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.

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

Table of Contents

Thriller Movies Streaming Free On

50 Mind Bending Psychological Thrillers

1. Gone Girl (2014)

Director: David Fincher
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

When Nick Dunne’s wife, Amy, mysteriously disappears, the media frenzy and police investigation slowly unravel the secrets of their marriage. This gripping thriller keeps you questioning reality with its manipulative mind games and shocking twists.

2. Shutter Island (2010)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo
Rating: R
IMDb| Amazon Prime

U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels arrives at a remote asylum to investigate a missing patient, only to uncover sinister secrets that blur the line between reality and delusion. The film masterfully builds psychological tension, keeping you in a state of suspense until its haunting conclusion.

3. Enemy (2013)

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A history professor discovers his exact doppelgänger, leading him down a surreal and unsettling path of obsession and identity crisis. This cerebral thriller plays with paranoia and symbolism, leaving you questioning what’s real and what’s imagined.

4. Donnie Darko (2001)

Director: Richard Kelly
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A troubled teenager begins experiencing eerie visions of a menacing rabbit that leads him toward a series of mind bending events. Its psychological depth and time-bending mystery make it a cult favorite in the thriller genre.

5. Zodiac (2007)

Director: David Fincher
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A newspaper cartoonist becomes obsessed with uncovering the identity of the elusive Zodiac Killer, spiraling into a years-long descent into paranoia. The film’s slow burning intensity and real life mystery create an unnerving psychological thriller experience.

6. In the Tall Grass (2019)

Director: Vincenzo Natali
Cast: Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Patrick Wilson
Rating: TV-MA
IMDb | Netflix

After hearing a child’s cries for help, a brother and sister venture into a vast field of tall grass, only to realize there’s no way out. This disorienting thriller plays on fear and isolation, making you feel trapped alongside its characters.

7. Nightcrawler (2014)

Director: Dan Gilroy
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A desperate man with a camera discovers the dark underworld of crime journalism, blurring ethical lines as his hunger for success turns into a dangerous obsession. The film’s unsettling atmosphere and Jake Gyllenhaal’s eerie performance make it a psychological thriller that lingers.

8. The Guilty (2018)

Director: Gustav Möller
Cast: Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Dinnage, Omar Shargawi
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A demoted police officer working a 911 dispatch call center receives a distressing call from a kidnapped woman, launching him into a tense race against time. This tightly wound thriller plays with perspective and perception, making every moment feel unbearably suspenseful.

There is a US remake also called “The Guilty” with Jake Gyllenhaal.

9. Midsommar (2019)

Director: Ari Aster
Cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, Vilhelm Blomgren
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A grieving woman joins her boyfriend’s trip to a secluded Swedish festival, only to realize the seemingly peaceful retreat hides something far more disturbing. The film’s unsettling psychological horror unfolds in broad daylight, subverting traditional thriller expectations.

10. Annihilation (2018)

Director: Alex Garland
Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A biologist joins a mission into a mysterious environmental anomaly, where reality begins to warp and her perception of life itself is tested. This haunting thriller blends psychological tension with eerie sci-fi horror, leaving an unsettling sense of unease.

11. The Prestige (2006)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson
Rating: PG-13
IMDb | Amazon Prime

Two rival magicians become obsessed with outdoing each other, leading to a dangerous game of deception, sacrifice, and obsession. The film’s intricate twists and psychological manipulation make it a mind-bending thriller that keeps you guessing.

12. Vivarium (2019)

Director: Lorcan Finnegan
Cast: Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg, Jonathan Aris
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A young couple searching for their dream home gets trapped in a surreal, empty suburb where escape is impossible, and time seems to distort. This eerie thriller plays on isolation and existential dread, making every moment feel unsettlingly claustrophobic.

13. Cube (1997)

Director: Vincenzo Natali
Cast: Nicole de Boer, Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlett
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A group of strangers wakes up inside a maze of deadly, shifting rooms, forced to solve cryptic puzzles to survive. The film’s psychological tension builds as paranoia and fear take hold, making it a gripping thriller from start to finish.

14. The Gift (2015)

Director: Joel Edgerton
Cast: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A married couple’s life unravels when an old acquaintance starts leaving mysterious gifts, forcing dark secrets from the past to resurface. The slow burn tension and chilling revelations make this a deeply unsettling psychological thriller.

15. Frailty (2001)

Director: Bill Paxton
Cast: Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A father convinces his sons that they’ve been chosen by God to destroy demons disguised as humans, leading to a disturbing tale of faith and madness. The film’s eerie atmosphere and unreliable narrative create a haunting psychological thriller.

16. Static (2012)

Director: Todd Levin
Cast: Milo Ventimiglia, Sarah Shahi, Sara Paxton
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A grieving couple struggling with loss takes in a mysterious visitor one night, only to find themselves trapped in a terrifying and surreal situation. This psychological thriller thrives on tension and perception, keeping you questioning what’s real.

17. Surveillance (2008)

Director: Jennifer Lynch
Cast: Julia Ormond, Bill Pullman, Pell James
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A pair of FBI agents interview survivors of a violent roadside attack, uncovering wildly different and disturbing accounts of what happened. The film’s shifting perspectives and psychological twists make for a chilling, unpredictable thriller.

18. Parasite (2019)

Director: Bong Joon Ho
Cast: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A poor family slowly infiltrates the lives of a wealthy household, leading to an intricate game of deception that spirals out of control. This masterful thriller blends social commentary with psychological tension, keeping viewers on edge until the shocking climax.

19. Memento (2000)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A man suffering from short-term memory loss relies on tattoos and notes to track down his wife’s killer, but the truth is more elusive than he realizes. The film’s unique storytelling structure heightens the psychological intensity, making every revelation feel like a mind-twisting puzzle.

20. The Sixth Sense (1999)

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette
Rating: PG-13
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A troubled boy confesses to his psychologist that he can see ghosts, leading to a slow unraveling of a haunting truth. The film’s psychological depth and unforgettable twist make it a defining thriller that lingers long after the credits roll.

21. Vanilla Sky (2001)

Director: Cameron Crowe
Cast: Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A wealthy playboy’s seemingly perfect life unravels after a disfiguring accident, blurring the line between reality and nightmare. This psychological thriller twists perception and memory, leaving you questioning what’s real until the very end.

22. The Game (1997)

Director: David Fincher
Cast: Michael Douglas, Deborah Kara Unger, Sean Penn
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A wealthy businessman’s life spirals into chaos when he becomes entangled in an elaborate game where nothing, and no one, can be trusted. The film’s relentless psychological tension keeps you second guessing every moment.

23. Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Director: Tom Ford
Cast: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A woman receives a chilling manuscript from her ex-husband, forcing her to confront dark secrets from their past as fiction and reality intertwine. This haunting thriller plays with psychological dread, leaving an emotional and unsettling impact.

24. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

Four individuals chase their dreams while spiraling into addiction, with devastating consequences that shatter their grip on reality. The film’s disturbing psychological descent makes it a harrowing and unforgettable thriller.

25. Fight Club (1999)

Director: David Fincher
Cast: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A disillusioned office worker forms an underground fight club with a charismatic stranger, only to discover the shocking truth behind their chaotic revolution. Its psychological unraveling and mind-bending twist make it one of the most iconic thrillers of all time.

26. Prisoners (2013)

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A desperate father takes matters into his own hands when his daughter goes missing, leading to a harrowing moral dilemma. The film’s intense psychological tension and ethical ambiguity keep you on edge throughout.

27. Unbreakable (2000)

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright
Rating: PG-13
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A man survives a deadly train crash without a scratch, leading him to question his true nature as a mysterious stranger pushes him toward an unsettling revelation. This slow burning psychological thriller keeps you hooked with its eerie sense of fate and destiny.

28. You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Director: Lynne Ramsay
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Judith Roberts, Ekaterina Samsonov
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A traumatized hitman rescues trafficked girls, but his violent world starts collapsing as paranoia and personal demons close in. The film’s psychological intensity and brutal minimalism make it a deeply unsettling thriller.

29. Fallen (1998)

Director: Gregory Hoblit
Cast: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A detective investigates a string of eerie murders, only to discover the chilling possibility that an ancient evil is passing from person to person. This supernatural psychological thriller keeps you guessing with its eerie atmosphere and mind twisting premise.

30. Fractured (2019)

Director: Brad Anderson
Cast: Sam Worthington, Lily Rabe, Lucy Capri
Rating: TV-MA
IMDb | Netflix

After his wife and daughter disappear from a hospital, a desperate father searches for them, only to realize the truth may not be what he remembers. This psychological thriller thrives on paranoia and unreliable memory, making for a gripping mystery.

31. The Empty Man (2020)

Director: David Prior
Cast: James Badge Dale, Stephen Root, Joel Courtney
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A former detective investigating a missing person case stumbles upon a sinister urban legend that seems to be coming to life. This slow burn psychological thriller blends paranoia, cosmic horror, and reality warping suspense.

32. Identity (2003)

Director: James Mangold
Cast: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

Ten strangers stranded at a remote motel during a storm begin dying one by one, leading to a shocking revelation about their true connection. This mind bending thriller keeps you guessing with its clever narrative twists.

33. Predestination (2014)

Directors: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A time traveling agent hunts down a mysterious criminal, only to uncover a mind blowing truth about his own existence. This cerebral thriller plays with identity, paradoxes, and psychological tension in a way that lingers long after the credits roll.

34. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

Director: Adrian Lyne
Cast: Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A Vietnam War veteran experiences terrifying hallucinations and distorted reality as he struggles to uncover the truth about his past. This psychological nightmare weaves horror and thriller elements into a deeply unsettling experience.

35. Hereditary (2018)

Director: Ari Aster
Cast: Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

After a family matriarch’s death, dark secrets emerge, sending her grieving relatives into a spiral of terror and madness. This slow-burning psychological thriller masterfully builds dread, unraveling a disturbing mystery that feels inescapable.

36. The Lighthouse (2019)

Director: Robert Eggers
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe, Valeriia Karaman
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

Two lighthouse keepers slowly descend into madness as isolation, power struggles, and eerie visions blur the line between reality and insanity. This psychological thriller thrives on claustrophobic tension and an unsettling sense of the unknown.

37. Shattered (1991)

Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Cast: Tom Berenger, Bob Hoskins, Greta Scacchi
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

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
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

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
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

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.

There was an American remake in 2013.

40. High Tension (2003)

Director: Alexandre Aja
Cast: Cécile de France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon

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
Rating: Not Rated
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A man attends a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife and her new husband, but as the night unfolds, something sinister seems to be lurking beneath the surface. This slow burning thriller keeps you on edge with its growing sense of paranoia and dread.

42. The Usual Suspects (1995)

Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

After a deadly shootout, the lone survivor recounts the events that led a group of criminals to a mysterious and powerful figure named Keyser Söze. This psychological thriller plays with perception and deception, leading to one of the most iconic twists in film history.

43. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly
Rating: PG-13
IMDb | Amazon Prime

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
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

Eight candidates enter a mysterious, high-stakes job interview where they must solve a single question, but the rules are unclear, and the stakes quickly become deadly. This psychological thriller thrives on tension, mind games, and survival instincts.

45. Source Code (2011)

Director: Duncan Jones
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga
Rating: PG-13
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A soldier wakes up in another man’s body, reliving the same eight minutes repeatedly to prevent a catastrophic bombing. This psychological thriller bends time and reality, keeping the audience locked in its gripping mystery.

46. Arrival (2016)

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
Rating: PG-13
IMDb | Amazon Prime

A linguist is recruited to communicate with alien visitors, but as she deciphers their language, her perception of time and reality begins to shift. This cerebral thriller blends sci-fi with deep psychological exploration, creating an unforgettable emotional impact.

47. The Butterfly Effect (2004)

Directors: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Melora Walters
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

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
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

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
Rating: Not Rated
IMDb | Netflix

Fifty strangers wake up in a mysterious room and realize they must vote on who among them will die next, forcing them into a tense battle of morality and manipulation. This psychological thriller is a gripping social experiment that plays on human nature and paranoia

50. Se7en (1995)

Director: David Fincher
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey
Rating: R
IMDb | Amazon Prime

Two detectives hunt a twisted serial killer who stages his murders according to the seven deadly sins, leading to a devastating finale. The film’s dark psychological intensity and shocking ending make it one of the most disturbing thrillers ever made.

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

Here are some of most popular thriller movie articles you may be interested in:

And don’t forget, every article comes with a FREE movie checklist!

Be sure to Join our newsletter to get notified of new articles and website freebies!

We hope to see you again soon!

Free Movie Checklist

Click on the button below to get your FREE “Psychological Thrillers” checklist that you can print or check off directly on your device!

Click to Get Free Checklist