Alfred Hitchcock knew how to make a suspenseful film, keeping audiences on their toes and wondering what was going to happen next. Here are the top 10 Alfred Hitchcock films you should check out.
The 39 Steps (1935)
The 39 Steps is true Hitchcock at his finest. The center of this story is a man who becomes part of an international spy plot unwillingly. This might be the earliest film on this list, but Hitchcock had been making films since the 20s — this was just one of the first that truly had the Hitchcock formula for suspense in it.
To Catch a Thief (1955)
To Catch a Thief stars Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, and they have extreme chemistry in this film. Grant stars as an ex-jewel thief being framed by someone who is, well, thieving. Grant’s character has to clear his name and he asks Grace Kelly to help him do just that.
The Birds (1963)
The Birds is a different kind of Hitchcock film. Instead of humans causing problems, animals are the culprit here. The suspense lies in when the birds are going to attack, and why are they attacking in the first place. Poor Tippi Hedren just couldn’t outrun those birds.
The Wrong Man (1956)
The Wrong Man works so well because the whole time you know that Henry Fonda’s character is innocent, even though the characters in the film don’t. Add the fact that it was based on a true story of a man wrongly accused of a crime, and this film will have you sitting at the edge of your seat the whole time.
Rope (1948)
Rope starts with a murder we witness onscreen. Then we watch as a dinner party unfolds, with the body hidden right in the middle of the party. The whole time we are watching, wondering if the two murderers will be caught for their crime. You can’t fool Jimmy Stewart — he knows something funny is going on during the party!
Suspicion (1941)
Suspicion follows the story of a shy heiress who falls in love with a handsome and charming man. The one problem with their relationship? She thinks he is planning to murder her. Will he? You have to watch to find out!
Rebecca (1940)
Rebecca is the story of a woman who gets married but can’t seem to step out of the shadow of her groom’s first wife’s memory. Throughout the whole movie, we wonder about the titular Rebecca and why she has such a hold on those who knew her. The second wife doesn’t even have a first name in this film, allowing us all to focus on Rebecca.
Rear Window (1954)
Rear Window is probably one of the coolest shot films on this list. The whole movie is seen from the perspective of a wheelchair-bound man looking out his window. We wonder along with Jimmy Stewart’s character, did one of his neighbors murder his wife? Why did she just disappear? These questions and more will be answered when you watch the movie!
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Notorious (1946)
Notorious has one of the most heart-pounding scenes on this list. We watch as Ingrid Bergman’s character tries to hide a key from her husband, Claude Rains. The scene is full of such tension that your palms will sweat. Why does she want the key? She needs it to access the one room in the house off limits to her. Oh, and she’s also an agent for the USA trying to take down Nazis.
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Psycho (1960)
Psycho has the biggest twist of any of Hitchcock’s movies — and it happens in the middle of the movie. The twist won’t be spoiled, but it will be a huge surprise the first time you watch this film. Also, be prepared to be creeped out… Psycho does that very well.
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