Hollywood thrillers and mystery movies are very popular all over the world. That's because they are often brilliant in their plot, direction, and cast.
Many mystery movies are produced every year with new and original plots that impress the viewer. There are also many film adaptations of thriller genre novels, books, short stories, and plays that are accepted worldwide.
Although the thriller genre has many sub-genres such as police thriller, psychological thriller, action thriller, etc., they all aim to keep the audience engaged by creating suspense, surprise, anticipation, and awe.
Legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock dominated the thriller genre with several masterpieces in the '90s.
Hollywood has also provided us with many other great thrillers and suspense movies that find their place when talking about the best Hollywood thrillers. Today we list some of them below.
Also read:The best South Korean thrillers
We have a huge list of Hollywood mystery movies, it was very difficult to choose the best thriller movies of all time, we divided the movies into different categories like best action thriller movies and best Hollywood psychological thriller movies.
List of Hollywood thrillers
Psychopath
In many ways, Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film Psycho set the precedent for modern slasher, psychological thriller, and horror films.
Based on the 1959 novel of the same name, Psycho tells the story of an encounter between the manager of a remote motel and a woman staying there. The result of all that is to come will forever mark Psycho as one of Hitchcock's best works.
Seven
The 1995 thriller "Seven" nearly set a benchmark for crime thrillers upon its release. Directed by thriller expert David Fincher, the film stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Kavin Spacey.
Two investigators with different work styles try to catch a mysterious serial killer who chooses his victims based on the seven deadly sins. With an engaging plot, powerful actors, and a twist ending, Seven leaves audiences absolutely in awe.
The usual suspects
Another Kevin Spacey star, The Usual Suspects features other acting delights like Benicio del Toro, Stephen Baldwin, and Gabriel Byrne to name a few.
A critically acclaimed film from now famous director Bryan Singer, The Usual Suspects is the story in which five criminals meet by chance and plan a grand heist together.
A simple plot filled with layers of twists and turns makes this movie a great choice for repeat viewing. Kevin Spacey won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in this film.
Memory
Christopher Nolan will always be known as one of them.best directors of all time🇧🇷 The kind of complicated but brilliant story that comes to mind can be exemplified by the 2000 thriller Memento.
Starring Guy Pearce and Carrie-Anne Moss, this is the story of a man who suffers from anterograde amnesia, or short-term memory loss, if you will. He uses a complex system of polaroid photos and tattoos on his body to search for the murderer of his wife.
This movie has a non-linear narrative and evolving twists, making it a recommended movie for multiple viewings. Memento is also considered one of the most accurate portrayals of anterograde amnesia in movie history.
List of the best thrillers with a climactic twist
shutter island
Shutter Island is a 2010 thriller film directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Ben Kingsley.
It is about a US Marshal who, along with his partner, searches for one of the missing patients at a psychiatric clinic on Shutter Island. And along the way, he discovers shocking truths about the place, the people, and himself.
fight club
Another Brad Pitt star, directed by David Fincher, Fight Club, the 1999 suspense drama also starring Edward Norton.
Based on the 1996 novel, this film is about a hapless employee who forms a feisty community with an energetic, young and mysterious man.
Fight Club is a critically acclaimed movie with likes and dislikes in equal measure. However, it achieved cult status as a men's film and remains a favorite when it comes to thrillers.
The sixth Sense
The Sixth Sense is the story of a troubled nine-year-old boy who thinks he can see ghosts, and a depressed child psychiatrist who steps in to help.
This M. Night Shyamalan film stars Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment. Every scene in this movie is filled with suspense and a variety of expressions that take the audience on an absolutely exciting journey.
Very rarely does a movie touch the heart of the audience like this, where the viewer feels the plight of all the characters. "The Sixth Sense" was nominated for six Oscars, with Haley Joel Osment's performance being the most talked about.
Also read:List of the best mind-blowing movies of all time
The prestige
Christopher NolanHe made magic again in 2006 with The Prestige. Featuring immensely talented yet impressive cast members like Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Hall, and Scarlett Johansson, this film shows the fierce competition between two rival magicians and the lengths they will go to create the perfect magic trick.
Originally based on an award-winning novel of the same name, The Prestige also stars veteran actor Michael Caine in a major role.
The silence of the inocents
The Silence of the Lambs is one of the rare films in the horror-thriller genre to win 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, Actor, Lead Actress, and Director. Another adaptation of the novel directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.
Follow a young FBI intern's attempts to unlock the mind of a brilliant, crazed cannibalistic killer in order to catch another serial killer on the loose.
a few good men
es 1992courtroom drama filmIt contains a lot of suspense for lovers of the thriller genre. The story revolves around the trial of two US Marshals charged with the murder of their fellow Marine, as lawyers for both sides fought solidly to win their cases.
Filled with strong performances from great actors like Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, and Demi Moore, this directorial by Rob Reiner is not to be missed.
Also read:The best time travel movies
The fugitive
The Fugitive is a chase and escape thriller starring veteran actors Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford. A man is wrongly convicted of the murder of his wife. He now must prove his innocence without getting caught.
Directed by Andrew Davis, this film was a critical and commercial success. Jones also won an Academy Award for his role for Best Supporting Actor.
Angels and Demons
Angels & Demons is based on Dan Brown's novel and is the second installment and sequel to Ron Howard's previous film, The Da Vinci Code.
In this mystery thrillerTom HanksHe reprises his role as a Harvard symbologist tasked with solving a murder and preventing a major terrorist attack. This 2009 movie was considered a hit, but it wasn't as popular as its predecessor.
Phone booth
In this 2002 thriller directed by Joel Schumacher, Colin Farrell stars as a young publisher who is in danger from a mysterious gunman.
He is trapped in a phone booth answering and completing missions for the blackmailer, putting his life in absolute danger. The film stars other talented actors like Forest Whitaker, Katie Holmes, and Kiefer Sutherland.
The ilusionist
Directed by Neil Burger, The Illusionist is a story of magic and romance. In 1889, Wien, a magician played by Edward Norton, uses his abilities to protect his beloved, who is far above her social position.
Jessica Biel plays the role of the Duchess in this movie. A critical and commercial success, The Illusionist was full of suspense and light romantic moments.
the dead people
If you take the best actors in Hollywood,leonardo dicaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg and Jack Nicholson under one roof, that roof could only belong to a directing prodigy like Martin Scorsese.
The Departed is a story set in Boston, where the Boston Police Department and the Boston Mafia have planted a mole in each other's homes. And the two moles must discover each other's identity before their own cover is blown. A huge success and winner of multiple awards, The Departed won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Best Action-Thriller-Thriller Film
Already seen
If there's another actor who's good at playing the savior, it's definitely Denzel Washington. He plays the role of an ATF agent who travels through time to stop a terrorist attack and save the girl he loves.
This Tony Scott-directed one wasn't a huge hit in Hollywood, but it's still a decent watch for Denzel Washington fans.
Sold out
Liam Neeson is a natural when it comes to playing the savior, the hero, the father figure. Combine that with action sequences and the heightened expectation of a suspenseful thriller, and you'll be blown away.
Directed by Pierre Morel, Taken marks a turning point in Neeson's career and redefines him as an action star.
mind hunters
MindHunters is a nice watch by Renny Harlin. This 2004 crime thriller brings together a cast of interesting characters with unique abilities as trainees in an FBI psychological profiling program.
And they must use their skills to survive and find the killer who stands between them. With a cast that includes Jonny Lee Miller, LL Cool J, Patricia Velasquez, Christian Slater, and Val Kilmer, Mind Hunters is a good watch if you're in the mood for some exciting action.
My love
Wanted seamlessly blends fast-paced action with exciting elements. When versatile actors James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie come under Morgan Freeman's wing, all in hard-hitting roles, the film becomes a sure-fire watch for action lovers.
A bored office worker finds his calling as a master assassin when he is taken under the wing of a clan of assassins with an agenda. Lots of gunfire and explosions in this direction from Timur Bekmambetov make Wanted a highly entertaining action thriller.
The best psychological thrillers and thrillers
zodiac
Zodiac is another blockbuster mystery thriller from David Fincher's arsenal, based on an infamous Northern California true crime story. that'sMovie about a serial killer.who called himself the Zodiac Killer.
Clues, figures and even more clues about what this movie is about. With a cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr., Zodiac received highly positive reviews.
Ex girlfriend
Gone Girl is a 2014 psychological thriller.Directed by David Fincherand with Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as a couple.
This is an engaging and twisted story about the sudden disappearance of the wife and the accused husband's struggle to prove his innocence. This was a critical and commercial success and is Fincher's highest-grossing film to date.
original fear
Primal Fear tells the story of a lawyer who defends his acolyte accused of murdering an influential archbishop.
Although all the actors like Richard Gere, Laura Linney and John Mahoney performed wonderfully in the film, the real stealer of the show here is the young actor Edward Norton who captivates the audience with his innocent charm. This direction by Gregory Hoblit was a substantial success in 1996.
secret window
Based on Stephen King's short novel, Secret Window is a 2004 novelpsychological thrillerDirected by David Koepp and starring Johnny Depp.
It tells the story of a writer who is persecuted by a mysterious man who accuses him of plagiarism. The movie was a modest success and a good watch for Depp fans.
american psycho
Mary Harron directed the gripping black comedy thriller "American Psycho." A wealthy professional from the city hides his murderous fantasies from the rest of the world while he loses himself in his actions. This film creatively shows the consequences of a highly competitive corporate culture.
Bale's performance with Jared Leto and Willem Dafoe was particularly praised in American Psycho.
If you're looking for murder mysteries and crime movies, check out ourDetective novel movies list.
It's your turn!
Our team has compiled the list of best Hollywood thrillers, now you can share your favorite Hollywood mystery movies in the comment section.