Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

12 Movies Like American Psycho For Fans Of Satirical Horror

movies like American Psycho

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

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:

  1.  Into The Dark
  2. Nightcrawler
  3. The Body
  4. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
Similar Lists