Mary Harron’s American Psycho quickly became one of the most popular horrors to ever hit the screens; this is not only due to the exceptional portrayal of the protagonist Patrick Bateman played by Christian Bale. It’s for this reason that we created a list of 12 movies like American Psycho. We are introduced to Patrick Bateman, a young Harvard Business School graduate who seems to be a normal wealthy investment banker in 1980s Wall Street; when in reality, he is a psychopathic serial killer whose murders become increasingly horrific over time.
Patrick, who enjoys flaunting his wealth, spends his free time perfecting his beauty regimen, shopping, exercising, watching talk shows, and arguing with co-workers about fashion. American Psycho is satirical dive into the yuppie culture of the 80s and the extreme competition for social status taken too far. If you enjoyed it as much as we did, we’re sure you’re looking for a comparable list of movies. Therefore, look below for a list of 12 movies like American Psycho.
List of Movies Like American Psycho
- Fight Club
- Taxi Driver
- Mr. Brooks
- Zodiac
- The House that Jack Built
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
- Joker
- The History of Violence
- The Voices
- Maniac
- The Machinist
- Black Swan
1. Fight Club (1999)
When a depressed insomniac and unnamed narrator, played by Edward Norton, meets a man named Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, a soap salesman on a flight who just happens to run a fight club. He begins to live a more fulfilling life. However, Durden’s exploits soon escalate, leaving the Narrator to try to resolve the resulting chaos.
The Narrator begins Fight Club’s story by trying to cure his insomnia. He eventually finds a cure by attending cancer support groups. Similar to movies like American Psycho, Fight Club explores the themes of masculinity, identity, violence, and unreliability- the effect they have on both protagonists’ perception of reality is altered in such a way that it seems unreal, forcing them into a state of derealisation.
2. Taxi Driver (1976)
Taxi Driver is a story about Travis Bickle, played by Robert De Niro provides a visceral, razor-sharp portrayal of a former Vietnam soldier now working as a late-night cab driver in New York City in the 1970s, his mind slowly being destroyed by the filth he sees in his vice-laden surroundings.
Robert De Niro’s performance as the antihero of antiheroes Travis Bickle will remind you of movies like American Psycho, which conveys a slow slide into derangement with a gradual build-up of menace culminating in a blood-filled apartment shoot-out.
Also Read: Movies like Taxi Driver
3. Mr. Brooks (2007)
Similar to films like American Psycho, this movie follows the life of a businessman. Mr Brooks, played by Kevin Costner, lives a seemingly perfect life But has a very sinister secret underneath the family man facade — he is an insatiable serial killer, so lethally clever that no one would ever suspect him.
The movie bates to the viewer’s mind the titular Mr Brooks, who has to deal with the stresses that every normal family man has to deal with while trying to go undetected even as there may be evidence of his dark side, keep a dogged cop of his back as well as we keep all his activities a secret from his wife.
4. Zodiac (2007)
The same movies like American Psycho is a movie based on serial killers and their further descent into an uncontrollable urge to kill. The movie starts with the gruesome murder of a couple and five other killings not too long after that, which will leave you on your toes.
Based on real-life events, Zodiac tells the story of the manhunt for a notorious serial killer who called himself the “Zodiac” and killed in and around the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1960s and early 1970s, leaving several victims in his wake and taunting police with letters, blood stained clothing, and cyphers mailed to newspapers. Just as the protagonist is not apprehended for his acts in American Psycho, the zodiac cases remain one of Northern California’s most infamous unsolved crimes.
Also Read: Movies like Zodiac
5. The House That Jack Built (2018)
This movie traces the life of Jack, a quiet, seemingly-harmless architect, working on building his dream house. One day, in a fit of annoyance and anger, he kills a woman to whom he had reluctantly given a lift. He discovers that he enjoys killing, and over the next 12 years, he goes on to become a prolific serial killer.
We experience the story from Jack’s POV, who details his crimes through a series of flashbacks by recounting five of his crimes that define his development as a serial killer. We are taken on a macabre ride as he is led around the nine circles of hell by the Roman poet Virgil (known as ‘Verge’), to account for all his crimes. The House That Jack Built echoes, in both its traumatic content and its form, fits in the list of movies similar to American Psycho.
6. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
This movie is set in the squalid slums of eighteenth-century Paris, the French orphan, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, is born with a superior olfactory sense. Gradually, we follow his story as the young man discovers the world and a myriad of primitive scents. With an incredible talent for discerning scents, this, in turn, helps him create beautiful perfumes. His work, however, takes a dark turn as he tries to capture the one elusive scent he can’t quite get a hold of: ‘the scent of young womanhood’.
Similar to characters in films like American Psycho, Grenouille’s obsession turns deadly, and 12 young girls are found murdered. Panic breaks out as people rush to protect their daughters, while an unrepentant and unrelenting Grenouille still lacks the final ingredient to complete his quest.
7. Joker (2019)
Set in 1981, Gotham City, Joker is the story of Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix) a failed comedian and a clown-for-hire. We are reminded about the characters who were shaped by the environment in which they are.
Featuring an immersive, award-worthy performance by Joaquin Phoenix and a bleak, grounded portrayal of one of the world’s most famous fictional villains, similar to movies like American Psycho, we see the way he is affected by the social systems till he gives in to his Primal urges that tips him to the darker side.
8. The History of Violence (2005)
The History of Violence, similar to movies like American Psycho, proves that underneath the mask of normalcy usually lies the ugly and dark side of man. A History of Violence follows the life of Tom Stall, a diner owner who by all descriptions is a mild-mannered man in a small town in Millbrook, Indiana. He gets his life turned upside down by facing off and killing two criminals that come to rob his diner.
He immediately becomes the talk of the town, hailed by all as a real American hero. The undesired popularity and media exposure, however, brings unwanted attention as a mob boss and his henchmen soon arrive claiming that Tom is actually Joey, a criminal from Philadelphia who left the mob around two decades ago and tried to build a completely new life for himself.
9. The Voices (2014)
In The Voices, Ryan Reynolds plays Jerry, a likeable if the socially awkward man who works at a bathtub factory and just happens to suffer from schizophrenia. He lives with his dog, Bosco, and his cat, Mr. Whiskers. Similar to movies like American Psycho, Jerry has to battle with delusions and hallucinations. These manifest in the form of his pets talking to him as his personal moral guides. Bosco often represents his good intentions, while Mr. Whiskers represents his more violent nature.
The Voices is rife with morbid humour so fortunately, it has a good comedic undertone. This keeps things relatively light, considering how gruesome the acts he commits are. Viewing everything through Jerry’s eyes and from his twisted mind so nothing seems as horrifying as they obviously are.
10. Maniac (2012)
For films similar to American Psycho, we are once again catapulted into the mind of a sadistic serial killer in the movie Maniac. A more shocking and gory remake of the 1980s slasher cult classic, Elijah Wood stars as Frank Zito, a withdrawn owner of a mannequin store whose night-time entertainment involves stalking and scalping women. His life changes when he meets the French artist Ana, who needs his help with the setup for her exhibition.
As their friendship develops and Frank’s obsession escalates, and his repressed desires come to the surface, it becomes clear that Frank is far more dangerous than he seems. The movie, directed by Franck Khalfoun, is a psychologically complex and profoundly horrific trip into the downward-spiralling nightmare of a killer and his victims. It is a movie that gets into the mind of a killer like few films ever have.
11. The Machinist (2004)
Trevor Reznik, played by American Psycho’s own Christian Bale, is a machinist who has lost the ability to sleep. But this is no ordinary insomnia. Trevor has not slept in a year. Fatigue has led to a shocking deterioration of his physical and mental health. Suspicious of his appearance, Trevor’s co-workers first shy away from him, then turn against him after he’s involved in a shop accident that costs a man his arm. If you are a Christian Bale fan then check out movies like The Big Short.
They blame Trevor for the accident. He has become a liability to himself and others, and now they want him out. Plagued with guilt, Trevor’s shame becomes suspicion, then paranoia, when it appears his workmates are conspiring to have him fired or worse, killed. This sense of delusion and paranoia will come as no surprise to fans of movies like American Psycho.
12. Black Swan (2010)
Hearing creative people with an unhealthy goal to be the best in their field is not a new concept. Black Swan weaves a story of female rivalry, the obsessive desire for artistic excellence, and its effect on mental health. The film revolves around Nina Sayers, played by Natalie Portman, a ballerina in the New York City ballet company who desperately wants both starring roles in the company’s opening season performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.
She subjects her body to such intense training as She’s faced with pressure from herself, her mother and a fear of being replaced by a new dancer, pushing her mind to its limits. She is plagued by hallucinations that make her question her reality. Same as movies like American Psycho. You are taken on a journey through the disturbing views of a fractured mind. Black Swan weaves fascinating commentary on the themes of mental health, sexual repression, and the price of success.
Honourable Mentions
Here are a few movies like American Psycho that didn’t make the list, which you can also check out:
- Into The Dark
- Nightcrawler
- The Body
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
FAQs
12 Movies Like American Psycho For Fans Of Satirical Horror? ›
Rather, American Psycho continues to be a memorable film because of how Harron and her collaborators created a satirical portrait of toxic masculinity and its cinematic take on the subjective mental state of its protagonist. American Psycho takes place in New York City in the late 1980s.
What movies to watch if you like American Psycho? ›- Taxi Driver (1976) ...
- The Shining (1980) ...
- Fight Club (1999) ...
- Monster (2003) ...
- No Country for Old Men (2007) ...
- We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) ...
- Nightcrawler (2014) ...
- The House That Jack Built (2018)
Rather, American Psycho continues to be a memorable film because of how Harron and her collaborators created a satirical portrait of toxic masculinity and its cinematic take on the subjective mental state of its protagonist. American Psycho takes place in New York City in the late 1980s.
What film style is American Psycho? ›American Psycho is a 2000 satirical horror film directed by Mary Harron, who co-wrote the screenplay with Guinevere Turner. Based on the 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis, it stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a New York City investment banker who leads a double life as a serial killer.
Is American Psycho the best horror movie? ›American Psycho is one of the greatest horror films of all time; with its disturbingly dark comedy, psychotic breakdowns of society and an unnerving look at the obsessive thoughts of a serial killer.
What movie has the most realistic Psycho? ›1 Anton Chigurh — No Country for Old Men
Of over 120 movie psychopaths observed, psychiatrists have deduced that the most by far realistic portrayal of a psychopath is Javier Bardem's portrayal as the cold and calculating Anton Chigurh in No Country For Old Men.
At its core, “American Psycho” is a satirical work meant to make fun of the yuppie world of Wall Street business executives, but it was written to appeal to and be easily marketed to the same men it is mocking.
Is American Psycho about toxic masculinity? ›Toxic masculinity is depicted in American Psycho through its destructive aspects. In the movie, Patrick Bateman is the main character who portrays destructive aspects of toxic masculinity. From the analysis, we can conclude that there are three destructive aspects that are portrayed the main character.
What is the most disturbing part of American Psycho book? ›What might be the book's single most disturbing passage involves the sexual torture of one of Bateman's former girlfriends. In the scene, Bateman nails her hands to the floor, cuts out her tongue and then forces her to perform an act of oral sex, before killing her.
Why was American Psycho so controversial? ›Upon its release, it was widely condemned as being too graphically violent, outright misogynistic and got him labelled as a sadist.
What does Patrick Bateman symbolize? ›
Personality. As written by Ellis, Bateman is the ultimate stereotype of yuppie greed; wealthy, conceited, and addicted to sex, drugs, and conspicuous consumption. All of his friends look alike to him, to the point that he often confuses one for another; they often confuse him for other people as well.
Is Patrick Bateman schizophrenic? ›In Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho, the protagonist, Patrick Bateman, is apparently simply a psychopath. However, Bateman can be diagnosed with other mental illnesses such as Asperger's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, narcissism, and antisocial personality disorder.
Should a 13 year old watch American Psycho? ›The characters quite often drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and cigars, and sometimes snort cocaine or take pills. These characters are clearly irredeemable, and do not learn much of anything during the course of the story. The movie is entertaining in a horrific, comical way, but is certainly not for kids under 18.
What is ranked best horror movie of all time? ›- The Exorcist (1973) Film. Horror. Director: William Friedkin. ...
- The Shining (1980) Film. Horror. ...
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Film. Horror. ...
- Alien (1979) Film. Science fiction. ...
- Psycho (1960) Film. Horror. ...
- The Thing (1982) Film. Horror. ...
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) Film. Comedy. ...
- Halloween (1978) Film. Horror.
- 8 Evil Dead Rise.
- 7 The Exorcist.
- 6 The Thing.
- 5 Tumbbad.
- 4 The Shining.
- 3 Psycho.
- 2 Alien.
- 1 The Silence of the Lambs.
The most extreme psychopaths may kill without remorse, mutilating victims with as much emotion as you or I might brush our teeth. This is known as "classic" or "idiopathic" psychopathy, but sometimes the disorder is more covert, as with some manipulative smooth talkers who aren't necessarily violent.
Which serial killers were psychopaths? ›- Ted Bundy. Getty Images. ...
- Ivan Milat, aka the Backpacker Murderer. Getty Images. ...
- Richard Ramirez, aka “The Night Stalker” Getty Images.
However, going by the clinical definition of the word, a 2017 psychiatric study found that the most cinematically accurate portrayal of a psychopath is actually Anton Chigurh from the 2007 Coen Brothers classic, No Country for Old Men.
What disorder does American Psycho have? ›Psychopathy. The name of this film, which is American Psycho, suggests that the main character has a psychotic disorder. Individuals with this diagnosis have an impaired perception of reality, which is evident with Bateman, who is unsure whether he committed murders in real life or not.
Why do men like American Psycho? ›It's true genius, all around. However, what makes this movie a true cultural sensation is the nihilistic philosophy that underpins it. The atmosphere walks a very fine line between fantasy and reality inside the mind of a deranged narcissist in a way that is both interesting and comfy.
What kind of satire is American Psycho? ›
For starters, it's a feminist film, a satirical take that revolves around the impact of society on men and then in turn the impact of men on society. Additionally, American Psycho is a masterful case study into the frameworks of the male psyche. This is largely possible due to Mary Harron's objective approach.
What is the Marxist theory of the American Psycho? ›Marxism criticizes the relationship between the bourgeoisie and the working class and Bateman is a projection of class difference, Bateman is the exploitative class, inflicting his madness upon the members of society ranking lower than himself on the social hierarchy. .
What makes American Psycho so bad? ›In 1991, Bret Easton Ellis' controversial novel "American Psycho" took the world by storm - women accused it of being misogynist, sexist filth and others were understandably shaken by its brutal and graphic depictions of unprovoked violence and torture.
How inappropriate is the American Psycho book? ›In brief, this novel not only contains extremely graphic scenes of rape and murder, but is also rife with racist and bigoted remarks. Indeed, some countries deem American Psycho to be so disturbing that it can only be sold shrink-wrapped and cannot be purchased by anyone under the age of 18.
Where was American Psycho movie banned? ›American Psycho – Banned in Queensland, Australia because it includes both sex and violence in the same book, but separately would be fine.
Was American Psycho all in his head? ›While director Mary Harron has adamantly refused that the American Psycho ending explained it is all in Patrick Bateman's head, there's enough ambiguity behind the events of the story to suggest otherwise.
What did Patrick Bateman do to Christie and Sabrina? ›What does Bateman do to Christie and Sabrina after the first threesome? After Bateman has had sex with Christie (Cara Seymour) and Sabrina (Krista Sutton), they are all lying together in bed, when he gets up and moves over to a drawer. He opens it, revealing a number of sharp metal items.
Who was Patrick Bateman pretending to be? ›The first time we see Paul Allen — and then for the remaining time he's in the movie — he mistakenly refers to Patrick Bateman as Marcus Halberstram, who Patrick tells us also works at P&P doing the same exact thing he does. They also dress similarly and go to the same barber.
What did Patrick Bateman realize? ›In Patrick Bateman's monologue at the end, he realizes that his confession has meant nothing, and he will never receive the punishment he desires.
What does Dorsia symbolize in American Psycho? ›Dorsia is the next progression of immature childhood fantasies about the almost unattainable mythical place. It is akin to the Garden of Eden or Never Never Land to a kid.
How many IQ does Patrick Bateman have? ›
Patrick Bateman [IQ: 125]
He seems to use serial killing as a form of self-improvement and while he is one of the more unstable entries on this list (see his reaction to a colleague's superior business card for example) he is also one of the more successful and intelligent.
Early in the novel, Bateman's cocaine use is largely social, but he later does more and more of the drug and his attitude towards it become increasingly aggressive. Bateman begins taking pills, too – downers like Halcion, Valium, and Xanax.
What does Patrick Bateman say when he kills Paul? ›Patrick Bateman: Now, Carnes, listen. Listen very, very carefully... I killed Paul Allen, and I liked it.
What personality type is Bateman? ›Which personality type is Patrick Bateman? Patrick Bateman is an unhealthy ENTJ personality type. He is determined to get what he wants and will step over anyone who gets in his way. Healthy ENTJs aim to achieve their goals in an ethical way, but for unhealthy ENTJs, morals go out of the window.
What Myers Briggs type is Patrick Bateman? ›Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) - ENTJ.
Is American Psycho too graphic? ›Not graphic at all. Violent, but very little is on screen. You really only see aftermaths of violence. Acts of violence are usually obscured or offscreen.
Why is Fight Club rated 18? ›MPAA explanation: disturbing and graphic depiction of violent anti-social behavior, sexuality and language.
Is Scarface appropriate for a 15 year old? ›This film is extremely violent and is not recommended to anyone under the age of 17.
Which one of the scary movies is the funniest? ›The first of the series to be helmed by David Zucker, Scary Movie 3 is the most consistently funny entry. Riffing on massive pop-cultural hits like The Ring, the Matrix films, 8 Mile, and M.
Is nope that scary? ›NOPE is not necessarily a horror film but it is 100% a thriller/suspense film along the lines of Hitchcock. Yes, there is a chimp scene (which frankly is amazing in how it's filmed and presented in the movie) which may disturb some people but there is nothing gratuitous. I took my 17 year old daughter and she loved it.
What horror movie is 100 rotten tomatoes? ›
His House (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%)
Which horror movie is banned? ›The Exorcist – 1973
Though many of us would have known or watched this movie, it is worthy to be on the banned Horror movies list. That said, the movie is still banned, and an HD version of it isn't be easily found online either.
An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the board, contains some adult material. The film may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously.
What is the highest grossing R rated horror movie of all time? ›...
| Characteristic | Box office revenue in million U.S. dollars |
|---|---|
| Paranormal Activity (2009) | 107.02 |
| Interview with the Vampire (1994) | 105.26 |
| Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) | 104.03 |
| Scream (1996) | 103.05 |
The characters quite often drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and cigars, and sometimes snort cocaine or take pills. These characters are clearly irredeemable, and do not learn much of anything during the course of the story. The movie is entertaining in a horrific, comical way, but is certainly not for kids under 18.
Is American Psycho inspired by anything? ›However, despite Bale's exaggerated performance, he decided to model Bateman after a real person to give it some authenticity. Except it wasn't modeled off of a serial killer, but movie star Tom Cruise.
What movie is the main character like Patrick Bateman? ›Nightcrawler (2014)
"American Psycho" is a film that puts us squarely in Patrick Bateman's mind.
The movie is iconic and disturbing but it is nothing compared to the graphic writing in the novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. And it gets better. The novel includes a lot that couldn't make it to the movie. Keep reading to find out how the iconic book differs from the cult favorite movie!
Is it OK for a 12 year old to watch criminal minds? ›Ultimately, I would not expose a child under 13 or 14 to this amount of violence, but you really should make your decision based on the maturity of your child. I would say that 13, 14, or 15 would be a reasonable age for most children. I hope that this helped your decision! 3 people found this helpful.
How disturbing is American Psycho? ›The movie shows several gruesome killings with gallons of blood on display. These involve stabbing, shooting, explosions, bashing, hacking, and chain-sawing, frequently involving women. The movie does tend to cut away at the last second, leaving more to the imagination than is actually shown.
What serial killer is American Psycho based on? ›
The life story of Ed Gein, the notorious serial killer and grave robber who inspired several classic horror films including 'Psycho' and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'.
What mental illness does Patrick Bateman have? ›American Psycho, directed by Harron, follows a life of a complex character, named Patrick Bateman. Bateman suffers from several disorders, including narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial disorder.
Who killed Patrick Bateman? ›Patrick's dead body. In the non-canon sequel to the movie American Psycho 2, “Rachel Newman” killed Bateman when he killed her babysitter. Chelsea gave him the Dull Machete because it was disrespectful to the iconic Character.
Is there a female American Psycho? ›Margot Robbie Performs a Female Version of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho.
Was Patrick Bateman a sociopath? ›Throughout the novel, Patrick Bateman exhibits many characterisitcs that lead him to being categorized as a Sociopath. For example, Bateman is known to have a lack of empathy for others around him.
Who is Patrick Bateman inspired by? ›Christian Bale used Nicolas Cage's performance in Vampire's Kiss (1988) as inspiration for Patrick Bateman, as the two characters are strikingly similar.
Why is American Psycho rated so low? ›In fact, when "American Psycho" was previewed before the Motion Picture Association of America, they gave it an NC-17 rating - not for its violence, as one might expect, but rather for its threesome scene between Patrick and two prostitutes.
Did Patrick Bateman marry Jean? ›Bateman is in psychotherapy with Dr M. He is also married to Jean, his former secretary. They have a son, Patrick Bateman Jr. (P.B.), who is eight years old. In the story, Bateman talks about therapy, trying to get a divorce from Jean, his renewed feelings about murder, and idolizing his son.