Known as the “Master of Suspense”, Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most influential directors in Hollywood history. He’s especially notable for his contributions to the horror and suspense genres, with many even crediting him for creating the slasher genre.
Check out our guide below to discover Alfred Hitchcock’s 10 best movies and find out where to watch them using popular streaming services like Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video and more!
10) Dial M for Murder
In 1954’s Dial M For Murder, a wife (Grace Kelly) is cheating on her husband. Little does she know that her husband is well aware of the affair, and is currently plotting her murder to inherit her riches. The best part about the film is that every character has their own motivation and is out to deceive the others.
9) Frenzy
One of Alfred Hitchcock’s later films is 1972’s Frenzy, which centers around Richard Blaney, a man who gets accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Making everything even worse is that Richard starts seeking help from an old friend… who turns out to be the actual killer. Frenzy received four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Director and Best Motion Picture.
8) North by Northwest
Starring Cary Grant, North by Northwest follows a man who is chased around the globe by a group of spies who believe he’s a government agent. Like all of Hitchcock’s best films, the drama and suspense grow deeper when he seeks solace in a new lover who might not be who she says.
7) The Man Who Knew Too Much
Starring James Stewart and Doris Day, The Man Who Knew Too Much follows a couple vacationing in Morocco who are informed of an assassination plot. Soon after, they begin receiving threats warning them to either keep quiet about the looming murder or suffer the consequences.
6) Spellbound
Spellbound is a trippy thriller about a psychiatrist who falls in love with a man, only to realize he’s not who he says he is (and he might be a murderer). With ever-growing mysteries and more questions than answers, Spellbound is a suspense masterpiece. It was even nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Alfred Hitchcock.
5) The Birds
Long before Jaws and Cujo, Alfred Hitchcock was using animals to terrify audiences with The Birds. In the film, all the birds in the small coastal town of Bodega Bay become erratic and murderous. The Birds starred Jessica Tandy and launched the career of Tippi Hedren.
4) Vertigo
In Vertigo, a police detective suffers from vertigo after a traumatic incident. He also begins to fall for a mysterious woman he’s been tasked with surveilling. But the woman isn’t who she seems and is actually connected to his mysterious development of vertigo.
3) Strangers on a Train
In Strangers on a Train, a seemingly foolproof murder plot is developed, where two strangers kill each other’s worst enemies, thus eliminating any motive or possibility of being caught… but one of the men isn’t on board with the plan until he’s forced. Strangers on a Train also served as the inspiration for the Netflix hit Do Revenge.
2) Rear Window
Rear Window centers around a wheelchair-bound man who begins spying on his neighbors through the window. After witnessing a series of bizarre events, he becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. 2007’s Disturbia is a modernized retelling of the story.
1) Psycho
Often cited as the “first slasher movie”, Psycho follows Norman Bates, a repressed and reclusive owner of a rural motel in California. But Bates has deeper issues than anyone knows, including uncontrollable murderous impulses. Norman Bates was inspired by the serial killer Ed Gein, the same man who inspired Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs and Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Psycho earned Alfred Hitchcock his final Best Director nomination at the 1961 Oscars.
Where can I watch the best Alfred Hitchcock movies online?
Check out our guide below to find out where you can stream and rent all of Alfred Hitchcock’s best movies online, including hits like Psycho and The Birds!
