A new—and altogether different—screen excitement!|Jun. 22, 1960|USA|109 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;Horror;Thriller
Description: Psycho (1960) is an American psychological horror thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The screenplay, adapted by Joseph Stefano, is based on Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel of the same name. The film features Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Martin Balsam in pivotal roles. The story follows Marion Crane (Leigh), who goes on the run and encounters Norman Bates (Perkins), a reserved motel owner. The plot unfolds as a private investigator (Balsam), Marion’s lover Sam Loomis (Gavin), and her sister Lila (Miles) investigate her mysterious disappearance.
Psycho marked a significant shift from Hitchcock’s previous work, North by Northwest, as it was filmed on a lower budget in black-and-white by the crew of his TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Initially controversial and met with mixed reviews, the film gained immense audience attention and box-office success, leading to a critical reevaluation. It earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Janet Leigh and Best Director for Hitchcock.
Today, Psycho is regarded as one of Hitchcock’s finest works and arguably his most iconic. It is celebrated for its masterful direction, tense atmosphere, innovative camerawork, unforgettable score, and stellar performances. Often ranked among the greatest films of all time, it pushed boundaries in depicting violence, deviant behavior, and sexuality in American cinema and is considered a pioneering example of the slasher genre. Following Hitchcock’s death in 1980, Universal Pictures produced sequels, a remake, a TV spin-off, and a prequel series set in the 2010s. In 1992, the Library of Congress recognized the film as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and preserved it in the National Film Registry.
Cast director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast actor: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson, Patricia Hitchcock, Vaughn Taylor
Original name: Psycho