Hitchcockian films are those made by various filmmakers, with the styles and themes similar to those of Alfred Hitchcock.

This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2009)

This section does not cite any sources. (April 2023)

Elements considered Hitchcockian include:

• Climactic plot twist.
• The cool platinum blonde.^[1]
• The presence of a domineering mother in someone's life.^[2]
• An innocent man accused.
• Restricting the action to a single setting to increase tension (e.g. Lifeboat, Rope, Rear Window).
• Characters who switch sides and/or who cannot be trusted.
• Tension building through suspense to the point where the audience enjoys seeing the character in a life-threatening situation (e.g. Vertigo).
• Average people thrust into strange or dangerous situations (e.g., Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much).
• Bumbling or incompetent authority figures, particularly police officers.
• Use of darkness to symbolize impending doom (dark clothing, shadows, smoke, etc.)
• Strong visual use of famous landmarks (Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Forth Rail Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Albert Hall, British Museum, Piccadilly Circus, etc.)
• Mistaken identity (e.g. North by Northwest, Frenzy).
• The use of a staircase as a motif for impending danger or suspense.^[3]
• Use of a MacGuffin plot device.^[4][5]
• Referring to crime for mystery rather than presenting it explicitly (e.g. Dial M for Murder).
• Train scenes (e.g. North by Northwest, The Lady Vanishes, Strangers on a Train, Shadow of a Doubt).
• The color red provoking a fearful, and potentially self-destructive, reaction.
• A beautiful woman needlessly embezzling her employer's money.
• Voyeurism and surveillance.^[6]

Some films, or films with scenes, considered Hitchcockian include:

• Alfred Hitchcock
• Alfred Hitchcock filmography
• Giallo
• Krimi
• Thriller film