The best thriller movies of 2021 delivered great entries into the genre and added to the year's incredible collection of films. These releases may have varied a lot in size and the types of stories they told, but the best of them all succeeded in keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and wondering what was coming next. Great thrillers can range from blockbusters that keep audiences on the edge of their seats or smaller films with more intimate stories grounded in real-life.
2021 was a great year for movies in general and a number of memorable thrillers highlighted that fact. Moviegoers are always looking for the best new thrillers to offer the kind of intense and gripping stories that leave a big impression. There are even more great entries in the genre to add to the list and now fans can watch most of these great titles at home through various streaming services. It makes for a terrific collection of the best thriller movies 2021 has to offer.
10 The Card Counter
- Stream on HBO Max
One of Oscar Isaac's latest movies, The Card Counter has the actor teaming up with legendary filmmaker Paul Schrader for this intense and low-key thriller. The movie stars Isaac as an ex-military interrogator filled with guilt and looking for revenge as he starts his new life as a professional gambler. Schrader's movies often focus on flawed men who are on a journey to leave their mark in some way or another and Card Counter fits nicely into that mold. It is an intense slow-burn journey with Isaac delivering a captivating performance while leading a stellar cast that includes Tye Sheridan, Tiffany Haddish, and Willem Dafoe.
9 Boiling Point
- Stream on The Roku Channel
Given the scale of some of these other thrillers of 2021, it's telling that Boiling Point stands out as one of the best. The movie stars Stephen Graham as a chef in a busy restaurant dealing with professional and personal stress. Though it might not sound like the most gripping premise, the movie is shot as one long continuous take. This bold approach adds a level of intensity and unease to the whole thing which is anchored by Graham's terrific performance. For those who were obsessed with the similarly anxiety-inducing kitchen-set story of the series The Bear, they will likely be equally blown away by Boiling Point.
8 Wrath Of Man
- Stream on Prime Video & Paramount Plus
After making crime comedies like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie reteamed for a darker and grittier crime story. Wrath of Man stars Statham as a mysterious man who takes a job as an armored car driver with a secret agenda in mind. The movie doesn't shy away from brutal and shocking violence as it tells this heist thriller story. As more and more is revealed about what is really happening, it makes for some intense and surprising moments. Ritchie feels quite at home with the more brutal material and he seems to be paying homage to other great crime thriller directors like Walter Hill and Michael Mann.
7 No Sudden Move
- Stream on HBO Max
Iconic filmmaker Steven Soderbergh is often at his best when delivering a fun crime movie like No Sudden Move. Set in Detroit in the 1950s, Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro star as two low-level criminals hired for a simple job that spirals into a much bigger conspiracy. There is a feeling of coolness that goes throughout the entire movie from the dialogue to the performances to the twisting story. It makes for a fun throwback movie that deserves to find a wider audience. It also boasts an incredible ing cast that includes David Harbour, Matt Damon, the late Ray Liotta, and Brendan Fraser just before his big comeback.
6 Pig
- Stream on Hulu
The premise of Pig might sound like some sort of John Wick parody movie, but it took fans by surprise as one of the most gripping thrillers of the year. Nicolas Cage stars as a reclusive truffle hunter with his trusty pig. When the pig is taken, he goes on a mission into a seedy underworld to get it back. Cage gives a powerful and reserved performance that ranks among one of his best. It is an odd and unique story, but it draws the audience in with its engrossing style and tone. The result is one of 2021's biggest surprises.
5 Last Night In Soho
- Stream on HBO Max
Edgar Wright is known for his hilarious genre-bending movies like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but the filmmaker went for a much more serious story with Last Night in Soho. The movie follows a young woman who attends fashion school in London but finds that every night she is transported back to the 1960s to experience life as a mysterious aspiring singer of the time. Wright shows new levels of his talents in this creepy and gripping psychological thriller. It is a dark and fascinating mystery with a fun visual style and some great performances from Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy.
4 The Last Duel
- Rent on Vudu
Though a huge box office disappointment, The Last Duel remains one of the most overlooked movies of 2021. The medieval thriller stars Jodie Comer as the wife of a French knight (Matt Damon) who accused her husband's colleague (Adam Driver) of assaulting her. The Last Duel uses three different perspectives to tell the same story in a clever and effective way, showing how the truth changes in the eyes of the various characters. Ridley Scott handles the gripping personal moments as well as the bigger battle scenes. Comer gives a powerful performance and there is a fun and underrated performance from Ben Affleck.
3 The Black Phone
- Stream on Prime Video
2021's The Black Phone revealed The Grabber as one of the most memorable movie villains of 2021. The small and eerie thriller follows a young boy who is kidnapped by the serial killer known as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). While being kept in the killer's basement, the boy discovers the seemingly broken phone left there can be used to communicate with The Grabber's deceased victims. Hawke is terrifying in the role and really elevates the thriller with his performance. It is a tight and clever story with an interesting premise that builds to a thriller ending.
2 The Tragedy Of Macbeth
- Stream on Apple TV Plus
Though it is the first movie Joel Coen made without his brother Ethan Coen, The Tragedy of Macbeth still proves to be a captivating take on one of William Shakespeare's most iconic works. Denzel Washington stars as Macbeth who travels down an increasingly dark and violent path in his desperate attempt to gain power. Washington and s McDormand lead the talented ensemble with a pair of hugely powerful performances. The beautifully shot black-and-white thriller finds a way of retelling the well-known story in a worthwhile way and with Coen's distinct style.
1 Nightmare Alley
- Stream on Hulu & HBO Max
Guillermo del Toro continues to prove himself as one of the greatest horror and thriller filmmakers working today with Nightmare Alley. Bradley Cooper stars as a performer in a traveling carnival with a talent for manipulation who is drawn into a dangerous web of nefarious people. Ultimately, Nightmare Alley ranks among del Toro's best movies as the filmmaker clearly relishes operating in the seedy film noir world. He also brings along an incredible cast including Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Willem Dafoe that add to the effectiveness of this Best Picture nominee.
