Best Movies Like Get Out: 10 Sharp and Terrifying Thrillers

If you’re looking for mind-bending, socially charged horror that keeps you guessing until the credits roll, you’ve landed on the right page. Ever since it burst onto the scene in 2017, Get Out has redefined the modern horror-thriller genre. Directed by Jordan Peele, the film masterfully blended chilling suspense with razor-sharp social commentary, earning massive critical acclaim and an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Its success showed audiences that a movie could be genuinely terrifying while also being deeply insightful and thought-provoking.

The experience of watching Get Out—that feeling of creeping dread mixed with a building sense of unease as the main character navigates an increasingly sinister environment—is what fans are constantly trying to recapture. If you loved the way Get Out used an intimate setting to explore uncomfortable truths, the brilliant twists, and the fresh approach to the thriller genre, then you’re definitely searching for more movies like Get Out. To save you the search, we’ve put together a curated list of ten films that capture the unique atmosphere, thematic depth, and unforgettable storytelling of this modern classic.

1. Us (2019)

• 1h 56m

• Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

• Director: Jordan Peele

• Writer: Jordan Peele

• Stars: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss

• Country: United States

• Summary: A family’s serene beach vacation turns to chaos when their doppelgängers appear and begin to terrorize them.

It’s impossible to compile a list of movies like Get Out without including Jordan Peele’s follow-up hit. Us takes the director’s unique vision and expands it into an ambitious, unsettling narrative that explores themes of identity, privilege, and the duality of human nature. The film succeeds in creating a palpable sense of anxiety, primarily through the chilling, silent stares and unnerving movements of the mysterious “Tethered.” Lupita Nyong’o delivers a powerhouse performance, expertly portraying both the terror-stricken mother and her menacing counterpart, anchoring the film’s complex emotional landscape.

This movie trades the social commentary of class and race for a broader look at the monster within, turning a seemingly ordinary family vacation into a desperate struggle for survival. The atmosphere is consistently tense, building slowly from subtle oddities to full-blown, chaotic violence. Fans of the target movie will appreciate the sharp writing, the clever use of symbolism, and the way Peele utilizes classic horror tropes to tell a distinctly modern and memorable story. It’s a compelling, scary film that rewards multiple viewings to catch all the hidden meanings.

2. Split (2016)

• 1h 57m

• Genres: Horror, Thriller

• Director: M. Night Shyamalan

• Writer: M. Night Shyamalan

• Stars: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley

• Country: United States

• Summary: Three girls are kidnapped by a man with 24 separate personalities. They must try to escape before all of his personalities are unleashed.

M. Night Shyamalan’s return to the psychological thriller space is an excellent choice for those who enjoyed the tense, character-driven suspense of Get Out. The film excels in creating a claustrophobic, high-stakes scenario centered on a brilliant, unsettling performance by James McAvoy as a man grappling with Dissociative Identity Disorder. The sense of dread comes not just from the captivity, but from the unpredictable nature of the antagonist, making every interaction a nerve-wracking gamble for the kidnapped young women.

What makes this movie a compelling companion piece is its commitment to psychological depth and the eventual revelation of a much larger, more shocking narrative. Anya Taylor-Joy plays the quiet but resilient Casey, whose own complex past gives her a unique perspective on survival, mirroring the way Chris Washington navigates his own terrifying ordeal. It’s a film that uses its simple premise to explore complex issues of trauma and power, delivering intense thrills and a surprise ending that is classic Shyamalan.

3. The Babadook (2014)

• 1h 34m

• Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller

• Director: Jennifer Kent

• Writer: Jennifer Kent

• Stars: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall

• Country: Australia, Canada

• Summary: A single mother and her child fall into a deep pit of paranoia when an unnerving children’s book character comes to life in their home.

For fans who appreciated the way Get Out used horror to explore deeply personal and emotional themes, The Babadook is a must-watch. This Australian masterpiece is less about jump scares and more about psychological terror, using the titular monster as a chilling manifestation of grief, depression, and maternal stress. The film’s atmosphere is suffocatingly dark and intense, drawing viewers into the mother and son’s increasingly desperate state.

The core strength of the film lies in its powerful emotional core, focusing on a single mother’s strained relationship with her difficult son and her struggle to cope with the loss of her husband. It cleverly blurs the lines between mental breakdown and supernatural threat, making the horror feel intimately personal and inescapable. If you prefer your scary movies to have a heavy dose of character study and an uncomfortable, lingering dread rather than cheap thrills, this is a perfect addition to your watch list.

4. Coherence (2013)

• 1h 29m

• Genres: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

• Director: James Ward Byrkit

• Writer: James Ward Byrkit

• Stars: Emily Baldoni, Maury Sterling, Nicholas Brendon

• Country: United States, United Kingdom

• Summary: Strange occurrences happen as eight friends attend a dinner party on an evening when a comet is passing overhead.

If the intricate plotting and clever twists were what you loved most about Get Out, then Coherence is your next fix. Shot on a shoestring budget and set entirely at a dinner party, this film manages to conjure high-concept science fiction and intense psychological paranoia with masterful restraint. The initial premise of a passing comet causing strange power outages quickly spirals into a mind-bending exploration of identity, reality, and parallel dimensions.

The movie’s genius lies in its reliance on dialogue and character interaction to build suspense, meaning that the tension comes from the terrifying loss of control and the inability to trust anyone—even yourself. The characters’ attempts to understand and cope with the increasingly bizarre events lead to frantic, yet logical, decisions that only deepen the mystery. It’s a smart, minimalist thriller that proves you don’t need expensive special effects to deliver a truly unsettling and memorable cinematic experience.

5. Don’t Breathe (2016)

• 1h 28m

• Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller

• Director: Fede Alvarez

• Writer: Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues

• Stars: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette

• Country: United States, Hungary

• Summary: Hoping to walk away with a massive fortune, a trio of thieves break into the house of a wealthy blind man, only to find themselves in a terrifying fight for survival.

For those who appreciated the confined, high-stakes terror of a protagonist trapped in a hostile environment, Don’t Breathe delivers a relentless, nail-biting experience. The film quickly flips the typical home invasion script, turning the initial antagonists—the thieves—into desperate victims trapped by the seemingly helpless Blind Man. This shift in power dynamics and morality creates a constant, agonizing tension that mirrors the slow realization of danger in the target movie.

The atmosphere is one of suffocating silence and pitch-dark terror, forcing the characters and the audience to pay close attention to every creak and whisper. Stephen Lang’s performance as the formidable, unsettling homeowner is chillingly effective, making him an immediate and unforgettable cinematic threat. This is a visceral, highly suspenseful film that uses its small setting and unique premise to maximize the feeling of inescapable peril.

6. Burning (2018)

• 2h 28m

• Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

• Director: Lee Chang-dong

• Writer: Jungmi Oh, Lee Chang-dong

• Stars: Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo

• Country: South Korea, Japan

• Summary: Deliveryman Jongsu runs into Haemi, a former classmate, who asks him to look after her cat while she’s on a trip to Africa. When she returns, she introduces Ben, a mysterious and wealthy young man.

If you were drawn to the unsettling sense of otherness, social commentary on class, and the slow-burn mystery that defined Get Out, then the South Korean thriller Burning is an excellent choice. Based on a short story by Haruki Murakami, the film is a masterclass in building dread through ambiguity and atmosphere rather than outright scares. It centers on the intense rivalry and power imbalance between a struggling working-class man and the wealthy, charismatic, and deeply mysterious Ben.

The movie functions as a mesmerizing psychological study, exploring themes of jealousy, economic disparity, and the terrifying realization of one’s own insignificance. Steven Yeun’s portrayal of Ben is particularly unnerving, possessing a smooth veneer of kindness that barely conceals something sinister underneath. It’s a film that demands your attention, gradually pulling you into its opaque world and leaving you with a profound sense of unease long after the credits have rolled.

7. Under the Silver Lake (2018)

• 2h 19m

• Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama

• Director: David Robert Mitchell

• Writer: David Robert Mitchell

• Stars: Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough, Topher Grace

• Country: United States

• Summary: A man becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman who disappears from his apartment complex.

This surreal and sprawling neo-noir mystery shares the paranoia, symbolic density, and investigative structure that made the target movie so compelling. Under the Silver Lake follows an aimless Los Angeles resident who falls down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories and hidden messages while trying to find a missing woman. It uses the familiar landscape of modern L.A. to explore the hidden darkness and secret power structures that operate beneath the surface of everyday life.

Andrew Garfield’s performance as the perpetually confused and driven protagonist grounds the film’s wilder, more abstract concepts. The movie’s atmosphere is a bizarre blend of sun-drenched California cool and creeping, existential dread, creating a truly unique viewing experience. Fans who enjoyed the meticulous attention to detail and the feeling that a secret, sinister reality was being exposed will find a lot to unpack in this highly stylized and enigmatic film.

8. Green Room (2015)

• 1h 35m

• Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller

• Director: Jeremy Saulnier

• Writer: Jeremy Saulnier

• Stars: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat

• Country: United States

• Summary: A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a secluded white-supremacist club.

For sheer, gut-wrenching tension and the terror of being trapped by a dangerous group, Green Room is an intense and visceral cinematic experience. The film ditches the supernatural for a brutal, grounded reality, focusing on a punk band that accidentally witnesses a murder and is subsequently hunted down by a ruthless gang of neo-Nazis. Like the target movie, the horror emerges from a real-world social evil, adding a horrifying layer of plausibility to the violence.

The film is relentless in its pacing and maintains an almost unbearable level of suspense from the moment the band is locked in the room. Patrick Stewart is particularly chilling as the quiet, calculated leader of the white supremacists, proving that effective horror doesn’t always need theatrical villains. This movie appeals to fans who appreciate a contained thriller that slowly ratchets up the stakes until every single action has deadly consequences.

9. Forgotten (2017)

• 1h 49m

• Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

• Director: Jang Hang-jun

• Writer: Jang Hang-jun

• Stars: Kang Ha-neul, Kim Mu-yeol, Moon Sung-geun

• Country: South Korea

• Summary: Jin-seok, who is suffering from a hypersensitivity disorder, attempts to uncover the truth behind his brother Yoo-seok’s kidnapping. After 19 days, Yoo-seok returns as a changed man with no recollection of the past.

The intricate plotting and dramatic, shocking reveals of Forgotten make it an excellent choice for audiences who loved the unpredictable twists of Get Out. This South Korean psychological thriller starts with a simple premise: a man’s brother is kidnapped and returns completely different, suffering from amnesia. What follows is a dizzying descent into paranoia as the protagonist tries to figure out what happened, leading to multiple reality-shattering revelations.

The film excels at making the audience constantly question everything they’re seeing and feeling, mirroring the protagonist’s own confusion and terror. The domestic setting quickly becomes a terrifying cage, with the core of the danger coming from the people closest to the main character. If you enjoy a movie that expertly manipulates your perspective and keeps you guessing about the true nature of the threat, this tightly constructed and emotionally impactful film will satisfy your craving.

10. Cabin in the Woods (2011)

• 1h 35m

• Genres: Comedy, Horror

• Director: Drew Goddard

• Writer: Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard

• Stars: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison

• Country: United States

• Summary: Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin, where they get more than they bargained for, discovering the truth behind the horror genre.

While presented as a horror-comedy, The Cabin in the Woods is an incredibly smart and subversive movie that shares the target film’s talent for deconstructing and commenting on its own genre. It starts as a typical slasher flick before pulling back the curtain to reveal a massive, sinister, and surprisingly bureaucratic conspiracy controlling the horror. This meta-narrative approach is something that fans of the sharp, layered writing in Get Out will immediately appreciate.

The film manages to be genuinely scary, hilarious, and thought-provoking all at once. It’s an imaginative and constantly surprising film that turns every familiar horror trope on its head, forcing the viewer to reconsider the mechanics of the entire genre. It appeals to viewers who love a story that is not just entertaining, but also clever and critical, and it serves as a brilliant capstone to a list focused on modern, intelligent horror.

Unpacking the Thrills: Why These Movies Connect:

What truly binds these ten exceptional films to the phenomenon of Get Out is a shared commitment to a certain kind of elevated, intelligent storytelling. They are not merely scary; they are smart, unsettling, and built on a foundation of profound character psychology and societal unease. Just as the Jordan Peele classic used the familiar framework of a family visit to explore deeper issues of race and class, each movie on this list utilizes a seemingly simple premise—a dinner party, a kidnapping, a house break-in, a band gig—to peel back layers of reality and expose something far more insidious.

Fans of Get Out are often drawn to its narrative style: the slow-burn realization that things are not right, the mounting sense of dread, and the ultimate, shocking reveal. This element of psychological suspense is a common thread here. Films like Coherence and Forgotten manipulate reality and memory to generate intense paranoia, while Burning and The Babadook use external threats as manifestations of internal, psychological terror. There’s a consistent sense of claustrophobia in these movies, whether physical, as in Don’t Breathe and Green Room, or conceptual, as the characters in Us and Under the Silver Lake realize they are trapped by forces they cannot comprehend.

Ultimately, these are films that treat the audience as intelligent participants, not just passive observers. They reward attention to detail, inviting viewers to dissect the symbolism and thematic connections long after the screen goes dark. If you came here looking for movies like Get Out, you were looking for more than just horror; you were looking for films that unsettle your mind, challenge your assumptions, and stay with you long after the final scene. This collection promises to deliver that same electric mix of suspense, social commentary, and unforgettable thrills.

Now, it’s your turn. Which of these unsettling cinematic experiences will you dive into first? Have you seen another movie that captures that perfectly disturbing atmosphere? Share your thoughts and favorite suspenseful flicks in the comments below!