13 Classic Thrillers To Watch
Nothing gets you in the mood for the Fall quite like watching a classic thriller. These films build tension slowly, keep you guessing in the dark, and prove the real monsters are often human. To get you ready for “Fright Night,” here are some classic thrillers to watch on Halloween.
Clue (1985)
Starring: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren
Set in 1954, Clue is a hilarious comedy/mystery thriller that follows six strangers who meet at a secluded mansion where a series of murders unfolds. As the unthinkable keeps happening, the remaining attendees have to decide which one is the true killer among them. A cult classic, Clue stars Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Ted Levine
A classic psychological horror thriller, Silence of the Lambs is the genre’s gold standard. The story follows Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a young FBI trainee who is on the trail of a serial killer known as “Buffalo Bill” (Ted Levine), who skins his female victims. To learn the mind of a killer, Starling interviews Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial murderer who takes her to places she never imagined. In their interactions, Lecter unearths Starling’s traumatic past in exchange for clues.
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
Starring: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Beals, Lisa Nicole Carson
In Devil in a Blue Dress, Denzel Washington stars in one of his most iconic roles. He plays Easy Rollins, a Black war hero who becomes a private investigator in search of a mysterious woman, set in Los Angeles in 1948. In his search, he uncovers a murderous political scandal and realizes just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Adapted from Walter Mosely’s classic novel, Devil in Blue Dress also stars Don Cheadle, Jennifer Beals, and Lisa Nicole Carson.
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Eve’s Bayou (1997)
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Lisa Nicole Carson, Jurnee Smollett, Lynn Whitfield, Debbi Morgan, Meagan Good, and Diahann Carroll
Directed by Kasi Lemmons, Eve’s Bayou (2017) is a haunting Southern Gothic film centered on the secrets of a well-to-do Black family in rural Louisiana during the 1960s. Told through the perspective of 10-year-old Eve (Jurnee Smollett), the family is devastated after she catches her father (Samuel L. Jackson), a prominent doctor, having an affair. After getting some advice from her mystic aunt to exact revenge, Eve opens Pandora’s box, which can never be closed again
The Blade Trilogy (1998-2004)
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson and N’Bushe Wright
Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe became a global phenomenon, the Blade franchise was holding it down for the brand. Starring Wesley Snipes in the superhero horror film trilogy based on the Marvel Comics character, the original films were released from 1998 to 2006. In the trilogy, Blade, a human with vampire strengths but not their weaknesses, battles other vampires. Along with Blade II (2002) and Blade: Trinity (2004), Snipes reprised his role as Blade in the 2024 film Deadpool & Wolverine.
Zodiac (2007)
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr.
In this crime thriller film based on Robert Graysmith’s non-fiction works, Zodiac (1986) and Zodiac Unmasked (2002), Zodiac stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. The suspenseful film details the manhunt for the Zodiac Killer, a serial killer who struck fear in the population of th San Francisco Bay Area back in the 1960s and early 1970s. Amazingly, the case has never been solved and is one of the most infamous unsolved crimes in United States history.
No Good Deed (2014)
Starring: Idris Elba, Taraji P. Henson, Leslie Bibb, Kate del Castillo, and Henry Simmons
In No Good Deed, Terri (Taraji P. Henson), a mother in the suburbs of Atlanta, opens her home to Colin (Idris Elba), a stranded stranger asking for help during a storm after wrecking her car. She has no idea that Colin recently escaped prison after being sentenced to 15 years for manslaughter in the state of Tennessee. Her kindness backfires, and she will have to fight to protect her family.
Gone Girl (2014)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon
Gone Girl is set in Missouri and follows Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), a writing teacher who becomes the number one suspect after his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) disappears on their fifth anniversary. Starring Affleck, Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon, Gone Girl is a psychological thriller detailing a toxic marriage, deception, and media manipulation.
Get Out (2017)
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Lil Rel Howery, LaKeith Stanfield, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephen Root, Catherine Keener, and Betty Gabriel
A bona fide classic, Jordan Peele’s Get Out is a satirical psychological horror film of the highest order. The film follows Chris Washington, a young black photographer (Kaluuya) who discovers unbelievable secrets when he meets the family of his white girlfriend Rose (Williams) for the first time. After several uncomfortable conversations with her Rose’s parents, a boiling point at the strange reception he receives. Grossing more than $259.9 million against a $4.5 million budget, Get Out is hailed as one of the greatest horror films of the 21st century.
Us
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker
Proving his success with Get Out wasn’t a fluke, Jordan Peele released Us in 2019, another unforgettable psychological thriller. Set in 1986, the film follows Adelaide Wilson and her family, who are attacked by a group of menacing doppelgängers, called the “Tethered.” In an instant, a quiet vacation to the beach turns into an epic fight for their very lives. Another critical and commercial success for Peele, the film grossed over $256 million at the box office.
Knives Out (2019)
Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, and Toni Collette
In Knives Out, Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), a wealthy novelist, is found dead at home following his 85th birthday, and his greed-stricken family is targeted in the investigation. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), a private detective, attempts to solve the case as he uncovers what motives could have led to Thrombey’s death. Featuring an ensemble cast—including Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, and LaKeith Stanfield—Knives Out is a thriller you don’t want to miss.
The Menu (2022)
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo
The Menu is a dark comedy/psychological thriller that follows a food enthusiast who travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant with his date. Upon arriving, the chef at the location has prepared a sumptuous meal, but it comes with a shocking surprise for his guests in attendance. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo, The Menu is full of twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Don’t Worry Darling (2022)
Starring: Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Wilde, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll, and Chris Pine
Don’t Worry Darling chronicles a housewife who leaves a company town and begins to suspect that a sinister secret is being kept away from its residents by the man who runs it. Starring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Wilde, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll, and Chris Pine, Don’t Worry Darling is a reminder that things are not always what they seem to be.
