One of the most difficult genres in cinema to define is the thriller. The movies in this category can cover almost anything as there are ones that lean more towards horror, some that are filled with action, and a few others can be closer to mystery movies than any other genre.
The 2000s featured great films in the thriller genre that even included a few that ended up nominated for Academy Awards. When looking for the best thrillers worth checking out from the decade, a good place to check is the ratings given out by the movie-obsessed users at Letterboxd.
Sympathy For Lady Vengeance (2005) - 3.91
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Known simply as Lady Vengeance in a few countries, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is a South Korean psychological thriller. It's actually the third installment in a trilogy from director Park Chan-wook, preceded by 2002's Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and 2003's classic Oldboy.
Each film was met with high praise and this final entry was no different. The plot centers on a woman who gets released from prison following a stint there for a crime she didn't commit and she embarks on a quest for revenge on the true murderer. Most ratings on Letterboxd gave this four stars (36%).
Caché (2005) - 3.96
Rent On Vudu
Another psychological thriller from a country outside of the United States, Caché is a French film that focuses on an upper-middle-class couple who begin to receive anonymous tapes. Each of these tapes features footage of them under surveillance, adding to the creepy factor of it all.
Clues found in the tapes point to the childhood of one member of the couple, giving this an element of mystery as well. Caché was praised for the twisty plot and the directorial effort of Michael Haneke. Most of the ratings have it at four stars (33%) overall.
Joint Security Area (2000) - 3.98
Stream On Tubi
Continuing the trend of films from countries that aren't America, Joint Security Area is another South Korean picture. Directed again by Park Chan-wook, it showcases just how impressive he is as a filmmaker and why he's a standout from a crowded field during the early 2000s.
At the time of its release, Joint Security Area was the highest-grossing film in Korean history and it won multiple awards. The plot tells the story of the investigation around a fatal shooting near the border that separates North and South Korea. On Letterboxd, ratings were sparkling with four stars (39%) being the most common score.
Mother (2009) - 4.06
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Not to be confused with Darren Aronofsky's mother! in 2017, this 2009 release is yet another from South Korea. They really seemed to have a stranglehold on the genre during the decade. Mother is yet another revenge thriller but it takes a slightly different approach than some in the genre.
This focuses on a woman who is out to get vengeance for her quiet son being wrongfully accused of murder and she attempts to take down the real killer. A hit at the Cannes Film Festival, it was lauded for nearly every aspect and received plenty of four star (41%) ratings on the website.
Dogville (2003) - 4.06
Rent On Apple TV
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lars von Trier, Dogville is the first film from the United States to be ranked among the top ten. This one immediately stands out for the tremendous cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Chloë Sevigny, James Caan, and many others.
Dogville tells the tale of a woman who seeks refuge from the mob when she finds it at the small titular town in Colorado in exchange for labor. It actually has a mixed response in a lot of ways, with some seeing it as something special and others finding it pretentious. Letterboxd users fall in the former category, often giving it four stars (29%).
Firefly (2005) - 4.09
Stream On Amazon Prime
Although the cult classic TV series of the same name is likely more known and iconic, 2005's Firefly film isn't associated with it. Released the same year as the show's movie Serenity, this was a much smaller independent film made on a mere $6,000 budget.
This film follows three different people who all go through something serious on Halloween night and by Christmas Eve, things begin happening that have no real explanation, which connects them all. Reviews are sparkling, with four and a half stars (26%) seen the most, though five stars (25%) follows closely.
The Lives Of Others (2006) - 4.13
Rent On Vudu
Released in 2006, The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) is a German film that took home the coveted prize of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Directed by first time filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, it was one of the most impressive debuts imaginable.
The Lives of Others focuses on the secret police of Stasi, East Germany and how they were monitoring residents of East Berlin by spying on them. The movie was mostly praised for how authentic and realistic it felt, adding to the thrilling nature. Most reviews gave it four stars (34%).
The Departed (2006) - 4.19
Stream On HBO Max
A remake of a 2002 Hong Kong film known as Internal Affairs, this was the movie that landed Martin Scorcese his long-awaited Best Director Oscar victory. The Departed also scored a Best Picture win and centers on a thrilling cat and mouse game between an undercover cop in the mob and the mob's police mole on the opposite side.
The film boasts one of the most outstanding casts ever put together including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Vera Farmiga, and more. It was met with widespread acclaim, won tons of accolades, and is considered one of the best movies of the decade. It's no wonder four stars (33%) is the most consistent rating given out.
No Country For Old Men (2007) - 4.27
Stream On HBO Max
One year after The Departed took home the Best Picture crown, No Country for Old Men did the same. Arguably the greatest work in the career of The Coen Brothers, this film quickly became iconic and something of a pop culture staple while creating a legendary villain.
That antagonist was Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) and every scene with him is chilling. The story focuses on a welder who comes across a large sum of the money at a crime scene, the hitman tracking down the cash, and the sheriff investigating it all. The perfect five-star rating (33%) is the one seen most often.
Memories Of Murder (2003) - 4.29
Stream On Hulu
Returning to South Korea for the thriller with the best rating, Memories of Murder hit a little too close to home for a handful of people. The movie is based on the harrowing true story of the first confirmed serial murders in the country of Korea.
These killings took place between 1986 and 1991 and the movie centers on two detectives investigating them. Even if you aren't aware of what it is based on, Memories of Murder is worth checking out as it's an early film directed by Bong Joon-ho, who went on to win an Oscar for his work on Parasite.