30+ Movies Like Shutter Island | Insanely Amazing Flicks!

Shutter Island (2010) is one of the most mind-boggling movies that will be on your nerves for a long time due to its compelling story and intriguing characters. The edgy twists and fascinating suspense have made this movie a cult classic. If you are cinemaholic for this kind of film, here is everything that you are looking for. This list contains movies like Shutter Island that are full of dark twists!

Shutter Island is a psychological thriller drama that boasts of a well-knitted story set on an abandoned island. The thrilling investigation of a mental asylum by two officers leads them to the darkest secrets of the Island. Well, more movies like Shutter Island have managed to pull off the same level of intensity as well. Read ahead to know the details.

30+ Movies Like Shutter Island | Best Psychological Thrillers To Blow Your Minds!

Shutter Island is surely one of the best performances by the legendary actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The story revolves around the complex lives of two US marshals named Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule and their misadventures on Shutter Island. They go on an investigation for a missing patient from the mental asylum located on Shutter Island. However, as they go deep down the case, they come across horrifying secrets that completely change their world.

• Release Date:  4 June 2010 
• Director: Martin Scorsese
• Genre:  Thriller/Mystery
• Movie Run Time: 2h 18m  
• Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, and Jackie Earle Haley            
• IMDB Score: 8.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68%  
• Where You Can Watch It: Netflix

So, here is a list of the top freakingly awesome movies like Shutter Island that are hauntingly interesting and will keep you engaged thoroughly. 

1# Memento (2000)

One of the first movies like Shutter Island that comes to my mind is the classical flick Memento. The movie has an intense premise and a lot of surprises that will leave you amazed! Memento is a deep and twisted tale that revolves around an insurance investigator named Leonard Shelby and his complex life. He suffers from short-term memory loss. 

So, Leonard keeps written records of all investigations. He is on a deadly mission to find the murderer of his wife and collect all missing parts of the investigation to know the truth. The movie is a masterpiece that will surely give you goosebumps!

• Release Date: 16 March 2001 
• Director: Christopher Nolan
• Genre: Mystery/Thriller 
• Movie Run Time: 1h 53m  
• Cast: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior, Russ Fega, Jorja Fox, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Harriet Sansom Harris            
• IMDB Score: 8.5/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  93% 
• Where You Can Watch It: Netflix   

2# Inception (2010)

Another brilliant masterpiece just like Shutter Island is Inception. This movie has two things similar to the Shutter Island movie – a mind-boggling plot and Leonardo DiCaprio! The movie is surely ahead of its time and has a mind-bending plot about stealing and manipulating dreams! The protagonist, Dom Cobb, is a genius robber who can infiltrate others’ minds and dreams. 

Thus, he steals crucial information and uses it to rob the person. However, his talent costs him a very heavy price when an influential person hires him to manipulate his son’s mind. The movie is an intense drama that will keep you engrossed on the screen.

• Release Date: 16 July 2010 
• Director: Christopher Nolan 
• Genre: Action/Sci-fi 
• Movie Run Time: 2h 28m  
• Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, and Tom Berenger              
• IMDB Score: 8.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%  
• Where You Can Watch It: Netflix

3# Vertigo (1958)

Vertigo is another one of engaging movies like Shutter Island, which is a timeless flick. The movie is decades old, but it is still a cult classic. The thriller drama of Vertigo will spellbind you with its highly intriguing plot and characters. The story revolves around a genius detective named Scottie. However, he has a height phobia and thus decides to retire from the risky job.

However, he lands into a complex case that makes his life a living nightmare. Vertigo is all about conspiracies, manipulations, and dark secrets. Scottie falls into the trap of manipulation that makes his life miserable and mad. Thus, he takes the challenge to solve the toughest case of his life before time runs out.

• Release Date: 9 May 1958   
• Director: Alfred Hitchcock
• Genre: Mystery/Thriller 
• Movie Run Time: 2h 8m  
• Cast: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Raymond Bailey, Ellen Corby, and Konstantin Shayne
• IMDB Score: 8.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%   
• Where You Can Watch It: Prime Video

4# The Girl On The Train (2016)

The Girl On The Train is a mysterious drama that unfolds its complex story layer by layer, just like Shutter Island. The movie is a highly intense thriller that promises a satisfying end. The Girl On The Train revolves around three main characters- Rachel (a divorced woman) and Megan & Scott (a married couple). Rachel sees the couple regularly on their balcony spending quality time. She stalks them and becomes obsessed with the couple. 

However, one day she notices that the couple is fighting and something is happening in their backyard. Not seeing Megan for some days, Rachel becomes restless and starts an investigation to trace her. Moreover, the police find Rachel’s obsession with Megan quite toxic and accuse her of being a prime suspect. The picture has more blurry ends that no one has seen coming!

• Release Date: 7 October 2016 
• Director: Tate Taylor
• Genre:  Thriller/Mystery
• Movie Run Time:  1h 52m 
• Cast: Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Edgar Ramírez, Laura Prepon, Allison Janney, and Lisa Kudrow               
• IMDB Score:  6.5/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  44%
• Where You Can Watch It: Netflix

5# Identity (2003)

Identity is one of the most intriguing movies like Shutter Island that will give you goosebumps and scary sleepless nights. The compelling thriller boasts a multi-talented cast portraying intriguing characters. The movie is a story of murders, conspiracies, and dark secrets in a motel. Identity is based on a brilliant plot that revolves around 10 people who seek refuge in a motel due to an unexpected storm outside. 

However, they are unaware that a serial killer is actually in the motel who wants to kill everyone! The movie is a highly engaging mystery where everyone blames each other, but the serial killer is too smart! Thus, just like Shutter Island, Identity is another mind-boggling flick.

• Release Date: 25 April 2003 
• Director: James Mangold
• Genre: Thriller/Mystery  
• Movie Run Time:  1h 31m 
• Cast: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, John C. McGinley, and William Lee Scott            
• IMDB Score: 7.3/10 
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  63% 
• Where You Can Watch It: Netflix

6# The Machinist (2004)

The Machinist is another gem of thriller genre flicks with the same intensity and vibes as Shutter Island. The movie is hauntingly beautiful and addresses the importance of mental health. The story is about a factory worker named Trevor Reznik and his struggles to cope with his deteriorating health. 

Trevor suffers from sleeping disorders and is unable to sleep for many days. Moreover, he has panic attacks and anxiety due to the guilt of injuring his coworker. Thus, he tries his best to come out of his depressing life, but there is someone who does not want him to be cured! 

• Release Date: 18 January 2004 
• Director: Brad Anderson 
• Genre: Thriller/Psychological thriller 
• Movie Run Time: 1h 41m   
• Cast: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian, Michael Ironside, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Reg E. Cathey, and Anna Massey            
• IMDB Score: 7.7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  77%  
• Where You Can Watch It: Prime Video

7# Fight Club (1999)

Fight Club tells the story of an unnamed narrator who suffers from insomnia. He meets a strange soap salesman Tyer Durden, who looks like a hippie philosopher type, and becomes friends with him. After our narrator’s house is destroyed, he starts living with Tyer Durden, and they soon form an underground club and fight other men who are fed up with their life. Their perfect friendship fades away when Tyler develops a relationship with Marla, a fellow support group crasher of the narrator. The narrator slowly realizes he is losing his grip on reality and no longer realizes what’s happening around him.

It is said t be one f the best psychological thrillers ever made and is not for the faint-hearted. If you haven’t watched this one yet, then be ready for the activating experience from start to end.

• Release Date: 11 November 1999   
• Director: David Fincher
• Genre: Drama/Mystery 
• Movie Run Time:  2h 19m  
• Cast: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter
• IMDB Score: 8.8/10 
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  79%
• Where You Can Watch It: Prime Video

8# Gone Girl (2014)

The last one is my favorite flick- Gone Girl. The movie is surely one of the most similar movies like Shutter Island due to its twisted tale and layers of secrets. The movie is a suspenseful adventure of a couple who take the conspiracies to another height. The story revolves around a highly reputed couple facing tough times in their relationship. 

Moreover, things go wrong when the wife goes missing in mysterious circumstances. The media coverage makes things worse as they accuse the husband of being the murderer of his wife! However, the movie is a complete tricky chase that unravels layers of secrets that will shake you from head to heels! 

• Release Date: 10 October 2014 
• Director: David Fincher
• Genre: Thriller/Mystery 
• Movie Run Time:  2h 29m   
• Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, David Clennon, and Lisa Banes          
• IMDB Score: 8.1/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  
• Where You Can Watch It: Prime Video

9# Secret Window (2004)

Secret Window (2004) is a psychological thriller that goes about the life of a couple going through an ugly divorce. In order to get away from this mess, the husband relocates to a remote cabin in the New York City upstate.

He struggles to retrieve his torn mental health and is acquainted with a farmer, John Shooter, who accuses him of plagiarizing his works. He tries to ignore this accusation, but Shooter makes sure to fulfill his quest for vengeance. 

Release Date: March 12, 2004

Director: David Koepp 

Genre:  Thriller/Mystery

Movie Run Time: 1h 36m

Cast: Timothy Hutton, Charles S Dutton, Johnny Turturro, Johnny Depp

IMDB Score: 6.5/10 

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 46%  

Where You Can Watch It: Google Play Movies & TV

10# Taxi Driver (1976)

Taxi Driver is a dark and disturbing psychological thriller made by Martin Scorsese. It is the story of Travis Bickle, who is a veteran and disturbed loner suffering from PTSD. He takes the job of a New York Cabbie, haunting the streets at night and finding them teeming with crime. He gets detached from the city and dreams of cleaning up the crime. When he meets the campaign worker Betsy he becomes obsessed with saving the world. He first decides to save an underage prostitute and gets hailed as a Hero. As his rage and madness grow, he loses control of his life and then plots to kill the Presidential candidate.

Taxi Driver is one of the best films of the 70s and has a wonderfully told unsettling story with great acting, so do not miss this movie if you are looking for twists and movies like Shutter Island.

Release Date: 8 February 1976

Director: Martin Scorsese

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Movie Run Time: 1h 53m

Cast: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Leonard Harris, and Albert Brooks. 

IMDB Score: 8.2/10 

Rotten Tomatoes Score:   96%

Where You Can Watch It:  HBO Max, Amazon Instant Video 

11# Jacob’s Ladder (1990) 

The psychological thriller, Jacob’s Ladder (1990) that will keep you thrilled to the very end. The course of action in the movie follows a veteran, Jacob Singer. After returning back from the Vietnam War, he struggles to maintain his sanity and is haunted by the ghosts of his past and present. 

He goes through a series of nervous and mental breakdowns which morph the objects and people around him, which further ascends him on the path of madness. 

Release Date: November 2, 1990

Director: Adrian Lyne 

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Movie Run Time: 1h 53m

Cast: Elizabeth Peria, Tim Robbins, Danny Aiello  

IMDB Score: 7.4/10 

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  

Where You Can Watch It: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Hulu Plus

12# Black Swan (2010)

Black Swan (2010) is a movie about obsession, passion and greed. The ballerina dancer, Nina, lets dance overpower every aspect of her life. 

The company that she works at decided to grope her in as the prima ballerina in the opening production of Swan Lake. But her worst fears come to life after a new, better girl joins in on the team. This rivalry between the two dancers transforms their friendship to a dark side and they both become thirsty for each other’s blood. 

Release Date: September 1, 2010

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Movie Run Time: 1h 48m

Cast: Barbara Hershey, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman      

IMDB Score: 8/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  85%

Where You Can Watch It: Disney+

Movies Like Shutter Island On Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max and Apple TV!

Final Words

Shutter Island boasts a highly anticipated psychological drama that promises to keep the audiences hooked on the screens. The thrilling dose of unending secrets throughout the movie makes it a more compelling flick. Well, cinema is blessed with more similar movies like Shutter Island that you should not ignore to watch. So, this list contains all the amazing movies like Shutter Island at your service. Do tell us your favorite movie from the list in the comment section.