Netflixis officially adding an impressive list ofAlfred Hitchcockfilms to its library. Hitchcock is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, helming classics likePsychoandNorth by Northwest.Hitchcock is attributed with directing 53 feature films, giving him a prolific filmography. He was nominated for Best Director at the Oscars five times, but never collected an Academy Award until getting the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1968, which was an achievement award that recognized his entire body of work.
What This Means For Netflix & Hitchcock’s Legacy
Hitchcock Has Influenced Many Films
Netflix’s incoming Hitchcock collection will not only be comprised of works by the director himself. Rather, they will be grouped with modern-dayhorror films such asUsandBarbarian, which the streamer defines as “films inspired by his lasting influence.” The collection will also include Sacha Gervasi’s movieHitchcock. This wide variety of titles highlights just how lastingly powerful Hitchcock’s legacy is today, as it has directly inspired so many recent films.
Psychois already available to watch on Netflix in the United States.
The six-week screening series features over 50 films—36 directed by the master of suspense himself, along with more than a dozen others that either trace the stylistic influences behind Hitchcock’s filmmaking, are works made in collaboration with him, in his style, or as direct homages to his legacy. From Hitchcock’s early English films likeBlackmailto his Hollywood masterpieces such asPsychoandThe Birds, the series will highlight his evolving technique and influence on popular culture and future filmmakers. 35 films in this series will have showings in 35mm, including Hitchcock classics likeRear Window,VertigoandNorth by Northwestto enduring masterpieces like Francois Truffaut’sThe Bride Wore Blackand Henri-Georges Clouzot’sDialbolique.
Our Take On Netflix’s Hitchcock Collection
The Streamer Is Broadening Their Horizons
While the streamer is also focusing on its original context, Netflix’sHitchcockCollection reflects a big part of the company’s strategy. As much as it gains viewers from huge shows likeSquid Gameormovies likeCarry-On, it is legacy collections like these that also encourage subscriptions, and may attract a different audience demographic.Netflix’s film festival collaboration is also a rare project for the company, marking a deliberate effort to broaden its horizons in the theatrical space through in-person events.
