Several movies have been inspired by Ed Gein, the notorious American murderer and body snatcher known for his gruesome crimes in the 1950s. Some of the most iconic films influenced by his story include:
- Psycho (1960): Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on Robert Bloch's 1959 novel, this film features Norman Bates, a troubled motel owner with a disturbing relationship with his mother and fascination with taxidermy, loosely based on Gein's life.
- Deranged (1974): Loosely based on Ed Gein's crimes, it follows a man who engages in grave robbing and serial killings after his religious fanatic mother dies.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): The character Leatherface, a chainsaw-wielding killer who wears masks made of human skin, was inspired by Gein's crimes.
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991): The serial killer Buffalo Bill, known for kidnapping and skinning women, was partly inspired by Gein.
- Ed Gein (2000): A direct biographical film about Ed Gein himself.
- Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025): A Netflix true crime series portraying Gein's life and crimes.
Other references and influences include characters in American Horror Story: Asylum, Con Air, House of 1000 Corpses, and the movie Hitchcock. These films portray various aspects of Gein's crimes, including his obsession with his mother, grave robbing, and gruesome use of body parts.
