The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time on Hulu
April 3, 2023
Do you love the suspense of scary movies, but could do without the blood, gore, and jump scares? Psychological thrillers are where horror meets drama. It’s the perfect genre to serve audiences a little bit of everything, including dark humor, mystery, crime, complex characters, and deep plots that will make you think.
No, your mind isn’t playing tricks on you, or is it? These iconic psychological thriller movies will make your head spin as you sit on the edge of your seat.
The Best Psychological Thriller Movies on Hulu
Boston Strangler (2023)
The best psychological thriller movies send a chill down your spine, but those based on true stories are sure to make your arm hairs stand up straight. That’s the case with the new Hulu Original true crime thriller, Boston Strangler, starring Keira Knightly and Carrie Coon.
Based on the real 1960s murders of 13 women in the greater Boston area, Boston Strangler follows two female reporters following the case while challenging workplace sexism prevalent in media news at the time.
Watch: Boston Strangler
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Along with “Here’s Johnny!” and “They’re here,” “I see dead people” is arguably one of the most quoted psychological thriller movie lines of all time.
In this staple film directed by the iconic M. Night Shyamalan, Bruce Willis plays child psychologist Malcolm Crowe. He’s the last shred of hope for helping troubled eight-year-old Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) and his chilling mental condition — he can see dead people.
Like any great psychological thriller, The Sixth Sense has an iconic twist that is sure to send shivers down your spine no matter how many times you’ve watched it.
Watch: The Sixth Sense*
*The Sixth Sense requires a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Shutter Island (2010)
Based on a novel of the same name, Shutter Island is a classic Martin Scorsese psychological thriller movie. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshall in charge of investigating the disappearance of a murderer from a psychiatric hospital isolated on Shutter Island.
More criminals escape when a hurricane cuts off communication to the mainland, leaving Teddy to question everything — including his sanity.
Watch: Shutter Island*
*Shutter Island requires a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Black Swan (2010)
Nina (Natalie Portman) is next in line for the coveted prima ballerina role in her dance company’s production of “Swan Lake.” That is until newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) shows up and jeopardizes everything she has ever worked for, forcing Nina to channel an inner evil she never knew she was capable of.
Watch: Black Swan
American Psycho (2000)
American Psycho is a classic dark comedy and psychological thriller about Patrick Bateman, a wealthy, vain, and narcissistic New York City financier with a secret serial killer alter ego. Can Patrick continue to separate work from pleasure as he succumbs to his hedonistic fantasies?
Watch: American Psycho
Fatal Attraction (1987)
New York City lawyer Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) is living the dream with a successful career, a loving wife, and a beautiful child. But he quickly discovers that being on top of the world brings a lot of temptation and single bad decision turns his dream life into a living nightmare.
Watch: Fatal Attraction*
*Fatal Attraction requires SHOWTIME® on Hulu add-on subscription.
Rear Window (1954)
Revered as the original Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock directed this iconic thriller about a wheelchair-bound news photographer who believes he witnessed a murder from outside his apartment’s back window.
If you’re a thriller movie fan, Rear Window is a must-watch.
Watch: Rear Window*
*Rear Window requires a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Gone Girl (2014)
Nick (Ben Affleck) and his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) reside in a small, quiet town in Missouri. So it’s no wonder that Amy’s mysterious disappearance creates quite a frenzy. Now the town’s fingers point at Nick — did he kill his successful wife for financial gain? True thriller film fans know the answer is never that simple.
Directed by David Fincher, Gone Girl is the film adaptation of the novel by Gillian Flynn. Discover more movies and shows based on books streaming now.
Watch: Gone Girl*
*Gone Girl is available on Hulu with HBO Max® add-on subscription.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
You’re not a true thriller fan until you’ve seen this classic film starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.
Young FBI agent Clarice Starling (Foster) is ordered by her superior to pick the brain of imprisoned ex-psychiatrist and serial killer cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins), with the hope it can help catch another dangerous serial killer dubbed Buffalo Bill.
Despite being detained for the better part of a decade, Lecter’s mind games never lost their edge. Can Clarice extract the information she needs without falling victim to Lecter’s manipulations?
Watch: The Silence of the Lambs*
*Silence of the Lambs is available on Hulu with HBO Max® add-on subscription.
The Girl on the Train (2016)
Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) takes the train to New York City every day for work, passing the house she once shared with her abusive ex-husband, Tom Watson (Justin Theroux). Tom still lives there, but now he occupies the house with his new wife and their children.
On yet another routine train ride, Rachel watches something shocking happen from the window and finds herself waking up the next morning physically battered with no recollection of the night before. All she knows is that something bad has happened — and she might be the culprit.
Watch: The Girl on the Train*
*The Girl on the Train requires a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Zodiac (2007)
Directed by David Fincher and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Zodiac is based on true events during the 14-year killing spree at the hands of the infamous Zodiac Killer. This psychological thriller follows the investigators and reporters that become obsessed with the case as the serial killer taunts them with cryptic letters and patterns.
Watch: Zodiac*
*Zodiac requires SHOWTIME on Hulu add-on subscription.
Joker (2019)
This is the origin story of Gotham’s supervillain, the Joker, played by Joaquin Phoenix. It’s a dark tale of the struggles surrounding mental health, loneliness, and bullying, and how there’s only so much one can endure before they snap.
This spine-chilling psychological thriller gets dark, so you might want to have one of your favorite comfort shows queued up for after.
Watch: Joker*
*Joker requires a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Blue Velvet (1986)
Blue Velvet is a psychological thriller classic starring Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, and Laura Dern. In this 1986 film, college student Jeffrey Beaumont (MacLachlan) is back in his hometown to take care of his father when he discovers a severed human ear in the field near his family home. Despite grave warnings from authorities, Jeffrey takes the case into his own hands and finds himself entangled in the world of nightclub singer, Dorothy Vallens (Rossellini).
Watch: Blue Velvet*
*Blue Velvet is available on Hulu with HBO Max® add-on subscription.
Deep Water (2022)
Married couple, Vic (Ben Affleck) and Melinda (Ana de Armas), have a unique arrangement — he agrees to turn a blind eye to her affairs as long as she doesn’t abandon their family. Everything starts to change after the mysterious death of one of Melinda’s lovers. How long can this dysfunctional setup last before jealousy gets the best of Vic?
Watch: Deep Water
Fear of Rain (2021)
Fear of Rain is a psychological thriller about a young girl living with schizophrenia and terrifying hallucinations. When she suspects her neighbor is hiding a kidnapped child, the only person who believes her is a young boy she’s not sure actually exists.
Watch: Fear of Rain
Every Breath You Take (2021)
A grieving brother seeks revenge on his sister’s psychiatrist after she decides to take her own life. What starts as a therapist’s worst nightmare takes an even darker turn when his wife and daughter become the target.
Watch: Every Breath You Take
Run (2020)
Chloe is a wheelchair-bound teenager who is homeschooled by her abnormally over-protective mother. When Chloe begins to uncover her mom’s dark secrets, she decides to flee in fear for her own safety. Run is a suspenseful psychological thriller that will keep you in its grip even after the credits roll.
Watch: Run
Interstellar (2014)
Written, directed, and produced by Christopher Nolan, Interstellar is an Oscar®-winning sci-fi thriller that takes place in a dystopian future where Earth has become unlivable. Follow a team of astronauts and scientists on a suspenseful trip through a newly discovered wormhole in their desperate search for a habitable planet.
Watch: Interstellar*
*Interstellar requires a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Parasite (2019)
Parasite is a Korean film and 2020 Acadamy Award® winner for Best Picture. This psychological thriller has everything—dark humor, brilliant cinematography, and a suspenseful plot that will leave you thinking for days.
Follow the Kim family as they scam their way into the Park family’s luxurious home to escape poverty in Parasite.
Watch: Parasite
Get Out (2017)
Chris and Rose are an interracial couple who travel to visit Rose’s rather “traditional” family for the weekend. At first, Chris views her parent’s nervous behavior and over-accommodation as their half-hearted attempt to approve of their daughter’s choice for a partner. That is, until he makes some disturbing discoveries that lead him to run for his life.
Watch: Get Out*
*Get Out requires a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
If you love psychological thrillers, we’re willing to bet you might just be a true crime junky, too. Check out these true crime documentaries streaming now on Hulu.
