Entertainment Weekly Ranks the 23 Best Psychological Horror Movies, From ‘Smile’ to ‘Psycho’
Entertainment Weekly has unveiled its latest genre ranking, this time tackling the slippery, unsettling world of psychological horror. The outlet’s critics have compiled a list of the 23 best psychological horror movies, a lineup that stretches from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece Psycho to Parker Finn’s 2022 viral sensation Smile. The ranking arrives as the subgenre enjoys a notable resurgence, with filmmakers increasingly favoring dread, paranoia, and unreliable narratives over conventional gore.
What Defines Psychological Horror?
Unlike slashers or creature features, psychological horror derives its terror from the fragility of the human mind. These films often explore themes of gaslighting, trauma, repression, and the breakdown of reality. The best entries leave audiences questioning what they’ve seen long after the credits roll. Entertainment Weekly’s list reportedly prioritizes films that sustain an atmosphere of mental unease, whether through ambiguous supernatural elements or purely human cruelty.
Classic Foundations: ‘Psycho,’ ‘The Shining,’ and ‘Rosemary’s Baby’
Unsurprisingly, the upper echelon of the ranking is anchored by undisputed classics. Hitchcock’s Psycho remains the template for the genre’s marriage of suspense and shattered identity. Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) and Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby (1968) are also cited as essential viewing, each using isolation and institutional betrayal to fracture their protagonists’ sanity. These films established a visual and narrative language—long corridors, subjective camerawork, dissonant sound design—that continues to influence contemporary directors.
Modern Masters: ‘Get Out,’ ‘Hereditary,’ and ‘The Babadook’
The list also reflects the genre’s evolution over the past two decades. Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017) is recognized for weaponizing racial anxiety within a psychological thriller framework, while Ari Aster’s Hereditary (2018) and Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook (2014) are noted for grounding supernatural horror in visceral depictions of grief and maternal breakdown. These movies demonstrate how modern psychological horror often blends social commentary with intimate character studies, elevating the genre beyond simple fright.
The New Guard: ‘Smile,’ ‘Pearl,’ and ‘Talk to Me’
Recent entries like Smile (2022), Ti West’s Pearl (2022), and the Philippou brothers’ Talk to Me (2022) signal a trend toward high-concept premises executed with visceral intensity. Smile, in particular, leverages a curse transmitted through witnessing trauma—a metaphor for contagion in the digital age. Its inclusion near the top of the list underscores how effectively the film translates abstract psychological dread into a tangible, marketable hook.
Notable Omissions and Debates
Any ranked list invites debate. Critics have already pointed out the absence of certain titles—such as David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive (2001), which blurs the line between psychological horror and surrealist mystery, or Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure (1997), a seminal Japanese entry. Entertainment Weekly’s methodology appears to favor English-language films with broad cultural impact, which may explain some gaps. The publication has not released a full breakdown of its scoring criteria, so the exact weighting of influence, craft, and scare factor remains unconfirmed.
Why Psychological Horror Endures
The enduring appeal of these films lies in their ability to externalize internal fears. In an era of heightened anxiety, audiences gravitate toward stories that articulate the terror of losing control—over one’s mind, one’s environment, or one’s perception of truth. The ranking serves not only as a viewing guide but as a snapshot of cultural anxieties across decades, from Cold War paranoia (The Manchurian Candidate) to the erosion of digital privacy (Cam, 2018).
Where to Start
For viewers new to the genre, the list offers a curated entry point. Starting with the foundational works—Psycho, The Innocents (1961), Repulsion (1965)—provides a historical context before diving into the more stylized, metaphor-heavy films of the 21st century. Streaming availability varies; as of publication, most titles are accessible across major platforms, though licensing changes frequently.
Entertainment Weekly’s full ranked list, along with individual write-ups for each film, is available on their website. The feature arrives ahead of the Halloween season, traditionally a peak period for horror consumption.
