20+ Psychological Thriller Movies Like Leave the World Behind

Movies like Leave the World Behind

If you’re searching for movies like Leave the World Behind, you’re probably into stories that keep you on edge, blending psychological tension with deep, unsettling mysteries.

These films often dive into human relationships, secrets, and the fear of the unknown, creating a gripping atmosphere that stays with you long after the credits roll.

They explore the cracks in seemingly perfect lives, forcing characters to confront the unexpected in ways that feel both real and haunting.

In Bird Box, the world has gone terrifyingly silent as an unseen force begins driving people to madness the moment they look at it. Malorie, a reluctant mother-to-be, finds herself trapped in a world where survival means navigating blindfolded, relying on sound and instinct to stay alive. As society crumbles and chaos erupts, she bands together with a group of strangers in a house, their windows covered and their fears growing. But trust is fragile, and the horrors outside seem to seep in, testing their limits and sanity.

Years later, Malorie is on a desperate journey down a treacherous river with two young children, all of them blindfolded to keep the terror at bay. With danger lurking at every turn—both from the mysterious presence and the human desperation that it breeds—their path is a mix of dread and fleeting hope. As the rushing water carries them forward, every sound becomes a question: is it salvation, or is it death waiting just out of sight?

In Signs, Graham Hess, a former pastor, is struggling to hold his family together after a personal tragedy. On their remote Pennsylvania farm, strange crop circles suddenly appear, perfectly carved into their cornfields. At first, they seem like a bizarre prank, but soon the air grows thick with unease as mysterious events start happening. The family hears eerie noises, sees shadowy figures in the dark, and notices their animals acting strange, as if sensing something unnatural. All signs point to something far beyond their comprehension—a presence that seems to be watching them.

As Graham, his brother Merrill, and his two children hunker down in their farmhouse, the world beyond erupts into chaos. News broadcasts report similar crop circles and unexplained sightings worldwide. Fear takes hold as they try to make sense of the events while preparing for the unthinkable. The family’s home becomes both a refuge and a trap as they face what’s coming—something unknown, something that may already be closer than they realize.

In 10 Cloverfield Lane, Michelle wakes up in a cold, dimly lit underground bunker after a brutal car accident. Confused and terrified, she’s told by Howard, the man who brought her there, that the outside world has become uninhabitable due to a massive chemical attack. Howard insists he saved her life and that they’re safe as long as they stay inside. Alongside another bunker mate, Emmett, Michelle tries to piece together the truth while grappling with Howard’s unnerving behavior and his strange rules.

As tension builds, Michelle begins to suspect that Howard’s story might not add up. Paranoia sets in as she discovers unsettling clues about the bunker and its owner. Is Howard a savior, or is he something much darker? And is the world outside truly dangerous, or is it all a twisted lie? Trapped in a claustrophobic nightmare, Michelle must decide if escape is worth risking what might await her beyond the bunker door.

In The Happening, strange and terrifying events begin to unfold as people across cities suddenly start taking their own lives in bizarre ways. At first, no one knows what’s causing it—terrorism? A chemical attack? Nature itself? High school teacher Elliot and his wife Alma find themselves in the middle of the chaos, desperate to escape the spreading catastrophe. Alongside a small group of survivors, they flee the city, searching for safety while piecing together clues about the invisible threat.

As their journey takes them further into rural areas, the horrifying phenomenon seems to follow, growing more sinister and mysterious. Fear and tension rise as Elliot realizes the danger might not be something they can outrun but something they’ll have to confront in ways they never imagined. With every step, survival feels more uncertain, and the line between safety and doom becomes terrifyingly thin.

In Knock at the Cabin, a peaceful family getaway turns into a waking nightmare. Eric, Andrew, and their young daughter, Wen, are enjoying a quiet vacation in a secluded cabin when a group of strangers shows up, uninvited and unnervingly insistent. Armed and determined, these four individuals claim they’ve been sent with an unimaginable mission—to save the world. But their demand comes with a gut-wrenching twist: the family must make an unthinkable choice to prevent an impending apocalypse.

As the cabin becomes a claustrophobic battleground, the family wrestles with disbelief and desperation, trying to figure out if these strangers are delusional or if their terrifying prophecy is real. The tension ratchets up with every passing second, as eerie signs outside seem to back up the intruders’ claims. Trapped and outnumbered, Eric and Andrew face the ultimate question: is this a twisted game, or is humanity truly at stake?

And there you have them, folks, the 22 best psychological thriller movies like Leave the World Behind that pull you in with their slow-building suspense and keep you hooked with unexpected twists. These stories make you question everything, delivering a thrill that’s impossible to shake off.