Thrillers have proven to be some of the most enthralling and exciting cinematic experiences of the 21st century, with the genre evolving to new heights through various approaches and executions. Many of the most acclaimed and iconic films of recent memory are thrillers, ranging from blockbuster smash hits likeJokerandOppenheimerto critical darlings likeUncut GemsandAnatomy of a Fall. As the 2020s have continued, each year has provided an array of deeply memorable thrillers that further add to the strength of the genre as a whole.
2024 was another exceptional year for top-notch thriller filmmaking, withcountless great choices for audiences looking for an edge-of-their-seat experience. From explosive action-thrillers to tension-filled horror-thrillers, the genre had many exceptional outings that will easily be in consideration of the best thrillers of the decade so far. The best of the best that 2024 has to offer in terms of thrillers is only the tip of the iceberg, as there are countless examples of great thrillers released throughout the year.
15’MaXXXine'
Directed by Ti West
The third film inTi West’s largely popular horror thriller trilogy,MaXXXinefully embraces a sleazy, cutthroat 80s style to its story of murder, retribution, and battle for fame in the midst of it all. The film sees the titular Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) attempting to make it big in Hollywood as the lead in a new horror film, yet forces from her past and a vicious serial killer prove to keep getting in the way of her success. As various other young Hollywood girls end up being murdered, Maxine does what she can to uncover the culprit behind these mysterious murders.
MaXXXinegoes for a distinctly different tone and style from the previous films in the trilogy while still tackling their dynamic themes of fame, age, and perceptions of purity.The film distinctly feels more like a thriller than previous entries, both through its increased focus on procedural crime, but also the allure and tone that the setting of Hollywood provides over the local farm of previous entries.
14’Blink Twice'
Directed by Zoë Kravitz
A surprise turn to directing by acclaimed actressZoë Kravitz,Blink Twiceis a psychological thriller that expands upon a classic private island concept before expanding to a statement on the ultra-wealthy. The film follows cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie), who after a stunt of getting pretty and attending a fundraising gala party she’s supposed to work at, is invited by a tech billionaire to join him and his friends on a vacation on his private island. While initially seeming like the perfect vacation, it quickly dawns upon Frida that this is far from the paradise that it appears to be, with something sinister lying beneath the surface.
WhileBlink Twice’s baseline concept of a disturbing islandwith darker secrets beneath the surface is far from original, it’sKravitz’s distinct execution and building of the overarching mystery that make the film so compelling and engaging. The film slowly builds and adds tension until it reaches a powerful breaking point that overwhelms the senses and doesn’t shy away from deeply disturbing content.Channing Tatumalso gives a deeply committed performance that balances comedy, inherent charm, and an underlying disturbing sadistic side.
Blink Twice
13’Love Lies Bleeding'
Directed by Rose Glass
A deeply passionate and compelling romantic crime thriller that isn’t afraid to delve into deeply disturbing and visceral concepts,Love Lies Bleedingbalances raw emotionwith vicious thrills to make for a true cinematic experience. The film is as much about a compelling and centralizing romance as it is about bloody thrills and chaos, with the raw chemistry betweenKristen StewartandKaty O’Brianfurther elevating the thrills and the passion throughout.
The film follows reclusive gym manager Lou (Stewart), who finds herself falling for an ambitious bodybuilder (O’Brian), with the duo soon forging a plan to leave town and travel to Las Vegas to pursue their dreams. However, the duo find themselves getting into hot water and are forced to confront the painful inevitability of Lou’s criminal family and their web of deception.The film consistently finds a way to keep audiences on their toes and second-guessing everything, with its chaotic ending leaving a massive impact.
Love Lies Bleeding
Directed by Nikhil Nahesh Bhat
In the wake ofJohn Wick, it has become a recurring trend in recent years to create choreography-based action thrillers revolving around a single powerful fighter taking down large groups of people all on their own.Killproves to beone of the first action-thrillers in a long time that effectively recaptures the electric energy that theJohn Wickfilms provide, being as emotionally touching as it is ruthlessly violent. The film sees an army commando who travels aboard a train to stop the wedding of his true love having to fight a gang of knife-wielding thieves who have taken over the train.
The way thatKillbuilds up and executes its top-notch action sequences is deeply satisfying to watch unfold, initially having its protagonists actively not kill enemies before a shocking event cuts to the title card 30 minutes into the film. From that point onward, it becomes a no-holds-barred bloodbath that makes the most out of the combination of a Western vengeful thriller and the action choreography of an Indian film.
11’Strange Darling'
Directed by JT Mollner
Implementinga non-linear narrativeto make the most out of an exciting and tense horror thriller,Strange Darlingis one of the biggest surprises in horror in 2024. The film tells its six-chapter story starting in the third chapter, as it paints a portrait of how what starts as an unassuming one-night stand evolves into the latest death in a string of murders from a notorious serial killer. As more chapters and context are given to the events of the film, it reveals unexpected truths and gives new context to what was shown before.
Strange Darling is a film that is largely defined and elevated by its visual flairs and approach to filmmaking,with its beautiful visuals complimenting the overarching mystery and slow drip of information in the film. The duo of lead performances fromWilla FitzgeraldandKyle Gallneris also exceptional and multi-layered, coming across as entirely different on repeat viewings and working in tandem with the non-linear format.
Strange Darling
10’The Last Stop in Yuma County'
Directed by Francis Galluppi
A chamber-piece black comedy thriller that plays out like a classic Coen Brothers film,The Last Stop in Yuma Countyis largely elevated by its large cast of eclectic characters stuck in an absurd and painful situation. The film follows an array of different people finding themselves stranded at a rest-stop diner in the middle of nowhere, where tensions soon begin to rise as a duo of bank robbers begin to hold the diner hostage. As more and more people fill the diner, the tension and stakes begin to rise as only a few people in the diner are even aware of the danger.
The film makes the absolute most out of its singular location, allowing all the different characters to bounce off of each other both comedically and with their own chaotic goals for success. Even as the tension and buildup seemingly release, the film continuously finds ways to add to the inherent pain and absurdity of the situation in its own bleak, comedic fashion.It has easily made for one of the most underrated comedy thrillers of recent memory, and one that is sure to find a dedicated audience in the years to come.
The Last Stop in Yuma County
9’Woman of the Hour'
Directed by Anna Kendrick
WhileAnna Kendrickis most commonly recognized and beloved for her work in light-hearted comedies, she proves her capabilities in the world of dreadful, terrifying thrillers withWoman of the Hour. The film sees Kendrick as Sheryl, an aspiring comedy actress who finds herself crossing paths with a deadly serial killer in 70x LA when they are both contestants on an episode of “The Dating Game”. The film intersperses between the tension-building filming of the episode and various murders that the killer had done both before and after the filming took place.
Woman of the Houris unmatched in its ability to create a palpable dread and sense of hopelessness from its execution,fully painting the horrific and despicable nature of the serial killer while not shying away from his charming facade. With its usage of concepts like the lack of trust given to women and victims of the era and the frequent writing off of genuine concerns, it’s a story that, despite taking place in the 70s, is deeply relevant to modern societal issues.
Woman of the Hour
8’Carry-On'
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
While manyNetflix original thrillersoften find themselves blending together and failing to leave a discernible impact, one of the most striking and effective mid-budget thrillers from the platform has beenCarry-On. The airline action thriller sees airport security officer Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) on a race against time to stop a mysterious traveler from enacting his plan to get a deadly item onto a flight on Christmas Eve.
Carry-Ondoesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to action thriller conventions and structure, yetits adherence to the strengths that make the genre so impactful makes it a refreshingly compelling experience in the modern era. It easily stands out as the most compelling holiday-centric action thriller sinceDie Hard, easily getting audiences sucked into its heightened action and nail-biting tension. It’s a return to form not only for Netflix, but directorJaume Collet-Serra, easily being the action-thriller director’s best film in years.
7’Rebel Ridge'
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier
With the rising tides and tension surrounding police violence and corruption, it was seemingly inevitable for a film likeRebel Ridgeto come along and explore these topics in an exciting, engaging way. The film follows a former Marine who, on his way to pay for his cousin’s bail, is stopped by local law enforcement who end up unjustly seizing the funds that he was planning on using. In his efforts to get his money back and free his cousin, he ends up uncovering a dangerous conspiracy of corruption within the local law enforcement that quickly makes him a target.
Many different attributes come together to makeRebel Ridgean exceptional thriller film, from its satisfying approach to non-lethal violence to its charismatic lead who oozes likability at every turn.Jeremy Saulnieris an expert not just at directing deeply impressive action sequences, butexceptional pacing that times its reveals, rising tensions, and standout moments with perfect precision. The film easily makes for one ofthe best Netflix original action moviesto be released on the service in a long time.
Rebel Ridge
6’Juror #2'
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Posed as what could be the final film from legendary directorClint Eastwood,Juror #2takes a scathing look at the difficulties of the justice system through the lens of one man’s painful view of justice and self-preservation. The film follows the story of Justin (Nicholas Hoult), a friendly young man who is chosen to serve as a juror in a high-profile murder case. However, as information about the case is revealed, Justin faces a moral dilemma when he realizes that not only is the person on trial innocent but that he is the one responsible for the death of this woman.
Juror #2is easily one of Eastwood’s best films in decades,giving maximum emotional weight and tension to its ingenious premise and elevated by an array of top-notch performancesfrom the likes of Hoult,Toni Collette, andJ.K. Simmons. It plays out its nail-biting tension with ease, allowing the audience and main character to evaluate the case and performances from an entirely different light when knowing the truth of the case. While Warner Bros. may have botched its release and not given it the wide theatrical release it deserved, it’s still easily one of the most cinematic thrillers released this year.
