While thrillers may not be everyone’s cup of tea, this genre produces some of the most creative and calculated narratives to entertain its vast audience. These surrealist and suspenseful flicks not only keep you on the edge of your feet, wondering what the next move is, but they also deliver sensational cinematic targets that are hard to forget for a long while.
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If you’re a lover of thrillers, then these top 10 Hollywood thriller movies are some of the best you would come across. In fact, any or two of these titles would serve as the perfect film to enjoy this Friday night.
1. The Prestige (2006)
“The Prestige” makes the list of Nolan’s list of highest-grossing movies, with about $109 million in box office earnings. It may have been released a week later than intended, but this movie turned out to be a massive success. Starring Hugh Jackson and Christian Bale in the lead roles, the period film tells the story of two rival magicians, taking viewers on a tolled coaster ride with highly intriguing illusions. Beyond its thrilling twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and leave you shocked with the final reveal, this Oscar-nominated film’s enduring popularity is probably the greatest magic trick it wields.
2. Interstellar (2014)
In 2014, Christopher Nolan brought together some of Hollywood’s best acts to direct and produce what will become one of our century’s greatest masterpieces. A decade after its release, “Interstellar” remains evergreen, and more mesmerizing, owning to its inventive scientific creations. With $733 million in box office collection, this movie tells the story of ‘Joseph Cooper’ on a mission to save humanity,’ a perfect plot for superb science fiction, you could say. Today, lovers of the movie continue to celebrate its relevance and this is because “Interstellar” actually gets better with every watch, as you get to pick out thrilling details that you may have missed in the last watch.
3. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
More than three decades after its release, “The Silence of the Lambs” is still goated. Of course, the thriller genre had seen excellent movies before its arrival, and after. However, this particular 1991 film is in a league of its own, sporting the incredible performances of terrific actors like Jodie Foster as ‘Clarice Starling,’ the brilliant FBI trainee who is tasked with the duty of nailing down ‘Buffalo Bill,’ superbly played by Ted Levine, with the help of Anthony Hopkins who plays the role of ‘Dr. Hannibal Lecter.’ This five-time Oscar award-winning film combines different themes of murder, sexism, evil, feminism, and more to create a masterpiece that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
4. Split (2016)
For “Split,” James McAvoy brought his A-game to the screen, and watching him display such applaudable dexterity in his lead role as ‘Kevin Wendell Crumb’ with 23 identity disorder personalities is one thing that you want to look out for in this movie. India’s Shyamalan is notable for his numerous directing and production endeavors. Therefore, when he released this self-funded film, the reception didn’t fall short of expectations of what you’d get from a mastermind like him. In fact, the $9 million budget eventually made him over $278 million in box office collection! With several nominations from myriad bodies, the movie boasts two wins from the Seattle Film Critics Society and the San Diego Film Critics Society.
5. Enemy (2013)
An outstanding and engrossing display through and through, Dennis Villeneuve’s “Enemy” grips you into a great storyline and shocks you with an unexpected psychological twist at the end. Featuring California’s Jake Gyllenhaal as a dual character, this film showcases the intriguing circle of patterns that influence human actions and choices, evoking anticipation. In the actor’s own words, it is “an exploration of the unconscious, ” and the movie directly undoubtedly achieved this effect on its viewers, as the entire plot has you wanting more. Alongside its five award-winning titles from the 2nd Canadian Screen Awards, “Enemy” also made around $3.5 million at the box office.
6. The Dark Knight (2008)
When it comes to incredible casting and storytelling, leave it for the Nolan brothers. “The Dark Knight” is inarguably one of the best superhero movies you would find, and it’s all thanks to the stellar performances displayed by the thespians and the complex but engaging plot delivered. With this fan-fav superhero production budgeted at about $185 million, the movie hit over one billion dollars at the box office. It pits the ‘Joker’ against ‘Batman’ in this 2008 film, this story is the second in a trilogy which also includes “Batman Begins” (2005) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).
7. Psycho (1960)
Watching “Psycho” would take you back to the early beginnings of thriller cinema, a masterful creation from the hands of the influential Sir Alfred Hitchcock. An all-time horror classic and a staple in the entertainment industry, this film is considered one of the most significant in Hollywood history, and is even regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. From a budget of a little over $806,000, “Psycho” rolled in about $50,000,000 in earnings. The Oscar-nominated movie, despite being out of the present century is one of the best films to watch on weekends, especially if you love a good scare and a gripping narrative.
8. Bullet Train (2022)
Love you a superb action movie with the perfect dose of violence and comedy? “Bullet Train” would be a great pick for you. Compared to most titles on the list, this is a relatively new production, released in 2022, and stars A-list performers like Brad Pitt and Joey King in lead roles. The rush of action going in the scenes isn’t the only thing that’ll catch your attention, as the director, David Leitch ensured to enhance the stylish undertones you would catch while watching. Apparently, this particular film is preceding a sequel as the crew is said to have another title in the works. Alongside being a good watch, the movie also made its producers smile home with its box office earnings of around $239 million.
9. Joker (2019)
At first glance, the title might make you think it’s some sort of comedy flick, but “Joker” is one of the most disturbing thriller movies in this list. With his stellar performance as “Arthur Fleck,” in this film, Joaquin Phoenix tells the story of a socially rejected comedian who is pushed into mental illness as a result of violent behavior against him. With supporting roles from the likes of Zazie Beetz, Robert De Niro, and Frances Conroy, the film released positive responses from the audience, and stands as one of the highest-grossing films in the world, with over $1 billion. It is also an award-winning production, with notable accolades from the Oscars, SAGAs, Critics Choice Awards, and the British Academy Awards, among others.
10. The Usual Suspects (1995)
“The Usual Suspects” is relayed through a flashback narrated by the dexterous Verbal Kint, played by Kevin Spacey. He leads as the major villain in this crime movie, against Chazz Palminteri who played Special Agent Dave Kujan. A 90s staple, this film introduces a great plot with a wholesome mix of action, heist, intelligence, and suspense. This masterful combination of thrilling themes makes this multiple-award-winning movie a classic. Regarded as a top-rated crime movie, particularly for lovers of heist, Bryan Singer’s “The Usual Suspects” is one title that should be added to your next weekend watch list.
