The Best Thrillers Of 2021
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1Andi Matichak, Emile Hirsch, Luke David BlummWhen a young boy falls ill to a mysterious illness, his mother must decide how far she will go to protect him from terrifying forces in her past.More Son
- #6 of 82 onThe Best Shudder Original Movies
- #86 of 153 onThe 100+ Best New & Recent Horror Movies, Ranked
- #139 of 146 onThe Best Supernatural Horror Movies, Ranked
2Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Alexey SerebryakovHutch Mansell fails to defend himself or his family when two thieves break into his suburban home one night. The aftermath of the incident soon strikes a match to his long-simmering rage. In a barrage of fists, gunfire and squealing tires, Hutch must now save his wife and son from a dangerous adversary -- and ensure that he will never be underestimated again.
3Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent SimmondsFollowing the deadly events at home, the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.- #78 of 164 onThe Best Movie Sequels Ever Made
- #91 of 168 onThe 160+ Scariest Psychological Thrillers
- #38 of 118 onThe Best Horror Movie Sequels
4Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza GonzálezA shady legal guardian lands in hot water when she tries to bilk a woman who has ties to a powerful gangster.More I Care a Lot- Dig Deeper...21 Angry Reactions To The Wildly Popular New Netflix Movie That Has Viewers Furious
- #23 of 70 onGreat Quirky Movies for Grown-Ups
- #225 of 240 onThe Best Movies For Women
5Stillwater
Matt Damon, Camille Cottin, Abigail BreslinAn American oil-rig roughneck travels to Marseille, France, to visit his estranged daughter, in prison for a murder she claims she didn't commit. Confronted with language barriers, cultural differences and a complicated legal system, he soon builds a new life for himself as he makes it his personal mission to exonerate her.More Stillwater- #48 of 48 onThe 40+ Best Mystery Movies On Prime Video
- #35 of 36 onThe 35 Best Suspenseful Movies On Prime, Ranked
- #38 of 132 onThe 100+ Best New & Recent Drama Films, Ranked
6Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Jon BernthalStill reeling from the loss of three lives, Hannah is a smoke jumper who's perched in a watchtower high above the Montana wilderness. She soon encounters Connor, a skittish boy who's bloodied, traumatized and on the run in the remote forest. As Hannah tries to bring him to safety, she's unaware of the real dangers to follow: two relentless killers hunting Connor, and a fiery blaze consuming everything in its path.- #39 of 48 onThe 45+ Best Modern Day Westerns
- #20 of 42 onThe 40+ Best Firefighter Movies, Ranked by Fans
- #12 of 14 on14 Movies That Mashed Together Two Completely Unexpected Plots
7Fear Street: 1994
Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin FloresIn Fear Street: 1994, Shadyside, a seemingly ordinary town, is plagued by a chilling curse that dates back centuries. The story revolves around Deena Johnson (Kiana Madeira), her brother Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.), and their friends who stumble upon the horrifying truth behind their town's misfortunes. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they find themselves in a deadly game against time and an immortal evil force. This horror flick, part of a trilogy based on R.L. Stine's best-selling book series, masterfully combines elements of slasher films with supernatural terror. Despite its modern setting, it pays homage to classic horror motifs from the 90s, offering viewers an intriguing blend of past and present.
8Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Jeffrey DonovanMysterious and wild-eyed, a new security guard for a cash truck surprises his co-workers when he unleashes precision skills during a heist. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman's ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score.More Wrath of Man- #3 of 16 on16 Underrated Revenge Movies Where The Hero Goes Scorched-Earth
- #26 of 35 onThe Best Thriller Movies with a Hostage
- #23 of 31 onThe Best Movies About Stealing Money
9Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus SewellA tropical holiday turns into a horrific nightmare when a family visits a secluded beach that somehow causes them to age rapidly -- reducing their entire lives into a single day.More Old
10The Ice Road
Liam Neeson, Benjamin Walker, Laurence FishburneThe Ice Road is a thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of frozen waterways in northern Canada. The main protagonist is Mike McCann (Liam Neeson), an ice road trucker with a no-nonsense attitude. The plot kicks into gear when a remote diamond mine collapses, trapping a group of miners. McCann leads an impossible rescue mission over a thawing ice road to deliver the heavy drilling equipment needed for the rescue. His brother Gurty (Marcus Thomas), is a war veteran with aphasia. The film layers themes of survival with the bond between siblings and portrays corporate greed.More The Ice Road- #110 of 138 onThe 100+ Best Disaster Movies Of All Time
- #27 of 42 onThe Best Snowy Thriller Movies, Ranked
- #12 of 15 onThe Best Liam Neeson Action Movies
11Vincent Lindon, Agathe Rousselle, Garance MarillierA woman who has a metal plate in her head embarks on a bizarre journey.
12Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo, Jack ReynorCherry drifts from college dropout to army medic in Iraq -- anchored only by his one true love, Emily. However, after returning from the war with PTSD, his life spirals into drugs and crime as he struggles to find his place in the world.More Cherry- #21 of 30 onThe Best Movies About Stealing Money
- #8 of 25 onThe Best Apple TV+ Movies
- #146 of 207 onThe 200+ Best New & Recent Drama Films, Ranked
13Stephen Graham, Vinette Robinson, Alice FeethamOn the busiest night of the year at one of the hottest restaurants in London, charismatic and commanding head chef Andy Jones balances along a knife's edge as multiple personal and professional crises threaten to destroy everything he's worked for. A surprise visit from a health and safety inspector sets the staff on edge as the overbooked hot spot fills with guests. Jones tries his best to diffuse tensions between management and crew while catering to the ridiculous demands of customers.
14Carey Mulligan, Laverne Cox, Bo BurnhamNothing in Cassie's life is what it appears to be -- she's wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she's living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs from the past.- #11 of 70 onGreat Quirky Movies for Grown-Ups
- #83 of 89 onThe Most Rewatchable Comedy Movies
- #149 of 240 onThe Best Movies For Women
15Sydney Sweeney, Justice Jesse Smith, Ben HardyInnocent curiosity turns into full-blown obsession when a young Montreal couple spy on their eccentric neighbors across the street.More The Voyeurs- #14 of 18 on18 Movies You Thought Were Trashy But Are Actually Super Classy
- #20 of 113 onThe 90+ Best Recent Thriller Movies, Ranked
- #30 of 79 onThe 75+ Sexiest Thriller Movies, Ranked
16Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony MackieAgoraphobic Dr. Anna Fox witnesses something she shouldn't while keeping tabs on the Russell family, the seemingly picture perfect clan that lives across the way.- #69 of 81 onThe 75+ Best Whodunit Murder Mystery Movies
- #29 of 113 onThe 90+ Best Recent Thriller Movies, Ranked
- #46 of 132 onThe 100+ Best New & Recent Drama Films, Ranked
17Frank Grillo, Andie MacDowell, Jake AllynWhen a vigilante border patrol turns fatal, a man flees on horseback to Mexico, seeking forgiveness from the victim's father.More No Man's Land- #41 of 48 onThe 45+ Best Modern Day Westerns
- #49 of 87 onThe 70+ Best New & Recent Action Movies, Ranked
- #13 of 18 onThe Best Recent Westerns, Ranked
18Jake Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, Riley KeoughThe Guilty is a tension-filled thriller set across a single morning. The main protagonist, Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal), is a troubled police detective demoted to 911 operator duty. The film unfolds in real time as Joe receives a distressing call from a woman who appears to have been abducted. As he attempts to rescue the caller, the plot reveals complex layers of Joe's turmoil and guilt. The film digs into themes of redemption and moral ambiguity and emphasizes the unseen human stories behind emergency calls. Gyllenhaal's performance anchors the film's intense narrative, which keeps viewers engaged until its climactic resolution.
19Liam Neeson, Jacob Perez, Katheryn WinnickJim is a former Marine who lives a solitary life as a rancher along the Arizona-Mexican border. But his peaceful existence soon comes crashing down when he tries to protect a boy on the run from members of a vicious cartel.
20Pig
Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam ArkinLiving alone in the Oregon wilderness, a truffle hunter returns to Portland to find the person who stole his beloved pig.More Pig- #207 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #49 of 63 onThe Very Best New Noir Movies
- #4 of 15 on15 Movies That Aren't What You Think They Are
21Sara Canning, Osric Chau, Gracie GillamTwo travel vloggers check into a vacation rental with a host that will do anything for a good review.
22Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Carla GuginoGunpowder Milkshake is an action-packed thriller that immerses viewers in the gritty world of female assassins. The story follows Sam (Karen Gillan), a lethal hitwoman who was raised by a ruthless crime syndicate that her mother, Scarlet, once worked for. Fellow assassin Scarlet (Lena Headey), returns to aid her daughter after a high-stakes mission goes awry. As Sam crosses paths with a young girl whose life is in danger, she becomes a target herself and must reunite with her estranged assassin mother. The film brings together themes of maternal bonds, redemption, and defiance. The film presents a backdrop of stylish and over-the-top action sequences.
23Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Shailene WoodleyA defense attorney, her associate and a military prosecutor uncover a far-reaching conspiracy while investigating the case of a suspected 9/11 terrorist imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for six years.More The Mauritanian- #228 of 241 onThe 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
- #30 of 132 onThe 100+ Best New & Recent Drama Films, Ranked
- #79 of 231 onThe 200+ Best Movies Directed By Women
24The Little Things
Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared LetoDeputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who's terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke's past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.More The Little Things- #14 of 17 onThe Best Rami Malek Movies And TV Shows That Prove He Has The Range
- #211 of 216 onThe 200 Best Crime Movies Ever
- #81 of 112 onThe 100+ Best Mystery Thrillers, Ranked
25Logan Marshall-Green, Freida Pinto, Robert John BurkeWhen a husband and wife move to a small town, a home invasion leaves the wife traumatized and suspicious that those around her might not be who they seem.More Intrusion- #44 of 54 onThe Most Horrifying Home Invasion Movies
- #18 of 113 onThe 90+ Best Recent Thriller Movies, Ranked
- #289 of 335 onThe Best Netflix Original Movies Ever
26Deon Lotz, Erica Wessels, Masasa MbangeniA relentless detective finds common ground with a killer systematically targeting the perpetrators running a powerful child-trafficking ring.More I Am All Girls- #46 of 113 onThe 90+ Best Recent Thriller Movies, Ranked
- #71 of 112 onThe 100+ Best Mystery Thrillers, Ranked
- #123 of 130 onThe Best Mystery Movies Of All Time
27Stephen Lang, Madelyn Grace, Brendan SextonBlind veteran Norman Nordstrom has been hiding out for several years in an isolated cabin. He lives with a young girl and has recreated the family stolen from him by a drunken driver. Their quiet life together is soon shattered when a group of unseemly criminals kidnaps her. Norman is now forced to tap into even darker and more creative instincts in an effort to save her.More Don't Breathe 2- #123 of 168 onThe 160+ Scariest Psychological Thrillers
- #25 of 54 onThe Most Horrifying Home Invasion Movies
- #29 of 34 onThe 30+ Best Date Movies Out Now
28Jack Dylan Grazer, Fionn Whitehead, Mena SuvariA security officer falls down a hidden well while chasing two teenage brothers who stole more than $12,000. Desperate to get out, he soon tries to convince one of the siblings to set him free and save his life.More Don't Tell a Soul- #155 of 210 onThe 200+ Best New & Recent Horror Movies, Ranked
- #264 of 542 onThe Best Movies Of 2021
- #75 of 122 onThe Best Horror Movies Of 2021
29The Banishing
Jessica Brown Findlay, John Lynch, Sean HarrisThe story of the most haunted house in England. In the 1930s, a young reverend, his wife and daughter move into a manor that holds a horrifying secret.
30Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye SheridanThe Card Counter, a 2021 film directed by Paul Schrader, follows William Tell (Oscar Isaac), a gambler with a dark past. The story follows Tell, an ex-military interrogator turned poker player, who seeks redemption through the meticulous world of card counting. His solitary existence is disrupted when he meets Cirk (Tye Sheridan), a young man seeking vengeance against a mutual enemy from their past - Major John Gordo (Willem Dafoe). As Tell takes Cirk under his wing in an attempt to steer him away from violence, the film explores themes of guilt, revenge, and the possibility of atonement amidst the backdrop of America's casinos.More The Card Counter- #9 of 34 onThe 30+ Best Date Movies Out Now
- #16 of 33 onNew Movies You Should See In Theaters
- #6 of 6 onThe 6 Best Movies About Counting Cards
