The Best Thriller Films Ever Made: Our Top Picks

Get Your Thrills

Let’s be honest, there is something special and exciting about classic pulse-pounding thrillers, regardless of how many times you watch them. For movie buffs who like having their heart in their throat and their jaw hitting the floor when watching, read on. 

What follows is a collection of cinematic treats that are sure to bring large volumes of audible gasps, ice-cold dread, and pangs of fear (all for your benefit!). We’ve watched a fair share of thriller spectacles that are like no other we’ve seen before. With that in mind, here are our top thriller films that you’ve either seen time and time again or have something new and exciting to watch…

The Manchurian Candidate 

While The Manchurian Candidate may have had a 2004 remake, nothing quite comes close to the original. John Frankenheimer’s 1962 adaption of the film combines science-fiction, suspense, drama, and political satire in such an effective manner that it’s difficult to put this flick in one singular category. Starring Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, and Laurence Harvey, the premise of the film follows a returning hero soldier who is alleged to be a brainwashed assassin. Expect plenty of dark twists and turns once you switch this film on! 

Chinatown 

Chinatown is a brilliant, textbook, neo-noir thriller that pays tribute to and redefines the film noir genre. This film follows J.J. Gittes (Jack Nicholson) who is a private detective. He investigates a murder and stumbles onto a conspiracy involving LA’s future. Telling a complicated story wonderfully and featuring fantastic performances from both Nicholson and co-star Faye Dunaway, this thriller wonder has been on every shortlist possible since its 1974 premiere. If you’ve watched the film and need more of a thrill, there are thriller-themed online casino games that come with enticing bonuses and welcome offers you may want to check out.  

The Talented Mr Ripley 

Anthony Minghella’s 1999 version of the first of Patricia Highsmith’s 5 Tom Ripley novels is a splendidly twisted and unnerving story. The Talented Mr Ripley focuses on a young sociopath (Matt Damon) who has dreams and desires of high society. Over time, he becomes perilously fixated with a rich college dropout (Jude Law) who lives in Italy. This film is a fascinating thriller that gives us a real insight into the mind of a sociopath who hides in plain sight, kills with kindness, and does anything in his power to cover his tracks and ensure no one suspects a thing.  

North By Northwest 

If you’re seeking an epic thriller with an espionage adventure brimming over, look no further than North By Northwest. This 1959 Alfred Hitchcock classic features some of the most copied sequences in the movie world. There are an assemble of stars who make the film too, including Cary Grant as Roger Thornhill. He plays a man mistaken for a spy who is forced to flee from relentless pursuit. This epic title provides a blueprint by which any thriller can be judged. 

The Silence of the Lambs 

We couldn’t possibly compile a list of the greatest thriller films ever made without talking about The Silence of The Lambs. This fantastic movie focuses on a young F.B.I. trainee Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster). She is assigned to help in finding a missing woman to save her from a psychopathic serial killer (Ted Levine) who murders and skins his victims. The Silence of the Lambs was based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Thomas Harris. It must be mentioned that this film features some of the most shocking scares, twists, and turns of all time. If anything, The Silence of the Lambs is near-unbeatable!  

Psycho 

In a nutshell, Psycho is one of the greatest and most influential thrillers known to man, not to mention a horror classic that’s been watched by millions and millions all over the globe. This 1960 Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece stars Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The film changed cinema and inspired a generation of future filmmakers in the process. For Hitchcock who had already crafted films like Vertigo, Rear Window, and North By Northwest, this classic was a notable departure from his recognised method. While Psycho was filmed with a smaller budget and in black and white, that doesn’t take away the sheer impact the film has had on thriller fanatics of all ages. It’s easy to see why Psycho stands as one of the best thriller films of all time. 

Se7en 

Se7en is a 1995 David Fincher thriller film that brought jagged thrills and ghoulish intelligence to the oversaturated 90s serial killer movie game. This is a gorgeously dark movie that unwraps the gory story of a maniac punishing his victims by enacting brutality based on the Seven Deadly Sins. When you put this blockbuster on, expect to see a talented cast. Se7en features Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as an uneasy detective duo on the brink of having their worlds crushed forever.  

Double Indemnity 

When we talk about Billy Wilder’s legacy, it’s evident why he’s one of the most talented and versatile directors in Hollywood’s history. If you only know the star as the lovable dad in My Three Sons, you will certainly look at him in a different way after catching his role as Walter Neff in Double Indemnity. In this film, he plays a riveting insurance salesman alongside a seductive housewife (Barbara Stanwyck) who partner up to bump off her husband. Sure, it may be cynical and bleak, but there’s plenty of dark humour that is sure to captivate any thriller lover. Double Indemnity broke new cinematic ground on various fronts. The most prominent is that the film was the first in Hollywood to explicitly explore the means, motives, and opportunity of carrying out a murder. 

In the film world, the genre thriller is a very broad category. As you’ll see from our list above, the films dip their toes in many other genres like film noir, horror, and espionage. If you like being at the edge of your seat and want films that evoke different moods, we guarantee any of our thriller favourites are sure to catch your eye.