A great psychological thriller is notable for containing dark, engrossing, and suspenseful plot-driven stories. It keeps its viewers captivated from the beginning until the end when the plot finally unfolds. Yet sometimes, it is easy to overlook the finer details, which viewers may only pick up after a second viewing. Thrillers such as No Country For Old Men draw viewers back thanks to its unique combination of startling violence and darkly humorous edge. Other thriller movies, like Get Out, warrant a revisit due to their complex layers and masterful symbolism.
During the first viewing, a thriller will give its audience heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, anticipation, and anxiety, which means viewers may initially overlook subtle hints. Only during a re-watch will a viewer be more open to accessing the true identity of the film's main antagonistic force. Although the initial surprise has passed, viewers can now focus on different facets of the movie. Certain thrillers are true cinematic masterpieces and deserve a re-watch, which can reward the audience with even greater reveals. Fans looking for these films to revisit will be glad to know there's no shortage of gripping thriller movies to watch out there.
15 'The Menu' (2022)
Director: Mark Mylod
A fantastic comedy-horror thriller from director Mark Mylod, The Menu has a deceptively simple premise. It follows a couple – Tyler Ledford (Nicholas Hoult) and Margot Mills (Anya Taylor-Joy) – who travel to a private island for a reservation at an exclusive restaurant owned by talented celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). Soon, the duo (and other guests) find that this isn't the typical upscale dinner they were expecting it to be.
A biting satire of the fine dining industry as well as the food documentary genre, the film manages to shock and scare audiences with its delightfully thrilling twists and turns. Anya-Taylor Joy's stellar performance manages to stand out among the star-studded cast, all of whom wonderfully embrace their darkly comedic roles. The film is worth watching over and over again to laugh and be mortified by the wild events that happen that evening, not to mention the subtle clues hidden throughout the movie.
The Menu
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Release Date November 18, 2022 Director Mark Mylod Cast Ralph Fiennes , Anya Taylor-Joy , John Leguizamo , Nicholas Hoult Runtime 107 minutes14 'American Psycho' (2000)
Director: Mary Harron
The psychological thriller American Psycho showcases Christian Bale's stellar performance as the sadistic Patrick Bateman. From the outset, Patrick appears to be a clean-cut businessman, but this illusion quickly dissipates as the character reveals his true self. What eventuates is a surreal nightmare filled with brutal violence.
What begins as a typical thriller soon becomes one of complexity due to its perplexing ending. During the initial viewing, American Psycho's plot twists confused many fans leaving many questions unanswered. This alone is sufficient to re-watch and uncover further clues throughout the film.
American Psycho
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Release Date April 13, 2000 Director Mary Harron Cast Christian Bale , Justin Theroux , Josh Lucas , Bill Sage , Chloe Sevigny , Reese Witherspoon Runtime 10213 'Get Out' (2017)
Director: Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele's directorial debut in the psychological thriller Get Out carries its audience along a twisted yet engrossing and entertaining journey. This suspenseful, thought-provoking social thriller is deeply unsettling to watch. As the theme explores benevolent racism, the film makes its viewer feel a growing sense of unease and horror.
However, there is much more to the suspenseful movie Get Out than initially meets the eye. The film contains numerous symbols and imagery, including the unsettling Swahili song, "Sikiliza." This song plays predominantly at the film's beginning and finale, translating into a warning for the main protagonist. Get Out works on so many levels, and its true meaning can only be fully revealed by re-watching this critically acclaimed masterpiece.
Get Out
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Release Date February 24, 2017 Director Jordan Peele Cast Daniel Kaluuya , Allison Williams , Catherine Keener , Bradley Whitford , Caleb Landry Jones , Marcus Henderson Runtime 103 minutes12 'Mulholland Drive' (2001)
Director: David Lynch
Among David Lynch's best movies, the neo-noir thriller Mulholland Drive is a stunning, interpretable, mind-bending movie. The film follows an aspiring actor Betty Elms (Naomi Watts), who befriends Rita (Laura Harring), helping her discover her true identity. As they wander a dream-like version of Los Angeles, they learn some startling truths.
Mulholland Drive is a memorable and haunting film that carries viewers along both a surreal and nightmarish depiction of Hollywood. The perplexing thriller purposefully leaves room for interpretation, and double meanings, warranting repeat watches, and further discussion.
Mulholland Drive
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Release Date June 6, 2001 Director David Lynch Cast Naomi Watts , Laura Harring , Ann Miller , Dan Hedaya , Justin Theroux , Brent Briscoe Runtime 147 minutes11 'Donnie Darko' (2001)
Director: Richard Kelly
Science-fiction thriller Donnie Darko is a disturbing cult classic that deals with many themes, including mental health conditions, violence, destiny, and time travel. Following a bizarre and nearly tragic incident, troubled teenager Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins to hallucinate a life-sized rabbit named Frank. As the film progresses, visions soon drive Donnie into a state of darkness and frustration.
Donnie Darko, with its unsettling imagery and excellent performances, is one of the greatest mind-boggling movies of the 20th century. However, due to its complicated plot and confusing timeline and ending, it is difficult to interpret the cult classic after just one viewing. The film warrants multiple viewings to understand its true meaning and fully unveil its hidden clues.
Donnie Darko
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Release Date October 26, 2001 Director Richard Kelly Cast Jake Gyllenhaal , Holmes Osborne , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Daveigh Chase , Mary McDonnell , James Duval Runtime 113 minutes10 'Black Swan' (2010)
Director: Darren Aronofsky
In the frightening and ominous film Black Swan, acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky transformed ballet, a beautiful dance form, into a masterfully tense film encompassing the pursuit of perfection. The movie follows the protagonist Nina (Natalie Portman), whose passion for ballet rules every aspect of her life. However, the film soon turns sinister as Nina's dark side emerges.
While on the surface, the iconic female-led thriller movieBlack Swan appears to be about the intensely cutthroat world of ballet, its narrative soon leads viewers down a path of twists and turns. As Nina loses her grip on reality, viewers similarly question what is real. To uncover the subtle hints that allude to Nina's true fate, Black Swan necessitates more than one viewing.
Black Swan
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Release Date December 3, 2010 Director Darren Aronofsky Cast Natalie Portman , Mila Kunis , Vincent Cassel , Barbara Hershey , Winona Ryder , Benjamin Millepied Runtime 1109 'Perfect Blue' (1997)
Director: Satoshi Kon
Way before Black Swan was one of the most suspenseful movies in animated form, director Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue. The influential psychological thriller revolves around the disturbing experiences of Mima Kirigoe (Junko Iwao), a popular J-pop idol who leaves her group to attempt a career in acting. Soon, she's caught in an unsettling chain of events that seems to be connected to an obsessed fan.
With visuals that have aged incredibly well and can transport audiences into what now seems like the distant past, Perfect Blue offers a unique viewing experience for those who choose to revisit it today. When the shock of the reality (or distortion of) Mima's situation is stripped away, fans are left with a riveting and beautifully animated film that's worth seeing over and over again.
Perfect Blue (1997)
RRelease Date February 28, 1998 Director Satoshi Kon Cast Junko Iwao , Rica Matsumoto , Masaaki Ôkura , Shinpachi Tsuji Runtime 818 'Gone Girl' (2014)
Director: David Fincher
Directed by David Fincher and based on Gillian Flynn's eponymous 2012 novel, Gone Girl is a renowned psychological thriller centered on the mysterious case of Amy Dunne (masterfully played by Rosamund Pike), who has seemingly vanished. All eyes turn to her husband, the writer Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), whose suspicious actions and reactions turn him into the prime suspect – but it's not that simple.
For those who have never seen it and have never heard of its infamous twist, Gone Girl is one of those unpredictable films that should be viewed for the first time knowing as little as possible about the plot. It will warrant a second (or even third) viewing once fans learn the jaw-dropping mid-movie twist that changes everything.
Gone Girl
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Release Date October 3, 2014 Director David Fincher Cast Ben Affleck , Rosamund Pike , Neil Patrick Harris , Tyler Perry , Carrie Coon , Kim Dickens Runtime 149 minutes7 'No Country for Old Men' (2007)
Director: The Coen Brothers
Directed by the Coen brothers, the triumphant film, No Country for Old Men, takes a grim and introspective look into the complexities of human behavior. Among the most gripping movies out there, the film is, in many ways, a straightforward thriller filled with violence and mayhem. Yet, upon closer observation, various ambiguities arise, resulting in a much more complex storyline.
Due to its multi-layered themes, there is much more to explore than simply a battle between good and evil. No Country For Old Men is a brutally uncompromising movie that considers destiny, morality, and impulsivity. As viewers re-watch this neo-Western crime thriller, they soon comprehend how all its moving parts come together.
No Country for Old Men
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Release Date November 8, 2007 Director Ethan Coen , Joel Coen Cast Tommy Lee Jones , Javier Bardem , Josh Brolin , Woody Harrelson , Kelly Macdonald , Garret Dillahunt Runtime 122 Minutes6 'Shutter Island' (2010)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese's neo-noir psychological thriller Shutter Island is one of the best gripping movies ever made. The film follows Edward Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), a tortured man who cannot escape his past, as he investigates a patient's strange disappearance at a psychiatric facility. The story is riveting, and thanks to its incredible twists and turns, this movie belongs to a group of films that can be re-watched several times.
Shutter Island's ending is a complete shock to first-time viewers, but upon closer inspection, fans can discover subtle hints that foreshadow the end. From the nervous guards who seem to resent Daniels to the patient/staff awkwardness at the mention of Sheehan. For eagle-eyed moviegoers, discovering hidden clues during a re-watch of Shutter Island will help them understand the movie's shocking final twist.
Shutter Island
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Release Date February 14, 2010 Director Martin Scorsese Cast Leonardo DiCaprio , Mark Ruffalo , Ben Kingsley , Max Von Sydow , Michelle Williams , Emily Mortimer Runtime 138 minutes5 'Memento' (2000)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan's intriguing movie Memento has long been a favorite among thriller fans. The neo-noir mystery thriller follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a hurting man living with short-term memory loss, looking for the person who murdered his late wife. Unable to rely on his memory, Leonard finds his way by following a complex strategy.
Memento is a mind-bender that plays with time and truth, keeping its audience guessing until the end. Nolan uses an unconventional narrative structure playing out in both chronological and reverse order to tell the story, which only fully reveals itself when the film stops. With its complex nature and hidden clues dispersed throughout the film, viewers could still miss the finer details even with a re-watch.
Memento
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Release Date May 25, 2001 Director Christopher Nolan Cast Guy Pearce , Carrie-Anne Moss , Joe Pantoliano Runtime 113 minutes 4 'Fight Club' (1999)
Director: David Fincher
The 1999 American film Fight Club is a drama-thriller that follows an office worker's (Edward Norton) pursuit to escape his mundane life. Along the way, he befriends charismatic anti-hero soap salesman Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and joins an underground fight club. Driven by hallucinations, the man's actions soon transform into destructive acts against society.
The movie is a mystery containing symbolic references to capitalism, leaving its twist-filled narrative open to interpretation. Fight Club continuously blurs the lines between reality and illusion with hints of a dreamlike plot. Only by re-watching, this chaotic drama-thriller will viewers be able to understand and appreciate the true meaning of Fight Club.
Fight Club
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Release Date October 15, 1999 Director David Fincher Cast Edward Norton , Brad Pitt , Helena Bonham Carter , Meat Loaf , Zach Grenier , Richmond Arquette Runtime 139 minutes 3 'Se7en' (1995)
Director: David Fincher
Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), disillusioned and just waiting for retirement, and David Mills (Pitt), impulsive and inexperienced, are paired together in David Fincher's award-winning classic, Se7en. Their task is to work together to solve a string of murders that seem to be inspired by the seven deadly sins.
Even those who have never seen the movie likely know Se7en's iconic plot twist, which is still referenced and used in memes and other media today. That said, it's far too easy to reduce Fincher's masterpiece to that moment, and only a rewatch will help fans appreciate the meticulous attention to detail, stellar performances, and gritty and suspenseful atmosphere that made that scene so effective in the first place.
Se7en
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Release Date September 22, 1995 Director David Fincher Cast Brad Pitt , Morgan Freeman , gwyneth paltrow , R. Lee Ermey , Daniel Zacapa Runtime 127 minutes2 'The Dark Knight' (2008)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Often considered the best among a variety of genres – superhero, action, crime, and even adventure – The Dark Knight also happens to be a nail-biting thriller from start to finish. Christopher Nolan's rewatchable blockbuster and second installment in The Dark Knight Trilogy follows the anti-hero, Batman (Bale), as he forms a shaky alliance with Lieutenant James Gordon (Gary Oldman), and DA Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). Their efforts at protecting and helping Gotham are undermined by the arrival of a new antagonist calling himself the Joker (Heath Ledger).
With an overarching sense of doom to match its bleak and gritty atmosphere and story, The Dark Knight embraces risk in a way that makes fans question if Batman will even really succeed in the end. A masterful thriller at its core, the renowned film is still a treat to watch again even without the shock value of its well-written plot, as its performances, gripping sequences, and heart-pounding action scenes make it worth revisiting.
The Dark Knight
PG-13 Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Release Date July 18, 2008 Director Christopher Nolan Cast Christian Bale , Heath Ledger , Aaron Eckhart , Michael Caine , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Gary Oldman Runtime 152 minutes1 'Parasite' (2019)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
In Bong Joon-ho's South Korean thriller Parasite, a low-income family posing as skilled workers cons a wealthy household into employing them. The theme appears straightforward as it examines class conflict and wealth inequality. However, unexpected twists quickly transpire as the story unfolds, ensuring viewers are fully engaged.
Parasite looks at class divisions and the Park family's parasitic tactics to escape a life of poverty. However, once the audience delves deeper, they discover that Joon-ho has utilized imagery throughout the film. Only by re-watching Parasite can viewers fully absorb the finer details of the film's multi-layered dialogue and determine who is the actual parasite.
Parasite
R Where to Watch*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Release Date May 8, 2019 Director Bong Joon-ho Cast Seo Joon Park , Kang-ho Song , Seon-gyun Lee , Yeo-Jeong Jo , Woo-sik Choi , Hye-jin Jang Runtime 132 minutesncG1vNJzZmibn6G5qrDEq2Wcp51kr6a%2F02apnq%2BRqbCprcGlnGafop69sbXNoGSsraOlsq%2B%2FxJ%2BspWWknb%2BquMueqWaln6u2pr%2BO