HBO Max has some really great sets of thriller movies that can be easily watched and rewatched time and time again. True cinematic thrillers are rare these days and the genre has been taken over by various documentaries. 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 is liked by men. The exciting and wild journey these movies take their viewers through is just great. HBO Max has a collection of great contemporary and classic thrillers that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
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 that are available on HBO Max. In this, we see law firm fixer Michael who finds that he has landed in deep trouble. 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 then, there might be trouble as he can say such things that will worsen this classic action suit. Michael tries to solve and handles things in his own way but Karen is coming up with more violent solutions.
This legal thriller is very nice and 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 who is known for playing the roles of anti-heroes and villains. He is seen playing Reverend Harry Powell who is a religious man but his delusion ends up in murders and deceit. 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 huge suspense in it and it inspired many other films. Laughton is seen engaged in themes like religion and sexuality but it was Mitchum who grabbed 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 is a thriller that came 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 filled with 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 across the globe. This also lead to Jamie Foxx being nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 77th Academy Awards. Tom Cruise is seen playing the role of Vincent. He is a contract killer who is given the contract of assassinating five targets that live across the city of 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 (played by Foxx) who dreams of starting his own business someday. Collateral is one of the most memorable 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 Psycho was made by Alfred Hitchcock, he wanted to make another movie that can 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 to be the first slasher movie and it laid a foundation for a new sub-genre. Psycho also made Hitchcock earn his name in horror. There are many words that 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, Kelly Macdonald. The film sends the message that if anyone spots a bag that is full of money, it is better to leave that alone. Llewelyn Moss (played by Josh Brolin) doesn’t follow this advice and then this film gets made.
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 shown.
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 is going to 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 done.
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 10 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 made 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 that we won’t like to commit. 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 who is a writer and director. The film is about morality and history that has been told through the narrative of a man who is experiencing short-term memory loss and is unable to make new memories. This man is Leonard (played by Guy Pearce). He has got his body tattooed with the important details related to the murder of his wife so that he doesn’t forget that.
This movie shows two timelines together with one being shown in black and white which progresses 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 seen caught in the web of mistaken identity, crime, and intrigue. This movie made way for the present James Bond movies.
Its main cast member- Cary Grant was approached to play the role of Bond in Dr. No (1962) but he turned the offer down. This will make our readers the impact this movie had on the future of Bond films.
Things have been kept light and funny as compared to other Hitchcock films. Eva Marie Saint and Grant’s char helped in making 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 very simple premise. Men desperate for money carry a highly sensitive truckload of nitroglycerine over difficult terrain. This trip is worth too much money but the risk is also equivalent. The film can not be simply called tense as that would be disrespectful. Each mile that these drivers drive can prove to be their last one as they can get killed in a ball of fire. 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 that has been 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. 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 written 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 that were 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 D00-man are just like the ones followed by Seo Tae-Yoon (played by Kim Sang-Kyung). He is a young detective from Seoul who wants to volunteer in solving 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.
Those who doubted Matt Damon for playing the role of action star were forced to take back their words. Paul Greengrass was able to take this franchise to the next level with the help of the next installments. 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 not initially successful as thrillers didn’t receive that much attention in those days. 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 the one for Best Picture. This film is universally considered a masterpiece and the influence it has on cinema can not be underestimated. The plot of the Italian mafia was repeated for the next 50 years. The various techniques employed in filmmaking were also legendary. Even after so many decades, this thriller stands out as a classic.
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 till now have seen several movies by Hitchcock 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 getting 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 a great 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 own 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 is seen as 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 Pennsylvania town, they have to work together to stop it. Pine and Washington are seen working together in great dynamics. Pine is seen as belonging to the younger class of 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 and also there was a lot of evidence supporting that. Rusty had to prove himself innocent but that would be a tough thing to do as there is a political firestorm that is building up.
He can be sacrificed very easily so that his boss can be protected (there are elections coming. Will he be able to save his reputation and prove his innocence? This film is a legal thriller that will make the audiences go into deep thinking.
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. The robbery is not a usual one and the audience can see that better. The thieves have prepared well and are quite smart. The founder of the bank will give the, whatever they demand until the contents in the safe deposit ox stay hidden. Frazier has a lot to untangle in this thriller and there are several intelligent twists in the plot. Heist thriller fans should definitely 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 made by Christopher Nolan. Even after a decade after its release, it is considered one of the greatest sci-fi films. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the role of Cobb who is 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. They travel through dreams within dreams.
The visuals of the movie are fascinating. Nolan builds a captivating world in Inception. It is not only the most gripping sci-fi but also 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 that is filled with twists and challenges the expectation of the viewers from time to time. Viewers will get to see a classic performance by Jack Nicholson. Like various other detective films, this one also keeps on adding various layers before one is able to reach the truth. It becomes hard to remember what lead one is following but, the movie is very entertaining throughout its run time.
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 a great mix of pure schlock and social commentary. The audience will be guessing the story till the very end. Nicole Kidman delivers a spectacular performance in this film where she is playing the role of Wasikowska’s mother.
Other Good Thrillers on HBO Max
This list is supposed to end with just the 25 best thrillers on HBO Max but, we do 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). 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 tells 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. Nothing in his mission goes right and he ends up seeking help from a mentally retarded 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 who is being 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 are playing 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 getting haunted by past trauma. She feels paranoid and thinks that something bad is going to happen to her family. The Wilsons discover a family that is their doppelgangers standing in their driveway. This simple summer getaway really 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 just enough films that have women as directors. 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 both cinema history both.
