From black-and-white classics to modern masterpieces, here are the most thrilling films in cinematic history.
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Thrillersmay be the most nebulous genre.
Where to watchGravity: AppleTV+
39.
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The Housemaid (1960)
Kuk Dong Seki Trading Co. Where to watchThe Housemaid: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
38.
War of the Worlds (2005)
Steven Spielbergs reimagining of H.G.
Where to watchWar of the Worlds: Paramount+
37.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Where to watchGaslight: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
36.
Where to watchDeep Red: PlutoTV
35.
Where to watchFunny Games: Max
34.
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Blood Simple (1984)
TheCoen brothers quiet debut film is among their most suspenseful works.
Every image has significance and maintains a consistently dark mood.
Where to watchBlood Simple: Max
33.
Paramount Pictures
Where to watchContagion: The Roku Channel
32.
BeforeEdge of TomorrowandSource Code,Run Lola Runbrilliantly converted theGroundhog Dayformula into an intense, efficient action film.
It cleverly explores the butterfly effect, showing how the smallest events can yield life or death consequences.
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Where to watchRun Lola Run: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
31.
Where to watchThe Insider: Vudu (to rent)
30.
Its a swirling nightmare of obsession, celebrity, violence, misogyny, and psychological instability.
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Where to watchPerfect Blue: AMC+
29.
Where to watchNorth by Northwest: Tubi
28.
De Palma is a filmmaker whose unmistakable style is both thematically expressiveandvisually enticing.
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Where to watchBlow Out: Tubi
27.
Where to watchInside Man: Starz
26.
Where to watchAll the Presidents Men: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
25.
Janus Films
The films climax is perhaps the most thrilling prison break in cinema history.
Where to watchA Man Escaped: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
24.
Theres a constant sense of individual and species-wide existential dread thats rarely achieved in cinematic sci-fi.
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Where to watchSunshine: Vudu (to rent)
23.
Where to watchSeven: Max
22.
Where to watchTo Live and Die in L.A.: Not available to stream
21.
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LikeRear Window,Wait Until Darkprovides nail-biting tension without leaving the comfort of the protagonists on-screen home.
A youngAlan Arkinexcels as the villain, vacillating between charismatic coolness and explosive rage.
Where to watchWait Until Dark: Tubi
20.
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Where to watchGet Out: Amazon Prime Video
19.
You cant look away while its all happening or stop thinking about it when its over.
Where to watchThe Dark Knight: Max
17.
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MacMurrays character narrates events as they unfold, which provides an especially literary tone.
And against all odds, it successfully makes you hope that the shady characters will get away with murder.
Where to watchDouble Indemnity: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
16.
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Where to watchMemento: Amazon Prime Video
15.
Where to watchThe Third Man: Tubi
14.
Where to watchMulholland Drive: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
13.
Mary Evans/CINEMA 77/FILMWAYS PICTURES/VISCOUNT ASSOCIATES/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection
Where to watchThe Silence of the Lambs: Max
12.
Where to watchBound: PlutoTV
11.
Bongs dark sense of humor also ensures thatParasiteis the funniest movie on this list by a considerable margin.
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Where to watchParasite: Max
10.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
The supernatural mystery fromM.
Where to watchThe Sixth Sense: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
9.
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Through its complex depiction of a bloodthirsty mob,Mexplores the disturbingly violent tendencies inherent in human nature.
Where to watchM: Max
8.
Where to watchThe Handmaiden: Amazon Prime Video
7.
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LikeSevenandPanic Room,Zodiacis a gripping, grimy crime story filled with intense performances and slick cinematography.
Where to watchZodiac: Paramount+
6.
The remainder ofHigh and Lowis one of the strongest police procedurals of all time.
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The film is also attuned to class dynamics without hitting you over the head with simplified, over-explained commentary.
Where to watchHigh and Low: Max
5.
Where to watchRear Window: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
4.
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Children of Men (2006)
Based on P.D.
Its a hauntingly beautiful story about fragments of hope in a crumbling society.
Where to watchChildren of Men: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
3.
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Its tightly paced, full of excellent dialogue, and beautifully shot.
Where to watchDog Day Afternoon: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
2.
Where to watchJaws: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
1.
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Where to watchPsycho: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
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