Many filmmakers credit the inspiration behind their films to Alfred Hitchcock, the "Master of Suspense." Numerous films have been labeled "Hitchcockian" for their plot twists and themes of suspense and tension. Some films classified as Hitchcockian over the years include Steven Spielberg's Jaws and M. Night Shyamalan's 2016 film Split.
Hitchcock is a critically acclaimed director and notorious for appearing in many of his films. One of which is during a scene in North By Northwest when a bus door slams in his face after he's running late. While North By Northwest is many people's favorite, Hitchcock is renowned for many of his films.
10 Shadow Of A Doubt Features A Man On The Run - 7.8
Shadow Of A Doubt is a 1943 film starring Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotten. Cotten is known for his performance on Broadway in The Philadelphia Story and for his role in Orson Welles' Citizen Kane as Jed Leland. Hitchcock considered Shadow Of A Doubt his favorite among his large repertoire.
Cotten plays Charles Oakley. Charles' niece, Charlotte, finds out he is wanted for murder after she notices his strange behaviors. Charles discovers his niece's suspicions, and one of the suspected murderers dies. However, Charlotte is not convinced.
9 Two Strangers Become Involved In A Murder Plot - 8.0
Strangers On A Train is a 1951 film based on the eponymous novel by Patricia Highsmith, released a year before the film. Strangers On A Train stars Farley Granger as Guy Haines, who previously worked with Hitchcock in the 1948 film Rope. Hitchcock's daughter, Patricia, also appears in Strangers On A Train as Barbara Morton, the sister of Guy's wife.
Guy is an up-and-coming tennis player who encounters a psychopath on the train named Bruno Antony. Bruno suggests the outlandish idea of "swapping murders." This means Bruno would kill Guy's wife and Guy would kill Bruno's father, with the hopes that the police wouldn't suspect the perpetrator.
8 Notorious Features Famous Casablanca Actress - 8.0
1946's Notorious is a noir spy film and deals with the investigation of Nazis. Notorious features classic film star Cary Grant as T.R. Devlin, an agent with the U.S. Government. Notorious also features Casablanca star Ingrid Bergman as Alicia Huberman.
Alicia helps T.R. due to her position as the daughter of a German war criminal. During their investigation, romance sparks between T.R. and Alicia. This makes everything more complicated when she is forced to seduce a Nazi leader, who already finds her attractive.
7 Hitchcock Didn't Particularly Enjoy Rope - 8.0
Rope is a 1948 thriller film based on the eponymous 1929 play by Patrick Hamilton. The 1924 murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks at the hands of two students influences the play. Rope stars James Stewart as Rupert Cadell in the first Technicolor film of Hitchcocks.
Stewart is widely recognized for his role in Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life as the protagonist George Bailey. While Rope is a critically acclaimed film, Hitchcock wasn't too impressed with the result. He had experimented with long takes to give the film a real-time feel.
6 Rebecca Is A Tale Of Concealed Deaths - 8.1
Rebecca was released in 1940, one of Hitchcock’s earliest films and his first American film project. Rebecca is based on the eponymous 1938 novel by Daphne du Maurier. Rebecca features Laurence Olivier in the lead role as George Fortescue Maximilian "Maxim" de Winter. Oliver was known for starring in the 1939 film Wuthering Heights before Rebecca.
Maxim is a widow who becomes entranced by Joan Fontaine's character, the second Mrs. de Winter after his wife allegedly drowns and dies. However, viewers find out the truth behind Maxim's first wife's death during an intense argument with her husband.
5 Dial M For Murder Has Similar Plot To Strangers On A Train - 8.2
Dial M For Murder is a 1954 crime thriller film based on Frederick Knott's 1952 play with the same title. Dial M For Murder was supposed to release in a polarized 3-D format. Due to the decrease of enjoyment of those film styles, Dial M For Murder premiered in a 2-D format. Dial M has a similar plot to Strangers On A Train, both protagonists are tennis players who want their wives dead.
4 North By Northwest Is A Must-Watch Classic - 8.3
North By Northwest is one of the most recognized Hitchcock films. North By Northwest features the common theme of an innocent man being accused of a crime. This spy thriller was released in 1959 and stars Cary Grant as Roger Thornhill.
Roger is an advertising executive who almost dies from a staged drunk driving accident. The plane chase scene in North By Northwest remains a well-known moment across Hitchcock’s films. Eva Marie Saint teams up with Grant in a case of mistaken identities and faked deaths.
3 Vertigo Is Considered One Of The Greatest Films Of All Time - 8.3
Vertigo is a 1958 psychological thriller film based on Boileau-Narcejac’s 1954 novel From Among The Dead. Frequent Hitchcock collaborator, James Stewart stars as a former police detective, John “Scottie” Ferguson.
Scottie retires after a freak accident gives him a fear of heights and vertigo. Gavin Ester hires Scottie to spy on his wife, whose behavior is growing increasingly strange. Vertigo makes history by being one of the earliest films to be preserved in the National Film Registry.
2 Rear Window Has A Peeping Tom - 8.5
Rear Window is a 1954 mystery thriller film adapted from Cornell Woolrich's short story It Had To Be Murder. Rear Window is many film buff's favorite Hitchcock picture. Rear Window stars James Stewart as a news photographer named L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies.
Jeff is a peeping tom who spies on his unique neighbors with his high-speed binoculars. One day, he witnesses a mysterious murder. The plot twist comes and viewers learn what is actually buried in the garden.
1 Psycho Emerged The Fear Of Being Murdered In The Shower - 8.5
Psycho is a 1960 psychological horror film based on the 1959 eponymous novel by Robert Bloch. Psycho made many afraid of taking showers. Psycho is one of the earliest examples of a film that exemplifies the slasher genre. Many fans may have seen Bates Motel, the title of both a recent thriller series and a 1987 film based on Psycho. The nail-biting Psycho (1960) stars Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, who has a difficult relationship with his mother and a deep interest in taxidermy.