Thriller backdrop

Thriller movies

Edge-of-your-seat suspense and psychological tension that keeps your heart racing from start to finish.

Subgenres include: Mind Game Thriller, Domestic Thriller, Cover-Up Thriller.

The Bay

1991. The Bay

Horror Science Fiction Thriller Monster Horror Cover-Up Thriller
5.7

20121h 24min

United States

Director: Barry Levinson

Two million fish washed ashore. One thousand blackbirds dropped from the sky. On July 4, 2009 a deadly menace swept through the quaint seaside town of Claridge, Maryland, but the harrowing story of what happened that Independence Day has never been told—until now. The authorities believed they had buried the truth about the tragedy that claimed over 700 human lives. Now, three years later, a reporter has emerged with footage revealing the cover-up and an unimaginable killer: a mysterious parasitic outbreak. Told from the perspective of those who were there and saw what happened, The Bay unfolds over 24 hours through people's iPhones, Androids, 911 calls, webcams, and whatever else could be used to document the nightmare in Claridge. What follows is a nerve-shredding tale of a small town plunged into absolute terror.

Themes

Quarantine ethics, Warnings ignored and consequences, Pollution from farming practices, Toxin-driven ecological collapse, Media transparency under pressure, Government cover-up and silence

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

6 Bullets

1992. 6 Bullets

Thriller Action Crime Kidnapping & Captivity Thriller Martial Arts Action
6.0

20121h 55min

United States

Director: Ernie Barbarash

An ex-mercenary known for finding missing children is hired by a mixed martial arts fighter whose daughter has been kidnapped.

Themes

Contested authority, Deception and impersonation, Factional violence, Ransom economy, Loyalty under pressure, Leadership and governance

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Impossible

1993. The Impossible

Drama Thriller History Historical Drama Survival Thriller
7.5

20121h 53min

Spain, United States

Director: J.A. Bayona

In December 2004, close-knit family Maria, Henry and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand. But the day after Christmas, the idyllic holiday turns into an incomprehensible nightmare when a terrifying roar rises from the depths of the sea, followed by a wall of black water that devours everything in its path. Though Maria and her family face their darkest hour, unexpected displays of kindness and courage ameliorate their terror.

Themes

Man vs nature, Survival struggle, Tsunami disruption, Natural disaster impact, Family vacation strain, Separation from family

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Brass Teapot

1994. The Brass Teapot

Comedy Fantasy Thriller Dark Comedy Supernatural Fantasy
6.3

20121h 40min

United States

Director: Ramaa Mosley

When a couple discovers that a brass teapot makes them money whenever they hurt themselves, they must come to terms with how far they are willing to go.

Themes

Moral compromise, Boundary erosion, Cost of security, Financial insecurity, Risk for gain, Pain as currency

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Words

1995. The Words

Drama Thriller Entertainment Industry Drama Mind Game Thriller
7.0

20121h 36min

United States

Director: Brian Klugman

The Words follows young writer Rory Jansen who finally achieves long sought after literary success after publishing the next great American novel. There's only one catch - he didn't write it. As the past comes back to haunt him and his literary star continues to rise, Jansen is forced to confront the steep price that must be paid for stealing another man's work, and for placing ambition and success above life's most fundamental three words.

Themes

Memory and loss, Integrity under pressure, Authorship and ownership, Deception and ambition, Fame at any cost, Blurred boundaries between life and fiction

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Iceman

1996. The Iceman

Thriller Crime Drama Serial Killer Crime Mind Game Thriller
6.8

20121h 45min

United States

Director: Ariel Vromen

The true story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man.

Themes

Double life tension, Loyalty under crime pressure, Family life vs crime life, Betrayals and consequences, Performative normalcy, Violence as livelihood

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Cockneys vs Zombies

1997. Cockneys vs Zombies

Action Comedy Horror Thriller Zombie Horror
5.9

20121h 28min

United Kingdom

Director: Matthias Hoene

A group of Cockneys arm themselves to rescue their elderly relative and his retirement home friends who are trapped and fighting off a zombie attack during a zombie apocalypse in the East End of London.

Themes

Trust under pressure, Protecting vulnerable elders, Group loyalty vs self-interest, Urban crisis resilience, Resource scarcity and theft, Survival through collective effort

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Fire with Fire

1998. Fire with Fire

Action Crime Drama Thriller Undercover Sting Crime
5.6

20121h 37min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: David Barrett

A fireman takes an unexpected course of action when a man whom he's been ordered to testify against—after being held up at a local convenience store—threatens him.

Themes

Trust under pressure, Witness protection strain, Duty versus danger, Legal maneuvering, Violence escalation under threat, Identity erasure anxiety

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Berberian Sound Studio

1999. Berberian Sound Studio

Horror Drama Thriller Psychological Horror Psychological Drama
6.2

20121h 32min

United Kingdom

Director: Peter Strickland

In the 1970s, a British sound technician is brought to Italy to work on the sound effects for a gruesome horror film. His nightmarish task slowly takes over his psyche, driving him to confront his own past.

Themes

Deception and suspicion, Art vs commerce, Identity erosion under pressure, Sound as psychological pressure, Industrial pressures of filmmaking, Creative isolation in studios

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Possession

2000. The Possession

Horror Thriller Supernatural Horror Domestic Thriller
5.9

20121h 32min

United States, Canada

Director: Ole Bornedal

A young girl buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that inside the collectible lives a malicious ancient spirit. The girl's father teams with his ex-wife to find a way to end the curse upon their child.

Themes

Family loyalty under exorcism threat, Dybbuk box paranoia, Exorcism ritual pressure, Divorce-driven dybbuk box strain, Possession dybbuk box tests trust, Knowledge vs superstition exorcism

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.