The 15 Best Thrillers of 2024 (So Far)

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 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 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 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.

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 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 realises he might be connected to the crime—which, uh, is a huge issue considering his new gig.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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 examines the lives of Alice (Jessica Chastain) and Céline (Anne Hathaway). They’re best friends, mothers, and neighbours 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.

Jason Statham’s Adam Clay is a beekeeper who does a lot more than protect insects. After his neighbour 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.