11 Movies Inspired by The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley focuses on the cunning con artist and serial killer as he targets a spoiled playboy and devises an elaborate scheme to obtain his lavish lifestyle. Matt Damon delivered a phenomenal performance as the notorious literary character, sharing the screen with Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow in the ‘90s Oscar-nominated hit.

Based on the Patricia Highsmith novel, the big screen adaptation is full of murder, deception, and greed, and audiences can’t help but root for and sympathize with the psychopathic Ripley and his plight. Whether intentional or not, many filmmakers have looked to the popular thriller as a source of inspiration for their own creations and have utilized elements of the acclaimed classic. Here are 11 movies inspired by The Talented Mr. Ripley.

11 A Simple Favor (2018)

Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick headlined the engrossing dark comic thriller A Simple Favor, which centers on single mother and Connecticut vlogger Stephanie Smothers as she finds herself captivated by fellow parent and fashionista Emily Nelson, who seems to have the perfect life. When Emily goes missing, Stephanie sets out to discover the truth about her mysterious friend’s disappearance and learns stunning revelations about the woman’s questionable past.

The Ultimate Con Artist

Full of juicy twists and turns and a delightfully sinister performance by Lively, A Simple Favor mirrors many elements of The Talented Mr. Ripley, as Emily (like Tom Ripley) is a ruthless con artist who harbors a secret agenda and has no problem eliminating anyone that gets in her way.

Emily curates a carefully crafted persona of herself, and when her image is threatened, her true colors emerge and audiences witness just how cutthroat the blonde schemer truly is and the lengths she will go to for self-preservation. Stream on Prime Video.

10 Saltburn (2023)

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Saltburn has been taking the internet (and world) by storm with its shockingly wicked storyline and breakout performances by lead stars Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi. In the sensational flick, Oxford student Oliver Quick becomes swept up in the lavish lifestyle of his handsome and affluent peer Felix Catton, who invites the young man to spend the summer at his family’s extravagant country estate; murder and mayhem naturally ensue.

Manipulative & Murderous Missions

The unsettling dynamic between Oliver and Felix is nearly identical to that of Ripley and Dickie, as viewers can see that Oliver both loves and loathes what Felix and the Cattons stand for and the vast fortune they possess. He is meticulous in his planning and knows exactly what he wants and how to get it, ingratiating his way into the life of the family via tedious and elaborate actions.

Oliver and Ripley are willing to spill blood to achieve the lifestyle they believe they are entitled to, with each devious character becoming more and more unhinged in their pursuit. Stream on Prime Video.

9 Mr. Brooks (2007)

Kevin Costner was downright chilling when he starred as the ominous titular character in the psychological thriller Mr. Brooks, following the prominent Portland businessman as he wrestles with his deadly desires and secret alter ego, Marshall (William Hurt). Earl Brooks’ grisly crimes have earned him the nickname the “Thumbprint Killer”, and while he wishes to put his murderous ways behind him, Marshall refuses to let him give up the deadly hobby.

A Dark & Twisted Alter Ego

Similarly to Tom Ripley, Brooks masterfully gets away with each murder he carries out because he adheres to a strict modus operandi and keeps the authorities on their toes every step of the way. He struggles to keep up with the family man facade he has crafted and his everyman ruse, just like Ripley did in the trailblazing 1999 hit.

Brooks also has a fall guy set up for his gruesome acts, like Ripley did with Dickie, and he engages in a cat-and-mouse game with a determined detective throughout the thriller that causes him to become progressively paranoid of being caught. Currently unavailable for streaming.

8 Gone Girl (2014)

Based on the New York Times best-selling novel, David Fincher’s spine-tingling psychological thriller Gone Girl features the talents of Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck, and Neil Patrick Harris and delves into the tumultuous relationship between married couple Nick and Amy Dunne, which is heavily scrutinized after the alluring woman disappears and her apathetic husband becomes the prime suspect. As the police and media dive into their marriage, dark and tantalizing secrets come to light about their not-so wedded bliss.

A Dish Best Served Cold

Pike’s character Amy is not at all what she appears to be, and audiences watched in equal fascination and horror as her diabolical true motives were revealed. The actress was flawless as the cold and conniving Amy, who had lofty ambitions and revenge on her mind as she carried out her intricate scheme; hell truly hath no fury like a woman scorned. Like in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Gone Girl focuses on complex characters attempting to keep up a charade and mask their true selves and desires; author Gillian Flynn said:

“The whole point is that these are two people pretending to be other people, better people, versions of the dream guy and dream girl, but each one couldn’t keep it up, so they destroy each other.”

Rent/Buy on Prime Video.

7 American Psycho (2000)

Acting chameleon Christian Bale became a bona fide leading man when he tackled the role of the demented serial killer Patrick Bateman in the satirical horror film American Psycho, which follows the handsome and wealthy investment banker as he tackles Wall Street by day and commits disturbing acts of violence by night, terrorizing the residents of New York City. Bateman struggles with his sanity and hallucinations and wonders if he’s actually committed the murders depicted or not.

Two Psychotic Peas in a Pod

Bateman takes great pride in his image and high social status and is fueled by greed, just like Tom Ripley lives a sophisticated lifestyle due to the crimes he carries out and has been called a “dapper sociopath.”

Both are psychopathic serial killers who attempt to keep their murderous true natures at bay from those closest to them, and are willing to eliminate anyone who dares stand in their way. No amount of bloodshed and money will ever be able to fill the void in Bateman and Ripley’s souls, as they can never truly feel fulfilled. Stream on Peacock.

6 The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)

From the genius minds of the Coen brothers comes the neo-noir crime drama The Man Who Wasn’t There, which takes place in 1949 California and focuses on Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), an unhappy barber who is disenchanted with the direction his life has taken and the fact that his wife Doris (Frances McDormand) is having an affair with her powerful boss. When Ed is approached to invest in a mysterious, life-changing business venture, he sets out to blackmail Doris’ boss, but things take a dark and murderous turn.

Homage to Hitchcock & Film Noir

The Coens were inspired by classic film noir and paid homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of Doubt, and the overall feel of the gripping drama is reminiscent of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Throughout the film, the tormented Ed yearns for a better and more fulfilling existence and decides to get his hands dirty in order to achieve it, just like Ripley is willing to do so.

When it all comes crashing down, Ed does not regret any of his actions and decisions and accepts his fate, relishing in finally being able to have a peace of mind. Rent/Buy on Apple TV+.

5 The Two Faces of January (2014)

Stylishly shot and touting brilliant performances by lead stars Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, and Oscar Isaac, the spellbinding thriller The Two Faces of January is based on the novel of the same name and revolves around affluent New York couple Chester and Colette MacFarland as they head to gorgeous Greece for a getaway, where they inadvertently become swept up in a murder. The duo turn to the handsome and mysterious stranger Rydal Keener for help, causing a series of deadly events.

Gorgeous Highsmith Adaptations

Both The Two Faces of January and The Talented Mr. Ripley are adaptations of Patricia Highsmith’s novels and take place in gorgeous European backdrops in the ’50s and ’60s, where nefarious crimes occur. Tom Ripley and Chester MacFarland are complex con men who are attempting to escape their checkered pasts and end up engaging in a power struggle with dominating men.

Chester tries to come off like a sophisticated and worldly individual (much like Ripley), and when backed into a corner, he reverts to his old and destructive behavior. Stream on Prime Video.

4 Match Point (2005)

Woody Allen directed the sleek and suspenseful psychological thriller Match Point, chronicling the sordid affair between retired professional tennis player Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and aspiring actress Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), as their dangerous dalliance ends up threatening his place and social status in his wife’s prominent and wealthy family. Chris wants to keep the luxurious life he’s finally earned but can’t fight his attraction to Nola, and he goes to dangerous lengths to try and keep both.

No Conscience or Remorse

Match Point explores themes of greed, lust, and morality (like The Talented Mr. Ripley) and includes characters willing to do anything they have to in order to maintain the lives they believe they are entitled to. Like Ripley, Chris becomes more and more unhinged as the film progresses, as his lies and deceit threaten to suffocate him; he kills without remorse and feels his crimes were committed for a “grander scheme”.

Both Chris and Ripley get away with their heinous actions and seem completely unaffected by the violence they left in their wake. Stream on Peacock.

3 Sleuth (2007)

Jude Law and Michael Caine engaged in a precarious battle of wits when they starred in Kenneth Branagh’s riveting thriller Sleuth, centering on the aging mystery writer Andrew Wyke as he invites charming struggling actor Milo Tindle to his sprawling estate with revenge on his mind. Unbeknownst to Milo, Andrew has lured the young man to his mansion for his own chilling reasons, as the actor also happens to be his ex-wife’s new lover; a taut power struggle between the two men unfolds.

A Battle for Domination

Sleuth is a loose remake of the 1972 film (in which Caine also starred but portrayed Milo Tindle), and is full of tense and gripping moments between the two characters, as they both fight to keep the upper-hand while masking their true intentions. The thriller features a cat-and-mouse game between Milo and Andrew, who engage in a tango of deception and possess a borderline flirtatious undertone (much like Ripley and Dickie shared in their own stand-off). Rent/Buy on Prime Video.

2 TransSiberian (2008)

Set on a train ride from Beijing to Moscow, the psychological thriller TransSiberian follows American couple and Christian missionaries, Roy and Jessie (Woody Harrelson & Emily Mortimer) as they meet the mysterious young couple Carlos and Abby during their journey and swiftly become swept up in murder, drug smuggling, and corrupt police officers who harbor their own greedy motives. The duo isn’t sure who to trust as they fight to make it back home while facing deadly and dangerous opposition.

The Power of Deception

TransSiberian is an adrenaline-pumping film that features deception, murder, and greed and is set in a gorgeous scenic landscape while featuring complex characters with shady histories. The two couples appear to be innocent people who just happened to be dealt a bad hand, yet audiences eventually learn that is not the case as their questionable pasts come to light and things are not what they seem.

The thriller is suspenseful and touts an ominous and absorbing atmosphere and many twists and turns, like The Talented Mr. Ripley. Stream on Prime Video.

1 A Perfect Man (2015)

Pierre Niney delivered a tour-de-force performance as a desperate man on a mission in the French thriller A Perfect Man, centering on down-on-his-luck writer Mathieu Vasseur as he stumbles upon a compelling manuscript and claims it as his own, skyrocketing to prominence in the process. When someone comes out of the shadows and blackmails Mathieu over his shortcut to notoriety, he sets out to clean up the mess and maintain the glamorous life he carefully crafted for himself.

Cold & Calculating Con Artists

Like Tom Ripley, Mathieu will do anything to attain a lavish lifestyle and earn the respect of those around him, and he has no problem double-crossing anyone that gets in his way. Mathieu must keep up with the charade that he is a brilliant novelist and struggles with the web of lies he’s created, resorting to violence and murder to keep his wealth and fame.

Both Mathieu and Ripley are immoral and calculating con artists who strike quickly against potential threats and will shed a little blood to achieve their master plan. Currently unavailable for streaming.