Nothing holds an audience in suspense like a masterfully crafted thriller. These are the films that expertly play with your mind, weave intricate plots, build relentless tension, and deliver shocking twists that stay with you long after the credits roll. From the chilling depths of psychological thrillers that unravel the human psyche to the calculated tension of crime suspense and the shadowy moral landscapes of neo-noir, the thriller genre offers an unparalleled cinematic experience.
Finding the true standouts in the vast landscape of suspenseful cinema can be a challenge. That’s where we come in. We’ve carefully selected the top 20 best thriller movies, all available to stream right now, and ranked them by their IMDb ratings. Dim the lights, silence your phone, and brace yourself for a gripping ride.
What are the best thriller movies to keep you hooked?
To identify the best thriller movies for our definitive rankings, we focused on films that most exemplify the genre. As a result, these films span psychological thrillers, crime suspense, and neo-noir. We used the IMDb rating to rank each film, as this provided valuable consensus from a vast global audience and reflected a film’s enduring appeal and critical standing.
We’ve backed up each selected thriller with comprehensive information to enhance your viewing experience. This includes its release year, the director at the helm, and the leading actor or actors who delivered those gripping performances. We also specify the streaming service where you can currently watch it, any significant awards won, its age rating, a concise synopsis of its plot, and its global box office revenue.
Sinister
Horror •Thriller •Mystery
Overview
True-crime writer Ellison Oswald is in a slump; he hasn’t had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims’ home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.
Director
Scott Derrickson
Cast
Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Vincent D’Onofrio, James Ransone, Fred Dalton Thompson
Duration
110 minutes
The Substance
Drama •Horror •Sci-fi
Overview
A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
Director
Coralie Fargeat
Cast
Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, Gore Abrams, Hugo Diego Garcia
Duration
141 minutes
The Surfer
Mystery •Thriller •Drama
Overview
A man returns to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son. When he is humiliated by a group of locals, the man is drawn into a conflict that keeps rising and pushes him to his breaking point.
Director
Lorcan Finnegan
Duration
103 minutes
The Imitation Game
Drama •Thriller •War •Mystery
Overview
Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.
Director
Morten Tyldum
Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Allen Leech
Duration
114 minutes
Dune
Sci-fi •Adventure •Action •Drama
Overview
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Cast
Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård
Duration
149 minutes
Arrival
Sci-fi •Drama •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Cast
Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma
Duration
111 minutes
Brazil
Comedy •Sci-fi •Drama •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel. Investigating a case that led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man instead of wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle, he meets the woman from his daydream, and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.
Director
Terry Gilliam
Cast
Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins
Duration
143 minutes
Looper
Sci-fi •Action •Thriller •Drama •Adventure •Mystery
Overview
In the year 2044, time travel has not yet been invented but in 30 years it will have been. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target into the past where a looper, a hired gun, like Joe is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good until the day the mob decides to close the loop, sending back Joe’s future self for assassination.
Director
Rian Johnson
Cast
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Piper Perabo, Noah Segan
Duration
119 minutes
The Matrix
Sci-fi •Action •Adventure
Overview
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
Director
Lana Wachowski
Cast
Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano
Duration
136 minutes
No Country for Old Men
Crime •Thriller •Drama •Mystery
Overview
Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.
Director
Joel Coen
Cast
Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald
Duration
117 minutes
Back to the Future
Comedy •Sci-fi
Overview
Eighties teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents’ first meeting and attracting his mother’s romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his parents’ romance and – with the help of his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown – return to 1985.
Director
Robert Zemeckis
Cast
Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson
Duration
116 minutes
A Time to Kill
Drama •Thriller •Crime •Mystery
Overview
A young lawyer defends a black man accused of murdering two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter, sparking a rebirth of the KKK.
Director
Joel Schumacher
Cast
Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Ashley Judd
Duration
149 minutes
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Comedy •Drama •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
Los Angeles, 1969. TV star Rick Dalton, a struggling actor specializing in westerns, and stuntman Cliff Booth, his best friend, try to survive in a constantly changing movie industry. Dalton is the neighbor of the young and promising actress and model Sharon Tate, who has just married the prestigious Polish director Roman Polanski…
Director
Quentin Tarantino
Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley
Duration
155 minutes
Reservoir Dogs
Crime •Thriller •Mystery
Overview
A botched robbery indicates a police informant, and the pressure mounts in the aftermath at a warehouse. Crime begets violence as the survivors — veteran Mr. White, newcomer Mr. Orange, psychopathic parolee Mr. Blonde, bickering weasel Mr. Pink and Nice Guy Eddie — unravel.
Director
Quentin Tarantino
Cast
Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi
Duration
99 minutes
Limitless
Thriller •Sci-fi •Mystery
Overview
The life of an unsuccessful writer is transformed by a top-secret ‘smart drug’ that allows him to use 100% of his brain and become a perfect version of himself. His enhanced abilities soon attract shadowy forces that threaten his new life.
Director
Neil Burger
Cast
Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, Andrew Howard, Anna Friel
Duration
100 minutes
Parasite
Thriller •Drama •Mystery •Comedy
Overview
All unemployed, Ki-taek’s family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.
Director
Bong Joon-ho
Cast
Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam
Duration
127 minutes
Interstellar
Sci-fi •Drama
Overview
The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
Director
Christopher Nolan
Cast
Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow
Duration
169 minutes
Inception
Action •Sci-fi •Adventure •Mystery •Thriller •Drama
Overview
Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: “inception”, the implantation of another person’s idea into a target’s subconscious.
Director
Christopher Nolan
Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy, Elliot Page
Duration
148 minutes
John Wick
Action •Thriller •Crime •Mystery •Adventure
Overview
Ex-hitman John Wick comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him.
Director
Chad Stahelski
Cast
Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan
Duration
101 minutes
Plane
Action •Adventure •Thriller •Mystery
Overview
After a heroic job of successfully landing his storm-damaged aircraft in a war zone, a fearless pilot finds himself between the agendas of multiple militias planning to take the plane and its passengers hostage.
Director
Jean-François Richet
Cast
Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Yoson An, Tony Goldwyn, Daniella Pineda
Duration
107 minutes
Frequently asked questions
Psychological thrillers focus deeply on the characters’ minds, often blurring reality and perception. They build suspense through internal conflict, paranoia, and unreliable narratives. Unlike crime suspense, the threat is often mental or emotional, with the tension stemming from psychological manipulation or a character’s unraveling state.
Thrillers are designed to generate suspense and anticipation, keeping you constantly guessing. They expertly play on your natural curiosity and desire to understand complex plots. The genre’s ability to surprise with unexpected twists and to explore the darker aspects of human nature makes it incredibly gripping.
A well-executed plot twist is often crucial for a thriller, transforming a good story into an unforgettable one. It reshapes your understanding of preceding events, intensifies emotional impact, and leaves a lasting impression. The best twists feel both surprising and earned, providing a satisfying, clever resolution.
Neo-noir is a modern evolution of classic film noir, adapting its shadowy visual style and cynical themes for contemporary audiences. It often features morally ambiguous characters, complex plots, and a sense of existential dread. While retaining noir’s core, neo-noir frequently incorporates more graphic content and updated cinematic techniques.
While many thrillers are indeed intense, they aren’t always exclusively dark. Some blend elements of action or mystery, occasionally allowing for moments of dark humour or a more adventurous tone. However, the core purpose remains to maintain suspense and keep you on edge through escalating tension.
Several directors are celebrated for their mastery of the thriller genre. Alfred Hitchcock, known as the “Master of Suspense,” is legendary. Other notable names include David Fincher, celebrated for his dark and intricate narratives, Christopher Nolan, and Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, all renowned for their gripping works.
High box office revenue indicates a thriller’s broad appeal and its ability to captivate a large audience. While not the sole indicator of artistic merit, commercial success often suggests effective storytelling, strong performances, and successful marketing that resonated widely, proving its impact beyond critical reviews.
For Australian viewers, major streaming platforms like Netflix, Stan, and Amazon Prime Video typically offer a robust selection of thriller movies. You’ll find a range of psychological, crime, and espionage thrillers available, with libraries constantly updated to include new releases and acclaimed classics.
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