The 10 Best Alfred Hitchcock Thrillers From The '50s and '60s
Strangers on a Train (1951) · Dial M for Murder (1954) · Rear Window (1954) · To Catch A Thief (1955) · The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) · Vertigo ( ...
on Robert Bloch's novel of the same name
Hitchcock based Psycho <anchor>on Robert Bloch's novel of the same name</anchor>, which was also based loosely on Ed Gein. Hitchcock paid approximately $9,500 for the rights to the novel and ordered his secretary to buy every single copy of the story available to keep the book's ending a secret. The film is most famous for the pivotal shower scene, one of the best-known sequences in cinema history. The scene ran three minutes, was shot from December 17-23, 1959, and required approximately 78 shots.
All 5 Psycho Movies, Ranked From Worst to Best
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# Every 'Psycho' Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

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Updated May 24, 2024

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All-Psycho-Movies-RankedImage by Zanda Rice

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is a landmark, for cinema in general, not just horror or slasher cinema. The oppresively tense 1960 thriller set largely at the mysterious, murderous Bates Motel was made on a modest budget, skirted now-defunct censorship codes, and it remains the most profitable black-and-white film of all time. The whole thing was a gamble that paid off; it inevitably led to a franchise. The original film's impact on pop culture is untouchable, but it's certainly worth noting the classic film jump-started an overall underrated and oft-overlooked horror film series.

The following is a ranking all four movies — Psycho, Psycho II, Psycho III, and Psycho IV: The Beginning, plus the 1987 Bates Motel TV special and the 1998 Gus Van Sant remake, from worst to best. This list does not include the well-received Bates Motel drama series starring Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore.

## 6  'Bates Motel (1987)

### Directed by Richard Rothstein

Bud Cort and Lori Petty in Bates Motel (1987)Image Via NBC

There have been two efforts to get spinoff of the Psycho franchise on TV screens. The first attempt, 1987's Bates Motel, was intended to be the pilot of a TV series which ultimately ended up as a made-for-TV movie. Bud Cort( Harold and Maude) stars as Alex West, a young man who grew up in the same asylum as Norman Bates after Alex killed his father. Norman takes Alex under his wing during their stay. After his death, Norman leaves Bates Motel to Alex in his will. Alex gets help re-opening Bates Motel with help from teenage runaway Willie ( Lori Petty). The rest of the special sees Alex attempting to get the motel up and running amidst rumors of the ghost of Norma Bates haunting the hotel and one Bates Motel guest seeing the ghost of her younger self gifting her with an important lesson.

Unfortunately, this 90-minute special is connected to the Psycho canon in name only, with the story so muddled and overwrought it feels like a dare to try and get through it. It's also pretty sweaty and problematic in the way it paints Alex and Norman's dynamic. As you might have guessed, the 1987 Bates Motel TV movie is very much a "for diehard fans only" kind of viewing experience.

bates-motel_movie_poster.jpg

##### Bates Motel

TV-PG

Horror

Drama

Comedy

A horror drama featuring Alex West, a former mental institution patient who inherits the Bates Motel from Norman Bates. Eager to make a fresh start, Alex sets out to revive the rundown property. However, he quickly realizes that the motel is still plagued by the dark and eerie history left behind by its former owner. As Alex deals with mysterious and frightening incidents, he is forced to uncover the secrets of the past and confront the lingering influence of Norman Bates on the motel.

Release Date July 5, 1987

Director Richard Rothstein

Cast Bud Cort , Lori Petty , Moses Gunn , Gregg Henry , Khrystyne Haje

Runtime 90 Minutes

Writers Richard Rothstein

Studio(s) Universal Television

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## 5  'Psycho IV: The Beginning'

### Directed by Mick Garris

psycho iv the beginning imageImage via Showtime

Psycho IV is a 1990 TV movie which sees Anthony Perkins reprise his role as Norman Bates for the fourth and final time (he would pass away two years after this movie was released). Over the course of an hour and half, we watch as Norman attempts to unpack all of his emotional and psychological baggage via a late-night call into a radio show hosted by Fran Ambrose ( CCH Pounder). There are flashbacks to Norman's childhood and teenage years, with the subtext of these flashbacks getting uncomfortably Oedipal as young Norman ( Henry Thomas) tries to please his mother, Norma ( Olivia Hussey). We also discover Norman has married and is trying to do away with his demons for good, which, sure. Why not?

To have Psycho IV close out the end of what is actually a very fun horror franchise is simply very disappointing. This TV movie only seems interested in pathologizing Norman's behavior and it's equal parts sordid and boring. Thomas gives a solid supporting turn as a teenage Norman Bates grappling with his unsettling feelings for his mother and budding penchant for stabbing young women, so I guess that's something. But, ultimately, Psycho IV is neither well-done enough or confident enough in its execution to be anything more than just a whimper of a franchise finale. Hussey's strong and committed performance stands out from an otherwise forgettable, dull feature.

psycho-iv_-the-beginning_movie_poster-1.jpg

##### Psycho IV: The Beginning

R

Horror

Thriller

Mystery

A horror thriller that explores the early life of Norman Bates and his tumultuous bond with his mother, Norma. The plot unfolds as Norman, now older, participates in a radio show, sharing the dark and disturbing details of his upbringing. Through his recollections, the film traces the path of his psychological breakdown, highlighting the significant moments that pushed him towards murder and insanity. The story oscillates between flashbacks of Norman's youth and his present-day reflections, providing a comprehensive look at the origins of his notorious persona.

Release Date November 10, 1990

Director Mick Garris

Cast Anthony Perkins , Henry Thomas , Olivia Hussey , CCH Pounder , Warren Frost

Runtime 96 Minutes

Writers Joseph Stefano , Robert Bloch

Budget 800000.0

Studio(s) Smart Money Productions , Universal Television

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## 4  'Psycho' (1998)

### Directed by Gus Van Sant

Anne-Heche-as-Marion-CraneImage via Universal Pictures

Gus Van Sant's shot-for-shot 1998 Psycho is a fascinatingly flawed bit of filmmaking. This most recent Psycho movie is shot in color, with Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn stepping into the roles made famous by Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins, and Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen, William H. Macy, and Philip Baker Hall rounding out the main cast. Van Sant's remake uses most of Joseph Stefano's original script and Danny Elfman is on music duty, lightly sprucing up Bernard Herrmann's original score.

As an acting exercise, Psycho'98 is fun to watch. The cast put their own spin on their readings of the characters, with more room for fun to seemingly help keep things fresh. However, keeping most of Stefano's script intact means some lines just don't land or feel outright dated. World-class actors do what they can with the recycled material, but nothing could possibly change the fundamental flaw with this movie: it's aggressively pointless.

psycho_movie_poster.jpg

##### Psycho (1998)

R

Mystery

Thriller

Horror

A psychological horror film retelling the story of Marion Crane, who steals a significant amount of money and seeks refuge at the remote Bates Motel. The motel is run by the enigmatic Norman Bates, whose peculiar behavior hints at deeper, more sinister secrets. As Marion becomes entangled in the unsettling environment of the motel, she faces terrifying revelations that lead to a shocking conclusion. This remake stays true to the original's plot while updating the setting and style for a modern audience.

Release Date December 4, 1998

Runtime 105 Minutes

Writers Joseph Stefano , Robert Bloch

Budget 60000000.0

Studio(s) Universal Pictures , Imagine Entertainment

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## 3  'Psycho III'

### Directed by Anthony Perkins

Psycho-III-ImageImage via Universal Pictures

When it comes to '80s horror movies and late franchise installments, Psycho III is a hell of an entry. Perkins returns this time as both director and star. Additionally, Diana Scarwid( Mommie Dearest), Jeff Fahey( Lost), and Robert Maxwell( Popeye) round out the supporting cast. With a script from Charles Edward Pogue ( The Fly, DragonHeart) in hand and lots of ominous synth music to go around, Psycho III is the peak of everything the Psycho franchise wants to be: an over-the-top, goofy, cheeky, bawdy, sweaty movie that will keep you hooked.

Psycho III is a movie which isn't so much plot-forward as it is pulp-forward. The general gist is: Norman has fully returned to his dual personality of Norman and Norma Bates and seems content in this new groove. He's the kind of guy who will taxidermy birds at the kitchen table and use the same spoon to put sawdust into a carcass and put peanut butter on crackers. So, super chill basically. Norman's very cool and normal home life gets shaken up with the arrival of wannabe rocker Duane Duke (Fahey), who Norman hires to help around the hotel, and Maureen Coyle (Scarwid), a runaway nun contemplating suicide who is saved by and ends up falling for Norman. Unlike Psycho II, a sequel which is bit more serious in tone and intention, Psycho III is just plain fun.

psycho-iii_movie_poster.jpg

##### Psycho III

R

Horror

Thriller

Mystery

A chilling sequel that follows Norman Bates as he returns to manage the Bates Motel after being released from a psychiatric facility. Struggling to suppress his murderous urges, Norman's life is further complicated by the arrival of Maureen Coyle, a troubled young woman, and a persistent reporter looking into the motel's dark past. As Norman's sanity unravels, the motel once again becomes a site of terror, with a new wave of gruesome murders shaking the eerie establishment.

Release Date July 2, 1986

Director Anthony Perkins

Cast Anthony Perkins , Diana Scarwid , Jeff Fahey , Roberta Maxwell , Hugh Gillin

Runtime 93 Minutes

Writers Charles Edward Pogue , Robert Bloch

Budget 8400000.0

Studio(s) Universal Pictures

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## 2  'Psycho II'

### Directed by Richard Franklin

Psycho-II

There is so much to love about Psycho II. It is a rare sequel which manages to both expand on the lore at the heart of the canon while also going deeper into it. Following Hitchcock's passing in 1980, Universal Pictures revived the Psycho franchiser with this movie. This decision saw Perkins return to the role of Norman Bates after a 22-year hiatus along with original cast member Vera Miles. Joining Perkins and Miles was a great supporting cast, which included Meg Tilly, Robert Loggia, and Dennis Franz.

Psycho II follows Norman after he is cleared to return home to the Bates Motel after 22 years in an institution after pleading insanity in the Marion Crane murder. Norman works to put the pieces of his life back together while some locals seem unwilling to let his past go. Norman befriends a young woman, Mary (Tilly), at his job and soon takes her under his wing. Things take a turn as bodies begin popping up all around the Bates property and Norman's grip on reality begins to slip. Psycho II has a keen interest in examining Norman without turning him into some lab rat, as later sequels seem keen to do. Instead, this is a movie both sympathetic to Norman's headspace, interested in unpacking the layers of a lifetime of trauma, guilt, and fear baked into Norman's psyche. There is a redemptive arc to this story through Norman's relationship with Mary which also helps lends some keen pathos to the piece. This is an underrated, worthy sequel.

Psycho II poster with Anthony Perkins on the cover

##### Psycho 2

Psychological

Slasher

Thriller

After twenty-two years of psychiatric care, Norman Bates attempts to return to a life of solitude, but the specters of his crimes - and his mother - continue to haunt him.

Release Date June 3, 1983

Director Richard Franklin

Cast Anthony Perkins , Vera Miles , Meg Tilly , Robert Loggia

Runtime 113

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## 1  'Psycho' (1960)

### Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) taking a shower as a shadow approaches in 'Psycho'Image via Paramount Pictures

What else can be said about Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho at this point? The American Film Institute named it the most suspenseful film ever made. Variety recently named it the best movie in the history of all cinema. It's nearly 65 years old, and it holds up as hair-raising, gripping in the extreme when watched today. Its twists and turns are about as iconic as the shower scene, the Gothic house and staircase, the knife, the screeching Bernard Hermann score. And yet, somehow Psycho always works like gangbusters. It's tense. It's frightening.

There's a coda near the end of Psycho that sticks out like a sore thumb, the over-explanation of Norman Bates, his motives and his methods. Literally nobody needed that, and frankly it throws off the pacing a bit. But a few fleeting moments of hand-holding can't do anything to tarnish the whole enterprise, which just might be the greatest feat of film direction ever.

psycho-movie-poster

##### Psycho

R

Horror

Thriller

Psychological

Where to Watch

- stream
- rent
- buy

Not available

*Availability in US

A Phoenix secretary embezzles $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.

Release Date June 22, 1960

Cast Anthony Perkins , Vera Miles , John Gavin , Martin Balsam , John McIntire , Simon Oakland

Runtime 109 minutes

Main Genre Horror

Writers Joseph Stefano , Robert Bloch

Studio Paramount Pictures

Tagline A new- and altogether different- screen excitement!!!

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