What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedPsycho
Alfred Hitchcock · Film · 1960
If you loved Psycho, start with Psycho (Robert Bloch, 1959) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 1 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Psycho across media.
If Psycho drew you in, it is likely because you are fascinated by how fractured identities hide beneath polite facades.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Bates Motel
Carlton Cuse · Series · 2013
Books on the same thread
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee · Book · 1970
Explores: Racial Injustice, Childhood Innocence, Moral Courage.
Much like the loss of innocence explored in Psycho, this novel examines the harsh realities of moral courage and prejudice that dismantle the safety of a quiet, southern life.
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson · Book · 1987
Shares 2 threads with Psycho: Gothic Horror, Psychological Horror.
The psychological isolation and the uncanny atmosphere of Hill House mirror the suffocating tension found in Psycho, pulling you into a space where sanity is constantly under threat.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Patricia Highsmith · Book · 1992
Explores: Identity Theft, Moral Ambiguity, Obsession.
If you were captivated by the hidden identity and obsession in Psycho, you will find this exploration of moral ambiguity and deceptive social climbing to be a perfect match.
Crime and Punishment
Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevskii · Book · 1968
Explores: Guilt and Redemption, Moral Dilemma, Existentialism.
This deep dive into a guilty conscience and the burden of murder echoes the psychological torment Norman Bates faces in Psycho, forcing you to confront the darkest human impulses.
Series on the same thread
Bates Motel
Carlton Cuse · Series · 2013
Shares a thread with Psycho: Mother-Son Relationship.
This series expands on the toxic mother-son relationship that defined Psycho, providing a modern, intimate look at the dark secrets that forged the man Norman Bates eventually became.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio stories mirror the suspense and moral ambiguity of Psycho, delivering short, intense narratives that demand your full attention and play with your sense of expectation.
Baking A Murder
Podcast
Explores: Guilty Pleasures, Morbid Curiosity, Criminal Psychology.
If your interest in Psycho stems from a morbid curiosity regarding criminal psychology, this podcast satisfies that drive by dissecting the dark, guilty pleasures of the human psyche.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 1959 Psycho book the source material for the 1960 movie?
Yes, the 1960 movie Psycho is based on the 1959 book of the same name. Both versions follow the story of a secretary who embezzles money and encounters a young man running the remote Bates Motel under his mother's control.
What order should I watch the Psycho movie and the Bates Motel series?
You can watch the 1960 Psycho movie and the 2013 Bates Motel television series in any order. The movie is a standalone adaptation of the original book, while the television series provides an extended narrative exploration of the characters and the motel setting.
Is the Bates Motel series a direct sequel to the Psycho movie?
No, the 2013 Bates Motel television series is not a direct sequel to the 1960 Psycho movie. It is a separate adaptation that focuses on the origins of the young man who runs the motel and his complex relationship with his mother.
How long is the original Psycho movie compared to the Bates Motel show?
The 1960 Psycho movie is a feature-length film that tells the complete story of the secretary and the motel. In contrast, the 2013 Bates Motel television series is a multi-season show that expands upon the background of the characters and the history of the motel property.