20 Best Science Fiction Psychological Thriller Movies Like Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko is a troubled teenager who is plagued by visions of a large rabbit named Frank. Frank tells Donnie that the world is about to end, and Donnie has to help him save it. Donnie’s family and friends think he’s crazy, but he starts to believe that Frank may be right when a series of strange events begin to happen.

If you’re looking for movies like Donnie Darko, you’ll love these psychological thrillers with a sci-fi twist.

1. The Usual Suspects (1995)

Kint’s narrative recounts the events leading up to the massacre, and his story is told through flashbacks. Kint survived a mass murder on the Port of Los Angeles by pretending to be mute. His tale follows the sequence of events, culminating in the tragedy.

‘The Usual Suspects’ is not a big blockbuster, and it was not made to be one. It’s a modest-budget film by Bryan Singer, who had previously directed ‘X-Men.’

The star cast of the film is unusual, and you won’t see it in a multi-starer movie. And certainly, not the finest mystery thriller ever made. However, it features a well-written screenplay, excellent direction debut, and one of cinema’s greatest climaxes.

These are a few of the great things about ‘The Usual Suspects’ that make it deserving of all the praise it receives, and which cause everyone who watches it to adore it, regardless of any flaw.

2. Predestination (2014)

Predestination is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller starring Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook. The film follows the life of a Temporal Agent (Hawke) who is sent on a final mission to stop a terrorist before he can carry out his attack.

The agent’s job is to travel back in time and prevent crimes before they happen. But when he meets a woman (Snook) who has the ability to change the future, he begins to question everything he knows.

‘Predestination’ is a complex and fascinating film that will leave you guessing until the very end. It’s well-written, well-acted, and features one of the most mind-bending plot twists you’ll ever see.

3. The Sixth Sense (1995)

The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller starring Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment. The film follows a young boy who can see and talk to ghosts. He meets a child psychologist (Willis) who tries to help him deal with his ability.

‘The Sixth Sense’ is one of the most successful psychological thrillers of all time. It’s well-written, well-acted, and features one of the most iconic twists in cinematic history.

4. The Prestige (2006)

The Prestige is a psychological thriller starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. The film follows two magicians who are rivals in the early 1900s. They use their skills to try to one-up each other, and the rivalry eventually leads to tragedy.

‘The Prestige’ is a visually stunning film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most jaw-dropping twists in cinematic history.

5. The Machinist (2004)

The Machinist is a psychological thriller starring Christian Bale. The film follows an industrial worker who has been diagnosed with insomnia. He starts to experience strange hallucinations and becomes increasingly paranoid.

‘The Machinist’ is a dark and disturbing film that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most haunting endings in cinematic history.

If you’re looking for movies like Donnie Darko, you’ll love these psychological thrillers with a sci-fi twist.

6. Memento (2002)

Memento is a psychological thriller starring Guy Pearce and Carrie-Anne Moss. The film follows a man who is suffering from short-term memory loss. He uses Polaroid photographs and tattoos to remember people and events.

‘Memento’ is a complex and fascinating film that will leave you guessing until the very end. It’s well-written, well-acted, and features one of the most mind-bending plot twists you’ll ever see.

7. Requiem For A Dream (2000)

Requiem For A Dream is a psychological thriller starring Jared Leto and Ellen Burstyn. The film follows the downward spiral of addiction of four characters.

‘Requiem For A Dream’ is a dark and disturbing film that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most harrowing endings in cinematic history.

8. The Illusionist (2006)

The Illusionist is a psychological thriller starring Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti. The film follows a skilled magician who uses his abilities to win the love of a duchess.

‘The Illusionist’ is a visually stunning film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most jaw-dropping twists in cinematic history.

9. Naked (1993)

Naked is a psychological thriller starring David Thewlis and Lesley Sharp. The film follows a man who wakes up to find that he’s lost all of his clothes. He has to piece together what happened to him and why.

‘Naked’ is a dark and disturbing film that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most haunting endings in cinematic history.

10. Enemy (2013)

Enemy is a psychological thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Mélanie Laurent. The film follows a man who discovers that he has an identical twin. He starts to investigate his life and finds some disturbing secrets.

‘Enemy’ is a dark and unsettling film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most shocking endings in cinematic history.

11. 12 Monkeys (1995)

12 Monkeys is a psychological thriller starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. The film follows a man who is sent back in time to stop a deadly virus from being released.

’12 Monkeys’ is a complex and fascinating film that will leave you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most mind-bending plot twists you’ll ever see.

12. The Village (2004)

The Village is a psychological thriller starring Joaquin Phoenix and Sigourney Weaver. The film follows a group of people who live in a secluded community that is cut off from the rest of the world.

‘The Village’ is a dark and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most shocking endings in cinematic history.

13. Oldboy (2003)

Oldboy is a psychological thriller starring Choi Min-sik and Yoo Ji-tae. The film follows a man who is abducted and imprisoned for 15 years. When he’s finally released, he sets out to find his captor.

‘Oldboy’ is a dark and violent film that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most intense endings in cinematic history.

14. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a psychological thriller starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig. The film follows a journalist who is investigating the disappearance of a woman.

‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ is a dark and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most shocking endings in cinematic history.

15. Shutter Island (2010)

Shutter Island is a psychological thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo. The film follows two detectives who are investigating the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane.

‘Shutter Island’ is a dark and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most mind-bending plot twists you’ll ever see.

16. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

The Cabin in the Woods is a psychological thriller starring Kristen Connolly and Chris Hemsworth. The film follows a group of friends who are vacationing at a remote cabin.

‘The Cabin in the Woods’ is a dark and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most shocking endings in cinematic history.

17. The Babadook (2014)

The Babadook is a psychological thriller starring Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman. The film follows a mother who is trying to protect her son from a monster that is haunting them.

‘The Babadook’ is a dark and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most shocking endings in cinematic history.

18. It Follows (2014)

It Follows is a psychological thriller starring Maika Monroe and Keir Gilchrist. The film follows a young woman who is being stalked by a creature that can take the form of anyone it chooses.

‘It Follows’ is a dark and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most shocking endings in cinematic history.

19. The Invitation (2015)

The Invitation is a psychological thriller starring Logan Marshall-Green and Emayatzy Corinealdi. The film follows a man who is invited to a dinner party by his ex-wife.

‘The Invitation’ is a dark and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most shocking endings in cinematic history.

20. Green Room (2015)

Green Room is a psychological thriller starring Anton Yelchin and Imogen Poots. The film follows a group of friends who are trapped in a green room by a group of skinheads.

‘Green Room’ is a dark and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s well-acted, well-written, and features one of the most shocking endings in cinematic history.

These are just a few of the great psychological thriller movies out there. If you’re looking for a good scare, or just a good movie, be sure to check out one of these films. You won’t be disappointed. Thanks for reading!

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