Regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time,Alfred Hitchcock’s best movies and TV shows feature some of the most influential and iconic projects ever made. Born on June 04, 2025, in Essex, England, Hitchcock started out in the moviemaking industry as a title card designer. While Hitchcock has several lost movies that remain unseen, likeNumber 13andThe Mountain Edge, he made a name for himself as a silent movie director before successfully making the switch over to sound pictures.
Hitchcock earned the nickname the “Master of Suspense” with his iconic set pieces that put audiences on the edge of their seats. He helped to popularize the spy genre while making innovations in the horror genre with some movies that are still copied and imitated all these years later. While Hitchcock died in 1980, he remains regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, leaving behind some incredible movies to revisit.
The Birdsis a movie that showcases how Alfred Hitchcock could take a slow-burn approach to his stories and still deliver something unforgettable. The film initially unfolds as a romantic comedy about a socialite pursuing a charming potential boyfriend, which leads them to a small coastal community. However, the romance ends when, without warning or explanation, the birds of the community begin attacking and killing people.
Given the premise, it isquite impressive how perilous and terrifying Hitchcock manages to make the movie. Even though the effects used at the time are dated, it still holds up as an eerie thriller. Hitchcock’s lack of a musical score adds to the unease of the movie, especially when it comes to the unsettlingending ofThe Birds. It is a movie that would go on to inspire the likes ofJawsfor making the unknown aspects of nature so scary.
Dial M for Murderis a perfect example of how Alfred Hitchcock’s mastery of suspense can elevate just about any story. The movie stars Ray Milland as a tennis pro who designs an intricate plan to have his adulterous wife (played by Grace Kelly) murdered. However, the crime does not go as planned, leading to unexpected consequences for everyone involved.
Dial M for Murderwas the first and only time that Hitchcock dealt with 3D filmmaking. He quickly dismissed the approach as a gimmick and expressed regret over the attempt. However, the fact thatDial M for Murderhas lived on as a gripping 2D thriller is a sign of Hitchcock’s incredible talents. He takes a very basic plot and turns it into something special as the set pieces will subvert audience expectations and leave them on the edge of their seats.
Alfred Hitchcock proved he was a director who could make a gripping movie no matter the size of the story. While he excels at big, expansive adventures likeNorth By Northwest,Ropeis a small-scale project that is no less intense and exciting. The movie follows two cold-blooded and cunning young men who have committed what they believe is the perfect murder and attempt to showcase their certainty that they will not be caught by hosting a party and dangling the truth under the noses of their guests.
It is one of Hitchcock’s most chilling movies. However, along with the grim setup,Ropeholds the audience the entire time bypresenting it as if it is aone-take movie. It is another brilliant showcase of how Hitchcock is able to play with suspense as the audience is left to squirm without the escape and safety of a cut to relieve the tension.
Alfred Hitchcock made one of the quintessential post-World War II spy thrillers withNotorious. Ingrid Bergman stars in the movie as the daughter of a convicted Nazi war criminal who hides her shame in her seemingly carefree lifestyle. However, she is given the opportunity for the redemption she craves as well as the chance to prove herself an American patriot when she is approached by a secret agent (Cary Grant) to infiltrate a group of Nazis hiding out in Brazil.
Like many of Hitchcock’s spy movies, the central romance is a big part ofNotoriousand just as effective as the high-stakes thriller aspect of the story. The movie serves as the first collaboration between Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant, but it isBergman who owns the picture with her complex performance that is filled with fear, humor, and heroism. Hitchcock constructed some incredible sequences while pushing filmmaking innovation for the era.
Of all the murder plots in Alfred Hitchcock’s movies,Strangers on a Trainpresents the most intriguing one. The movie follows two men who meet while traveling on a train and get to talking about their respective lives and some people they would want to be rid of. The innocent discussion leads to an ideal plan where the two men swap victims and murder each other’s targets, thus clearing the other as an obvious suspect. Unfortunately, one of the strangers is more serious about really going through with it.
The movie is a fascinating and thrilling exploration of the thin line between good and evil while alsogiving this master filmmaker the opportunity to stage some truly impressive sequences. While the “good guy” role is performed well by Farley Granger, Robert Walker delivers one of thebest villains in the Hitchcock movieas a cold killer who sees nothing evil in what he does.
While Alfred Hitchcock’s movies are among the most iconic ever made, the master filmmaker also delivered one of thebest television shows of the 1950s.Alfred Hitchcock Presentsis an anthology series that uses the filmmaker’s unique talent for suspense and thriller storytelling to craft new stories in each episode that take the audience on nail-biting and riveting adventures, with Hitchcock himself directing nearly 20 episodes of the show’s run of over 300 episodes.
Hitchcock also served as the iconic host of the series, but his influence was all over the show. It was a chance for the filmmaker to try his hand at some short-form versions of his mysteries and thrillers. There were also episodes thatsaw him delving into new territory, like time travel and the supernatural. The show also featured some incredible guest stars over the years, some before they were stars, including Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, and Steve McQueen.
When it comes to Alfred Hitchcock’s spy thriller movies,North by Northweststands out as the best of the bunch. Cary Grant stars in the movie as Roger Thornhill, an advertising executive who is mistaken for a government agent and targeted by some dangerous enemies. On the run and in the middle of a vast conspiracy, Thornhill is forced to change from the everyman to a hero to survive.
The movie presents the kind of grand level of filmmaking that modern blockbusters strive to be. It is a gripping thriller with high stakes, but there is also a lot of humor, a compelling romance, and some riveting action sequences. It is perhaps Hitchcock’s biggest movie of his career and a clear sign that he was more than up for the challenge of its scale.
One of the main themes discussed in Alfred Hitchcock’s movies is voyeurism. The famed filmmaker seems to lean right into that reputation inRear Window. The moviestars James Stewartas an adventure-seeking photographer who is forced to stay in his apartment with a broken leg. With only a pair of binoculars to entertain him, he begins looking in on his neighbors’ lives, only to come to believe he has witnessed a murder.
Hitchcock makes brilliant use of the simple premise, keeping the audience riveted as they share in Stewart’s spying game. Just the set created to showcase the neighborhood in Stewart’s backyard is a cinematic achievement. The movie builds the perfect thriller with tension and twists along the way. It is also elevated by the performances of Stewart and Grace Kelly, making it more layered than just a simple murder mystery.
Though it was initially a box office bomb that ended Alfred Hitchcock’s collaborative partnership with James Stewart,Vertigohas since become praised as a masterpiece. Stewart stars in the movie as Scottie, a police officer who has had to retire due to his vertigo but takes on a private investigator job when he is hired to follow his friend’s wife (Kim Novak). Unexpectedly, Scottie is pulled into a conspiracy of obsession and deception with twists around every corner.
Though Hitchcock’s visual style is all over every one of his movies,Vertigomay be the most technically impressive movie of his career. Along with the inventive and innovative filmmaking techniques, it is also a more complex story than Hitchcock usually deals with. The result is a compelling noir gem that allows the audience to debate the true meaning behind its themes decades after it was released.
Alfred Hitchcock managed to employ his skills of suspense to produce what many consider thegreatest horror movie ever made. Janet Leigh stars inPsychoas a young woman who steals money from her boss and goes on the run. However, she makes the fateful mistake of stopping for the night at the Bates Motel, where she meets the awkward proprietor, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), and learns about his overbearing mother.
Psychowas a shockingly subversive movie at the time, famously not allowing theaters to accept moviegoers once the movie started over fear of losing the impact of the early twist.Alfred Hitchcockfits into the horror genre effortlessly, creating a sense of dread that lingers throughout the entire movie and delivering some shocking moments that have become etched in the history of Hollywood cinema.
