Over the years, the thriller genre has delivered numerous entertaining films that have sparked the interest of critics and audiences worldwide, with many of them becoming perennial favorites that people return to time and again. The best of these are the movies that tell gripping stories brought to life with artful direction, impeccable production, and charismatic performances. But sometimes, as the years wear on, even the most perfect thrillers can become sadly forgotten.
That’s certainly the case with the movies we’re discussing here, whose twisted plots and layered characters have more or less faded from the public consciousness. But though forgotten, these films are still just as perfect as they were when they first hit screens. So, without further ado, here’s a look at some of the most perfect thriller movies that practically nobody remembers.
8
‘Phone Booth’ (2002)
Directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Larry Cohen, Phone Booth is a psychological thriller starring Colin Farrell as a New York City publicist who happens to use a public phone booth in Times Square. He is then targeted by a hidden sniper who threatens to kill him and the people he loves unless he does exactly what he tells him to. Besides Farrell, the film also stars Forest Whitaker, Katie Holmes, Radha Mitchell, and Kiefer Sutherland.
Phone Booth was quite favorably received after its world premiere at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival, but its theatrical release was delayed until the next year because of the real-life D.C. sniper attacks. Once released, the movie became a box office success, and even though the film isn’t very well-remembered, it’s still a thoroughly absorbing watch with a great, contained story and excellent performances. If you like your thrillers Hitchcockian and your villains as enigmatic as they are charismatic, then this 2000s classic is a must-watch.
7
‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ (2005)
Written and directed by Shane Black in his directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a neo-noir black comedy crime thriller inspired by the 1941 Brett Halliday novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them. Robert Downey Jr. stars as Harry Lockhart, a thief fleeing a burglary gone wrong, who is mistaken for an actor and cast in a movie. When he arrives in Hollywood, Harry befriends a private detective (Val Kilmer) and finds himself drawn into a treacherous murder investigation. The movie also stars Michelle Monaghan and Corbin Bernsen in key roles.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang premiered out of competition at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and had a largely positive critical reception ahead of its theatrical debut, but it was ultimately a box office disappointment, barely earning back its budget. Despite its lack of commercial success, however, the film is a very entertaining ride with slick action and a deliciously dark sense of humor, not to mention enjoyable performances by its two leads. Robert Downey Jr.’s performance in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang reportedly helped him land the career-changing role of Tony Stark/Iron Man, and the movie is easily one of the best films of Shane Black’s career.
6
‘The Game’ (1997)
Image via PolyGram Films
Directed by David Fincher, The Game is a mystery thriller film starring Michael Douglas as Nicholas Van Orton, a successful San Francisco investment banker. On his 48th birthday, Nicholas is visited by his estranged brother, who gives him a strange gift: an invitation to join a mysterious game that begins to seep into his everyday life and draws him into a baffling conspiracy. Besides Douglas, the film also stars Sean Penn, Deborah Kara Unger, and James Rebhorn in key roles.
Despite a positive critical reception, The Game fell short of box office expectations during its theatrical run in 1997, though it did gross over $109 million. The movie is often overlooked in discussions of Fincher’s ’90s work in favor of his earlier, more successful film Se7en, but The Game is every bit as thrilling as its predecessor, and though its ending has faced some criticism, it’s still a solidly crafted story. The film is also notable for Michael Douglas’ stellar lead performance, which is arguably one of the actor’s best.
5
‘Michael Clayton’ (2007)
Written and directed by Tony Gilroy in his directorial debut, Michael Clayton is a legal thriller starring George Clooney as the titular lawyer. A fixer for a high-profile New York City law firm, Michael finds his life and career under threat after he is tasked with handling a crisis caused by one of the firm’s litigators having a breakdown while working on a multibillion-dollar class action suit. The movie also features Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, and Sydney Pollack in supporting roles.
Michael Clayton had its world premiere at the 2007 Venice Film Festival, earning positive reviews ahead of its theatrical release, which proved equally successful. Widely praised for its direction, writing, and performances, the film was almost universally acknowledged as one of the best movies of the year, but it has largely faded from public memory in the decade or so since its release. Though it may be quite niche these days, Michael Clayton is a true masterpiece of the legal thriller genre, powered by brilliant performances from Clooney and Swinton, with the latter winning a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her work in the film.
4
‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ (2011)
Written and directed by Sean Durkin and starring Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene is a psychological thriller drama that marked both Durkin’s and Olsen’s film debuts. Olsen stars as Martha, a young woman who escapes a violent and abusive cult in the Catskill Mountains and seeks refuge with her older sister, Lucy (Sarah Paulson), and her husband, Ted (Hugh Dancy). The film also stars John Hawkes, Brady Corbet, Maria Dizzia, Louisa Krause, Julia Garner, and more in supporting roles.
These days, Elizabeth Olsen is most widely recognized for her work in Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows, but her debut film is arguably one of the actor’s best performances. Capturing the horrors and lasting trauma of abuse, the film is a haunting psychological film that earned widespread acclaim. Her performance in the film earned Olsen Best Actress nominations at the Critics’ Choice, Independent Spirit, and Satellite Awards, and the film won Durkin the Directing Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, where it had its premiere.
3
‘Triangle’ (2009)
Written and directed by Christopher Smith, Triangle is a British psychological horror thriller starring Melissa George as Jess, a single mother who goes on an ill-fated boating trip with her friends. Forced to abandon ship after an accident, the group seeks refuge on an abandoned ocean liner, where they find themselves stalked by a mysterious figure, but that’s just the beginning of an even more twisted story. Besides George, the film also stars Michael Dorman, Rachael Carpani, Henry Nixon, Emma Lung, and Liam Hemsworth in supporting roles.
An inventive time loop movie partially inspired by the Greek myth of Sisyphus, Triangle premiered to positive reviews at the 2009 London FrightFest Film Festival, earning praise for George’s gripping central performance. The film wasn’t very successful at the box office, however, and has become largely forgotten in the years since, but it’s a highly underrated thriller with a very intelligent plot and great performances.
2
‘Badlands’ (1973)
A period neo-noir drama thriller, Badlands was written, produced, and directed by Terrence Malick in his directorial debut. The film stars Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen as a pair of lovers who go on a murderous spree through the Montana badlands in the late 1950s. The movie also features Warren Oates, Ramon Bieri, Alan Vint, and more in supporting roles.
Perhaps most notable for being the film that started Terrence Malick’s celebrated career as a filmmaker, Badlands was a critical darling when it first hit theaters in 1973, earning praise for its direction, cinematography, music, and performances. The movie is an almost poetic visual journey that uses the story of its two violent protagonists as a vehicle for a broader meditation on society, and though it isn’t as widely discussed anymore, Badlands has had an undeniable impact on cinema as a whole. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1993, underscoring its importance as a cultural landmark.
1
‘Dressed to Kill’ (1980)
Written and directed by Brian De Palma, Dressed to Kill is a neo-noir erotic psychological thriller starring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen, and Keith Gordon. The film begins with dissatisfied New York City housewife Kate Miller (Dickinson), who attends therapy sessions with psychiatrist Dr. Robert Elliott (Caine), being brutally murdered after an extramarital encounter. Prostitute Liz Blake (Allen) happens to witness the crime, which makes her both a target and a suspect in the eyes of the police, but she finds some unexpected help from Kate’s genius son Peter (Gordon).
A very Hitchcockian thriller that references and draws inspiration from the 1960 classic Psycho, Dressed to Kill was quite favorably received by critics when it was first released in 1980 and became a box office success. Arguably one of the greatest thrillers of the 1980s, the film presents a gripping mystery paired with fascinating psychological exploration, all brought to life by the immense talents of its stars. The movie has sadly become all but forgotten in the decades since, but it’s a must-watch for genre fans.
