Psychological thrillers have a pull factor that is irresistible, leading viewers into an maze of distorted minds, shady motives, and tension-filled environments. Such films expertly untangle the darker aspects of human nature with viewers hanging in suspense as the characters traverse morally gray experiences. Although the genre is famous for invoking

strong feelings: fear, anxiety, and even horror, it usually takes us by surprise with instances of dark humor, invoking the ridiculousness of the situation to offer surprising moments of levity. It is this interplay of seriousness and cunning wit that makes psychological thrillers so uniquely engaging, both mentally stimulating and fun. Prime Video provides a tremendous lineup of psychological thrillers that range across a broad spectrum of tastes, from intense and melancholic tales to those with a biting, satirical edge.

23. Landline (2025)

An old landline telephone. A pregnant couple. A masked murderer. Nigerian filmmaker Dele Doherty uses these three items to provide us with a thrilling narrative that involves a time loop. The film tracks Kola, a soldier who is from his pregnant wife, Shalewa, who receives an anonymous call informing her that she will be murdered. Kola has to break the news to Shalewa and ensure that she lives. What if she dies? The entire episode keeps repeating again. The question is: For how long? Starring Gabriel Afolayan and Zainab Balogun, ‘Landline’ is a worthy drama that utilizes the time loop aspect well, probing its unpredictability and knowability. You can view it here.

22. The Visitor (2022)

Directed by Justin P. Lange, The Visitor tracks Robert (Finn Jones) as he relocates with his wife (Jessica McNamee) to her hometown after a string of personal traumas. When Robert stumbles upon an old photograph of a man who bears an uncanny resemblance to him, he becomes fixated on finding out who this enigmatic double is. This mind-bending psychological thriller unravels a harrowing mystery that keeps you guessing about what’s real. You can stream it here.

21. Daydreamer (2007)

‘Daydreamer,’ is the tale of Clinton (Aaron Paul), a young guy whose grip on reality starts to slip. Having seen detailed apparitions of an enigmatic woman (Arielle Kebbel), he is driven by the necessity to know what the truth about these visions is. Following the disappearance of the line between dreams and reality, Claire’s quest for answers sends him into a journey of doubt, discovery, and surprising revelations. If this Brahman Turner-directed one interests you, watch the film here.

20. The Diary (2024)

Directed by Emma Bertrán, ‘The Diary’ starts with Vera (Isabella Arroyo) discovering a sinister journal in her attic house, a murder victim’s diary. Now, with everyone paranoid around her, she and her mother, Olga (Irene Azuela), set out to find out about the diary. As she sinks her teeth into its disturbing contents, Olga starts suspecting a link between the narrative of the killer and her life, and she is compelled to do some digging into repressed truths in a bid to salvage her family. Watch the movie here.

19. The Calendar Killer (2025)

In Adolfo J. Kolmerer’s ‘The Calendar Killer,’ we are introduced to Klara (Luise Heyer), who is given a terrifying ultimatum: murder her husband, Martin (Friedrich Mücke), or be murdered herself. The threat is issued by a notorious killer called the Calendar Killer. Desperate and frightened, Klara calls a helpline and contacts Jules (Sabin Tambrea), who turns out to be her sole savior. Now, Jules must beat the clock to unravel the killer’s motives and rescue Klara from death. This psychological thriller explores fear, manipulation, and the survival instincts of human beings. Stream the movie here.

18. A Perfect Enemy (2021)

‘A Perfect Enemy’ is a film about Jeremiasz Angust (Tomasz Kot), a successful architect who is trapped in an odd and eerie predicament. At the airport, he meets Texel Textor (Athena Strates), an enigmatic and loquacious young woman. A seemingly chance meeting quickly turns into an intense and manipulative game as Texel uncovers dark secrets that compel Jeremiasz to face his own suppressed realities. With its close-knit environment and engaging mind games, Nadezhda Mikhalkova’s film draws on guilt, obsession, and the volatility of human relationships. If you are interested in this plot, you can watch the movie here.

17. Insomnia Manica (2005)

Daston Kalili’s ‘Insomnia Manica’, is a suspenseful neo-noir psychological thriller on the dark, gritty downtown streets of Los Angeles. The movie is about Iliad Labor (Daston Kalili), a hard-working and explosive head of a vigilante gang of thieves who unwittingly victimize the wrong target. Once their scheme starts to unfold, Iliad must deal with the grayness of good and bad, with tragic results. Natalie Fiori shines as Iliad’s femme fatale sidekick, whose affection is paid for in spades. With a dreamlike score, constant action, and a killer finale, Insomnia Manica drives its characters and viewers to the brink of terror, suffering, and madness. Watch this quick-witted psychological thriller here.

16. Goodnight Mommy (2022)

In Matt Sobel’s ‘Goodnight Mommy’ identical twin brothers Elias and Lukas (Cameron and Nicholas Crovetti) show up at their mom’s (Naomi Watts) rural residence, only to discover that she has her face wrapped up in bandages following plastic surgery. Following this, her actions become more and more bizarre, and the boys start to suspect that the woman under the bandages might not be their mom. This disturbing tale explores issues of identity, trust, and the mother-child bond. The first film of 2014 by the same title was praised for its suspenseful narrative and has since been recognized for its contribution to the psychological thriller genre. Watch the movie here.

15. The Lie (2018)

Directed by Veena Sud, ‘The Lie’ is a gripping film and a remake of the 2015 German film We Monsters. The story revolves around divorced parents Rebecca (Mireille Enos) and Jay (Peter Sarsgaard), whose teenage daughter Kayla (Joey King) admits to having killed her best friend, Britney (Devery Jacobs), in a fit of rage. In a last-ditch effort to save her, Jay and Rebecca spin a complex web of lies, and they embark on a dark road with moral divides becoming increasingly confused. As the lies build upon one another, the duo finds themselves facing increasing pressure from the authorities and Britney’s father, Sam (Cas Anvar), as they deal with the catastrophic impacts of their actions. The movie explores themes of desperation on the part of parents and how far one will go to protect loved ones. You may view the movie here.

14. Blame (2018)

Quinn Shephard’s ‘Blame’ is an engrossing psychological thriller that explores the intricacies of adolescence and mental illness. The movie tracks Abigail Grey (played by Shephard herself), an outcast teenager returning from a stay in a psychiatric unit. Following her entry into a school production of The Crucible, a contentious romance with her acting instructor Jeremy Woods (Chris Messina) provokes Melissa (Nadia Alexander), her classmate, to jealousy. This is followed by a cycle of retaliatory acts. Shephard’s directorial career kick-starts with excellent performances and a reflective storyline, which makes ‘Blame’ a memorable film that stands by its depiction of vulnerability in youth and the repercussions of indulgent emotions. You may see it here.

13. The Girl Who Killed Her Parents (2021)

The Mauricio Eça-directed ‘The Girl Who Killed Her Parents’ is a Brazilian psychological thriller based on the true story of the 2002 killings of Manfred and Marísia von Richthofen, which were masterminded by their daughter, Suzane von Richthofen. The movie tells the story of what happened before the crime from Suzane’s own perspective, delving into the parent-child and boyfriend-girlfriend dynamics in her life. Interestingly, this movie came with a companion film, ‘The Boy Who Killed My Parents,’ which tells the same story from Daniel’s own perspective. The two movies delve into the manipulative and complicated relationships that led to the infamous crime. You may view this gripping thriller here.

12. Altered Minds (2013)

Michael Z. Wechsler’s ‘Altered Minds’ is a psychological thriller that explores the intricacies of family secrets and the human mind. The film revolves around Dr. Nathaniel Shellner (Judd Hirsch), a Nobel Prize-winning psychiatrist well known for his research on trauma victims. As he is about to spend his last days, his adopted child, Tommy (Ryan O’Nan), accuses him of heinous things: Nathaniel has been conducting forbidden psychological experiments on his kids. This confrontation reveals deep-seated tensions and enigmas within the family. Experience this gripping tale here.

11. The Quiet (2006)

Jamie Babbit’s ‘The Quiet’ focuses on Dot (Camilla Belle), a deaf-mute teenager, who, following her father’s death, comes to stay with her godparents, Paul (Martin Donovan) and Olivia Deer (Edie Falco), and their daughter, Nina (Elisha Cuthbert). Once Dot gets involved in the dynamics of the family, she discovers disturbing secrets, among them the abuse in the relationship between Paul and Nina. The movie delves into themes of silence, complicity, and the facade in suburban life. If you’d like, you can watch the movie here.

10. Beast (2017)

27-year-old Moll (Jessie Buckley) meets the enigmatically handsome Pascal (Johnny Flynn), who has a shady past and is even suspected of a terrible crime. At the same time, Moll also has demons of her own, and Pascal appears to be her retreat from her overbearing family. Conversely, the town is shocked to its very foundations by a series of rape/murders of teenage girls. How these two narratives intersect is presented in a mind-twisting way in Michael Pearce’s ‘Beast.’ How two disturbed minds treat one another is presented through the themes of family, lying, and trauma, all of which are used as ingredients in a uncommon drama inspired by the real life story of serial killer Edward John Louis Paisnel, also known as the Beast of Jersey. You can view the film here.

9. Pacific Heights (1990)

In ‘Pacific Heights’, Drake (Matthew Modine) and Patty (Melanie Griffith) buy a Victorian house in San Francisco in the expectation of renting half of it to pay for their mortgage. Plans go awry when they rent to Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton), a tenant who uses legal technicalities to wreak havoc on their lives. Directed by John Schlesinger, the film delves into themes of trust, deception, and the dangers of homeownership. Inspired by real experiences, this psychological thriller captures how one wrong choice can lead to devastating consequences. Find the movie streaming here.

8. You Were Never Really Here (2018)

Lynne Ramsay’s ‘You Were Never Really Here’ is a psychological thriller that can be termed as a contemporary ‘Taxi Driver.’ The movie revolves around Joe (Joaquin Phoenix), a shell-shocked veteran who saves sex-trafficked children. When a mission to rescue a politician’s daughter goes awry, Joe battles his personal demons amidst mounting violence. Directed by the filmmaker based on Jonathan Ames’ novella of the same title, the story features the themes of trauma and redemption. Ramsay’s direction and the performance of Phoenix were critically acclaimed, with both winning Cannes Film Festival awards. Here is the movie.

7. Holland (2025)

In Mimi Cave’s ‘Holland,’ Nicole Kidman plays committed teacher/lover wife Nancy Vandergroot, whose husband and son live the so-called perfect life with her in the beautiful town of Holland in Michigan. But then suspicion of her husband’s cheating sends her down a rabbit hole of deceptions from which there appears to be no escape. Her lovely world begins to disintegrate like they are little pieces of a model toy, similar to the one her husband has constructed. Also starring Matthew Macfadyen, Gael García Bernal, and Jude Hill, ‘Holland’ is a fascinating and visually stunning drama on the haunting illusion of “perfect life.” You can see it here.

6. Saltburn (2023)

Directed by Emerald Fennell, ‘Saltburn’ is a dark, transgressive look at obsession and privilege. The film tracks Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), a down-on-his-luck Oxford student, as he becomes embroiled in the seductive world of his upper-class classmate Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). Brought in to join Felix at his lavish family home, Saltburn, for the summer, Oliver becomes entangled in a complex web of lust, deceit, and class divisions. Featuring outstanding performances and Fennell’s assured direction, ‘Saltburn’ is a gripping, stylish drama that will have you hooked. If this inspires you, then watch the film here.

5. Karthik Calling Karthik (2010)

‘Karthik Calling Karthik’ is a thought-provoking thriller that delves into the life of Karthik Narayan (Farhan Akhtar), a shy and underconfident man. Karthik’s ordinary life takes a dramatic turn when he begins receiving cryptic calls from someone who claims to be him, imparting advice that changes his life. He becomes confident and successful, and even wins the heart of his co-worker, Shonali Mukherjee (Deepika Padukone). But things spiral as the reality of these calls is revealed, resulting in unexpected consequences. The Vijay Lalwani-directed film is suspenseful and tight in every way and boasts a jaw-dropping twist. You can watch it here.

4. Blink Twice (2024)

Directed by Zoë Kravitz, ‘Blink Twice’ is set in a billionaire tech mogul Slater King’s private island. The moment his guests arrive on the island, it is a party every time. But as the “vacation” goes on, some of the guests also discover that they cannot remember things. Soon enough, one of the women uncovers a ghastly truth leading to a bloody struggle of the sexes “infused with venom.” Starring Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat, and Christian Slater, ‘Blink Twice’ is a completely brutal and fun psychological thriller that cleverly weighs the fancy and the pang. You can stream it here.

3. The Handmaiden (2016)

Helmed by Park Chan-wook, ‘The Handmaiden’ is a sumptuous and intricately crafted psychological thriller inspired by Sarah Waters’ novel ‘Fingersmith.’ Set in 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea, the film follows Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri), a pickpocket hired to pose as the handmaiden to Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee), a wealthy heiress, as part of a con orchestrated by a swindler posing as a count. What starts out as a sinister scheme quickly derails into a story of illicit love, deception, and complex deception. Under the expert guidance of Park, gorgeous visuals, and earth-shattering performances, ‘The Handmaiden’ is a visually stunning and emotionally engaging foray into love, lust, and power play. A must-see for those who appreciate smart and thought-provoking cinema. You can watch here.

2. Donnie Darko (2001)

Directed by Richard Kelly, ‘Donnie Darko’ features young Jake Gyllenhaal playing the title teen whose apocalyptic visions of the world’s destruction, according to a man-sized rabbit, manifest themselves in a series of strange occurrences. When Donnie attempts to find meaning in the world and deal with the events, the film makes us wonder what is real and what isn’t until the conclusion presents us with a shocking fact-check. ‘Donnie Darko’ is one of those films that proudly doesn’t make any sense, and it has every right to. It’s available to stream right here.

1. Memento (2000)

Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento’ is a pioneering psychological thriller that revolutionized non-linear storytelling. The movie tracks Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a victim of short-term memory loss, as he tries to assemble clues to track down his wife’s murderer. Narrated in two intertwining timelines, one going forward and the other backward, the story reflects

Leonard’s shattered vision, drawing the viewer into his confused mind. Adapted from a short story by Jonathan Nolan, ‘Memento’ is a masterful exercise in suspense, as every twist and revelation subverts what the spectator believes they understand. Pearce gives a riveting performance, ably supported by Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano, whose characters complicate the mystery. Nolan’s careful direction and unorthodox format make for an experience that requires close attention and repays repeat viewings. It’s not merely a puzzle, however, as the film delves into issues of memory, identity, and perception’s validity. With its fast pace and cerebral complexity, Memento continues to be one of those movies that leaves viewers guessing until the final frame. Watch this intense story here. Read More: Best Psychological Thriller Movies on Max