The 15 Best Psychological Thriller Movies Like Split That Will Blow Your Mind

If you loved the psychological twists and turns of M. Night Shyamalan’s 2016 hit movie Split, you’re probably craving more suspenseful, mind-bending films that keep you guessing until the very end. Well, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the 15 best movies like Split that deliver complex characters, dark themes, and shocking plot twists. Get ready to have your mind blown by these must-watch psychological thrillers.

Glass (2019)

Glass is the much-anticipated sequel to Split, bringing together the characters from both Split and Shyamalan’s 2000 film Unbreakable. The movie follows David Dunn (Bruce Willis) as he pursues Kevin Wendell Crumb’s (James McAvoy) superhuman persona “The Beast” in a series of escalating encounters. Meanwhile, the shadowy presence of Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), also known as “Mr. Glass”, emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.

Like Split, Glass delves deep into the fractured psyches of its main characters, blurring the lines between hero and villain. McAvoy once again delivers a tour-de-force performance, seamlessly transitioning between multiple personalities. The film builds to a shocking, twist-filled climax that will leave you reeling.

Get Out (2017)

Jordan Peele’s directorial debut Get Out is a masterclass in building suspense and subverting expectations. The film follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a young African-American man who visits his white girlfriend’s (Allison Williams) family estate for the first time. At first, the family’s overly accommodating behavior seems odd but harmless. However, as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a horrifying truth.

Get Out brilliantly blends psychological horror with biting social commentary, keeping you on the edge of your seat as it slowly unravels its central mystery. Like Split, it features a protagonist trapped in an increasingly terrifying situation, forced to confront unimaginable horrors.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout hit The Sixth Sense remains one of the most iconic psychological thrillers of all time, thanks in large part to its mind-blowing twist ending. The film stars Bruce Willis as Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who begins treating a troubled boy named Cole (Haley Joel Osment) who claims he can see and communicate with ghosts.

As Malcolm works to uncover the truth behind Cole’s abilities, he begins to unravel chilling secrets that hit closer to home than he ever imagined. The Sixth Sense keeps you guessing until the very end, delivering an emotional gut-punch of a finale that will stick with you long after the credits roll. If you loved the surprising twists of Split, this is a must-watch.

Shutter Island (2010)

Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island is a mind-bending psychological thriller that will leave you questioning everything you think you know. Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, who is sent to investigate a missing persons case at Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane on the remote Shutter Island.

As Teddy delves deeper into the mystery, he begins to uncover sinister secrets about the hospital and its staff. He also starts to experience vivid hallucinations and flashbacks that blur the lines between reality and delusion. Like Split, Shutter Island keeps you constantly guessing, leading to a shocking twist that will make you want to immediately rewatch the film.

The Babadook (2014)

The Babadook is an Australian psychological horror film that uses a seemingly innocent children’s book to explore themes of grief, motherhood, and mental illness. Amelia (Essie Davis) is a single mother struggling to cope with the violent death of her husband and the increasingly erratic behavior of her young son Samuel (Noah Wiseman). When a mysterious book called “Mister Babadook” appears in their home, Samuel becomes convinced that the titular monster is real and out to get them.

As strange and terrifying events begin to occur, Amelia starts to question her own sanity and whether the Babadook might actually exist. Like Split, The Babadook offers a chilling exploration of the human psyche, as the characters grapple with inner demons that may or may not be real.

Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie Darko is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller that has become a cult classic since its release in 2001. The film follows Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal), a troubled teenager who narrowly escapes a bizarre accident and begins experiencing visions of a man in a large rabbit suit named Frank. Frank tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days and sets him on a path to commit a series of crimes.

As Donnie navigates the strange events happening around him, he begins to uncover a complex web of time travel, alternate realities, and predestination. Like Split, Donnie Darko keeps you constantly guessing, leading to a mind-blowing finale that will have you questioning the nature of reality itself.

The Machinist (2004)

The Machinist is a dark and unsettling psychological thriller that features an astonishingly gaunt Christian Bale in the lead role. Bale plays Trevor Reznik, a factory worker suffering from severe insomnia and psychological problems. As Trevor’s mental state deteriorates, he begins to experience strange events and hallucinations that make him question his own sanity.

Like Split, The Machinist offers a disturbing look into the mind of a deeply troubled individual. Bale’s haunting physical transformation adds to the film’s unnerving atmosphere, as Trevor spirals further into paranoia and madness.

Identity (2003)

Identity is a gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist. The film follows a group of strangers who find themselves stranded at a remote motel during a storm, only to be killed off one by one by a mysterious assailant. As the body count rises, the survivors begin to turn on each other, desperate to figure out who the killer is.

But there’s more to this story than meets the eye. Like Split, Identity plays with the concept of multiple personalities, leading to a jaw-dropping reveal that will make you question everything you thought you knew about the characters and their motivations.

The Others (2001)

The Others is a chilling supernatural thriller set in the aftermath of World War II. Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman) lives in a remote country house with her two photosensitive children, waiting for her husband to return from the war. When three mysterious servants arrive to help maintain the house, strange events begin to occur that make Grace question the nature of reality.

As the film slowly unravels its central mystery, it becomes clear that nothing is quite what it seems. Like Split, The Others delivers a stunning twist ending that will make you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about the characters and their circumstances.

The Invitation (2015)

The Invitation is a slow-burn psychological thriller that builds to a shocking and violent climax. Will (Logan Marshall-Green) and his girlfriend Kira attend a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife Eden and her new husband David. As the night progresses, Will begins to suspect that something sinister is afoot, as Eden and David’s behavior grows increasingly strange and unsettling.

Like Split, The Invitation keeps you on the edge of your seat, slowly ratcheting up the tension until it reaches a breaking point. The film explores themes of grief, cult mentality, and the lengths people will go to find meaning in their lives.

Memento (2000)

Christopher Nolan’s breakout hit Memento is a mind-bending neo-noir thriller told in reverse chronological order. The film follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man with anterograde amnesia who is searching for his wife’s killer. Unable to form new memories, Leonard relies on a complex system of notes, Polaroids, and tattoos to track his investigation.

As the film unfolds in reverse, the truth behind Leonard’s condition and the identity of his wife’s killer becomes increasingly murky. Like Split, Memento keeps you constantly guessing, leading to a stunning reveal that will make you question the nature of memory and identity.

The Game (1997)

David Fincher’s The Game is a twisty psychological thriller that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) is a wealthy investment banker who receives a mysterious gift from his estranged brother Conrad (Sean Penn) – a voucher for a “game” organized by a company called Consumer Recreation Services. As Nicholas begins to play, he finds himself caught up in a series of increasingly dangerous and elaborate scenarios that make him question his sanity and the motives of those around him.

Like Split, The Game keeps you guessing until the very end, as Nicholas navigates a labyrinthine plot filled with shocking twists and turns. The film explores themes of control, manipulation, and the nature of reality itself.

Black Swan (2010)

Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan is a dark and unsettling psychological thriller set in the cutthroat world of professional ballet. Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is a talented but repressed ballerina who lands the coveted lead role in a production of Swan Lake. As she immerses herself in the demanding dual role of the innocent White Swan and the seductive Black Swan, Nina begins to unravel mentally and physically.

Like Split, Black Swan offers a disturbing look into the fractured psyche of its protagonist, as Nina grapples with her own dark impulses and the pressure to achieve perfection. Portman delivers a tour-de-force performance, fully embodying Nina’s descent into madness.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

The Butterfly Effect is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller that explores the consequences of altering the past. Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) suffers from blackouts as a child, during which he is able to travel back in time and inhabit his younger self. As an adult, Evan discovers that by changing his past actions, he can dramatically alter the present – but not always for the better.

Like Split, The Butterfly Effect keeps you guessing as Evan navigates the complex web of cause and effect created by his time-traveling. The film raises thought-provoking questions about fate, free will, and the ripple effects of our choices.

Gone Girl (2014)

David Fincher’s Gone Girl is a gripping psychological thriller based on the bestselling novel by Gillian Flynn. When Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. As the police investigation unfolds, shocking secrets about their marriage come to light, painting a disturbing picture of a relationship gone wrong.

Like Split, Gone Girl keeps you constantly guessing, as the truth behind Amy’s disappearance becomes increasingly twisted and complex. Pike delivers a chilling performance as the enigmatic Amy, while Affleck perfectly captures Nick’s mounting desperation and paranoia.

These 15 movies like Split offer a wide range of psychological thrills, shocking twists, and complex characters that will keep you on the edge of your seat. From the mind-bending sci-fi of Donnie Darko to the slow-burn tension of The Invitation, these films showcase the incredible diversity and depth of the psychological thriller genre. So if you’re in the mood for a movie that will mess with your head and leave you questioning reality, look no further than this list.