Rebecca (1940)

Rebecca (1940) is a darkly romantic, slow-burning psychological mystery directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The story follows a shy young woman (Joan Fontaine) who, while working as a lady’s companion in Monte Carlo, marries the brooding widower Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) and returns with him to his vast Cornish estate, Manderley. There she must find her place amid a house still saturated with the memory of Maxim’s glamorous first wife, Rebecca, and under the cold, menacing watch of Rebecca’s devoted housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson). Watching the film you’ll experience a richly atmospheric, Gothic mood — shadowy black-and-white visuals, an oppressive mansion that feels like a living character, and a mounting sense of unease as small slights and secrets accumulate. The romance quickly gives way to psychological strain: the new Mrs. de Winter’s insecurity and isolation are palpable, and the film leans into suspense and mystery as the truth about Rebecca’s life and death slowly emerges. Expect elegant performances, tense domestic cruelty, and a final unraveling that reframes everything you’ve seen. Rebecca is less about overt scares and more about lingering dread, emotional claustrophobia, and the power of memory to haunt the living.

Actors: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Runtime: 130 min

Genres: Drama, Mystery, Romance

8.2 /10 86 /100 8.1 /10 8.3 /10