Thriller movies come in many styles, but the best ones are truly unforgettable, no matter what kind of story they tell. At their core, thrillers are designed to be exciting, suspenseful, and even frightening. They can combine elements of horror, action, or psychology, but they always involve significant danger.
I’ve always loved how filmmakers have used suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat, and it’s been a part of movies basically since the beginning! Masters like Alfred Hitchcock really perfected it, and you can see it in everything from those classic film noir movies to scary horror films. But what’s really cool is that even today, directors like Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, and Jordan Peele are making thrillers that are just as gripping and well-made as those old masterpieces.
Oldboy (2003)
Released in 2003, the South Korean film Oldboy, directed by Park Chan-wook, is a non-stop, gripping thriller known for its incredibly intense action. The story centers on a man who is suddenly kidnapped and imprisoned in a hotel-like room for 15 years, with no explanation as to why or who is responsible.
The movie gets more exciting after his release, as he starts investigating who stole fifteen years of his life and aims to get revenge. A sense of urgency kicks in when his captor reveals he’ll take his own life in five days, leaving the man forever in the dark about the reasons behind his imprisonment.
The film received widespread critical acclaim and won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Reviewers loved the story, noting it’s a deep exploration of human nature disguised as a thrilling mystery. Though directed by Chan-wook as part of his Vengeance Trilogy, Oldboy is considered the strongest film in the series.
Cape Fear (1991)
The 1991 remake of Cape Fear, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte, is often considered superior to the original 1962 film featuring Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck. Scorsese’s version is a genuinely thrilling and masterful work.
The film centers on Sam (played by Nolte), a lawyer whose life is turned upside down when a man he previously defended – a convicted rapist – is released from prison and seeks retribution. The situation escalates when the vengeful criminal targets Sam’s teenage daughter, Danielle, putting her in serious danger.
When the movie first came out, it was very well-received. Scorsese thoughtfully included actors Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, and Martin Balsam – who had been in the original – in brief appearances. It went on to receive nominations for both Academy Awards and Golden Globes, with Robert De Niro and Juliette Lewis being recognized for their performances with Oscar nominations.
Se7en (1995)
David Fincher is known for directing thrillers, including films like The Game, Fight Club, and Zodiac. But many consider his 1995 crime film, Se7en, to be his best work in the genre. The movie centers around the hunt for a serial killer named John Doe, who targets his victims based on the seven deadly sins.
Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt) is starting his career with a new wife and a promising future, partnered with the experienced and world-weary Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman). Their lives are upended when a man named John Doe (Kevin Spacey) confesses to a series of murders and promises to reveal the location of his next victim, leading them down a terrifying path.
The thriller film Se7en is famous for its incredibly unsettling ending, which stays with viewers long after the credits roll. Though initially shocking due to its violence and disturbing imagery, it’s now widely considered a masterpiece, boasting an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a remarkable 95% audience score.
Memento (2000)
I remember when Christopher Nolan’s second film, Memento, came out. It easily could have been seen as just a clever trick – the whole story unfolds in reverse! You start with the ending and work your way back to the beginning, which felt like solving a puzzle as you watched. It was a really unique way to tell a story.
Though it was an experimental movie, Memento was incredibly successful and is now considered a true masterpiece. The film centers on Leonard Shelby (played by Guy Pearce), a man who can’t form new memories and is trying to find his wife’s killer. To help him remember, he tattoos clues onto his body and takes pictures to document each day.
The movie unfolded brilliantly, carefully revealing the truth behind his wife’s murder. Its clever structure, starting at the end of the story, immediately signaled a grim fate for the main character, making it a truly captivating and memorable thriller.
Vertigo (1958)
For a long time, Vertigo was considered one of the greatest films of all time, in any category. It even briefly surpassed Citizen Kane on lists ranking the best movies ever made—an impressive feat considering it came decades after its original release. This really showcases Alfred Hitchcock’s skill as a thriller director.
Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film features James Stewart as a retired detective who suffers from a crippling fear of heights. When he takes a new case – investigating the odd behavior of a client’s wife – he finds himself in a terrifying and dangerous situation.
When Vertigo first came out, it was a bit of an underdog at the Oscars, only receiving nominations for technical achievements. But honestly, over time, it’s become something of a legend. It’s now considered a true masterpiece – the Library of Congress recognized that back in 1989 when they first started preserving films in the National Film Registry, and these days, it boasts an incredible 93% ‘Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a film that’s truly stood the test of time.
The Departed (2006)
Martin Scorsese directed a new version of the acclaimed Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs in 2006. His film, titled The Departed, keeps the same basic story but is set in Boston. The plot revolves around a criminal who pretends to be a police officer and a police officer who goes undercover within the criminal organization.
The story is full of betrayal and peril, as two undercover agents are working the same target without knowing about each other, and discovering this truth comes at a devastating cost. Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon delivered strong performances as the agents, and Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin, and Mark Wahlberg also stood out in their roles.
Martin Scorsese finally received his Best Director Oscar for The Departed, which also took home awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. Mark Wahlberg was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, but that was the only category the film didn’t win in.
The Fugitive (1993)
The 1993 action thriller, The Fugitive, was a major hit. It stars Harrison Ford as Dr. Richard Kimble, who is wrongly accused of murdering his wife. After escaping custody due to an accident, he embarks on a desperate journey to clear his name and prove he didn’t commit the crime.
A thriller’s success often depends on how well the actors perform, and The Fugitive delivers in that regard. Harrison Ford is compelling as the man desperately trying to evade capture, and Tommy Lee Jones won an Oscar for his portrayal of the U.S. marshal relentlessly pursuing him. The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
With a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Fugitive is widely considered one of the best films to not win the Best Picture Oscar. While it was a strong contender, it lost to the critically acclaimed Schindler’s List, which was a deserving winner.
Get Out (2017)
Get Out isn’t just another horror or thriller; it’s a film that goes beyond typical genre boundaries to explore important social issues. Jordan Peele’s first time directing, Get Out, tackles the subject of modern racism within affluent white communities.
The movie centers on Chris, a young Black man, who travels with his white girlfriend, Rose, to meet her family. He soon discovers something is terribly wrong, realizing the wealthy residents of her town are performing disturbing surgeries: transplanting their brains into the bodies of Black people.
This horror film stood out because it received a Best Picture nomination during a year when most of the other nominated movies were serious, traditionally acclaimed dramas. Jordan Peele won the award for Best Original Screenplay and was also nominated for Best Director.
Rear Window (1954)
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense, and Rear Window is considered one of his best films. It’s a gripping psychological thriller starring James Stewart as a man recovering from surgery who, while confined to a wheelchair, becomes absorbed in observing his neighbors from his apartment window with binoculars.
After witnessing what he thinks is a murder in the apartment opposite his, a man begins investigating. But because he uses a wheelchair and has limited mobility, he quickly becomes vulnerable when those involved realize he’s observing them.
Often hailed as a masterpiece by Alfred Hitchcock, the film received four Academy Award nominations and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1997.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The film The Silence of the Lambs made history at the Academy Awards by winning all five of the major categories. This was a remarkable achievement for a straightforward horror thriller – in fact, it was incredibly rare, and only two other films had ever accomplished the same feat. It was the first pure horror film to win Best Picture, and it’s still considered a cinematic masterpiece.
The film centers on a rookie FBI agent who seeks the help of an imprisoned doctor – a convicted murderer and cannibal – to solve a new serial killer case. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster both received Academy Awards for their performances as Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling, respectively.
The film received top honors at the Oscars, winning Best Picture, Best Director for Jonathan Demme, and Best Adapted Screenplay. In 2011, The Silence of the Lambs was recognized for its cultural significance and added to the National Film Registry, and it continues to be considered a flawless horror thriller.
Read More
- Darkwood Trunk Location in Hytale
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- How To Watch A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Online And Stream The Game Of Thrones Spinoff From Anywhere
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Hytale: Upgrade All Workbenches to Max Level, Materials Guide
- PS5’s Biggest Game Has Not Released Yet, PlayStation Boss Teases
- Olympian Katie Ledecky Details Her Gold Medal-Winning Training Regimen
- Shonda Rhimes’ Daughters Make Rare Appearance at Bridgerton Premiere
- Arc Raiders Guide – All Workbenches And How To Upgrade Them
- We’ll Never Get Another Star Wars Show Like Andor, But Not Because of Dave Filoni
2026-01-20 19:35