Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 horror masterpiece The Shining has left an indelible mark on cinema history. Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, the film follows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic who takes a job as the off-season caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. As Jack descends into madness, his psychic son Danny (Danny Lloyd) begins to see horrific visions of the hotel’s dark past, while Jack’s wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) is left to fend for her life.
The Shining is a deeply unsettling exploration of the human psyche, showcasing the dangers of isolation, addiction, and unchecked ego. Kubrick’s meticulous direction, combined with Nicholson’s unhinged performance and the film’s iconic imagery, create an atmosphere of unrelenting dread that lingers long after the credits roll.
If you’re a fan of The Shining and are looking for more movies that deliver similar thrills and chills, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the 15 best films that capture the essence of Kubrick’s horror classic, from psychological thrillers to supernatural chillers. These movies may not feature hedge mazes or creepy twins, but they all share The Shining‘s ability to get under your skin and stay there. Let’s dive in.
1. The Lighthouse (2019)
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Director Robert Eggers (The Witch) delivers another slow-burn period piece with The Lighthouse, a psychological thriller that will leave you questioning reality. The film follows two lighthouse keepers (Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson) as they tend to their duties on a remote New England island in the 1890s. As isolation and paranoia set in, the men begin to unravel, their grip on sanity slipping away with each passing day.
Shot in black and white and presented in a nearly square aspect ratio, The Lighthouse is a claustrophobic and immersive experience that draws you into its characters’ descent into madness. Dafoe and Pattinson deliver tour-de-force performances, their interactions ranging from darkly comedic to downright disturbing. Like The Shining, The Lighthouse is a masterclass in building tension and atmosphere, its haunting imagery and unsettling sound design creating a sense of inescapable dread.
2. Hereditary (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Ari Aster’s feature debut Hereditary is a harrowing exploration of grief, trauma, and the dark secrets that can tear a family apart. The film follows Annie Graham (Toni Collette) and her family as they mourn the loss of Annie’s mother, a secretive woman with a mysterious past. As strange occurrences begin to plague the household, Annie uncovers disturbing truths about her ancestry that threaten to destroy everything she holds dear.
Like The Shining, Hereditary is a slow-burn horror film that takes its time building tension before unleashing hell in its final act. Collette delivers a raw, gut-wrenching performance as a mother on the brink of collapse, while the rest of the cast (including Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, and Gabriel Byrne) bring nuance and depth to their roles. With its themes of familial dysfunction and inherited trauma, Hereditary is a worthy companion piece to Kubrick’s classic.
3. The Babadook (2014)
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Australian filmmaker Jennifer Kent’s debut feature The Babadook is a powerful allegory for the all-consuming nature of grief. The film follows Amelia (Essie Davis), a single mother struggling to raise her troubled son Samuel (Noah Wiseman) after the death of her husband. When a mysterious children’s book titled “Mister Babadook” appears in their home, Samuel becomes convinced that the book’s titular monster is real, and Amelia must confront the darkness that has been lurking within her all along.
Like The Shining, The Babadook uses the supernatural as a metaphor for the characters’ inner demons. Davis delivers a fearless performance as a woman on the edge, while Wiseman is equally impressive as her emotionally volatile son. With its striking visuals and haunting score, The Babadook is a deeply unsettling film that will linger in your mind long after the credits roll.
4. The Innocents (1961)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Based on Henry James’ novella “The Turn of the Screw,” Jack Clayton’s The Innocents is a classic ghost story that shares many thematic similarities with The Shining. The film follows Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr), a governess hired to care for two orphaned children, Flora (Pamela Franklin) and Miles (Martin Stephens), at a remote country estate. As Miss Giddens begins to suspect that the children are being influenced by malevolent spirits, she becomes increasingly paranoid and unstable.
Like The Shining, The Innocents is a slow-burn horror film that relies on atmosphere and suggestion rather than overt scares. Kerr delivers a mesmerizing performance as a woman whose grip on reality is slowly slipping away, while Franklin and Stephens are equally impressive as the enigmatic children under her care. With its lush cinematography and eerie score, The Innocents is a timeless classic that deserves to be mentioned alongside The Shining as one of the greatest psychological horror films ever made.
5. The Thing (1982)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
John Carpenter’s The Thing may seem like an odd choice for a list of movies like The Shining, but hear us out. Like Kubrick’s film, The Thing is a masterclass in building tension and paranoia, as a group of isolated characters face an unseen threat that could be lurking among them. The film follows a team of American researchers in Antarctica who discover a shape-shifting alien that can imitate any living being it absorbs. As the creature begins to pick them off one by one, the remaining team members must figure out who among them is still human.
While The Thing is more of a sci-fi horror film than a psychological thriller, it shares many of The Shining‘s key themes, including isolation, paranoia, and the breakdown of social order in the face of an existential threat. The film’s groundbreaking practical effects still hold up today, and the ensemble cast (led by Kurt Russell) delivers strong performances across the board. If you’re a fan of The Shining‘s slow-burn approach to horror, The Thing is definitely worth checking out.
6. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby is a landmark horror film that paved the way for movies like The Shining. The film follows Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow), a young woman who moves into a new apartment with her husband Guy (John Cassavetes) and becomes pregnant under mysterious circumstances. As Rosemary’s paranoia grows, she begins to suspect that her neighbors are part of a Satanic cult with sinister plans for her unborn child.
Like The Shining, Rosemary’s Baby is a slow-burn horror film that relies on atmosphere and psychological tension rather than jump scares or graphic violence. Farrow delivers a stunning performance as a woman whose grip on reality is slowly unraveling, while the supporting cast (including Ruth Gordon in an Oscar-winning turn) brings depth and nuance to their roles. With its themes of isolation, paranoia, and the breakdown of the nuclear family, Rosemary’s Baby is a clear influence on Kubrick’s later work.
7. The Sixth Sense (1999)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout hit The Sixth Sense may not seem like an obvious choice for a list of movies like The Shining, but the two films share some key similarities. Like Danny Torrance, the young protagonist of The Sixth Sense, Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), has psychic abilities that allow him to see and communicate with the dead. As Cole struggles to come to terms with his gift, he forms a bond with a child psychologist (Bruce Willis) who helps him confront his fears and uncover the truth behind his visions.
While The Sixth Sense is more of a supernatural drama than a horror film, it shares The Shining‘s themes of isolation, trauma, and the power of the human mind. Osment delivers a stunning performance as a child grappling with a burden beyond his years, while Willis brings depth and nuance to his role as a man haunted by his own past. With its iconic twist ending and emotionally resonant storytelling, The Sixth Sense is a modern classic that deserves to be mentioned alongside The Shining.
8. The Others (2001)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others is a haunting ghost story that shares many thematic similarities with The Shining. The film follows Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman), a mother living in a remote mansion with her two photosensitive children in the aftermath of World War II. When strange occurrences begin to plague the household, Grace becomes convinced that the house is haunted and must confront the dark secrets of her past to protect her family.
Like The Shining, The Others is a slow-burn horror film that relies on atmosphere and psychological tension to create a sense of unease. Kidman delivers a stunning performance as a woman grappling with grief, guilt, and the fear of the unknown, while the supporting cast (including Fionnula Flanagan and Christopher Eccleston) brings depth and nuance to their roles. With its gothic visuals and haunting score, The Others is a modern classic that deserves to be mentioned alongside The Shining.
9. The Haunting (1963)
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Robert Wise’s The Haunting is a classic ghost story that shares many thematic similarities with The Shining. Based on Shirley Jackson’s novel “The Haunting of Hill House,” the film follows a group of people who are invited to stay at a supposedly haunted mansion as part of a paranormal investigation. As strange occurrences begin to plague the group, one of the participants, Eleanor Lance (Julie Harris), becomes increasingly unstable and begins to question her own sanity.
Like The Shining, The Haunting is a slow-burn horror film that relies on atmosphere and psychological tension to create a sense of unease. Harris delivers a stunning performance as a woman grappling with her own inner demons, while the supporting cast (including Claire Bloom and Richard Johnson) brings depth and nuance to their roles. With its striking black-and-white cinematography and eerie sound design, The Haunting is a timeless classic that deserves to be mentioned alongside The Shining.
10. Session 9 (2001)
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
Brad Anderson’s Session 9 is a deeply unsettling psychological thriller that shares many thematic similarities with The Shining. The film follows a team of asbestos removal workers who are hired to clean up an abandoned mental hospital. As the team begins to uncover the dark secrets of the hospital’s past, they start to experience strange and terrifying phenomena that threaten their sanity and their lives.
Like The Shining, Session 9 is a slow-burn horror film that relies on atmosphere and psychological tension to create a sense of unease. The ensemble cast (including Peter Mullan, David Caruso, and Josh Lucas) delivers strong performances across the board, bringing depth and nuance to their roles as men grappling with their own inner demons. With its haunting visuals and unsettling sound design, Session 9 is a modern classic that deserves to be mentioned alongside The Shining.
11. The Descent (2005)
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Neil Marshall’s The Descent may seem like an odd choice for a list of movies like The Shining, but the two films share some key similarities. The film follows a group of female friends who embark on a caving expedition in the Appalachian Mountains. When a cave-in traps them underground, they must navigate a treacherous network of tunnels and caverns while fighting off a horde of bloodthirsty creatures that lurk in the darkness.
While The Descent is more of a survival horror film than a psychological thriller, it shares The Shining‘s themes of isolation, paranoia, and the breakdown of social order in the face of an existential threat. The all-female cast delivers strong performances across the board, bringing depth and nuance to their roles as women pushed to their physical and emotional limits. With its claustrophobic visuals and heart-pounding action sequences, The Descent is a modern classic that deserves to be mentioned alongside The Shining.
12. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Dan Trachtenberg’s 10 Cloverfield Lane is a tense and claustrophobic thriller that shares many thematic similarities with The Shining. The film follows Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a young woman who wakes up in an underground bunker after a car accident. Her captor, Howard (John Goodman), claims that the outside world has been devastated by a chemical attack and that they must stay in the bunker to survive. As Michelle begins to question Howard’s motives and sanity, she must find a way to escape before it’s too late.
Like The Shining, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a psychological thriller that relies on atmosphere and tension to create a sense of unease. Goodman delivers a chilling performance as a man whose true nature is slowly revealed over the course of the film, while Winstead brings depth and nuance to her role as a woman fighting for survival. With its tight pacing and shocking twists, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a modern classic that deserves to be mentioned alongside The Shining.
13. Event Horizon (1997)
IMDb Rating: Not provided
Paul W.S. Anderson’s sci-fi horror film Event Horizon follows a rescue crew tasked with investigating the mysterious reappearance of a spaceship that had been lost for seven years. As the crew boards the ship, they begin to experience terrifying hallucinations and realize that the vessel has passed through a hellish dimension that has left its mark on the ship and its former crew.
While Event Horizon may not have the same level of psychological depth as The Shining, it shares the film’s themes of isolation, madness, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The impressive cast, which includes Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, and Kathleen Quinlan, delivers strong performances that help to elevate the film’s sometimes uneven script. With its nightmarish visuals and unsettling atmosphere, Event Horizon is a cult classic that fans of The Shining will appreciate.
14. Alien (1979)
IMDb Rating: Not provided
Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror classic Alien may take place in the vastness of outer space, but it shares many of The Shining‘s key themes, including isolation, paranoia, and the breakdown of social order in the face of an existential threat. The film follows the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, who investigate a distress signal on an uncharted moon and unwittingly bring a deadly alien creature back onto their ship.
Like The Shining, Alien is a slow-burn horror film that takes its time building tension before unleashing hell in its final act. Sigourney Weaver delivers a star-making performance as Ellen Ripley, the tough-as-nails warrant officer who becomes the film’s unlikely hero, while the rest of the cast (including Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, and Ian Holm) bring depth and nuance to their roles. With its iconic creature design and claustrophobic setting, Alien is a landmark horror film that deserves to be mentioned alongside The Shining.
15. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Stanley Kubrick’s final film, Eyes Wide Shut, may not be a horror movie in the traditional sense, but it shares many of The Shining‘s key themes, including the breakdown of a marriage, the dangers of unchecked desire, and the blurring of the lines between reality and fantasy. The film follows Dr. Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) as he embarks on a surreal odyssey through the sexual underworld of New York City after his wife Alice (Nicole Kidman) admits to having sexual fantasies about another man.
Like The Shining, Eyes Wide Shut is a deeply unsettling exploration of the human psyche, delving into the dark corners of desire, jealousy, and obsession. Cruise and Kidman deliver raw, vulnerable performances as a couple whose relationship is tested by the temptations and betrayals of the night, while the supporting cast (including Sydney Pollack and Todd Field) bring depth and nuance to their roles. With its dreamlike visuals and haunting score, Eyes Wide Shut is a fitting final chapter in Kubrick’s legendary career and a must-see for fans of The Shining.
Conclusion
The Shining may be a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, but its influence can be felt in countless horror and thriller films that have followed in its wake. From slow-burn psychological dramas to pulse-pounding survival horror flicks, the movies on this list all share The Shining‘s ability to get under your skin and stay there long after the credits have rolled.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Kubrick’s classic or simply looking for a good scare, these 15 films are sure to satisfy your craving for creepy atmosphere, unsettling visuals, and unforgettable performances. So dim the lights, grab some popcorn, and get ready to be transported to some of the darkest corners of the human mind. Just remember: all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
