1999 was a great year for the film industry and an even better year for the thriller genre, in particular. Just before the turn of the century, we were treated to excitement by the truckload. Whether through action-heavy straight-up thrillers, or twist-centric psychological works, the best directors in the game were out in force.
We’ve tracked down ten of the best thriller films from the final year of the twentieth century and used IMDb to rank them from least-good to most-spectacular. Expect seriously deep characters and game-changing twists throughout.
The Haunting (5.0)
The version of The Haunting Of Hill House you’re most familiar with is probably Mike Flanagan’s 2018 Netflix show, which keeps very little in common with Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel aside from the setting and the names of a few characters. The 1999 horror-thriller The Haunting is a criminally underrated—yet still really not brilliant—picture that ended up with a hugely contrasting five Razzie nominations and a good review from Roger Ebert.
The Astronaut’s Wife (5.4)
Much like The Haunting, The Astronaut’s Wife was one of a few 1999 thrillers that ended up being highly underrated by critics and audiences alike. This sci-fi thriller went the extra mile and lost tens of millions of dollars at the box office as well. It’s a moody, slow-paced film that allows time to indulge in visuals and characters, which many viewers simply found rather boring.
Stigmata (6.2)
The Rupert Wainwright-directed horror-thriller Stigmata is the final film on this list that has actually been received rather badly over the years despite being an intense, artistic journey through the eyes of an atheist struck with the stigmata. On top of that, it has some seriously excellent music from Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins.
The Blair Witch Project (6.5)
Has there ever been a film that has done better at the box office that The Blair Witch Project? From a budget of a quarter of a million dollars to returns of a quarter of a billion and a huge, global franchise, this is one of the biggest success stories in cinema.
It might be more straight-up horror than many films on this list, but it’s almost impossible not to be thrilled while watching this found-footage masterpiece.
Eyes Wide Shut (7.4)
Stanley Kubrick’s final film falls into the very rare category of being a slightly average Kubrick work. It stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in a strange, sexually-charged setting that involves Cruise’s Bill Harford’s adventures around New York. It is known for having the longest continuous shooting time of any film ever made, clocking in at over 400 days. It is also noted for being finished and presented to Warner Bros. just six days before Kubrick’s death.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (7.4)
One of Matt Damon’s most impressive roles came in the 1999 thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley, even if it was Jude Law who ended up with a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Academy Awards. After two previous adaptations of the Patricia Highsmith novel, this one finally hit the nail on the head, providing an intense psychological thriller that somehow brings us onto the side of the twisted Tom Ripley.
The Boondock Saints (7.8)
When it was first conceived, The Boondock Saints was a script that everyone in Hollywood wanted to get their hands on. Yet, when it was eventually made it took multiple years, it was given a miniscule theatrical release and found unfortunate associations with the Columbine massacre. Upon release, this vigilante thriller was met with poor reviews but has since been re-evaluated favorably.
The Sixth Sense (8.1)
M. Night Shyamalan made a name for himself by creating the exceptional The Sixth Sense back in 1999 before ruining his legacy with a selection of truly awful films in the 2000s. The film is remembered for its incredible atmosphere, brilliant acting, and that amazing concluding twist. It was only surpassed at the box office by The Phantom Menace and was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
The Matrix (8.7)
The Wachowskis’ crowning achievement is their work on the first Matrix film, one of the most enduring and impressive films to come from 1999. It was a landmark in both the sci-fi sphere and in terms of cinematic techniques.
The presence of martial arts in the action scenes took from Japanese animation, while the leading roles of Laurence Fishburne and Keanu Reeves have been remembered fondly. So fondly, in fact, that a fourth entry in the franchise is currently in production.
Fight Club (8.8)
Of course, the film that sits at the top of the list of greatest thrillers of 1999 is one of the greatest films ever made. David Fincher’s Fight Club was released to a lukewarm response and a relatively poor box office taking, but, within a few years, it became a cult classic that appears towards just about every list of the greatest films ever. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton shine in the co-leading roles, while Helena Bonham Carter gave one of her most magical supporting roles to date.