JuicyTalk
A lot of people often write off movies from the past decade or so, complaining about an overabundance of remakes and sequels, and while that’s not untrue, there are so many impressive original films these days, especially in the thriller genre. In fact, some of the best movies in recent memory are in that genre.
These thrillers from the past 10 years have helped cement the careers of iconic filmmakers, turned talented actors into bigger stars, and been nominated for or discussed for Academy Awards. The best thing about the decade’s greatest thriller movies is that they’re mostly original concepts and ideas, helping to prove there’s still greatness in the genre.
2015: Sicario
Thanks to his work on the Dune franchise as well as his releases like Arrival and Blade Runner 2029, Denis Villeneuve has become one of the most prominent names in sci-fi today. However, it could be argued that Villeneuve’s best work is in the thriller genre.
Villeneuve impressed critics and audiences with 2013’s Prisoners, which was a great thriller, before he put out Sicario in 2015. This action thriller follows an FBI agent who is brought into a special task force to take down a brutal Mexican drug cartel.
From the uneasy opening scene to the intense ambush at the border to the stunning plot twists, Sicario is one of the most thrilling movies ever made. Villeneuve knows how to perfectly capture the intensity needed for this kind of film and it shows. Brie Larson’s Oscar-winning Room was also in contention for 2015’s best thriller.
2016: The Handmaiden
2016 was a great year for thrillers. There was M. Night Shyamalan’s return to form with Split, the Oscar-nominated Nocturnal Animals, and even a new entry in the spy thriller Jason Bourne franchise. However, to see the best of the best, you have to look on an international scale.
The South Korean film The Handmaiden was released in 2016 and is an incredible thriller. The movie tells the story of the relationship between a handmaiden hired to con an heiress and the various twists and turns that this bond leads to.
The wildest film from Oldboy director Park Chan-Wook, which is saying something, The Handmaiden has similar vibes to another great thriller from the era, Gone Girl. There’s a twist about a third of the way in that changes everything, only for a second shocking twist to happen again a bit later, making for a stunning film.
2017: Thoroughbreds
In 2017, films like Good Time, You Were Never Really Here, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer were all in contention for the best thriller of the year. There were also a handful of thrillers that could be classified more as horror movies like Get Out.
Alas, the one that feels like it could stand above the rest is Thoroughbreds. This little-known thriller should be more talked about, given its cast led by future stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke, as well as the late Anton Yelchin in his final role.
From director Cory Finley, Thoroughbreds centers on wealthy Lily (Taylor-Joy) and the emotionless Amanda (Cooke) as they enact a plan to kill Lily’s stepfather. Watching these events unfold and seeing whether or not they actually go through with the deed makes for a chilling viewing with a hard-hitting ending.
2018: Searching
The most talked about thriller of 2018 was Netflix’s major hit Bird Box. Although that was watched by millions, there were some better thrillers out there, including Burning, Bad Times at the El Royale, and the star-studded Widows.
The winner here is Searching, a film that is told completely through computer screens and smartphones. It’s a concept that gets done more often today, but few have pulled it off better than Searching. The movie focuses on a father looking for his missing daughter.
The use of computer screens is well done, the intense story will captivate true crime fans everywhere, and John Cho gives a committed performance as the frantic father. Searching was incredibly well-received and actually ended up starting a franchise, with 2023’s Missing also being a very good thriller.
2019: Parasite
In 2019, audiences were treated to unbelievable thrillers like Uncut Gems, which features the best Adam Sandler performance ever, the dystopian The Platform, and Haley Bennett’s great work in Swallow. All that said, only one film fits as the best.
Parasite isn’t just the best thriller from 2019, it’s the best film of the year, regardless of genre, according to many cinema fans. Bong Joon-ho’s South Korean thriller made history, winning Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best International Film at the Academy Awards.
Parasite follows a poor family who each con their way into infiltrating the world of a rich family and use it to their gain. There are so many unexpected twists in this movie and it all comes together for one of the wildest endings possible. You don’t see it coming, but it works perfectly within the world the film establishes.
2020: Promising Young Woman
Regardless of what genre you’re discussing, 2020 is a difficult year to pin down great movies because so many were pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, 2020 still featured Hulu’s Run, South Korea’s The Call, and I’m Thinking of Ending Things.
Alas, the film atop them all is Promising Young Woman. Written and directed by Emerald Fennell in her directorial debut, this film tells the story of Cassandra (Carey Mulligan), a woman on a quest for vengeance after her friend was raped and justice was never brought forward.
Mulligan is masterful in an Oscar-nominated performance for a thriller that also earned a Best Picture nod. This revenge thriller makes you nervous with almost every scene and features a few twists that are truly shocking, including one near the end that changes everything.
2021: Nightmare Alley
The Black Phone, Old, No Sudden Move, The Voyeurs, and Last Night in Soho were all memorable thrillers from 2021 but some lean more into other genres like horror and mystery. That makes it a bit easier to pinpoint Nightmare Alley as the best in the genre.
From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, Nightmare Alley has so many of his signature aspects in this neo-noir psychological thriller. Based on a 1946 novel of the same name, it tells the tale of an ambitious carnival worker who manipulates his way into success.
While del Toro being the director is enough to make Nightmare Alley a hit, it’s the cast that really makes this film great. Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, and more add so much more to the thrills.
The year 2022 had some legitimately great thrillers. Don’t Worry Darling is much better than the production controversy it’s most known for, Fall is incredibly engaging, How to Blow Up a Pipeline is incredible, and both Kimi and Watcher are gripping psychological thrillers.
However, it’s The Menu that is actually the best of the year. Another film listed here starring Anya Taylor-Joy, The Menu sees her go on a date with a foodie to an exclusive restaurant on a remote island, only to find that each course of the meal is filled with surprises.
The movie expertly blends the thrills with some comedy and acts as a satire of the restaurant industry as well as the wealthy upper class. Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes were both nominated for Golden Globes, while the film itself was up for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy.
2023: Anatomy Of A Fall
2023 was actually a fantastic year for thrillers. Saltburn became a viral sensation for its unexpected story, The Killer was another success from acclaimed director David Fincher, and Netflix put out stellar original films like Fair Play and Leave the World Behind.
Anatomy of a Fall was something truly special, though. Acting as both a legal and psychological thriller, Anatomy of a Fall looks at a case of a woman trying to clear her name in the investigation into her husband’s death after an apparent fall.
Sandra Hüller delivered one of the best performances of the decade, as you never know what the truth involving her is. You see the tense nature of her relationship with her husband, as well as her case in court, and it’s incredible to watch from start to finish.
2024: Conclave
2024 was filled with really good thrillers that actually fit more into the horror category like Longlegs, Heretic, Maxxxine, and Trap. There was also the legal thriller from Clint Eastwood, Juror #2, and the unsettling Blink Twice.
Interestingly, the best thriller of 2024 is one based on the Catholic Church. Conclave is a political thriller that focuses on the search for a new pope after the current one passes away. What follows is a barrage of scandals revealed and twists that keep you guessing the entire time.
Based on a novel of the same name, Conclave ended up as a much bigger hit than expected. It grossed over $125 million and ended up as an awards darling, landing a Best Picture Oscar nomination and winning Best Adapted Screenplay.
