Psycho shower scene

In Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 horror film Psycho, a pivotal sequence depicts on-the-run embezzler Marion Crane (played by Janet Leigh) being murdered by a shadowy figure while she showers. This sequence, commonly referred to as the "Psycho shower scene" or "the shower", has become a popular culture phenomenon and one of the best-known in all of cinema.

Hitchcock conceived the shower scene especially for Psycho, replacing Marion's decapitation from the original novel. Based on a storyboard drawn by designer Saul Bass, it was shot in black-and-white over a week in December 1959. Notable effects include using chocolate syrup in place of theatrical blood, creating the stabbing sounds by puncturing a melon, and scoring the scene with "The Murder" by composer Bernard Herrmann.

Regarded as Psycho's most infamous scene, the shower sequence became key to the film's success and influence, with its performances, cinematography, production, and sound design earning lasting acclaim. It has been parodied several times in popular culture, including in Scream Queens by Leigh's daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis. A documentary covering its production was released in 2017.