TV Shows & Movies
15 Best Psychological Horror Movies of 21st Century
7. Jordan Belfort – The Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort is loud, reckless, and totally convinced he’s the smartest guy in the room – even when everything’s falling apart. DiCaprio dives headfirst into the role, making this fast-talking scammer as funny as he is deeply pathetic. | © Paramount Pictures
6. Max Cady – Cape Fear
Max Cady isn’t just out for revenge – he wants to destroy, humiliate, and terrify. De Niro goes full menace here, turning this tattooed predator into one of the scariest villains Scorsese’s ever put on screen. | © Universal Studios
5. Frank Sheeran – The Irishman
Frank Sheeran starts off as a quiet worker who follows orders until you realize those orders involve killing people. By the end, he’s not just a hitman looking back on his life, but a lonely old man weighed down by everything he can’t undo. | © Netflix
4. Tommy DeVito – Goodfellas
Tommy DeVito doesn’t just fly off the handle; he launches into orbit. Joe Pesci’s Oscar-winning performance turns this short-tempered maniac into the kind of guy you laugh at one minute and fear the next. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
3. Jesus – The Last Temptation of Christ
Scorsese’s version of Jesus feels startlingly human – unsure, conflicted, and weighed down by doubt. Willem Dafoe brings raw intensity to the role, turning a sacred figure into someone you can imagine struggling with impossible expectations. | © Universal Pictures
2. Jake LaMotta – Raging Bull
Jake LaMotta is brutal, jealous, self-destructive, and magnetic on screen. De Niro disappears into the role, showing how the same rage that fuels LaMotta in the ring tears his personal life to pieces. | © United Artists
1. Travis Bickle – Taxi Driver
There’s no figuring Travis Bickle out – one minute he’s awkward and aimless, the next he’s arming himself for a violent “mission.” De Niro makes him both frightening and strangely sympathetic, turning this unhinged loner into one of the most unforgettable characters in movie history. | © Columbia Pictures
