525 Best Thrilling Movies to Watch (Page 18)

When it comes to memorable viewing experiences, it’s usually all about the scenes that pull you to the edge of your seat. Whether you’re into suspenseful mysteries or emotional dramas, here are the most thrilling movies and shows to stream.

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256. Sister Death, 2023

Remember the creepy blind nun from the Spanish horror film Veronica? While many nun-related horror films have nuns as its horror element, this time it’s the nun that gets spooked in Sister Death. The new release expands on her backstory, taking the story back in history, in her start as a novitiate in the former convent, a location that’s been changed after the terrors inflicted towards the nuns during the Spanish Civil War. While the film doesn’t delve that deeply, focusing instead on the slowly building up the film’s terror, there is something here about the hidden violence and covered-up trauma that still haunt the Catholic church in Spain, especially to those that have taken vows. Director Paco Plaza meticulously frames each terrific sequence with the isolating doubt in one’s faith that Narcisa experiences.

Genre: Drama, Horror

Actor: Almudena Amor, Antonio Duque, Arantza Vélez, Aria Bedmar, Chelo Vivares, Consuelo Trujillo, Luisa Merelas, Maru Valdivielso, Olimpia Roch, Sandra Escacena, Sara Roch

Director: Paco Plaza

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257. Short Sharp Shock, 1998

	
Look, Short Sharp Shock is standard crime thriller stuff. The plot has been done before– an ex-convict trying to keep himself from the underground, but still gets pulled into it by his friends– and you can tell in some shots that it takes inspiration from classic American gangster films. But, by the time of its release, we haven’t seen this story in these streets before. Writer-director Fatih Akin takes this fairly straightforward story to his hometown and styles it with the eclectic mix of languages, sounds, and images that fits more closely to his German multi-cultural neighborhood. And because of the new setting, the gangster immigrant friends make certain choices that won’t be out of place for the genre, but are informed by and have additional stakes because of the cultures they come from. Short Sharp Shock is a familiar story, but it’s done well in a new place, with a new style, and with Akin’s affection for his hometown.Genre: Crime, Drama
Actor: Adam Bousdoukos, Aleksandar Jovanović, Cem Akin, Fatih Akin, İdil Üner, Marc Hosemann, Mehmet Kurtuluş, Oscar Ortega Sánchez, Ralph Herforth, Regula Grauwiller
Director: Fatih Akin

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258. Poacher, 2024

	
In Poacher, two passionate but low-level wildlife preservers are tasked to bring down a massive crime ring that murders elephants to sell rare ivory. It’s a hefty task, one that’s constantly bogged by red tape and corruption, so it’s not surprising that some scenes go on for too long and wind in repetitive circles. But for the most part, Poacher moves briskly and urgently; it has the familiar beats of a crime drama while never losing its important message about the importance of preserving nature. In lesser hands, the latter could come off as cheesy or preachy, but in Poacher, the message never feels less than life and death. It begins with the animals, as one of the investigators explains, and if the criminals are not caught soon, things will likely freefall into uncontrollable crime and corruption, not to mention a damaged ecosystem that could ruin one of India’s few green spaces forever. It’s a thought-provoking message, one that’s helped by the show’s high production value, heartwarming focus on wildlife creatures, and dedicated performances.Genre: Crime, Drama
Actor: Ankith Madhav, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Kani Kusruti, Nimisha Sajayan, Ranjitha Menon, Roshan Mathew
Director: Richie Mehta

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259. Outer Banks, 2020

In the land of 2 jobs or 2 houses, it’s hard to buy these obnoxious kids as the poor kids, the neglected who do whatever they want. There’s just a little too much confidence and social capital in there to exude neglected. The show trudges and sludges through our heroes’ thrilling adventures, which helps sell the island’s secluded atmosphere, and in a roundabout way helps us root for the Pogues for actually making things happen here. A lot of the engagement for this story, however, starts largely linear and basic—the poor good guys vs the boring, rich, corrupt bad guys—but the intricacies reveal themselves, though they take some time to start simmering.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Adina Porter, Austin North, Charles Esten, Chase Stokes, Drew Starkey, Jonas Pate, Jonathan Daviss, Josh Pate, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Rudy Pankow, Shannon Burke

Rating: TV-MA

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260. Memories, 1995

	
Best known for landmark cyberpunk anime Akira, Katsuhiro Otomo crafted strange and terrifying visions of a world that has not yet come, imagining technology that surpassed that of today, but in much pessimistic light compared to that of the genre. Three of his manga short stories are depicted in Memories, with Otomo partnering with Kōji Morimoto and Tensai Okamura to direct each segment, and with Satoshi Kon in writing, just before Kon’s own iconic surrealist films. Kon-written Magnetic Rose has been universally acknowledged as the best of them, being much more emotionally poignant, but the other two does have its charms, as Stink Bomb takes a relatively silly premise to its fairly logical, but scary conclusion, and Cannon Fodder takes the beauty of Otomo’s art into such a hollow and ugly world. All three deliver terrifying omens of death through technology used against the everyday man, whether by accident or design.Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Actor: Ami Hasegawa, Gara Takashima, Hidetoshi Nakamura, Hideyuki Hori, Hisako Kyoda, Hisao Egawa, Kayoko Fujii, Keaton Yamada, Keiko Yamamoto, Kenichi Ogata, Koichi Yamadera, Masato Hirano, Michio Hazama, Nobuaki Fukuda, Osamu Saka, Ryoichi Tanaka, Ryuji Nakagi, Shigeru Chiba, Shozo Iizuka, Takkô Ishimori, Tetsuya Iwanaga, Tomoko Ishimura, Tsutomu Isobe, Yuu Hayashi
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo, Koji Morimoto, Tensai Okamura
Rating: PG-13

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261. Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, 2017

There is a lot to admire about this revenge film from director Mouly Surya—the breathtaking shots of rural Indonesia, the grisly practicality of the titular Marlina, the relevant observations on gender politics, and the simple yet stylistic way all of this is revealed. Fans of Westerns and Spaghetti Westerns are also treated with an Eastern reimagining of tropes as the film exchanges long guns for Kabeala knives and sprawling deserts for tropical hills.

Packed with so many delights, Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts is a near-impossible miss. But if you somehow find none of this gripping, you can always rely on the sure thrill of seeing scorned women bloodily and rightfully avenge themselves.

Genre: Drama, Thriller, Western

Actor: Anggun Priambodo, Ayez Kassar, Dea Panendra, Egi Fedly, Egy Fedly, Haydar Salishz, Indra Birowo, Marsha Timothy, Norman R. Akyuwen, Ozzol Ramdan, Rita Matu Mona, Ruly Lubis, Safira Ahmad, Sapto Soetardjo, Tumpal Tampubolon, Yayu A.W. Unru, Yayu Unru, Yoga Pratama

Director: Mouly Surya

Rating: Unrated

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262. Maestra: Strings of Truth, 2023

After titles like Tár (2022) and the Dutch film The Conductor (2018), Western female conductors continue to intrigue audiences as they strive to succeed in the last glass ceiling in music. But classical music isn’t restrained to the West, and South Korea’s orchestral world is now showcased in Maestra: Strings of Truth. A remake of the French television series Philharmonia, the series goes through the trials and tribulations Cha Se-eum goes through to establish her leadership in the conductor role back home, as well as the multiple mysteries that might have caused her to leave in the first place. While the show’s first two episodes slowly portray her backstory, Lee Young-ae holds the show on her shoulders, and grounds the drama with her stoic and charismatic presence. It’s a compelling drama, with such a compelling personality, and it’s scored with some of the best classical pieces in the world.

Genre: Drama, Mystery

Actor: Hwang Bo-reum-byeol, Jin Ho-eun, Jung Dong-hwan, Kim Min-kyu, Kim Young-jae, Lee Byung-joon, Lee Moo-saeng, Lee Mu-saeng, Lee Si-won, Lee Young-ae, Lim Se-joo, Park Ho-san, Ye Su-jeong

Director: Kim Jeong-kwon

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263. Lockwood & Co., 2023

Though it may seem like it at first, Lockwood & Co. is more than just Ghostbusters by way of YA fiction. For one, it is properly terrifying. The growls and screeches, the misshapen ghosts and the heartstopping jumpscares are all proof that the showrunners know what it takes to create an authentic horror series. The worldbuilding is also impressive; the show rightly doesn't dump all its secrets in one go and instead reveals them slowly and naturally, which adds to its credibility.

In lesser hands, Lockwood & Co. might have ended up as cheesy child's fare, but with a skilled cast and crew behind it, it proves to be stirring for audiences of any age. The impressive CGI and costume design give it a prestigious sheen (it’s not tacky, in other words), while the tender moments make it as relatable as any well-told teen drama.

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Ali Hadji-Heshmati, Cameron Chapman, Ruby Stokes

Rating: TV-14

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264. Late Night with the Devil, 2024

	
After you get back home, and you tuck your kids to bed, we search for some easy entertainment in the late-night talk show. Quips about today’s news and intimate conversations with guests are just the thing to wind down, but theoretically, anything can happen at late night. Late Night with the Devil plays as a pseudo-documentary centered on late show host Jack Delroy on a Halloween night, pairing the charged, uncensored atmosphere with a supernatural twist. The film alternates between the color-toned show and black-and-white behind the scenes, and as Delroy tries to lead the show to safe entertainment, with David Dastmalchian’s genial aura, things don’t go as planned as Lily becomes host to a scary demon with Ingrid Torelli’s terrifying physicality. It’s creepy and slightly comedic, with the classic selling of the soul for fame interrupted with words from their sponsors, and it’s certainly a fun twist to the late night we’re used to seeing.Genre: Horror
Actor: Adam Batt, Christopher Kirby, Clare Chihambakwe, David Dastmalchian, Elise Jansen, Fayssal Bazzi, Gaby Seow, Georgina Haig, Ian Bliss, Imaan Hadchiti, Ingrid Torelli, John Leary, John O'May, Josh Quong Tart, Laura Gordon, Michael Ironside, Miles Brown, Nicole Chapman, Paula Arundell, Rhys Auteri, Rik Brown, Steve Mouzakis, Tamala Shelton
Director: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes
Rating: R

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265. Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, 2024

The animation of this series feels grand and powerful, something you don’t typically expect or get from kids shows. There are layers to the way the dialogue and plot unfolds, with scenes paced like a movie, and with quality production to boot. It's also got an impressive atmospheric range, capable of being laid back and smooth with its exposition, suspenseful and nuanced with its story beats, and ultimately friendly enough for bigger kids to enjoy. It’s young adult drama, action, mystery, and comedy, possessing one strong element after another, that genuinely keeps thrill-seeking adults and kids on the edge of their seats.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Family, Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Darren Barnet, Kausar Mohammed, Kiersten Kelly, Paul-Mikél Williams, Raini Rodriguez, Sean Giambrone

Rating: TV-Y7

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266. Infinity Pool, 2023

Surreal, off-putting, and extremely disturbing, Infinity Pool plays with the concepts of cloning and the death penalty to craft an examination on colonial tourism. It’s a thematically rich horror film, with hazy neon-lit sex scenes and absolutely terrible behavior, enabled by their wealth and advanced technology that could have been put to better use. Mia Goth, in particular, is strikingly unhinged, as Gabi taunts and lures James into bigger and more terrible crimes, crimes that he can only pay off with the wealth of his father-in-law. And Alexander Skarsgård as James believably gets sucked into this extremely libertine lifestyle, fuelled by the nepotistic anxiety of not living up to his own potential. The film presents a scary notion that pushed by wealth and playground tactics, one will willingly kill their own conscience, again and again, to belong to their cohort.

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller

Actor: Alexander Skarsgård, Alexandra Tóth, Amanda Brugel, Amar Bukvić, Caroline Boulton, Cleopatra Coleman, Gergely Trócsányi, Géza Kovács, Jalil Lespert, Jeff Ricketts, John Ralston, Kamilla Fátyol, Mia Goth, Roderick Hill, Romina Tonković, Thomas Kretschmann, Zijad Gračić

Director: Brandon Cronenberg

Rating: R

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267. Goosebumps, 2023

Based on the classic teen series by R. L. Stine, the latest adaptation of Goosebumps is now a modern-day TV series. However, it’s not an anthology like the show in the 90s, it’s a series set in one town, focused on a group of teenagers, dealing with various horror elements from the books. Each episode gets its title, as well as their supernatural MacGuffin, from the corresponding novellas, though with a modern twist, with some online trolling and posted pranks. Fans of the original 90s may find this format disappointing, but it’s still a fun and spooky ride, especially for younger viewers new to Goosebumps.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Ana Yi Puig, Isa Briones, Miles McKenna, Will Price, Zack Morris

Rating: TV-14

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268. Funny Games, 1997

	
See, usually, when American violence in media is critiqued, it’s usually through analytic studies or overly exaggerated lectures stirring moral panic. Instead of doing this, however, auteur Michael Haneke decided to surpass the crime genre, playing with the form and emotions in Funny Games. It’s terrifying, not because it immediately delves into the violence, but because it starts off with an ordinary, innocuous visit, that gradually escalates into an unpredictable home invasion where two teenagers inflict needless violence in such a scary yet spectacular way, even involving the viewer into their shenanigans. Ironically, this led to Haneke creating a shot-for-shot American remake of this same story, but Funny Games’ break in form made Haneke a director to remember, as he started to film outside his native Austria after the standout thriller.Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Actor: Arno Frisch, Christoph Bantzer, Doris Kunstmann, Frank Giering, Stefan Clapczynski, Susanne Lothar, Susanne Meneghel, Ulrich Mühe
Director: Michael Haneke
Rating: R

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269. From the Earth to the Moon, 1998

	
First released in 1998, HBO’s From the Earth to the Moon is a fittingly epic series that captures the magnitude of NASA’s missions to the moon. It’s equally informative and dramatic, featuring more real-life characters than you can track and more information than you can sometimes process. Thankfully, Tom Hanks appears at the start of every episode to brief you through the events, and archival footages are smoothly inserted when they’re needed. In the first two hours alone, there are spectacular space flights (with finely aged CGI, mind you) and heated courtroom debates, with each episode operating more like a standalone film than a TV episode. The only downside comes in retrospect: when you’ve seen films like the devastating First Man (about the struggles of Neil Armstrong) and the revelatory Space Race (about the many achievements of neglected Black astronauts), it’s not hard to imagine a version of this series that’s less celebratory and patriotic, and more critical and true to life.Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama
Actor: Clint Howard, David Clennon, Jay Mohr, John Michael Higgins, Tom Hanks
Rating: TV-PG

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270. Fair Play, 2023

Making a good erotic thriller out on Wall Street is no easy feat, but Fair Play has just the right ratio of wit, sex, and sleaze to spice up a Friday night viewing. There's also undeniable pleasure in watching a fairytale love story corrode, especially under the influence of money and power—here's one for the romantic capitalists! And even if the script feels a bit uneven and Emily's character a bit too silent until the film's third act, it's a heightened yet realistic depiction of exactly how solidified heteronormative standards still are: in bed, at home, at the workplace. Who would have guessed that's where the true horror lies?

Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller

Actor: Alden Ehrenreich, Brandon Bassir, Buck Braithwaite, Eddie Marsan, Filip Todorovic, Geraldine Somerville, Greg De Cuir, Ivona Kustudić, Jamie Wilkes, Jelena Stupljanin, Jim Sturgeon, Katarina Gojković, Laurel Lefkow, Leopold Hughes, Linda Ljoka, Patrick Fischler, Phoebe Dynevor, Rich Sommer, Sebastian de Souza, Sia Alipour, Yacine Ramoul

Director: Chloe Domont

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