In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho hit cinema screens. The horror-thriller, about a young woman and her unfortunate visit to the Bates Motel, was a hit with audiences and led to a series of sequels.
But how many Psycho movies are there? For all the blood curdling details, keep reading.
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The Psycho movies
Psycho (1960)
As noted above, the first entry in the series debuted in 1960. The movie – filmed entirely in black-and-white – followed the story of Marion Crane, a young real estate secretary who goes on the run after stealing $40,000.
In Psycho, Marion steals the money from her employer in Phoenix. Heading to her boyfriend’s house in California, Marion stops off at the Bates Motel to rest for the night.
A short while later, a private investigator is sent in search of Marion. The investigator arrives at the Bates Motel and meets with owner, Norman Bates, who claims he never met Marion.
But Norman is harbouring a secret which is connected to Marion’s disappearance. It is a secret which is set to be exposed, as the truth about Norman, the Bates Motel, and Norman’s mysterious mother is revealed. (109 mins)
Psycho II (1983)
Picking up the story in Psycho II, and after 22 years Norman Bates is released from a mental institution. Attempting to go on the straight and narrow, he returns to the motel and takes a job at a local diner, working for kindly old woman, Mrs. Spool.
But soon a series of murders occurs, leading Norman to question his own sanity. Is he responsible for the deaths or could the crimes be connected to his mother? (113 mins)
Psycho III (1986)
In Psycho III, a month has passed since the events of Psycho II and Norman is back running the motel. As life continues, a suicidal nun arrives at the Bates Motel, along with a drifter who is desperate for work.
As both new arrivals begin to complicate Norman’s life, a reporter starts investigating the disappearance of Mrs. Spool. And then a series of murders take place. (93 mins)
The Bates Motel (1987)
Breaking away from the story for this fourth entry, which is the television movie, The Bates Motel. This film – which is not connected to Psycho II or Psycho III – picks up after the events of Psycho, and follows a new character, Alex West.
In the movie, Norman Bates is never released from the mental institution. Instead he remains inside, where he befriends fellow patient, Alex.
When Norman dies, Alex inherits the Bates Motel. However, Alex struggles with the business when it appears the motel is haunted by the ghost of Norman’s mother. (95 mins)
Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
Continuing the story from Psycho III and Norman is now married, with a child on the way. However, he worries about the future, believing his child might inherit his mental illness.
One night, after listening to a radio show which features a call-in segment on matricide, Norman rings up to talk about his own experiences as a child. What follows is an extensive series of flashbacks detailing Norman’s troubled childhood and his relationship with his mother. (96 mins)
Psycho (1998)
In movie No. 6, the series resets with a remake of 1960’s Psycho. Filmed in colour, with a couple of minor tweaks made to update the story, this is mostly a shot-for-shot copy of the original movie. (104 mins)
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The Psycho movies in order
To date, there are six Psycho movies. The Psycho films include:
- Psycho (1960)
- Psycho II (1983)
- Psycho III (1986)
- The Bates Motel (1987)
- Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
- Psycho (1998)
Not all of the movies are connected. The films break down as follows:
The original series
- Psycho (1960)
- Psycho II (1983)
- Psycho III (1986)
- Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
The TV movie
The remake
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Who are the cast of the Psycho movies and are the films the work of the same director?
Notable actors in the Psycho movie series include Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, Robert Loggia, Dennis Franz, Jeff Fahey, Henry Thomas, Olivia Hussey, CCH Pounder, Bud Cort, Lori Petty, Moses Gunn, Jason Bateman, Kurt Paul, Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen, William H. Macy and Robert Forster.
In terms of directors the movies are the work of the following:
- Alfred Hitchcock directed Psycho
- Richard Franklin directed Psycho II
- Anthony Perkins directed Psycho III
- Richard Rothstein directed The Bates Motel
- Mick Garris directed Psycho IV: The Beginning
- Gus Van Sant directed Psycho ’98
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Which is the best Psycho movie?
According to IMDb, the Psycho movies are rated as follows:
- Psycho (1960) – 8.5/10
- Psycho II (1983) – 6.6/10
- Psycho III (1986) – 5.5/10
- The Bates Motel (1987) – 3.8/10
- Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990) – 5.4/10
- Psycho (1998) – 4.6/10
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Alex is a writer, editor, and blogger specialising in movies, TV, comics, retro toys, and general geekery. He is a championing voice in nerd content, an expert in pop culture, and a trusted movie critic who publishes new reviews on a weekly basis.
After graduating with a degree in film & television studies from the University of Derby in the UK, Alex went on to study journalism in Sheffield, before acquiring NCTJ accreditation. Prior to a career in blogging, Alex was a magazine editor, a senior copywriter, a features writer, and a freelancer.
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