Robert Pattinson Reveals a Horror Movie Made Him Sleep With Kitchen Knives

Robert Pattinson says getting older has made him less brave, not more. In a conversation with director Bong Joon Ho for GQ, the 39-year-old actor admitted that he no longer handles horror movies the way he used to.

Pattinson explained that when he was younger, he liked watching dark and disturbing films and could keep an emotional distance from them. Now, he says that part of him is gone. “I can’t watch horror movies anymore,” he joked, adding that he has become much more sensitive to fear as he’s gotten older.

He pointed out that most people think age makes you tougher, but for him, it has had the opposite effect. Instead of brushing things off, scary movies now stay with him long after they end.

Bong Joon Ho suggested that becoming a father might have something to do with it. Pattinson agreed that parenthood likely added to his fears, but said the change started even before he and his partner Suki Waterhouse welcomed their daughter in early 2024.

To explain just how bad it has gotten, Pattinson shared a story that still makes him laugh. After watching a horror movie before an important meeting with a director, he became convinced someone was outside his home.

He grabbed two kitchen knives and sat on his couch, fully prepared for danger. Eventually, he fell asleep with the knives near his face. The next morning, Suki Waterhouse found him and was completely confused by what she saw.

His fears do not stop at horror movies. Pattinson also admitted that dance scenes make him extremely nervous. While filming Die My Love, he said he felt overwhelmed watching how easily his co-star Jennifer Lawrence and director Lynne Ramsay moved during a dance sequence.

He recalled sweating heavily and feeling close to a breakdown, saying he needed strict choreography or the scene removed entirely. Instead, the team told him to relax and just move. Pattinson laughed as he remembered being told to stop overthinking it, even though inside he was panicking.

Despite these moments, Pattinson continues to take on demanding roles. His latest film with Bong Joon Ho, Mickey 17, premiered in early 2025 and received strong reviews. The movie features Pattinson playing multiple versions of the same character in a futuristic setting.

He is also preparing for several major releases. He will star alongside Zendaya in The Drama, which is expected to hit theaters in April. Later this year, he appears in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, scheduled for a summer release.

He is also set to return as Bruce Wayne in The Batman Part II, with filming expected to begin this spring. Between his busy career and life as a new father, Pattinson says fear has become part of his everyday world. Even so, he seems comfortable admitting it, proving that vulnerability is now one of his most honest traits.

Have something to add? Share your thoughts in the comments.