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Psycho

1960 1h 49m
Horror Thriller Mystery
MOVIEVIBE Rating
8.4/10
11,235 reviews
Your Rating
Psycho

When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.

"A new and altogether different screen excitement!"

Top Billed Cast

Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins
Norman Bates
Janet Leigh
Janet Leigh
Marion Crane
Vera Miles
Vera Miles
Lila Crane
John Gavin
John Gavin
Sam Loomis
Martin Balsam
Martin Balsam
Milton Arbogast
John McIntire
John McIntire
Al Chambers
Simon Oakland
Simon Oakland
Fred Richman
Frank Albertson
Frank Albertson
Tom Cassidy

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

G Gimly Verified TMDB Critic
2017-10-27

Required viewing.

_Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._...

W Wuchak Verified TMDB Critic
2018-08-20

“We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you?”

A Phoenix secretary, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), embezzles $40,000 and rashly flees town, ending up at a remote motel in Fairvale, California, where she encounters the eccentric Mama’s boy Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Mixed into this web is a private investigator (Martin Balsam), Marion’s sister (Vera Miles) and Marion’s secret beau (John Gavin).

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock based on Robert Bloch’s book, “Psycho” made a huge impact when it was released in 1960. It contains a plot development that was groundbreaking at th...

T tmdb56937092 Verified TMDB Critic
2019-12-11

My most favourite film from the master of suspense.

This psychological horror is widely considered to be the first ever slasher film. Powered by great performances from Anthony Perkins & Janet Leigh, and the outstanding score by Bernard Herrmann which adds such great tension throughout the film, it is unarguably the greatest thriller ever made. Only Alfred Hitchcock could make a film so entertaining and so horrifying at the same time.

The climax continues to haunt me forever....

J JPV852 Verified TMDB Critic
2020-09-07

Amazingly, this is my first ever viewing, not sure why I waited so long, but finally got around to it. Great movie in every way from the performance by Anthony Perkins to the atmosphere, enjoyed every bit of this even though I basically knew the entire plot at this point since all iconic scenes and lines have been repeated over the years. Not sure this is my *favorite* Hitchcock movie as I still prefer Rear Window, but obvious why it has held up 60 years later. **4.5/5**...

C CinemaSerf Verified TMDB Critic
2022-05-29

There is so much more to this film than just that famous scene in the shower - and so much of it belongs to the marvellous scoring of Bernard Herrmann. His ability to use those screeching strings, and the pace of his music does so much of the heavy lifting that gives this film a sense of accumulating menace that makes it still, after over 60 years, a masterful piece of cinema. Janet Leigh wants to make a go of things with her cash-strapped hunky boyfriend "Sam" (John Gavin) so when an unexpected opportunity arises at work that puts $40,000 in her lap, she skips town and takes refuge during a t...