The thriller genre is a broad category of movies, encompassing a variety of styles such as psychological, crime, and action thrillers. Regardless of subgenre, though, they all share elevated levels of suspense, dangerously high stakes, and unforeseeable plot twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
2024 has been a particularly good year for thrillers with exciting directorial debuts from both Dev Patel and Zoë Kravitz, in Monkey Man and Blink Twice respectively, as well as new movies from legendary directors Clint Eastwood and M. Night Shyamalan. Elsewhere, we’ve seen a few surprise hits, some remakes, and the return of some iconic actors.
These are 10 of the best thriller movies of 2024, ranked.
10
‘Sleeping Dogs’
Release Date
April 25, 2024
Runtime
110 Minutes
Russel Crowe plays a retired homicide detective who is living with Alzheimer’s. He is drawn back to an old case he was a part of and begins to suspect not everything was above board in how it was handled. As a result, he fears an innocent man will be getting executed.
‘Sleeping Dogs’ Has Enough Twists and Turns To Keep Viewers Engaged Throughout
This thriller thrives on its twisty, turny narrative that keeps viewers guessing until the end. Russel Crowe’s character’s unreliable recollections lead the audience through a maze of uncertainty, as the story progresses and he gradually unravels the mystery, putting together the jigsaw puzzle piece by piece, revealing unsettling secrets along the way.
9
‘Trap’
A mix between a family drama and a cat-and-mouse detective thriller, Trap offers a unique viewing experience that sees Josh Hartnett delivering one of his finest performances to date. He stars a doting father who has taken his daughter to a pop concert. He harbors a dark secret; however, in that he is moonlighting as a serial killer. Tensions mount as he is hunted by a determined FBI agent.
M. Night Shyamalan Continues to be One of the Industry’s Most Divisive Directors
At the turn of the century, M. Night Shyamalan was one of the most critically acclaimed directors of his time following a string of back-to-back critical hits including The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs. His winning streak with the critics changed though, following the release of The Village, which was highly praised by some and lambasted by others, landing it a score of 44% on Rotten Tomatoes.
What followed was a string of megaflops in The Happening, The Last Airbender, and After Earth. Since, most of his movies have split critical opinion, and Trap is no exception. Many praised Josh Hartnett’s performance, but the over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek tone was a hit with some and disliked by others, resulting in a 57% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
8
‘Speak No Evil’
Release Date
September 13, 2024
Director
James Watkins
Runtime
110 Minutes
Speak No Evil revolves around an American family who are staying with a British couple at their remote countryside abode. Things begin to go sour between them though and the visit descends into a desperate fight for survival.
‘Speak No Evil’ Is a Remake of a Danish-Dutch Movie of the Same Name
The original movie, released just two years ago to critical acclaim, caught the attention of Jason Blum who, here, serves as a producer through his Blumhouse Productions banner. Bringing in some big names like James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis, this fraught, psychological thriller was a hit with critics and performed impressively at the box office raking in over $76.8 million against a budget of just $15 million.
7
‘Wolfs’
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Release Date
September 20, 2024
Runtime
108 Minutes
Wolfs sees two Hollywood titans, Brad Pitt and George Clooney, cast against each other as professional ‘fixers’ who are hired to ‘clean up’ the same job. While each is normally insistent on being a ‘lone wolf’, here they are forced to work together as the night spirals into chaos and they inadvertently get caught up in gang warfare and drug conspiracies.
‘Wolfs’ Is a Thriller with Plenty of Humor and Action
Despite relying on genre cliches, the natural charisma of its two leads and their onscreen chemistry elevates Wolfs from a run-of-the-mill ‘fixer’ thriller to a fun-filled action-comedy that has left many viewers wanting more. Unfortunately, that is a desire unlikely to be fulfilled since director John Watts has publicly spoken about deciding against pursuing a sequel.
6
‘Mothers’ Instinct’
Release Date
Director
Benoît Delhomme
Runtime
94 Minutes
Set in the 1960s, Mothers’ Instinct is a dark psychological thriller starring Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway. It tells the tale of two neighbors and best friends whose idyllic lives are shattered by a tragic accident involving their sons. As grief consumes them, guilt, paranoia, and suspicion threaten to unravel their once inseparable bond.
‘Mothers’ Instinct’ Is a Remake of A Belgian Movie
Mothers’ Instinct is a remake of the 2018 French-language film of the same name (or Duelles as it’s called in French), which itself was an adaptation of a 2012 novel by Barbara Abel.
While sticking to the same compelling narrative, the American version takes a slightly more melodramatic approach to its storytelling whereas the original centers more on the psychological unraveling of its lead characters. Both are enjoyable in their own right, but critics generally favored the original, with some questioning the need for an American remake at all.
5
‘Blink Twice’
Release Date
August 23, 2024
Runtime
102 Minutes
Cast
Naomi Ackie
, Channing Tatum
, Christian Slater
, Simon Rex
, Adria Arjona
, Kyle MacLachlan
, Haley Joel Osment
, Geena Davis
, Alia Shawkat
, Levon Hawke
, Trew Mullen
, Saul Williams
, Liz Caribel Sierra
, Cris Costa
, Julian Sedgwick
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Blink Twice recounts the story of cocktail waitress Frida who is invited to a luxurious private island owned by an enigmatic tech billionaire. What starts as the perfect getaway soon becomes a living nightmare, as she must uncover the true intentions of the multiplicative magnate and fight for her survival.
Zoë Kravitz Demonstrates Great Potential in Her Directorial Debut
Having made a name for herself as one of the strongest actors working today, she has now proven that she’s no one trick pony. With Blink Twice, Kravitz’s skillful handling of tension, power dynamics, and psychological horror creates a gripping experience, blending intense drama with subtle social satire. While a little rough around the edges, it has left many eager to witness what’s next from Kravitz.
4
‘Juror #2’
Release Date
October 30, 2024
Runtime
114 Minutes
Helmed by Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood, Juror #2 is a legal thriller starring Nicholas Hoult as a recovering alcoholic who is called upon to do jury duty in a murder case. As the high-profile case progresses, Hoult’s character becomes increasingly concerned that it might be he, in fact, who is the one responsible for the victim’s death.
Nicholas Hoult Is a Revelation
Having made his name in British teen dramedy Skins, Nicholas Hoult has been going from strength to strength recently, from playing Dracula’s long-suffering familiar in last year’s Renfield to an obnoxious patron at an exclusive (and dangerous) restaurant in The Menu, he has proven himself a competent and compelling actor.
Here, director Eastwood gives Hoult the opportunity to really showcase the range of his acting capabilities with his portrayal of a man grappling with internal conflict. Elsewhere, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, and Keifer Sutherland all deliver powerful and committed performances.
3
‘In the land of Saints and Sinners’
Release Date
March 29, 2024
Runtime
1hr 46min
Set in a small Irish village during the 1970s, Liam Neeson stars in this action thriller about a retired hitman who is forced to face his dark past as he fights to protect his community from a group of terrorists. After premiering at the 80th Venice International Film Festival towards the end of last year, the movie was made available to the public in the first half of 2024 and hit Netflix in April.
Liam Neeson Is a Delight
Whilst not one of the most original concepts, even within Liam Neeson’s own filmography, he is so adept at portraying a no-nonsense tough guy with a dark past, it’s near impossible not to be enthralled by his inimitable and captivating performance. Slightly more focused on tension and suspense over out-and-out action, there’s plenty here for fans of the more “thriller” elements of the “action thriller” subgenre.
2
‘Rebel Ridge’
Release Date
September 6, 2024
Director
Jeremy Saulnier
Runtime
131 Minutes
Cast
Aaron Pierre
, David Denman
, Emory Cohen
, Oscar Gale
, AnnaSophia Robb
, Reid Williams
, Steve Zissis
, Daniel H. Chung
, Dana Lee
, Zsane Jhe
, Don Johnson
, C.J. LeBlanc
, Matthew Rimmer
, Brannon Cross
, Victor Eli Hugo
, James Cromwell
, Chelsea Bryan
, Al Vicente
, Terence Rosemore
, Leslie Nipkow
, Rhonda Johnson Dents
, Charlie Talbert
, Harlon Miller
, Clayton Cooper
, Caleb J. Thaggard
, Jordan Thoma
, Angela Griffitt
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Rebel Ridge is a crime thriller that stars Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond, a former Marine who unravels a web of corruption after the bail money for his cousin is unjustly seized via civil forfeiture by a small town’s police force.
‘Rebel Ridge’ Is an action Packed Thrill Ride That Gets Its Audience Thinking
Whilst there’s enough action to shake a stick at, Rebel Ridge is also a thought-provoking and powerful exploration of systemic corruption and justice. The movie reflects real-world issues and highlights how powerless we can feel as individuals in these circumstances.
1
‘Monkey Man’
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Monkey Man
Release Date
April 5, 2024
Runtime
121 Minutes
Cast
Dev Patel
, Sharlto Copely
, Pitobash
, Vipin Sharma
, Sikandar Kher
, Sobhita Dhulipala
, Ashwini Kalsekar
, Adithi Kalkunte
, Makarand Deshpande
A gripping tale of revenge and redemption set in India, Monkey Man follows a bitter young man as he infiltrates the city’s corrupt elite in order to exact bloody revenge for the death of his mother and the systemic victimization of the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
‘Monkey Man’ Is an Intense and Thought Provoking Directorial Debut
Directed by Dev Patel who also takes on the lead role, Monkey Man is a white-knuckle thrill ride that is as intense as it is thought-provoking. Combing brutal violence with sharp social commentary, Monkey Man is one of the most unique and exciting movies of 2024 and a fantastic directorial debut for Patel.
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