Films About Stalkers typically reside in the Thriller genre but can also fall under the Horror genre with certain Horror film tropes. Films about Obsession or Stalking often feature an individual that becomes obsessed with another and usually leads to violence. This subgenre also often overlaps with other subgenres including Home Invasion Films and Psychological and Medical Thriller Films.
In the 1970’s, the Films About Stalkers subgenre was not yet popular but did have a few notable films in the decade. Play Misty for Me (1971), Deep End (1971) and Someone’s Watching Me (1978) were prominent films in the subgenre. Taxi Driver (1976) was not only a classic film of the Stalker subgenre but also one of the classic films of all time.
The 1980’s saw the Stalker subgenre grow with many quality releases. Fatal Attraction (1987) is often considered the best and most popular film of the Stalker subgenre and spawned additional knockoffs and increased interest in the subgenre. Other notable film releases during this decade included He Knows You’re Alone (1980), The Fan (1981), The King of Comedy (1982), Star 80 (1983), Body Double (1984), The Hitcher (1986), and Dead Calm (1989).
After Fatal Attraction’s success, the 1990’s became the Golden Age of the Stalker Film subgenre in both Film and TV. On the Film side, there were many classics of the subgenre released including Misery (1980), Cape Fear (1991), The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992), Single White Female (1992), The Bodyguard (1992), The Crush (1993) and The Fan (1996). On the TV side, notable efforts included Nightmare in the Daylight (1992), Obsessed (1992), Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story (1993), I Can Make You Love Me (1993), Eye of the Stalker (1995) and Sleeping with the Devil (1997).
In the 2000’s, the Stalker subgenre shifted towards the Horror genre with releases including Joy Ride (2001), One Hour Photo (2002), Creep (2004), The Hitcher (2007) and Inside (2007). Outside of the Horror genre, there were a few other notable films from the Stalker subgenre with Chuck & Buck (2000), Swimfan (2002), and Big Fan (2009).
The 2010’s to present saw the popularity of the Stalker subgenre wane a bit but there were still quite a few quality films from this decade including The Guest (2014), The Boy Next Door (2015), It Follows (2015), The Gift (2015), Hush (2016), Teenage Cocktail (2016), Bad Match (2017) and Unhinged (2020).
Our list of Films About Stalkers includes over 156+ films from 1971 – 2021. The list includes most major releases for both film and TV (as TV Movies were a very popular format for Stalker films). For our list of Top Films About Stalkers You Haven’t Seen, we didn’t have room on the list for these honorable mentions that you should still check out: Star 80 (1983), Body Double (1984), One Hour Photo (2002), It Follows (2015), Teenage Cocktail (2016) and Bad Match (2017).
Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Here is our list of Top Films About Stalkers You Haven’t Seen:
#10
Obsessed
Plot: Young insurance company exec falls for her older client…and turns…obsessed!
KBZ’s Take: One of the better Stalker TV Movies that deluged the airwaves in the early 90’s. The movie stars William DeVane as the older, divorced man who gets more than he bargained for with his younger girlfriend (Shannen Doherty). Doherty plays crazy pretty well but we’re not entirely sure if that’s acting or not. Definitely one of the better films to seek out for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/4UxwyrltyNY
#9
The Fan
Plot: A stalker of an actress is rejected and starts to become violent.
KBZ’s Take: Campy Thriller / Horror genre hybrid is memorable for Pre-Terminator Michael Biehn’s performance as the creepy stalker. Worth watching for fans of the Stalker subgenre but horror fans will likely be bored.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Rm2GXZ
#8
Joy Ride
Plot: Three young people on a road trip are stalked by a truck driver.
KBZ’s Take: This film is one of the best of the subgenre and is a thrilling, nerve-wracking ride. The late Paul Walker, Steve Zahn and Leelee Sobieski play the three students who slowly realize they’re being stalked. Quite scary and suspenseful, this film is one of the best of the subgenre and shouldn’t be missed.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DqzER8
#7
The Fan
Plot: Obsessed sports fan decides to ‘help’ his slumping superstar idol.
KBZ’s Take: Not to be confused with The Fan (1981), this 1996 effort is much better due to the performances by Robert DeNiro and Wesley Snipes. As is typical with the late Tony Scott’s films, there’s much more style than substance. However, the film is quite engaging up until a somewhat ridiculous finale. Recommended for DeNiro fans and fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DsEk9f
#6
The Guest
Plot: A soldier introduces himself to the family of their son who died in action…but deaths start occurring during his stay.
KBZ’s Take: There are three main reasons to see this film. The first, is the amazing performance by Dan Stevens as the mysterious stranger who is a bad ass psycho. Second, the amazing synth soundtrack that you’d typically find in similar 80’s genre films. Third, it’s clear this is an homage to the great John Carpenter and if you like Carpenter’s films, you’ll like this one as well. Highly recommended film.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3wGaUAJ
Plot: Aspiring comic stalks his idol, a late-night host.
KBZ’s Take: Robert DeNiro is the king of playing stalkers – Taxi Driver (1976), this film, Cape Fear (1991) and The Fan (1996). But of all his performances, we think this one (as a pure Stalker) is his best. This film is a Dark Comedy and a Psychological Thriller that only Martin Scorsese could pull off. It’s one of the lesser-known Scorsese / DeNiro collaborations but still one of their best.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XNdP6M
Plot: A fling between a disc jockey and a female fan turns deadly.
KBZ’s Take: For film purists, this was Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut and shows why he would go on to become one of the best Directors of the last 50 years. Jessica Walter gives a crazed performance as the obsessed female fan who gets creepier and crazier as the film progresses. One of the first Films About Stalkers and still one of the best of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3WPqq7W
Plot: Young computer technician is stalked by a nerdy and unstable co-worker.
KBZ’s Take: Also known as Stalking Laura, this TV movie is one of the best of the subgenre. Though it’s hard to find, it is definitely worth seeking out if only to see great performances by both Brooke Shields and Richard Thomas. Thomas is especially creepy as the obsessed nerd who slowly turns into a deranged killer. It’s a thrilling film with a very suspenseful (and hard to watch) third act. Not to be missed by any fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Y6GFPd
#2
Chuck & Buck
Plot: A playwright with a child-like maturity level, stalks his childhood friend.
KBZ’s Take: It is hard to describe this film as it’s both a Dark Comedy and a Psychological Thriller. Mike White plays the obsessive Buck and it’s shame he doesn’t act more often as his performance is funny and creepy at the same time. You might recognize White from School of Rock (2003) which he also wrote and starred in as the real Ned Schneebly. Little known film that is one of the best of the Stalker subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3JIXnAn
#1
The Gift
Plot: A married couple’s life is turned upside down when the husband’s high school acquaintance shows up.
KBZ’s Take: It’s always a crapshoot when you watch a film that’s written by, directed by and has a lead role all by the same actor. They’re often vanity projects and more often, horrible films. The Gift is the rare exception to that rule as Joel Edgerton writes, directs and gives one of his best career performances as the old high school acquaintance who suddenly re-immerses himself into the life of his ‘friend’. We can’t say much about the film as we don’t want to give away any of the plot. But this film is filled with twists and turns and is not only one of the best Stalker subgenre films, but also one of the best Films about Revenge.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3X4hagF
