangers who awaken to find themselves trapped in a maze of interconnected deadly chambers. Each room poses a new challenge, and the group must work together to navigate the labyrinth and discover the reason for their captivity.

14. The Gift (2015)

• Director: Joel Edgerton
• Cast: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Gift’ on IMDb

The Gift keeps you guessing until the very end. The story follows a married couple whose lives are disrupted when a mysterious figure from the husband’s past reenters their lives. As the couple’s secrets and past actions are revealed, it is clear you can not excape the lasting impact of our choices.

15. Frailty (2001)

• Director: Bill Paxton
• Cast: Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Frailty’ on IMDb

Frailty revolves around a father and his two young sons who are seemingly tasked by God to rid the world of demons posing as humans. As the story unfolds, you’ll grapple with questions of faith, morality, and the thin line between righteousness and madness.

16. Static (2012)

• Director: Todd Levin
• Cast: Milo Ventimiglia, Sarah Shahi, Sara Paxton
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Static’ on IMDb

Static follows a couple who, after a car accident, take shelter in an isolated farmhouse. However, they soon realize that the house is not as deserted as it seems. They discover a hidden room filled with surveillance equipment and a series of disturbing videotapes. As they unravel the mystery behind the tapes, they become trapped in a web of paranoia, making you question the extent of surveillance and its impact on our lives.

17. Surveillance (2008)

• Director: Jennifer Lynch
• Cast: Julia Ormond, Bill Pullman, Pell James
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Surveillance’ on IMDb

In Surveillance, a series of gruesome murders in a small town bring two FBI agents to the scene. As they interview the witnesses and suspects, their accounts of the events differ significantly. The film weaves a complex narrative of unreliable perspectives, leaving you to piece together the truth.

18. Parasite (2019)

• Director: Bong Joon Ho
• Cast: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Parasite’ on IMDb

Parasite is a South Korean masterpiece that seamlessly blends dark humor with psychological tension. The film follows a struggling family who infiltrates the lives of a wealthy family through a series of deceptions and manipulations. What starts as a clever heist gradually takes a nightmarish turn, forcing you to confront issues of class, privilege, and the human capacity for moral compromise. This Oscar winning film is a brilliant commentary on social inequality and the psychological effects it has on individuals.

19. Memento (2000)

• Director: Christopher Nolan
• Cast: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Memento’ on IMDb

Memento is a gripping masterpiece that plays with the concept of memory. The story follows a man named Leonard Shelby who suffers from short term memory loss. To solve the mystery of his wife’s murder, he relies on Polaroid photographs, tattoos, and notes. The film is shown in reverse order, which puts you in Leonard’s shoes, making it an immersive and disorienting experience.

20. The Sixth Sense (1999)

• Director: M. Night Shyamalan
• Cast: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDb: ‘The Sixth Sense’ on IMDb

The Sixth Sense is a classic psychological thriller with a legendary twist. Its about a child psychologist who is working with a young boy that claims to see and communicate with the dead. As the psychologist delves into the boy’s disturbing reality, he faces his own demons and the implications of what he discovers. The movie’s haunting and unexpected conclusion is the stuff of cinematic legend.

21. Vanilla Sky (2001)

• Director: Cameron Crowe
• Cast: Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz
• Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Vanilla Sky’ on IMDb

Vanilla Sky follows the story of a wealthy and handsome man who finds his life turned upside down after a car accident that leaves him disfigured. As he navigates his new reality, you’ll be pulled into a surreal world of dreams and memories that challenge your understanding of what’s real and what’s a product of the mind.

22. The Game (1997)

• Director: David Fincher
• Cast: Michael Douglas, Deborah Kara Unger, Sean Penn
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Game’ on IMDb

Michael Douglas stars as a wealthy investment banker who receives an unusual birthday gift from his brother, a chance to participate in a real life game. However, the lines between the game and reality become increasingly blurred, leading to a series of unexpected and paranoia inducing events. It will keep you guessing until the very end.

23. Nocturnal Animals (2016)

• Director: Tom Ford
• Cast: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon
• Genre: Drama, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Nocturnal Animals’ on IMDb

Nocturnal Animals weaves together two storylines: one involving a woman who receives a manuscript from her ex-husband, and the other the events described in the manuscript itself. As the narrative unfolds, you’ll grapple with themes of revenge, regret, and the lingering impact of past decisions. The film’s complex structure and haunting visuals make it a captivating and riveting experience.

24. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

• Director: Darren Aronofsky
• Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Requiem for a Dream’ on IMDb

Requiem for a Dream is a harrowing exploration of addiction and its devastating effects on the human psyche. The film follows the lives of four individuals as they descend into the dark and destructive world of drug addiction. The relentless and intense portrayal of their struggles will leave you with a deep sense of unease that sticks with you long after the movie ends.

25. Fight Club (1999)

• Director: David Fincher
• Cast: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Fight Club’ on IMDb

Fight Club follows an unnamed narrator who forms an underground fight club with the charismatic and enigmatic Tyler Durden. As the story unfolds, you’ll be taken on a wild and unpredictable journey that blurs the boundaries between reality and delusion, leading to a shocking and unforgettable climax.

26. Prisoners (2013)

• Director: Denis Villeneuve
• Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Prisoners’ on IMDb

Prisoners is an intense thriller that revolves around the disappearance of two young girls. When the prime suspect is released due to lack of evidence, one father takes matters into his own hands. As the film tackles the theme of vigilante justice, it will have you on the edge of your seat, questioning the boundaries of right and wrong.

27. Unbreakable (2000)

• Director: M. Night Shyamalan
• Cast: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDb: ‘Unbreakable’ on IMDb

Unbreakable is a unique take on the superhero genre. The story follows David Dunn, played by Bruce Willis, who miraculously survives a train crash without a scratch. He discovers that he might have superhuman abilities. Samuel L. Jackson plays Elijah Price, a comic book art dealer who believes Dunn is a real life superhero. The movie explores the concept of superheroes in a grounded and realistic way, with Shyamalan’s signature twist ending. It’s a blend of mystery, drama, and a touch of the supernatural.

28. You Were Never Really Here (2017)

• Director: Lynne Ramsay
• Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Judith Roberts, Ekaterina Samsonov
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘You Were Never Really Here’ on IMDb

You Were Never Really Here is a dark and haunting psychological thriller. Joaquin Phoenix stars as a troubled and tormented war veteran who works as a vigilante hired to rescue kidnapped girls. The film is a unique and disorienting experience.

29. Fallen (1998)

• Director: Gregory Hoblit
• Cast: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland
• Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Fallen’ on IMDb

Fallen follows a detective who becomes entangled in a series of gruesome murders with a supernatural connection. As he investigates, he discovers an ancient evil entity that can possess people and jump from one host to another with a touch. The detective tries to unravel the mystery and stop the malevolent force.

30. Fractured (2019)

• Director: Brad Anderson
• Cast: Sam Worthington, Lily Rabe, Lucy Capri
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: TV-MA
• IMDb: ‘Fractured’ on IMDb

Fractured revolves around a man who, after a car accident, takes his injured wife and daughter to a hospital for treatment. However, when he returns from a brief visit to the hospital’s basement, his wife and daughter have disappeared, and the hospital staff denies ever seeing them. As the man’s world unravels, you’ll be drawn into a web of uncertainty, paranoia, and the search for the truth.

31. The Empty Man (2020)

• Director: David Prior
• Cast: James Badge Dale, Stephen Root, Joel Courtney
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Empty Man’ on IMDb

The Empty Man is a supernatural psychological thriller that draws you into a web of supernatural mysteries and psychological horror. The story follows an ex-cop who becomes involved in a cult like group after investigating the disappearance of a young girl. As he delves deeper into the group’s eerie rituals and the legend of the “Empty Man,” the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, making you question the boundaries of sanity.

32. Identity (2003)

• Director: James Mangold
• Cast: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Identity’ on IMDb

Identity is a gripping psychological thriller with a unique premise. A group of strangers is stranded at a remote motel during a storm, only to discover that they share a connection that could lead to a series of gruesome murders. As the film unfolds, it becomes a shocking puzzle of identity and perception, leaving you to piece together the truth behind the mysterious events.

33. Predestination (2014)

• Directors: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
• Cast: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Predestination’ on IMDb

Predestination follows a temporal agent tasked with preventing crimes throughout time. His final mission takes him on a journey through his own past and identity, leading to a complex and paradoxical exploration of time travel, identity, and the consequences of one’s choices.

34. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

• Director: Adrian Lyne
• Cast: Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello
• Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ on IMDb

Jacob’s Ladder is a surreal and unsettling psychological thriller. The film tells the story of Jacob Singer, a Vietnam War veteran who experiences disturbing and nightmarish hallucinations after returning home. As he tries to make sense of his fractured reality, the film takes you on a disorienting journey through his psyche, blurring the lines between war trauma and supernatural horror.

35. Hereditary (2018)

• Director: Ari Aster
• Cast: Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne
• Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Hereditary’ on IMDb

Hereditary is about a family dealing with the death of their secretive grandmother, as they uncover dark and unsettling secrets about their ancestry. It is a slow burning exploration of grief, mental illness, and the terrifying legacy passed down through generations. It’s a masterclass in building tension and creating an atmosphere of dread that will leave you haunted.

36. The Lighthouse (2019)

• Director: Robert Eggers
• Cast: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe, Valeriia Karaman
• Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Lighthouse’ on IMDb

The Lighthouse is a surreal and intense psychological thriller set in the late 19th century. The film follows two lighthouse keepers, played by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, who are stationed on a remote and desolate island. As isolation and paranoia set in, the relationship between the two men deteriorates, and the lighthouse itself becomes a source of sinister fascination.

37. Shattered (1991)

• Director: Wolfgang Petersen
• Cast: Tom Berenger, Bob Hoskins, Greta Scacchi
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Shattered’ on IMDb

Shattered is about a man who suffers amnesia after a car accident. As he tries to piece together his identity and the events leading up to the crash, he discovers a web of deception, betrayal, and dark secrets.

38. 12 Monkeys (1995)

• Director: Terry Gilliam
• Cast: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt
• Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘12 Monkeys’ on IMDb

12 Monkeys is a mind bending science fiction thriller that follows a time traveler from a dystopian future who is sent back in time to investigate a deadly virus that has devastated humanity. The narrative weaves a complex and nonlinear story that blurs the boundaries between past, present, and future.

39. Oldboy (2003)

• Director: Chan-wook Park
• Cast: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-Tae, Kang Hye-jeong
• Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Oldboy’ on IMDb

Oldboy is a South Korean neo noir psychological thriller. The film tells the story of a man who is inexplicably imprisoned in a cell for 15 years and then suddenly released. As he embarks on a quest for revenge and the truth behind his captivity, the film takes you on a disturbing journey of vengeance, moral ambiguity, and dark revelations.

40. High Tension (2003)

• Director: Alexandre Aja
• Cast: Cécile de France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘High Tension’ on IMDb

High Tension (original title “Haute Tension”) is a French psychological thriller about two college friends who take a trip to a remote farmhouse, only to be terrorized by a sadistic killer. As the violence escalates, the film becomes an intense game of survival and a shocking exploration of the human capacity for brutality and madness.

41. The Invitation (2015)

• Director: Karyn Kusama
• Cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Michiel Huisman
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: Not Rated
• IMDb: ‘The Invitation’ on IMDb

The Invitation follows a man who attends a dinner party hosted by his ex wife and her new husband. As the evening unfolds, he becomes increasingly suspicious of their motives and the other guests. The film builds a sense of dread and paranoia, leading to a shocking and unsettling conclusion that leaves you questioning trust and reality.

42. The Usual Suspects (1995)

• Director: Bryan Singer
• Cast: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri
• Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Usual Suspects’ on IMDb

The Usual Suspects is a classic crime thriller with a legendary twist ending. The film revolves around a group of criminals who are brought together for a heist job. As they plan and execute the heist, you’re drawn into a complex and nonlinear narrative that leaves you to piece together the truth behind a mysterious criminal mastermind named Keyser Söze.

43. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

• Director: Ron Howard
• Cast: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly
• Genre: Biography, Drama
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDb: ‘A Beautiful Mind’ on IMDb

A Beautiful Mind is based on the real life of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who struggles with schizophrenia. As Nash’s mental health deteriorates, the film blurs the lines between reality and delusion, immersing you in the challenges of living with a severe mental illness.

44. Exam (2009)

• Director: Stuart Hazeldine
• Cast: Adar Beck, Gemma Chan, Nathalie Cox
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Exam’ on IMDb

Exam is a suspenseful psychological thriller with a unique premise. The film centers on a group of job candidates who are locked in a room to take an exam for a mysterious and coveted position. As they face increasingly bizarre and life threatening challenges, the film becomes a high stakes battle of wits and ethics, making you question what you would do in a similar situation.

45. Source Code (2011)

• Director: Duncan Jones
• Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga
• Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDb: ‘Source Code’ on IMDb

Source Code follows a soldier who wakes up in the body of another man on a commuter train. He discovers that he’s part of a government experiment that allows him to relive the last eight minutes of another person’s life to prevent a terrorist attack. The film keeps you on the edge of your seat until the shocking end.

46. Arrival (2016)

• Director: Denis Villeneuve
• Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDb: ‘Arrival’ on IMDb

“Arrival” follows linguistics professor Louise Banks, portrayed by Amy Adams, who is recruited to help communicate with extraterrestrial visitors that have landed on Earth. As humanity grapples with the mystery of their presence, Banks delves into the intricacies of their language to unravel the purpose behind their visit. It is a cerebral, intense experience that will leave you in awe when it ends.

47. The Butterfly Effect (2004)

• Directors: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
• Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Melora Walters
• Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Butterfly Effect’ on IMDb

The Butterfly Effect follows a man who discovers he can time travel to his past and change the course of his life. However, each change has unintended and often tragic consequences.

48. American Psycho (2000)

• Director: Mary Harron
• Cast: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas
• Genre: Crime, Drama
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘American Psycho’ on IMDb

American Psycho is a chilling and satirical psychological thriller about Patrick Bateman, a wealthy and narcissistic investment banker who leads a double life as a serial killer. As the story unfolds, you’ll be drawn into Bateman’s twisted psyche, and the film becomes a dark exploration of excess, materialism, and moral decay.

49. Circle (2015)

• Directors: Aaron Hann, Mario Miscione
• Cast: Julie Benz, Mercy Malick, Carter Jenkins
• Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
• Rating: Not Rated
• IMDb: ‘Circle’ on IMDb

Circle opens with a group of 50 strangers who awaken in a dark room, standing in a circle, unable to remember how they got there. They soon discover that they are forced to play a deadly game in which they must decide who among them will live and who will die. Every two minutes, a mysterious device in the center of the room selects a victim, and the group must vote on who should be sacrificed.

50. Se7en (1995)

• Director: David Fincher
• Cast: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Se7en’ on IMDb

Se7en is a gritty and dark psychological thriller about two detectives (Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman) as they investigate a series of gruesome murders inspired by the seven deadly sins. As they delve deeper into the investigation, the detectives find themselves entangled in a twisted game orchestrated by a meticulous and sadistic serial killer. The shocking and unforgettable conclusion has become iconic in the thriller genre.

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Thanks for reading this article for psychological thriller movie inspiration!

If you love thrillers, than checkout our other articles on thriller movies!

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We hope to see you again soon.