The thriller genre has continuously stood as one of the most versatile and immediately engaging genres of film out there, with its ability to keep audiences at the edge of their seat and engaged from beginning to end being second to none. The genre is also a source of great flexaibility and variety with its offerings, whether it be a high-octane action thriller or a more subdued, abstract psychological thriller. This trend of triumphant thriller filmmaking has continued into the 2020s, where the genre is as impactful and striking as ever.
Especially with so many movies being released constantly on all different platforms and methods of viewing film, there are a multitude of prominent thriller films that have helped continue the genre’s lineage and history of greatness in the modern era. From the latest offerings from highly celebrated thriller filmmakers to breathtaking experiences from fresh new voices, thriller filmmaking couldn’t be any better the decade is sure to deliver even more thriller greatness.
10
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023)
The John Wick franchise has proven to be one of the most prolific action thriller franchises of the 21st century, with top-notch choreography and worldbuilding making the films extremely memorable. However, unlike many other thriller franchises that decrease in quality with each entry, John Wick has been upping the ante and improving upon its filmmaking with each entry, with John Wick: Chapter 4 being the current height of the franchise.
The action is more intense, with so many different memorable sequels, as well as the central story of John looking for this final path out of the world of assassins being as compelling as ever. It stands as one of the definitive martial arts movies of the 2020s, with the electrifying nature of its action making it one of the most satisfying and engaging action experiences of the 21st century. While the film acted as a finale for John’s story, one can only wonder what the announced John Wick: Chapter 5 will do to improve upon this.
9
‘Juror #2’ (2024)
Clint Eastwood undeniably stands as one of the most iconic and prolific directors in American history, with a long history of prominent filmmaking achievements throughout his career. For what may just be the final film of his career, Juror #2 is as perfect a final film that a director could ask for, with an immediately compelling concept further elevated by exceptional directing and top-notch performances. It does a great job of keeping the tension palpable as this hunt for the truth places the lead character in peril.
The film follows family man Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) dealing with a serious moral dilemma while serving as a juror in a high-profile murder case. As information about the case is introduced to the jury, Kemp begins to realize that not only is the convict innocent, but that he himself may be responsible for the death at the center of this case. In the best ways possible, Juror #2 is a blast from the past that feels like a thriller from decades prior, with a method of filmmaking and storytelling more akin to Eastwood’s amazing 90s and 2000s thrillers.
8
‘Conclave’ (2024)
A high-stakes story of infighting and tension in a battle for the papacy, Conclave soars thanks to the brilliance of Edward Berger‘s directing and the strength of its story. With each additional wrinkle of chaos, Conclave greatly expands into this powerful story of institutional power, lingering doubts, and the dynamic that faith holds during these times of division and discourse. The S-tier thriller is also massively elevated by its on-screen talent, most notably an exceptional lead performance by Ralph Fiennes.
The film sees all of the major cardinals across the world converging upon the Vatican following the unexpected death of the Pope for the task of electing a new pope. With these cardinals closed off from the outside world until they make their decision, it quickly devolves into madness as gossip and shocking truths about the prominent candidates come to life. The thriller has one of the most intelligent depictions of faith in a modern thriller, seamlessly utilizing the strengths and struggles with faith to elevate its central story.
7
‘Sinners’ (2025)
The gothic horror thriller that took the world by storm to be one of the most iconic and recognizable original blockbuster films of the 2020s, Sinners has amassed a powerful reputation in the time since its debut. It blends together a wide variety of different genres to make for the most impactful experience possible, delving into elements of horror, thrillers, action, and even period musicals. Still, its inherent thriller elements largely help with the pacing of the film, making it engaging from beginning to end.
The film wouldn’t have been nearly as big of a cultural phenomenon without its overwhelming qualities, as it stands out as one the defining horror thriller masterpieces of the decade so far and the magnum opus of director Ryan Coogler. It will certainly have some of the biggest staying power out of any thriller this decade so far, continuously being in conversation as one of the standout crowd-pleasing masterpieces from this era of filmmaking.
6
‘It Was Just an Accident’ (2025)
By filmmaker Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident is a renegade political thriller whose very existence is a statement in itself, being filmed without permission from Iranian authorities and telling a story of the pain and trauma of people imprisoned by the ruthless Iranian government. It’s a deeply personal thriller that deals with a lot of moral implications and struggles, cutting to the heart of the very real issues being faced by people in Iran. The film also features what is easily one of the greatest final shots in any thriller.
The film follows an unassuming mechanic who is faced with an unexpected shock when he believes that he’s found the person who ruthlessly tortured him while in prison. He begins a plot of revenge by kidnapping him before having doubts as to whether this man is actually his notorious torturer. As he grapples with the moral dilemma, he enlists the insight of his former prison mates to hopefully get closer to the truth.
5
‘Obsession’ (2026)
While 2026 hasn’t ended yet, no other thriller from this year has made such an impact on wider culture as Obsession, this dominating force of a horror thriller that became one of the most profitable movies of all time with its $519 million box-office on an under $1 million budget. Not to say that low-budget horror thrillers haven’t found such great success in the past, but the massive critical acclaim and exceptional strengths at the center of Obsession truly put it a step above its contemporaries.
Rising star filmmaker Curry Barker went all out to create this perfect blend of deeply unsettling subject matter, top-notch scares, and a story that works seamlessly in tandem with its themes of autonomy and selfish desire. A large source of the praise that the film has received, however, stems from this career-launching performance from Inde Navarrette as Nikki, which will easily go down as one of the defining horror performances of the decade.
4
‘No Other Choice’ (2025)
South Korean director Park Chan-wook has been one of the most consistently brilliant thriller directors of the 21st century, crafting so many masterpieces as well as constantly evolving alongside the genre and world around him in his filmmaking. No Other Choice is simply the latest absolute masterpiece from this highly esteemed director, combining his signature directorial strengths with an edge of dark comedy as it tackles the ruthless pain of joblessness with a story of murder.
The way that the film balances comedy and tension is second to none, feeling so precise and brilliant in every aspect of its filmmaking as it constantly builds upon itself to create one of the funniest thrillers of the 21st century. It has a timeless execution that makes its comedic and emotional moments hit just as hard on subsequent viewings and standing tall as what is easily the most underrated and overlooked thriller of the decade so far.
3
‘Anatomy of a Fall’ (2023)
While Anatomy of a Fall has the premise of a more traditional legal drama murder mystery film, it flips the very concepts and perceptions of murder mystery stories on their head as it delves into the pain and impact that these searches for the truth have on the parties involved. The French film sees the fallout in the wake of the death of a man who fell out of the window in his attic, with the leading presumption being that his wife (Sandra Hüller) pushed him in an act of malice.
While the larger mystery and discussion as to whether or not this death was a murder or an accident is at the crux of the film’s hook, the real brilliance comes in how it navigates the painful truths that come to a head and are morphed to fit a narrative. With a masterful performance by Hüller at its center, Anatomy of a Fall is the defining courtroom thriller of the decade and arguably one of the best courtroom thrillers ever made.
2
‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)
A powerhouse historical biopic epic from one of the greatest filmmakers working today, Christopher Nolan‘s legendary Best Picture winning masterpiece Oppenheimer sees him at the height of his prowess as a filmmaker and storyteller. It proves to do so much more than simply telling the story of this important figure in World War II history, but delve into the greater impact of his work and how he grappled with the pain of creating something that would lead to mass destruction on an unimaginable scale.
All of Nolan’s greatest strengths and conventions as a thriller filmmaker are in full force in this thriller epic, from shifting time frames and perspectives to a focus on massive scale and spectacle in awe-inspiring sequences. However, what really helped the film stand out as one of Nolan’s greatest films is how well-written and striking these characters are, from Cillian Murphy‘s legendary lead performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer to the wide array of notable supporting performances from the likes of Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., and so many more.
1
‘One Battle After Another’ (2025)
Paul Thomas Anderson has consistently proven himself to be an absolute juggernaut of dramatic filmmaking, with an emphasis on emotion and human elements making his films some of the most celebrated of their respective eras among film scholars. Even then, One Battle After Another stands out as unlike anything else he’s ever made, blending together just about every genre imaginable to create a masterclass in comedy, tension, action, and everything in-between.
Many different elements come together to make One Battle After Another such an engaging cinematic experience, as all of these great strengths rhyme to create a one-of-a-kind monolith of modern filmmaking. The characters are overflowing with personality and memorability, the story is one of high stakes and constant twists and turns, and even the occasional action sequences are heart-pumping and full of tension. It’s everything one would want out of a large-scale comedy thriller, with its legacy only continuing to grow with time.
