Several films are based on or inspired by Ed Gein, the notorious American murderer and grave robber. The most notable include:

• Psycho (1960): Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and adapted from Robert Bloch's novel, Psycho features the character Norman Bates, whose disturbing fixation on "Mother" is loosely inspired by Gein's life and crimes.
• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): This film was partly inspired by Gein's gruesome practice of making items from human skin, reflected in the character Leatherface who wears human skin masks.
• The Silence of the Lambs (1991): This Oscar-winning film includes the character Buffalo Bill, who shares characteristics with Gein's modus operandi.
• Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025): A Netflix anthology series season focusing directly on Gein's life, crimes, and psychological profile, starring Charlie Hunnam.
• Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (2007): A horror film that depicts the investigation into Gein's crimes.
• In the Light of the Moon (2000), aka Ed Gein: A crime horror film based directly on Gein's life.

Other films loosely inspired by Gein include Three on a Meathook (1972), and Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein (2023), a docuseries about his crimes.

These films vary from direct biographical adaptations to fictionalized stories influenced by Gein's crimes and psychological profile.