10. Psycho (1960)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Glavin, Janet Leigh, Martin Balsam, John McIntire
A Phoenix secretary steals $40,000 from her employer’s client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
In at number ten on our list is what some would call the grandfather of slasher movies, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.
Whether you remember it for the Anthony Perkins’ performance, that infamous shower scene with Janet Leigh or the final act reveal, you remember Psycho. A movie that Hitchcock cared about so much that he would tour round the country to make sure that protectionists were displaying his movie correctly, and even filmed an extra scene of himself talking to the audience, requesting them not to reveal the ending to anyone.
In 1998, Gus Van Sant released the incredibly pointless shot-for-shot remake of Psycho starring Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche, proving that this was not just a movie that could be made by anyone. So powerful and interesting was the story of Psycho that it lead to a biopic of sorts being released in 2013 called Hitchcock, which saw Anthony Hopkins portray the portly director during the production of the movie.
Giving inspiration to a whole generation of slasher movies for decades to come, including 1996’s Scream 46 years after its release, Psycho is a timeless classic of the horror genre and one that will never be forgotten.
Originally published October 31, 2014. Updated October 24, 2022.
