HBO Max has some great sets of thriller movies that can be easily watched and rewatched repeatedly. True cinematic thrillers are rare these days, and various documentaries have taken over the genre. However, there are still some movies that deserve all the praise in the entire world. So, here’s a list of the best thrillers on HBO Max.
Sometimes people just need a thriller movie to know that they are alive. Thrillers are a great genre that men like. The exciting and wild journey these movies take their viewers through is incredible. HBO Max has a collection of outstanding contemporary and classic thrillers that keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
35. Nightcrawler
- Director: Dan Gilroy
- Writer: Dan Gilroy
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, Bill Paxton
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
One of the gems of Jake Gyllenhaal. In the thriller movie Nightcrawler, Jake Gyllenhaal portrays a strong performance as Lou Bloom who is a morally ambivalent character who steps into the twisted world of crime journalism in Los Angeles.
Nightcrawler is much more than just a thriller film. It contains disturbing elements which explore media ethics and the relentless pursuit of gripping stories. The film’s intriguing storyline and Gyllenhaal’s extraordinary performance give birth to a modern classic. Nightcrawler is worth watching for anyone craving a thought-provoking and intense cinematic experience.
34. A Most Violent Year
- Director: J. C. Chandor
- Writer: J. C. Chandor
- Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Alessandro Nivola, Albert Brooks
- IMDb Ratings:7 /10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
“A Most Violent Year” Unfolds in the gritty streets of 1981 New York City. The story is about Abel Morales who is a determined trucking company owner and is struggling with numerous hijackings of his heating oil trucks. As the city fills with violence, Abel’s resolve is put to the test.
This captivating drama, “A Most Violent Year” explores the value of integrity in a city painted by corruption.
33. Shoplifters
- Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
- Writer: Hirokazu Kore-eda
- Cast: Lily Franky, Sakura Ando, Mayu Matsuoka, Kairi Jō, Miyu Sasaki, Kirin Kiki
- IMDb Ratings: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating:99 %
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Shoplifters by Hirokazu Kore-eda mainly focuses on the concept of family taking centre stage. This movie won the 2018 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or and the story is set in Tokyo. The film introduces us to an unusual family bound by choice rather than blood.
Hatsue is the family’s core and relies on her late husband’s pension. But they have to survive through shoplifting, not out of greed, but out of necessity.
After taking in Yuri, who is a neglected girl, their family expands. They teach Yuri their ways. Their bonds had to face a test when the secrets surface and authorities drew near which led to a poignant conclusion.
“Shoplifters” Perfectly sketches the actual meaning of family through enthralling storytelling and incredible performances.
32. The Crying Game
- Director: Neil Jordan
- Writer: Neil Jordan
- Cast: Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson, Jaye Davidson, Forest Whitaker
- IMDb Ratings: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
An extraordinary narrative unfolds in Neil Jordan’s gripping 1992 film ‘The Crying Game.’ The movie introduces us to a world of complex and tough moral choices and unforeseen connections. Set against the backdrop of the Irish Republican Army, we meet Fergus who is played by Stephen Rea, a member of the IRA.
He comes across a moral crossroads when he encounters a British soldier named Jody (played by Forest Whitaker) who is held captive by his comrades. This film is made truly remarkable by the complicated web of relationships that form the heart of the story.
Neil Jordan’s ‘The Crying Game’ is an intriguing adventure of human nature, desire, and the unplanned twists that life can show us.
31. Barbarian
- Director: Zach Cregger
- Writer: Zach Cregger
- Cast: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long
- IMDb Ratings: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
The brilliantly directed film “Barbarian” Is a haunting thriller that premiered at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022 before its theatrical release. This captivating film keeps audiences stuck to their seats. The story revolves around Tess Marshall and Keith Toshko, who live in a suspicious house in Detroit’s Brightmoor neighbourhood. Dark secrets unfold as they come across a deformed woman known as “The Mother” and uncover the house’s menacing history.
As the plot proceeds, past horrors come to light, and an intense battle for survival develops. With mysterious twists and a chilling environment, “Barbarian” Provides a once in a lifetime experience. The film’s super talented cast and unsettling narrative make it a must-see for horror film lovers.
30. Le Samouraï
- Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
- Writer: Jean-Pierre Melville
- Cast: Alain Delon, François Périer, Nathalie Delon
- IMDb Ratings: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
The very influential neo-noir by Jean-Pierre Melville is a slow-burning crime thriller with exquisite pacing. Quiet hitman Jef, played by legendary actor Alain Delon in one of his most iconic roles, finds himself in a difficult situation after being seen killing a target. Soon, Jef will also be running from other organized-crime figures as well as the cops.
One of the best examples of “cool” ever captured in a film, Le Samouraï has been hailed as an influence by directors like John Woo, Jim Jarmusch, and Johnnie To.
29. The Killing of the Chinese Bookie
- Director: John Cassavetes
- Writer: John Cassavetes
- Cast: Ben Gazzara, Timothy Agoglia Carey, Seymour Cassel
- IMDb Ratings: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 79%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
One of the best films made by one of the masters of American independent cinema, John Cassavetes’ 1976 neo-noir thriller. The story involves a nightclub owner who gets in over his head and is forced to kill someone in order to pay off his gambling debts (Ben Gazzara, in a shockingly brilliant performance). The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is a high point of American filmmaking from the 1970s. It is a rich character study with an all-timer lead performance, brilliant use of tinted frames to bring forth color, and Cassavetes’ shrewd eye for group dynamics.
28. The Firm
- Director: Sydney Pollack
- Writer: Al Hunter Ashton
- Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman
- IMDb Ratings: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 76%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Tom Cruise plays Mitch McDeere, a driven Harvard law student who takes a handsome offer from a modest but prestigious law practice in Memphis, Tennessee, in Sydney Pollack’s 1993 version of John Grisham’s The Firm. Prior to his suspicions of the sudden murders of four of the firm’s top associates, everything for Mitch and his wife Abby appears to be great. While looking for answers, Mitch is caught up in a deadly scheme that puts himself and his loved ones in danger and forces him to make a decision that might put him in jail or a shallow grave.
Even though it has a two-and-a-half-hour runtime, the supporting cast, which stars Gene Hackman, Wilford Brimley, Tobin Bell, Gary Busey, and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Dean Norris cameo, is well worth watching.
27. Blow Out
- Director: Brian De Palma
- Writer: Brian De Palma
- Cast: John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow
- IMDb Ratings: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
In Brian De Palma’s 1981 mystery-thriller Blow Out, John Travolta plays Jack Terry, a Philadelphia-based sound effects technician who unwittingly witnesses a political killing while capturing background noise for a sleazy teen slasher movie. Before the murderers can kill her and cover up their involvement, Jack tries to figure out and expose the sinister scheme behind the murders by befriending Sally (Nancy Allen), a terrified call girl who is the only key witness to the assassination.
De Palma’s film, which is based on Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 movie Blowup, is an inspired modern reinvention of an old classic distinguished by its innovative use of split diopter lenses to obtain focus between foreground and background elements, remarkable visual effects that emphasizes the components of sound design and music inherent to the narrative, and a trio of incredible performances by Travolta, Allen, and John Lithgow as a sadistic hitman hellbent on completing his mission.
26. Blood Simple
- Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen
- Writer: Joel and Ethan Coen
- Cast: John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya
- IMDb Ratings: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Blood Simple, the Coen brothers’ first film as directors, from 1984 is the ideal introduction to the darkly comedic, curiously structured, and quirky body of work they would later produce. A lethal love triangle between a bar owner, his wife, and one of his staff is at the center of this hard-boiled neo-noir criminal thriller, which is set in Texas.
The would-be lovers are accused of being involved in a complicated scheme involving money and murder when the attempted affair and elopement inexorably result in violence. Frances McDormand, who portrays Abby, the disgruntled wife at the center of the drama, excels in the role as does M. Emmet Walsh, who plays Loren Visser, the cunning hitman who upends the entire situation in an effort to make a quick buck.
25. Michael Clayton (2007)
- Director: Tony Gilroy
- Writer: Tony Gilroy
- Cast: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton
- IMDb Ratings: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Michael Clayton is one of the instant classic titles available on HBO Max. In this, we see law firm fixer Michael, who finds he has landed in deep trouble. But unfortunately, he had the responsibility to hold Arthur, an attorney.
Arthur has been representing an agricultural conglomerate- U-North, in a suit. If Arthur is not contained, there might be trouble as he can say things that will worsen this classic action suit. Michael tries to solve and handles things his way, but Karen is coming up with more violent solutions.
This legal thriller is a must-watch for fans of this genre.
24. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
- Director: Charles Laughton
- Writer: Charles Laughton, James Agee
- Cast: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
Director Charles Laughton’s debut, The Night of the Hunter, is a great thriller that was not much appreciated when it initially came. Laughton is better known as an actor and never directed another film.
The main attraction of this movie is Robert Mitchum, known for playing the roles of anti-heroes and villains. He plays Reverend Harry Powell, a religious man, but his delusion ends in murders and deceit. However, he has a charisma that makes everyone come to him. For the first time in film history, ‘love’ and ‘hate’ words were seen inked on his knuckles.
The movie has massive suspense in it, and it inspired many other films. Laughton engages in themes like religion and sexuality, but it is Mitchum who grabs everyone’s attention.
23. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
- Director: John Huston
- Writer: John Huston
- Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Mary Astor, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
John Huston’s directorial debut, The Maltese Falcon, was a thriller in 1941. It begins with a detective (played by Humphrey Bogart) and a gorgeous lady (played by Mary Astor). The film is based on The Maltese Falcon novel by Dashiell Hammett.
A private investigator Sam Spade is seen finding the murderer of his business partner and a statuette. On his quest, he comes across various suspicious characters and a femme fatale who is beautiful but deceitful. This film is full of shocking revelations and star power.
22. Collateral (2004)
- Director: Michael Mann
- Writer: Stuart Beattie
- Cast: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Mark Ruffalo, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 86%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Collateral is a thriller and action movie by Michael Mann that came out in 2004. It is one of the most successful movies that earned more than $220 million, too much money globally. This also led to Jamie Foxx being nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 77th Academy Awards. Tom Cruise plays the role of Vincent. He is a contract killer given the contract of assassinating five targets living across Los Angeles.
This leads him to take a hostage with him, and with that hostage, he goes from one target to another. Max is a taxi driver (Foxx) who dreams of starting his own business someday. Collateral is one of the most impressive displays of LA’s life, and the acting done by Cruise is one of his best to date.
21. Diabolique (1955)
- Director: Jeremiah Chechik
- Writer: Henri-Georges Clouzot and Don Roos
- Cast: Sharon Stone, Isabelle Adjani, Chazz Palminteri, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 21%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
After Alfred Hitchcock made Psycho, he wanted to make another movie that could scare him, like Diabolique. The final scene in this movie is a beauty with a horror twist. No one could have predicted that twist in the plot. This has been copied several times by now.
20. Psycho (1960)
- Director: Alfred Hitchcock
- Writer: Joseph Stefano
- Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Serial killer Norman Bates was introduced to this world by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960, and he is one of the best-known villains in the cinema. Norman’s twisted story was narrated to the entire world by Alfred and also challenged censorship practices of that time with his displays of sexuality and violence in this film.
Many consider Psycho the first slasher movie, which laid a foundation for a new sub-genre. Psycho also made Hitchcock earn his name in horror. Many words can be used to describe genius in Psycho. The first half of the movie is spent by the audience being on Marion Crane’s side, but then she is murdered.
19. No Country For Old Men (2008)
- Director: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (Coen brothers)
- Writer: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (Coen brothers)
- Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald
- IMDb Ratings: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
No Country for Old Men has a stellar cast that includes Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, and Kelly Macdonald. The film sends the message that if anyone spots a bag full of money, it is better to leave that alone. Unfortunately, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) doesn’t follow this advice, and this film progresses.
One of the most dangerous hitmen in film history- Anton Chigurh (played by Javier Bardem), is seen. Still, after so many years, the Coen brothers are seen as obsessed with such characters. The movie gets in the head of the viewers because there is a lot of bloodshed and suspense.
18. Seven (1995)
- Director: David Fincher
- Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker
- Cast: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
This 1995 crime thriller shows Brad Pitt playing the role of David Mills. Davids works with a homicide detective- William Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman), who will retire soon. They work with each other to catch a killer that might be targeting people who have committed one of the seven deadly sins. The killer kills them in such a way that represents the sin that the victim has committed.
17. Vertigo (1958)
- Director: Alfred Hitchcock
- Writer: Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart, and others
- Cast: Kim Novak, James Stewart, Barbara Bel Geddes, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo comes under the list of the ten best films that have been made till now (as per the second poll conducted by Sight and Sound Magazine) in 2012. It is indeed the best film and a masterpiece created by Hitchcock. It was his last collaboration with the actor Jimmy Stewart. The themes of this film were mistaken identity, and the relationship shared between death and love.
Giving spoilers for this film would be a crime we won’t like to commit. However, Vertigo is a murder mystery, and this murder is the element that keeps the plot of this movie in its place. The various themes of Vertigo are trauma, deception, and obsession.
16. Memento (2000)
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Writer: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan
- Cast: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
- IMDb Ratings: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
This film- Memento, is among the initial works by Christopher Nolan, a writer, and director. The film is about morality and history that have been told through the narrative of a man experiencing short-term memory loss and unable to make new memories. This man is Leonard (Guy Pearce). He has tattoos with essential details related to the murder of his wife on his body so that he doesn’t forget that.
This movie shows two timelines together, one shown in black and white, progressing forward with several calls. Another one is colored and is shown in reversed order, and the important information is revealed to the viewers when they least expect it.
15. North by Northwest (1959)
- Director: Alfred Hitchcock
- Writer: Ernest Lehman
- Cast: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Yes, another action movie coming on this list from Alfred Hitchcock. His film- North by Northwest is different from others and is a great thriller. The protagonist is caught in the web of mistaken identity, crime, and intrigue. This movie made way for the present James Bond movies.
Its central cast member- Cary Grant, was approached to play the role of Bond in Dr. No (1962), but he turned the offer down. This will show readers the impact this movie had on the future of Bond films.
Things have been kept light and funny in comparison to other Hitchcock films. Eva Marie Saint and Grant’s char helped make this film a hit. Still, after so many decades, it is a stunning film.
14. The Wages of Fear (1953)
- Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
- Writer: Henri-Georges Clouzot and Jérome Geronimi
- Cast: Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Folco Lulli, Peter Van Eyck
- IMDb Ratings: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
The Wages of Fear is among the best classic thrillers with a simple premise. Men desperate for money carry a highly sensitive truckload of nitroglycerine over rugged terrain. This trip is worth too much money, but the risk is also equivalent. We cannot simply call the film tense, as that would be disrespectful. Each mile these drivers drive can be their last, as the ball of fire can kill them. This movie was remade in the 1970s by William Friedkin with the title of Sorcerer.
13. Femme Fatale (2002)
- Director: Brian De Palma,
- Writer: Brian De Palma, Peter Coyote, and others
- Cast: Rebecca Romijn, Antonio Banderas, Rie Rasmussen and others
- IMDb Ratings: 6.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 49%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Femme Fatale became an instant hit in 2002 because of all the sex, glam, and glitz shown in this film. Laure is the main focus of the plot of this movie. She is a member of a crime ring, and she steals jewels from a model. After this, instead of dividing the profits, she decides to run.
On her way, she meets Lily, who is just like her. But, after Lily kills herself, Laure steals her identity with the motive of starting a fresh new life.
12. The Invisible Man (2020)
- Director: Leigh Whannell
- Writer: Leigh Whannell
- Cast: Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, and Storm Reid
- IMDb Ratings: 7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
The film is based on a science fiction novel by H. G. Wells that goes by the same name. It is a very loose take on this novel. In 1933, a film adaptation of the same was made. Elisabeth Moss is seen as a brilliant woman who barely escapes from her abusive husband. She escaped from him just to face a new threat. She is the only one that can feel someone invisible’s presence.
11. Memories of Murder (2003)
- Director: Bong Joon-ho
- Writer: Bong Joon-ho, Shim Sung Bo
- Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Roi-ha and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Memories of Murder is based loosely on the first serial murders confirmed in Korea. This was the second film that won various Korean awards for Best Director, Best Film, and Best Actor (won by Song Kang-ho). Song Kang-ho is seen playing the role of Park Doo-man, who is a local detective charged with the responsibility of solvent violent crimes.
The methods employed by Park Doo-man are like those followed by Seo Tae-Yoon (played by Kim Sang-Kyung). He is a young detective from Seoul who wants to volunteer to solve the case of a serial killer. This film- Memories of Murder, is among the best serial killer and detective thrillers on HBO Max.
10. The Bourne Film Series (2002-2016)
- Director: Doug Liman
- Writer: Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron
- Cast: Matt Damon, Clive Owen, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles
- IMDb Ratings: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 84%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
The first film in this great franchise changed the whole genre, and that too for good. With movies such as Mission: Impossible and Bond getting into more absurd storylines, The Bourne Identity introduced CIA thriller films that have been copied till now.
However, those who doubted Matt Damon for playing the role of an action star were forced to take back their words. Paul Greengrass took this franchise to the next level with the help of the next installments. Moreover, one of the greatest heroes of this century- Liam Gaughan’s origin story was seen in the film The Bourne Identity.
9. The Godfather (1972)
- Director: Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, Marlon Brando and others
- Writer: Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Towne, Mario Puzo
- Cast: Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Diane Keaton and others
- IMDb Ratings: 9.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
This movie is from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Some of these films were unsuccessful initially as thrillers didn’t receive that much attention in those days. As a result, this genre went unacknowledged for several years.
The Godfather is a classic title and was also nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won three, including one for Best Picture. This film is universally considered a masterpiece, and its influence on cinema cannot be underestimated. The plot of the Italian mafia was repeated for the next 50 years. The various techniques employed in filmmaking were also legendary. Yet, this thriller stands out as a classic even after so many decades.
8. The Lady Vanishes (1938)
- Director: Alfred Hitchcock
- Writer: Alma Reville, Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliat
- Cast: Margaret Lockwood, Dame May WHITTY, Michael Redgrave, Selma Vaz Dias, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
On this list, you have seen several Hitchcock movies, and this one is the earliest one. Numerous elements are seen in this, which sets it under the criteria of Hitchcockian. The commercial success of The Lady Vanishes helped Hitchcock establish a great career. This film caught David O. Selznick’s attention. Later they made Rebecca which proved to be a crucial step in his career.
7. Uncut Gems (2019)
- Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
- Writer: Adam Sandler, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie and others
- Cast: Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, LaKeith Stanfield, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Uncut Gems is a 2019 crime drama in which we see Adam Sandler delivering an excellent performance as Howard Ratner. He is a jeweler in New York and also a gambling addict. One day he comes in possession of a rare black opal with which he can pay his debts at once. The worst part is that he is his enemy. His bad habit of manipulating his family members, friends, and relatives poses difficulties in the lives of everyone.
6. Unstoppable (2010)
- Director: Tony Scott
- Writer: Mark Bomback
- Cast: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Jessy Schram, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Tony Scott’s last film Unstoppable was his best one in which we see the themes of drama, thriller, and action. Denzel Washington plays the role of Frank Barnes. He is a veteran railroad engineer who has to train a newly hired train conductor- Will Colson (played by Chris Pine).
When a runaway train endangers the life of a Pennsylvania town, they have to work together to stop it. Pine and Washington are working together in excellent dynamics. Pine is seen as belonging to the younger workers who push older ones like Washington out of their jobs. This movie is an exciting thriller and is just 98 minutes long.
5. Presumed Innocent (1990)
- Director: Alan J. Pakula
- Writer: Alan J. Pakula, Frank Pierson
- Cast: Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia
- IMDb Ratings: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Rusty Sabich, a Prosecutor, finds that he is on the wrong side of a murder trial when Carolyn, his colleague, gets murdered. Once Rusty and Carolyn were involved, there was a lot of evidence supporting that. Rusty had to prove himself innocent, but that would be tricky to do as a political firestorm was building up.
He can be sacrificed very quickly so that his boss can be protected (elections are coming. But will he be able to save his reputation and prove his innocence? This film is a legal thriller that will make the audiences deeply think.
4. Inside Man (2006)
- Director: Spike Lee
- Writer: Russell Gewirtz, Adam Erbacher
- Cast: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodi Foster
- IMDb Ratings: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 86%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Detective Keith Frazier’s career can be destroyed or even reach great heights with the influence of a high profile. He works tirelessly to save a hostage situation. Unfortunately, the robbery is not usual, and the audience can see that better. The thieves have prepared well and are pretty smart. The bank’s founder will give them whatever they demand until the contents in the safe deposit ox stay hidden. Frazier has a lot to untangle in this thriller, and the plot has several clever twists. Heist thriller fans should watch this film.
3. Inception (2010)
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Writer: Christopher Nolan
- Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Inception is a great film by Christopher Nolan. Even a decade after its release, it is one of the greatest sci-fi films. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the role of Cobb, the leader of a group of thieves. They plan to conduct high-concept corporate espionage. Cobb has planned to implant an idea into the mind of a dying subconsciousness of a CEO. So, they travel through dreams within dreams.
The visuals of the movie are fascinating. Nolan builds a captivating world in Inception. It is the most gripping sci-fi and one of the most technically accurate movies.
2. Chinatown (1974)
- Director: Roman Polanski
- Writer: Robert Towne
- Cast: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Hillerman, Perry Lopez, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 99%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Chinatown is a detective story with twists and challenges the viewers’ expectations from time to time. Viewers will get to see a classic performance by Jack Nicholson. Like various other detective films, this one also adds different layers before reaching the truth. It becomes hard to remember what lead one is following, but the movie is entertaining throughout its runtime.
1. Stoker (2013)
- Director: Park Chan-wook
- Writer: Wentworth Miller
- Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, Jackie Weaver, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 70%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Park Chan-wook is the same filmmaker who made Oldboy. This thriller serves as his English language debut. Hidden anxieties of the family resurface after the death of India Stoker’s (played by Mia Wasikowska) father on her eighteenth birthday. She becomes the center of attention for her uncle (played by Matthew Goode).
Park has played well with his characters in this movie, and this one is an excellent mix of pure schlock and social commentary. The audience will be guessing the story till the very end. Moreover, Nicole Kidman delivers a spectacular performance in this film, where she plays the role of Wasikowska’s mother.
Other Good Thrillers on HBO Max
This list should end with just the 30 best thrillers on HBO Max, but we have some further recommendations.
Cruel Intentions
This film was an instant classic in which we see a plot that involves revenge, high stakes, manipulation, and sex. Ryan Phillipe is playing the role of Sebastian. He has been challenged to be with the headmaster’s daughter (played by Reese Witherspoon). Unfortunately, the time limit for doing so is before the summer’s end.
Twelve Monkeys
For those who like Sci-Fi’s mixed with thrillers, this one is for them! This got released in 1995 and told a story filled with love, madness, and plague. Bruce Willis is time-traveling in search of the source of a virus that poses a threat to humanity. But unfortunately, nothing in his mission goes right, and he ends up seeking help from a mentally disabled person (played by Brad Pitt) and a psychiatrist (played by Madeleine Stowe). Will he be able to save humanity?
The Bodyguard
Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner are seen in this 1992 hit that impressed the whole world. Whitney is a famous actress and singer threatened by a stalker. Kevin Costner plays the role of her bodyguard, and he was also a part of the Secret Service. Love blossoms between these two, and the chemistry are vinous.
Us
Evan Alex and Shahadi Wright Joseph play the role of two kids whose parents Adelaide and Gabe Wilson, take them on a summer getaway. They went to Northern California, but Adelaide is haunted by past trauma. Moreover, she feels paranoid and thinks that something terrible will happen to her family. The Wilsons discover a family that is their doppelgangers standing in their driveway. This simple summer getaway got scary.
Other than these, Dog Day Afternoon, Reservoir Dogs, and Training Day are also great that will be worth your time.
Cleo from 5 to 7 is also among the must-watch movies as there are not enough films with women as directors. So, take this chance to watch the film directed by one of the best directors- Agnes Vardo. She is an important part of the French Wave and cinema history.
