Audiences love a good thriller that can put them on the edge of their seat and keep them there throughout the entire movie. Luckily for those fans, there were a number of great thrillers in 2021 that ranked among the most compelling movies of the year.
Based on the users at Letterboxd, 2021's best thrillers varied in size but all managed to tell the kind of nail-biting stories fans want from the genre. If fans are looking to revisit some of the most notable genre entries of the year or find some lesser-known gems they might have missed, these 2021 thrillers are the standouts.
Last Night In Soho (3.50)
Edgar Wright is mostly known for mashing other genres with his comedic style, but Last Night in Soho sees the inventive filmmaker fully embracing the thriller genre. The movie follows a young woman who moves to London where she soon finds her dreams haunted by a young girl who lived in the same apartment in the 1960s.
Wright's distinct visual style and his influence from other classic thrillers show Last Night in Soho as an impressive step forward for him as a director. It is also a compelling, smart, and surprising story worth multiple rewatches.
No Time To Die (3.56)
Daniel Craig's 007 movies have always been a bit darker than the rest of the franchise. For Craig's last outing as James Bond, No Time to Die really embraces those spy thriller concepts as Bond finds his life thrown upside down when a terrifying new threat emerges.
From the intense opening sequence, No Time to Die feels like it is something new from the Bond franchise while also delivering the kind of thrills and fun fans are expecting. Craig gets a fitting farewell in the role with some unexpected twists thrown in.
The Mauritanian (3.58)
Sometimes a thriller can be even more effective when the story is based on real events. Such is the case with The Mauritanian which tells the story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi who was held captive by the U.S. government for years without being charged with a crime.
The movie is a stirring look at his fight for freedom with Tahar Rahim in the lead role as well as Jodie Foster and Benedict Cumberbatch playing the lawyers on either side of the fight. It is a terrific entry into the courtroom thriller genre.
Nightmare Alley (3.60)
Film noir has long been an exciting aspect of the thriller genre and it is especially fun to see it approached by a master filmmaker like Guillermo del Toro. Nightmare Alley stars Bradley Cooper as a performer in a traveling carnival whose specific abilities draw him into a dangerous situation.
While it doesn't embrace the horror elements as much as some of his other work, del Toro obviously has a lot of fun playing around with the various nefarious characters of the story and teasing the complex mystery at its center.
Old Henry (3.60)
The Western genre often deals with more adventure-oriented types of movies. However, there is room for thrillers to operate in the world of the Old West in effective ways. Old Henry is a smaller Western story about a farmer whose violent past is revisited when he finds himself targeted by a group of dangerous men.
Tim Blake Nelson shines in a rare lead role as the titular character. He is a joy to watch as the tense and intimate thriller unfolds. It embraces certain aspects of a typical Western while also telling its own unique story.
The Novice (3.64)
The Novice is another example of how a more intimate story can still make for a riveting thriller. The character study follows a young college freshman who joins the school rowing team. As she hones her skills, she develops an obsession with being the best.
Though a small story, The Novice is nonetheless effective in this disturbing story that anyone who has ever wanted to be the best at something can relate to. Though not easy to watch, it is a gripping story.
Titane (3.73)
The Letterboxd community often highlights international movies among the best of the year and one of the most popular of these movies from 2021 was the French movie Titane. It follows a young woman who is involved in a horrific car accident as a child and has developed an unusual fascination with them.
Titane is certainly not a movie that will connect with all audiences with its blend of body horror and outrageous subject matter. However, many have found it to transcend the simple shock value of its reputation to become one of the most provocative and compelling movies of the year.
Pig (3.82)
One of the biggest surprises of the year for many audiences was the thriller Pig. Nicolas Cage stars as a reclusive man living in the woods with his pig who he uses for truffle hunting. When the pig is taken from him, he ventures out into the world he left behind to get back his beloved pet.
Cage gives one of his best reserved yet powerful performances in this odd and intense story. As bizarre as the premise might sound, it is completely engrossing and carries an unexpected emotional punch.
Boiling Point (3.87)
Once again, Boiling Point is not a thriller that relies on murder or danger lurking around every corner but rather finds its thrills in watching the main character simply trying to keep his head above water. Stephen Graham stars as a chef dealing with endless pressures on the busiest night of the year.
The movie is filmed as one continuous shot which only adds to the intense nature of the story. The chaotic atmosphere inside the kitchen and the clashing of various personalities make for an explosive little drama.
The Tragedy Of Macbeth (3.88)
It would seem difficult to find a new and exciting approach to telling the story of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, but with the talent involved in The Tragedy of Macbeth, it's not surprising that they succeeded. In his first solo movie as a director, Joel Coen retells the tale with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth respectively.
The simple joy of watching these iconic actors working with this material is enough to make this a worthwhile experience. But Coen also does a masterful job of staying faithful to the material while also adding his own unique quality.