Alfred Hitchcock’sPsychohas had a massive impact on all the films that have followed it in the horror/thriller genre. The movie, which premiered in 1960, is based on Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel of the same name. It tells the story of Marion (Janet Leigh) who is on the run for embezzling money at her work. She encounters Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a rather reserved motel owner, who offers her a room. This turns out to be a fatal mistake for Marion, as the plot thickens and reveals Norman’s dark and twisted nature — with a healthy dose of mommy issues.
Upon its release,Psychoreceived praise from audience members and saw great success at the box office. It’s considered to be one of Hitchcock’s best films and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress and Best Director.Psychois also often referred to as one of the earliest examples of the much-loved slasher film genre. Most known for its iconic shower scene,Psychois a cinematic classic and instantly recognizable. Hitchcock managed to create a work that is just dripping in suspense, from the music to the use of backlighting to cast daunting shadows. It’s one of those horror movies that has stood the test of time and still manages toproduce a chill even all these years later.
The original movie was so successful that it inspired an expansive franchise. Here’s every installment, ranked.
6Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
This made-for-TV movie released in 1990 and served as both a sequel and prequel to thePsychofranchise. It picks up afterPsycho III, but also shows flashbacks of events that occurred before the original movie in 1960. It’s the final installment in the original franchise and features returning characters, most notably Anthony Perkins, who played Norman Bates in the original movie and maintained the role throughout the franchise.
InPsycho IV: The Beginning,Norman calls into a radio show to anonymously tell his story — this is where the flashbacks come in. In the present, he is expecting a child with his wife, but he’s riddled with fear and panic that his child will inherit his mental illness and begin killing just like he did. The concept of the movie is certainly interesting and on paper it sounds like a good way to end the franchise, but unfortunately, it just ends up feeling tired and unnecessary. Perkins gives a great performance as Bates, as per usual, but the overall writing and plot development is a little lackluster, especially with this being the franchise’s last hurrah.
5Psycho (1998)
The 1998 version ofPsychois a modern remake of the original, complete with an interesting cast of characters including Rita Wilson, William H. Macy, Phillip Baker Hall, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen, and Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates. The remake was directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) and was anexperiment in the making of shot-for-shot remakes, as Van Sant’s version is identical to Hitchcock’s original.
However, the concept of this experiment was lost among viewers and generally misunderstood, resulting in negative feedback and reviews. Ultimately, it served as a lesson learned to future directors that when remaking a movie, it doesn’t pay to remake it shot-for-shot. There has to be some kind of new and interesting element; otherwise most people may just opt to watch the original instead.
Related:10 Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies, Ranked
4Psycho II (1983)
Psycho IIpremiered in 1983, taking place 23 years after the 1960 original. It follows Norman as he returns to the motel after a stay in a mental hospital, hoping to live a normal life. But it’s not that easy, as his sinister past continues to haunt him.
Considering the fact that this sequel is coming more than 20 years after the original — which puts an oddly large amount of time in between the two features — it does a decent job at continuing the story, even though the original still stands as the best part of the franchise. One of the best parts ofPsycho II, and arguably one of the best parts of the franchise as a whole, is the fact that Perkins continuously revives his role as Norman Bates and gives a great performance each time.
3Psycho III (1986)
Psycho IIIpicks up immediately after the events inPsycho II,following the disappearance and murder of Emma Spool (Claudia Bryar). Premiering in 1986,Psycho IIIis unique in that Perkins (Bates) both starred in the main role, and directed the film. In terms of sequels,Psycho IIImay be slightly better thanPsycho II. It has a decent story, well-written characters, and a chilling score that perfectly fits the eerie energy on screen.
Despite being a decent sequel, it’s the lowest grossing installment in the franchise, bringing in just over $14 million at the U.S. box office. It also received generally mixed reviews, leading to the fourth and final installment to be a direct-to-TV sequel.
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2Bates Motel (2013-2017)
The TV seriesBates Motelpremiered in 2013 and wrapped in 2017 after five seasons. The show starred Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor) andVera Farmiga ofThe Conjuringfranchise.Bates Motelserved as a prequel to the events in the original movie, depicting Norman and Norma’s lives at the motel before things took a dark turn.Bates Motelwas extremely successful and garnered positive reviews and massive audience retention. The show was nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards and went on to win three People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Cable TV Drama, Favorite Cable TV Actress and Actor, which both Highmore and Farmiga won as their portrayals of Norman and Norma were spot on.
The show’s success also led to a merchandise collection with Hot Topic, complete with bath robes and bloody shower curtains for the fullBates Motelexperience. ThoughBates Motelcame to an end several years ago, it’s still worth a re-watch. It provides what feels like the most accurate prequel to thePsychofranchise, and it’s full of suspense, chills, and incredible acting. All in all, it’s an example ofadapting a horror movie into a TV showthe right way.
1Psycho (1960)
Oftentimes when it comes to franchises and remakes, people say the original is the best, and that’s certainly true in the case of thePsychofranchise. It’s hard to compete with Hitchcock’s original chilling slasher. The movie is instantly recognizable and iconic among audience members and the industry as a whole. Often referred to as one of the first examples of the slasher sub-genre,Psychotruly broke ground and has served as inspiration for future movies and TV shows. It’s been referenced or spoofed in a variety of media fromThe SimpsonstoScary Movie, and is said to have truly modernized the horror genre from the creature features that were so prevalent at the time.
Psychois seen as Hitchcock’s best movie by most accounts, and sitting at a whopping96% on Rotten Tomatoes, this well-loved film hasn’t lost its touch over the years. As its accumulated such a large fan base,Psychosometimes makes a special return to theaters for single showings. But even if you’re able to’t make it to your local movie theater for a special show time, it’s a unique experience to watch this black-and-white thriller in 4K.
