10. Dial M for Murder (1954)

You wouldn't think a (nearly) one-location thriller, adapted from a stage play and composed of mostly dialogue, would allow Hitch to show off his visual tricks. And, for the most part, he simply gets out of the actors' way and lets them do their work. But the few suspense scenes scattered throughout show him at his most masterful. 

9. Notorious (1946)

This is quintessential Hitchcock: there are spies, poison, MacGuffins, overbearing mothers-in-law, iconic tracking shots, and Hitch pushing the Production Code's rules of decorum. Notorious is also perfectly cast; much of the critical adoration at the time was spent fawning over co-stars Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant, but this movie simply wouldn't work without the nuanced performance of Claude Rains. 

8. Strangers on a Train (1951)

With striking camera angles and harsh black-and-white contrasts throughout, this story of two strangers who try to "criss cross" murders might be Hitch's most beautifully photographed film, as well as one of his most subtextually rich. (And it doesn't hurt that it directly inspired the still underrated Throw Momma From the Train.)

7. Frenzy (1972)

After back-to-back mishaps with spy stories (Torn Curtain and Topaz), Hitchcock returned to his native London and back to the genre that made him famous: murder. Throw in a wrong-man story and the swinging fashion and bright colors of '70s England, and you have an under-the-radar classic in Hitch's catalogue. 

6. The 39 Steps (1935)

This is as crowd-pleasing as you can get. The road movie with a mismatched bickering pair (at one point they even get handcuffed together) is a formula that's long since been overused. But the dialogue here is so fun, the set pieces so perfectly executed, and the characters so fully realized, that the film still feels fresh today. 

5. The Lady Vanishes (1938)

Detractors of The Lady Vanishes complain it doesn't move quick enough, that the first half is needless build-up, that Hitchcock should just get to the lady and her actual vanishing already. But the dry, witty ensemble comedy on display in the first half is almost better than the scenes of suspense that follow. This is easily Hitchcock's funniest movie. 

4. Psycho (1960)

When Gus Van Sant released his ill-conceived shot-for-shot remake of Psycho in 1998, what was striking was how well Hitchcock's original construction still worked. Even if you were snickering at the whole idea, you still cowered when the shower scene got underway. 

3. Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

This story about a shady man who tries to hide out at his sister's quaint home in Anywhere, U.S.A. was Hitchcock's favorite of his own films. All of Hitchcock's favorite tropes are there: duality, the devil coming to town, "normal" people's fascination with the macabre. Shadow of a Doubt is also a beautifully dreamlike experience, most evidenced by the harsh black smoke that marks Uncle Charlie's arrival — a portent of things to come. It's a must-watch for fans of David Lynch.

2. Rear Window (1954)

There's a theory in Hitchcock academia: whenever the director cast Cary Grant, he was making a movie about who he wanted to be, but whenever he cast Jimmy Stewart, he was making a movie about who he really was. So it's not surprising that his two greatest works feature Stewart in the lead. In Rear Window, Stewart plays a bedridden man who tries to cure his boredom by spying on his neighbors and, subsequently, sees something he shouldn't have. While the story has been stolen countless times since, the original version is the best and still most effective. 

1. Vertigo (1958)

In Vertigo, Hitchcock brings out all of the dirty parts of his soul. Stewart plays a private investigator hired to keep an eye on a friend's wife (Kim Novak), who may or may not be possessed by a deceased relative. This is all setup, though, for an exploration of obsession, love, deception, what it means to be a director, and how to get over someone who's gone. While the exquisite scenes of Stewart following Novak will keep you intrigued throughout, the shocking ending will stick with you long after.

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