The 15 Best Thrillers of 2024 (So Far)
From Civil War to Trap, the big screen has left us breathless this year.
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Ever since Monkey Man barreled into theaters, I’ve known 2024 would be a great year for thrillers. Dev Patel kicked things off on a high note with his Kill Bill-inspired film. Since then, Hollywood has produced a surplus of equally nail-biting adventures.
Take Alien Romulus, for example. Did you assume the long-running Alien franchise ran out of steam? Well, dear friend, Xenomorphs never die. The sequel breathed fresh life into the series—and very likely spawned a follow-up. Over in the streaming-verse, Netflix’s Woman of the Hour tells the shocking true story of Rodney Alcala, a serial killer who somehow (don’t ask) weaseled his way onto a dating show. Meanwhile, Apple TV+’s Parallel explores the dangers of hopping universes—and it’s somehow even trickier than you’d think.
Below, you’ll find our fifteen favorite thrillers of 2024 so far.
Alien Romulus (VOD)
Somehow, the Xenomorphs just keep multiplying—but hey, I’m not complaining. Alien Romulus is the latest continuation of the Alien franchise. In this go-around—which is set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986)—a group of space colonists explore an abandoned station and find, you guessed it, more aliens. It’s best that we don’t divulge much more than that.
Woman of the Hour
Woman of the Hour is a thriller set in the 1970s. Anna Kendrick (who also directed the film) stars as Sheryl Bradshaw, a struggling actress who books a dating show. Unbeknownst to her—and the rest of the crew—one of the contestants is a serial killer who’s looking for his next victim.
Parallel
Parallel is a sci-fi thriller that explores alternate universes. Danielle Deadwyler stars as Vanessa, a woman struggling to cope with her son’s death. Through her grief, she uncovers a web of timelines and searches for a world where her son still exists. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t go well.
The Instigators
The Instigators is a crime thriller from the director of Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005). Matt Damon stars as Rory, a professional criminal who teams up with Cobby (Casey Affleck) for a heist. When the plan goes awry, Rory kidnaps his psychiatrist and tries to outrun law enforcement.
Wolfs
Don’t let the name fool you. Wolfs is not about four-legged hunters, but the protagonists’ are just as fierce. In this film, Brad Pitt and George Clooney star as rival fix-it guys. They’re the people you hire when something goes wrong but calling the cops isn’t an option. When they’re hired for a job that goes south, they’re forced to rely on each other for survival.
Juror #2 (In Theaters)
Juror #2 is a courtroom thriller directed by Clint Eastwood. Nicholas Hoult stars as Justin Kempt, a man who’s summoned for a murder trial. As the legal proceedings unfold, Justin realizes he might be connected to the crime—which, uh, is a huge issue considering his new gig.
Rebel Ridge
In Rebel Ridge, Aaron Pierre stars as Terry Richmond, a former Marine who’s trying to bail his cousin out of jail. There’s just one issue—the cops stole his money. Now Terry’s on a mission to get it back and uncover why the police robbed him in the first place.
Love Lies Bleeding
Kristen Stewart stars as Lou, a gym manager with a complicated family history. Her problems seem to fade away when she meets Jackie, a bodybuilder who’s training for a competition in Vegas. The two quickly fall for each other, but as their relationship blossoms, Lou’s past comes back to haunt her. I can’t share more without spoiling the twist, but trust me when I say you’ll never see it coming.
Blink Twice (In Theaters)
Blink Twice is Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut. The film stars Channing Tatum as Slater King, a tech billionaire with a glitzy private island. At his annual charity gala, he invites a cocktail waitress named Frida and her friend Jess to join him for a vacation. A few days in, the women suspect something’s up. After all, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Monkey Man
Dev Patel created Monkey Man with Jordan Peele—and together they made a modern Kill Bill–inspired masterpiece. The story follows Kid (Patel), a street fighter who begins working at an underground club. Each night, he dons a monkey mask and fights in boxing matches for cash. Eventually, he’s able to worm his way into an elite society and take on his ultimate opponent: a vile man from his past.
Twisters
What’s more thrilling than a giant tornado? In Twisters, Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Kate Cooper, a former tornado chaser who retires after an experiment goes wrong. Later on, she’s lured back into the field (literally) to help her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) test a new tornado tracking system. It’s the perfect opportunity to get back in the game. The only issue is that Tyler Owens (Glen Powell)—a celebrity storm chaser—wants in on the action, too. When two tornadoes land in Oklahoma, Kate, Javi, and Tyler are forced to rely on one another for survival.
Trap
Trap is a wacky thriller by M. Night Shyamalan that will make you laugh and quiver with nerves. When pop sensation Lady Raven comes to town, Cooper brings his daughter, Riley, to her concert. To his surprise, the show is a giant...wait for it...trap. The authorities are looking for a local serial killer, which means—you guessed it!—they’re looking for him.
Civil War
I don’t mean to alarm you so close to the presidential election, but Civil War is available to stream now. War photographer Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) attempts to capture civil unrest in a futuristic America. During her journey, she crosses paths with militants from both sides—and both are determined to win.
Mothers’ Instinct
Mothers’ Instinct examines the lives of Alice (Jessica Chastain) and Céline (Anne Hathaway). They’re best friends, mothers, and neighbors who live in an idyllic suburb. But a tragic event unfolds, putting their friendship to the test. Perhaps being so close isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
The Beekeeper
Jason Statham’s Adam Clay is a beekeeper who does a lot more than protect insects. After his neighbor is scammed and takes her own life (it’s not a spoiler, I promise!), Adam hops into action. The scammers think they’re dealing with an ordinary man, but Adam is actually a secret agent—and now that they’ve hurt his friend, he’ll stop at nothing to get revenge.
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