Top 5 Alfred Hitchcock Movies

No other filmmaker in history has had the influence that Alfred Hitchcock has. Hitchcock’s presence can be felt across so many films, as he reinvented the wheel with suspense and horror in some of my favorite films of all time. So today, I am going to tell you what those films are. Here are my five favorite Alfred Hitchcock films:

1.    Vertigo (1958) – Hitchcock made a lot of films revolving around a haunted detective, but nothing quite like ‘Vertigo’. The film has all the elements we have come to expect from a Hitchcock film, but they are all so expertly crafted. James Stewarts' performance as John ‘Scottie’ Fergusson is fantastic. Stewart conveys the troubled nature of the character well, whilst also exploring the themes of obsession with the past, guilt, and death. And who could forget the iconic opening sequence on the top of the buildings. It is still breathtaking to this day, the use of light and the neo-noir setting is iconic. 

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2.    Rear Window (1954) – My personal favorite out of Hitchcock’s filmography is none other than ‘Rear Window’. Again, starring James Stewart, the isolated nature of the films setting and location is sublime and something that has influenced many other films including ‘Disturbia’ and 2021s ‘The Woman In The Window’. Stewart again gives a fantastic performance, and one of my favorites in his impressive career. The suspenseful nature of the film comes from the isolated location, which still remains unique to this day. Having our lead break his leg as well adds to the suspense, as we know that if push came to shove, he is not going to be of much use. I love this aspect as well as it adds to the tension throughout the film, also adding an extra layer to the character.

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3.    Psycho (1960) – Probably Hitchcock’s most iconic film, ‘Psycho’ changed the game and ushered in a new era in Hollywood. The film oozes suspense, with a truly terrifying villain in Norman bates played superbly by Anthony Perkins. Norman's character is so complex and so detailed, that there is a level of sympathy there even though he is a knife-wielding killer. The film played with the tropes of the genre and turned it on its head. By disposing of our lead character early in the film, (Spoilers), it added a layer of suspense for the remainder of the film, as you knew that none of these characters were safe.

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4.    The Birds (1963) – Hitchcock also played with the horror genre with ‘The Birds’ starring Tippi Hedren. This film bought horror to a realistic setting, as birds begin to attack people in a small town. The film has obvious environmental messages, which are still relevant today. Hedren’s performance is amazing here as well. She conveys the dread of the situation but also holds her own against the threat. This film made me fearful of the birds that live in my street and I don’t think I will ever look at them the same way again. 

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5.    North By North West (1959) – Hitchcock branched away from the suspense genre with ‘North By North West’ which saw the acclaimed director take on the spy genre. The film stars Cary Grant in the lead as well who is fantastic. Grant was cast against type in this film and I think he pulls it off seamlessly. He fits the role perfectly and the choice to cast him in the film was a stroke of genius. The film features some of the most iconic sequences in cinema, who could forget the plane in the cornfields. It is iconic. The film holds up remarkably well as well, with the action set pieces still looking fantastic to this day. 

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The current landscape of cinema would look very different without Alfred Hitchcock. He has created some of the best films of all time, whilst also laying the groundwork for modern cinema. I think t is impossible to deny the work he has done and you must have been living under a rock if you have not seen any of his films. There are plenty of others I could discuss including; ‘Rope’, ‘Strangers On A Train’ and ‘Dial M for Murder’, but the above five films are my favourite in his impressive filmography. Be sure to pick up his films on Blu-Ray and 4K UHD today from your local Sanity or online

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here