7 Classic Psychological Thrillers Inspired By Books
Mimansa Shekhar
Jul 21, 2025
Best Thrillers Based On Books/Novels
Movies pick inspiration from several sources. While sometimes they take cues from real-life incidents, a lot of times, several best-selling books and novels become their core screenplay. Here are 7 psychological thrillers that did full justice to the books on which they were based.
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Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock's early slasher thriller is adapted from the novel by Robert Bloch. It tells the story of a woman on the run with a large sum of money. She stops at a motel managed by a young man. When she's taking a shower, someone enters the bathroom and stabs her to death.
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Gone Girl (2014)
Inspired by Gillian Flynn's bestseller, it tells two stories. On one hand, the disappearance of Amy Dunne shakes up everything with suspicion on her husband, Nick. The other story is a truth that Amy wasn't a perfect wife, and she isn't actually missing!
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The Girl On The Train (2016)
Based on the 2015 debut novel by British author Paula Hawkins. On her lonely train journeys post-divorce, Rachel sees Scott and Megan and perceives them to be an ideal couple. But when Megan is known to go missing, Rachel gets dragged into the investigation.
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The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
Based on the 1988 novel by Thomas Harris, it follows a young FBI cadet who must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.
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Shutter Island (2010)
Martin Scorsese adapts the 2003 novel by Dennis Lehane. It tells the story of two US marshals who arrive at a psychiatric facility where one of the patients has gone missing. As they begin investigating, they realise nothing is exactly right about the place.
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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
David Fincher adapts the 2005 novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson. It follows the story about Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander investigation to find out what happened to a girl from a wealthy family who disappeared 40 years ago.
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Rebecca (1940)
Alfred Hitchcock adapts 1938 novel by Daphne du Maurier. A millionaire marries again after losing his first wife, Rebecca. The new wife notices a strange pattern, as Rebecca's presence seems to be overwhelming for everyone at home.
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