Thrillers always make for interesting movie-watching experiences because of the many layers of excitement and exhilaration that are embedded into the film’s production. There are some fast-paced thrillers that are designed to completely overload the audience’s senses. There are also thrillers that act more as slow burns that gradually build up tension over the course of a couple of hours or so. These are the kinds of stories that are filled with so much conflict to go along with a bunch of unexpected twists and turns. Audiences are literally left on the edges of their seats in anticipation for any kind of resolution.
Most recently, Parasite, which won Best Picture at the Oscars in 2020, is a thriller movie that managed to captivate audiences worldwide with a complex and layered plot filled with metaphors and subtext. But more than that, Parasite was able to expertly build up rising tensions within its storytelling so that audiences were hooked and invested for the whole duration of the film. In this list, we are going to go over some of the best examples of thrillers that you should binge watch this weekend.
No Country for Old Men (2008)
This classic thriller features one of the greatest acting performances in history from Javier Bardem. He portrays a gun-for-hire named Chigurh who is notorious for being ruthless with his hunting methods. Chigurh pursues Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) after the latter finds himself in the middle of a botched drug deal. Moss gains access to an inordinate amount of money that Chigurh is tasked to retrieve himself.
Parasite (2019)
The Kim family is the perfect example of a typical Korean family that’s just barely making ends meet. Somehow, the family devises a plan to infiltrate the home of the affluent Park family in order to gain access to the lifestyles of the rich. However, their plan backfires once they discover that a parasite is actually residing within the Park home and threatens to expose their plot to the Park family.
Argo (2012)
Argo is based on the true-to-life story of the six Americans who managed to escape the hostage crisis that took place at the U.S. embassy in Iran back in November of 1979. It’s likely that once the militants discover that the refugees are still in Iran, they will be taken hostage and potentially killed. Argo follows the story of expert extractor Tony Mendez who is played by Ben Affleck to devise a plan to rescue the refugees.
21 (2008)
Gambling has always been one of the most popular recreational pastimes in the world. Whether it be in real life or through virtual platforms, people have always taken a liking to the thrill and excitement that gambling has to offer. However, sometimes, the drama at the casino can get too hot and heavy. And that’s exactly what we get with the movie 21. It follows the true-to-life story of MIT students who have been tasked by their math professor (Kevin Spacey) to beat the house at its own game by counting cards in blackjack.
The Guilty (2021)
The newest entry on this list, The Guilty follows Jake Gyllenhaal as he plays a 911 operator who finds himself in a delicate situation. In the midst of a California wildfire, he receives a distress call from someone who claims that she’s been kidnapped and that she’s in trouble. The entire film follows Gyllenhall scramble to put the clues together in order to save this person from impending doom.
Panic Room (2002)
Panic Room is just another masterpiece from one of the best names in the business, David Fincher. It stars a young Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart as they try to stay alive while being the victims of a violent break-in in their newly acquired home. The movie follows a vicious game of cat and mouse between the intruders and the homeowners as they try to outdo one another through the house’s secret mazes and security features.