Looking for a little suspense?
It sometimes seems like true cinematic thrillers have gone out of fashion lately. Perhaps the genre has been taken over by television and true-crime documentaries. Those are great, but sometimes you want a suspenseful, fictional story in two hours or less. Luckily, HBO Max has a ton of thrilling movies for you to watch or rewatch as many times as you want. The following entries represent just a small sampling of thrillers the streaming service currently has to offer.
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Don’t see what you’re looking for? Check out our list of the best horror films or dramas on the platform or the best movies across all genres on HBO.
Editor’s note: This article was updated in October 2023 to include Meg 2: The Trench.
RELATED: The 25 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century (So Far)
Don’t Worry Darling (2022)
Image Via Warner Bros.
Run Time: 2 hrs 3 min | Director: Olivia Wilde
Cast: Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, KiKi Layne, Gemma Chan
One of the most dramatic films of the year, both on and off screen, director Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling is a suspense-filled mystery about a utopian town that, in actuality, is anything but. Florence Pugh (Black Widow) continues her charm, captivating audiences as the perfect loving and doting housewife, Alice, who begins to unravel as she suspects that her world is not what it seems. Paired with Harry Styles (My Policeman), Pugh is exceptional as she holds the movie together – even in formidable scenes against Chris Pine (Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves). Don’t Worry Darling introduces a mountain of intrigue while offering an onslaught of thought-provoking questions. – Yael Tygiel
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Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
Image via Warner Bros
Run Time: 1 hr 56 min | Director: Ben Wheatley
Cast: Jason Statham, Jing Wu, Shuya Sophia Cai, Cliff Curtis
A sequel to the hit sharksploitation movie The Meg, Meg 2: The Trench follows Jason Statham’s Jonas and Jing Wu’s Jiuming Zhang as they lead a research team down into the dark depths of the unexplored ocean, only to be met by fears bigger than they ever could have imagined and a battle for survival just as great. With the original throwing almighty action-sequences and terrifying visuals in abundance, Meg 2: The Trench turns the dial up even more, with impressive cinematography from Haris Zambarloukos that manages to capture the sheer terror of the ocean. A wild ride from start to finish, Meg 2: The Trench is the perfect indulgence movie for those who want thrills and spills without necessarily any nuance. A fact fans of the series relish, Meg 2: The Trench is unapologetically in-your-face. – Jake Hodges
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Donnie Darko (2001)
Image via Pandora Cinema
Run Time: 1 hr 53 min | Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery | Director: Richard Kelly
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell
Donnie Darko is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller written and directed by Richard Kelly (The Box) about a troubled young man haunted by visions of a disturbing rabbit that tempts him into committing crimes in his sleep. Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) plays the titular Donnie and gives a smashing performance as he navigates the strange occurrences happening around his town that start after he narrowly escapes a jet engine crashing into his room. This is a film that will require multiple viewings to appreciate all the subtle nuances and foreshadowing littered throughout while still leaving enough threads open to debate over with friends and family for decades.
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Reality (2023)
Image via HBO
Run Time: 1 hr 23 min | Genre: Drama | Director: Tina Satter
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Josh Hamilton, Marchánt Davis
Director and playwright Tina Satter adapts her stage play Is This a Room, based on the real transcripts of an FBI investigation into leaked classified documents. At the center of the investigation is a young US Air Force member and NSA translator named Reality Winner, whose tense encounter with the FBI is masterfully captured by up-and-coming talent Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria). This docudrama is a wonderful showcase for Satter as her film directorial debut, and she couldn’t have picked a better lead in Sweeney, who is so real and grounded in this role it makes your heart race with every question she has to field, knowing a single misplaced word could mean the end for her.
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Under the Skin (2013)
Run Time: 1 hr 38 min | Director: Jonathan Glazer
Directed by Jonathan Glazer, who co-wrote the script with Walter Campbell, Under the Skin is an enticing science-fiction thriller with a music video aesthetic that feels natural to the director’s previous experiences. The film stars Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) as an unknown entity who takes the form of a stunning young woman in order to lure isolated males into her web, trapping their lost souls in an otherworldly dimension. Blossoming from a mind-bending premise, Under the Skin is set against the backdrop of Scotland, revealing an unnerving exploration of humanity through a strangely sensual and undeniably suspenseful film. – Yael Tygiel
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Gone Girl (2014)
Image via 20th Century Studios
Run Time: 2 hrs 29 min | Director: David Fincher
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon
Gone Girl was written by Gillian Flynn, author of the novel on which the film is based, and directed by crime drama maestro David Fincher. Gone Girl stars Ben Affleck (Justice League) and Rosamund Pike (The Wheel of Time) as Nick and Amy, a seemingly happily married couple who project an idyllic union. When Amy disappears, Nick suddenly becomes the prime suspect. A psychological thriller, Gone Girl explores the police pressure, media frenzy, and societal influence that can tarnish a happy image through a deviously suspenseful plot. Earning critical acclaim and audience praise, Gone Girl is a tantalizing mystery wrapped in a smart plot and a clever visual style. – Yael Tygiel
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Pulp Fiction (1994)
Image via Miramax
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Run Time: 2 hr 34 min
Cast: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman
But of course. Pulp Fiction, the film that simultaneously shot Tarantino into “superstardom” status and spawned a slew of imitators that would be churned out of Hollywood for the next decade. To find the extent of Tarantino’s influence, look no further than the fact that non-linear storytelling is now not only common, it’s become a staple of high-end television. Tarantino found himself in a neck-and-neck battle with Forrest Gump all throughout awards season, and while he lost out on Best Director and Best Picture to Robert Zemeckis’ fable, he at least took home Best Original Screenplay. Oscars aside, though, Pulp Fiction is an enduring classic that has solidified its place in film history as an incredibly influential—and just cool—piece of work. – Adam Chitwood
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Thoroughbreds (2017)
Image Via Focus Features
Run Time: 1 hr 32 min | Director: Cory Finley
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin, Paul Sparks
From writer/director Cory Finley (Bad Education), Thoroughbreds stars Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy (The New Mutants) as Amanda and Lily, a couple of upper-class suburban teenage friends who scheme to solve their problems with solutions such as killing Lily’s stepdad (Paul Sparks). Thoroughbreds seamlessly weaves through planting mysterious puzzle pieces and slicing tension with uproarious dialogue, cleverly crafting an unexpected dark comedy. Cooke and Taylor-Joy harmonize delicately through the story, which allows support from Anton Yelchin (Star Trek) to enhance already brilliant scenes. Thoroughbreds is a stunning film marrying aspects of American Psycho, Heathers, and Mini’s First Time. – Yael Tygiel
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Confidence (2003)
Image via Lions Gate Entertainment
Run Time: 1 hr 37 min | Director: James Foley
Cast: Edward Burns, Dustin Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, Andy Garcia
When a con-man and his crew rip off the wrong guy, they scramble to pull off another con to pay back what they took. Confidence, starring Edward Burns, is a fast-paced, heist-filled crime drama star-packed with award-winning actors, including Dustin Hoffman (Hook) and Andy Garcia (Ocean’s Eleven). Although littered with a roster of powerhouse actors, Confidence is built on a thrilling script by Doug Jung (The Cloverfield Paradox), whose words compliment the performances effortlessly. Confidence is a playful and suspenseful escapade oozing with tension and unpredictable twists. – Yael Tygiel
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Ex Machina (2014)
Run Time: 1 hr 48 min | Director: Alex Garland
Cast: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac
Written and directed by Alex Garland (Annihilation), Ex Machina is a fascinating and dark science-fiction thriller covering the intersection of isolation, obsession, and technology. Domhnall Gleeson (The Rise of Skywalker) plays Caleb, an engineer invited to partake in an exclusive opportunity to work with synthetic intelligence, where it turns out that nothing is as it seems. While the film features stellar performances from the incomparable Oscar Isaac (Moon Knight) and underrated Gleeson, the true breakout of Ex Machina is Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider), who embodies an android named Ava. Vikander is hypnotic in the role, solidifying the intrigue for audiences and allowing this fascinating film about intelligent people reflecting on the nature of humanity to flourish. – Yael Tygiel
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A Most Violent Year (2014)
Run Time: 2 hrs 5 min | Director: J.C. Chandor
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo
A Most Violent Year stars Oscar Isaac (X-Men: Apocalypse) and Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) as a loving couple driven by their ambitions to protect their family and business during a tumultuous and dangerous time in New York City history. Writer/director J.C. Chandor brings an incredible story to life, earning A Most Violent Year an abundance of award nominations for the actors involved. Isaac and Chastain steer the suspenseful crime drama with heart and determination through their riveting performances. – Yael Tygiel
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Dark Places (2015)
Image via A24
Run Time: 1 hr 53 min | Director: Gilles Paquet-Brenner
Cast: Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks, Corey Stoll
In a haunting tale from writer/director Gilles Paquet-Brenner, Dark Places poses fascinating questions about memory, innocence, and inner demons. Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn, Dark Places reveals the story of the Day family, who was slaughtered in their Kansas home. Nearly 30 years after the tragedy, the surviving daughter, played by a harrowing Charlize Theron (The Long Shot), reluctantly revisits the life-changing events. Featuring an eerie performance from Corey Stoll (Ant-Man), Dark Places reveals heartbreaking truths as the film unfolds, mesmerizing audiences with a thrilling mystery to be solved. – Yael Tygiel
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Last Night in Soho (2020)
Image via Focus Features
Run Time: 1 hr 56 min | Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith
Last Night in Soho is a trip. The film focuses on Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie), an aspiring fashion designer obsessed with the aesthetic of the sixties. Eloise was raised by her grandmother since her mother considered suicide when she was a child, and Eloise sometimes sees her ghost in mirrors. After meeting a dazzling singer (Anya Taylor-Joy), Eloise finds herself able to enter the glamorous 1960s. However, things take a dark turn when reality and dreams blend and the past and present collide. Last Night in Soho has been praised for its excellent performances and Wright’s trademark sleek style. – Taylor Gates
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The Card Counter (2021)
Run Time: 1 hr 51 min | Director: Paul Schrader
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan
Oscar Isaac continues to impress in The Card Counter, where he plays a tortured former military interrogator now surviving as a professional card player. Writer and director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) utilizes his trademark flawed and damaged characters, allowing a hauntingly subtle interpretation from Isaac. Bolstered by an unexpected performance from Tiffany Haddish (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), as well as an exquisite supporting cast including Tye Sheridan (Ready Player One) and Willem Dafoe, Isaac stoically carries The Card Counter, maintaining its tense ferocity while revealing a thrillingly intense spectacle. – Yael Tygiel
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Nightmare Alley (2021)
Image via Searchlight Pictures
Run Time: 2 hr 30 min | Director: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette
A film that deserved far more praise when it first came out for just how well-constructed it all is, Nightmare Alley sees Guillermo del Toro create monsters that are not otherworldly but rather all too human. It follows a manipulative Bradley Cooper as Stanton Carlisle, a broken man who discovers he has the ability to con people through mentalism he picked up as part of a traveling circus. He is able to turn this into a strong career, though when he gets an offer for more money than he could ever imagine, he will risk it all. It is a story of greed that sees Cooper doing his very best work, drawing us deeper and deeper into the mentality of a man who wants it all. No matter the cost, the story shows how he becomes an agent of self-destruction for himself and others who are unlikely enough to get caught up in his wake. It is a remake of a classic of the same name that goes in its own direction, finding both striking visuals and devastating destruction in the excavation of its own depravity. – Chase Hutchinson
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Old (2021)
Run Time: 1 hr 48 min | Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell
The movie that spawned a million memes that is still quite good in its own right, Old is horror auteur M. Night Shyamalan at his very best and most focused. It tells the terrifying tale of, you guessed it, a beach that makes you old. When an unexpected cast of characters finds themselves on said beach, they initially can’t believe that this is happening before soon discovering that there is seemingly no way to stop their impending demise. Children become teens then adults, and adults become elderly then die. It is all very grim and often gruesome, making for an unsettling experience that is finely tuned to create a maximum sense of suffocating fear. While there are some moments where it loses its nerve towards the end, the nightmarish journey is an undeniably unique one in how it occasionally becomes rather profound when you least expect it. It cuts deep, making for a film that is more than its meme presence. – Chase Hutchinson
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Death on the Nile (2022)
Run Time: 2 hr 7 min | Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Emma Mackey
Based on the novel by Agatha Christie, Death on the Nile is a fun and thrilling mystery with a colorful cast of crazy (and surprising) characters. World-famous detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) becomes caught up in the mysterious life of Linnet “Linny” Ridgeway-Doyle (Gal Gadot), who believes that those who have joined her on her honeymoon are up to no good. From there, thievery, misdirection, and murder come into play. The film is a non-stop adventure, delving into the backgrounds (and motives) of each character, taking the audience for a wild ride along the way. This is the kind of film where even the star-studded cast seems to be having as much fun as those watching.
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The Dead Zone (1983)
Image via Paramount Pictures
Run Time: 1 hr 43 min | Director: David Cronenberg
Cast: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe
David Cronenberg, Stephen King, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen—these names should be enough to deem this psychic mystery worthy of any film fan’s attention. The 1983 adaptation of The Dead Zone is a colorful, tense, atmospheric film about a man named Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) who wakes up from a coma as a kinesthetic psychic, someone who can receive psychic visions through physical contact with other people. Visions of tragedy compel him to intervene in the lives of his community. Walken is tender and driven as a man bent on changing the future, while Martin Sheen excels as the focused and maniacal Greg Stilson, hellbent on seeing his vision of the future realized. The pairing of director David Cronenberg and cinematographer Mark Irwin strikes gold again after their work together on Scanners and Videodrome. The Dead Zone is one of the older, better Stephen King adaptations that shouldn’t get swept away in a sea of other King concepts produced in the near 40 years since its release.
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Kimi (2022)
Image via Warner Bros.
Run Time: 1 hr 29 min | Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Zoë Kravitz, Byron Bowers, Rita Wilson
Another film that proves Steven Soderbergh is one of the best to ever do it, Kimi is a masterful modern thriller set in Seattle that authentically captures the city as it follows Zoë Kravitz as a tech worker named Angela. In the course of her work, Angela discovers that there is a coverup that she will have to leave the safety of her apartment in order to uncover. What follows is a thoroughly tense experience that sees her having to flee through the nooks and crannies of the city while avoiding a whole host of pursuers who would want nothing more than to make sure she stays silent. Not only is Kravitz pitch-perfect in the role, but she also really embraces the kinetic energy of the film that keeps everything moving along smoothly. It all builds to one of the most satisfying and cathartic conclusions, making for one of the most thoroughly enjoyable cinematic rides you’ll find out there. — Chase Hutchinson
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Memento (2000)
Image Via Newmarket
Run Time: 1 hr 53 min | Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
One of the earliest works from writer-director Christopher Nolan, Memento is a still incisive film about history and morality told through the unreliable perspective of a man experiencing short-term memory loss. The man is Leonard (Guy Pearce) and he has tattooed important information about the murder of his wife to his body so that he won’t forget it. It is a film whose narrative is intentionally fractured, showing two timelines of events happening alongside each other. One, in black-and-white, proceeds forward over the course of several phone calls. The other, in color, is shown in reverse order and ensures key revelations are shown gradually when you least expect them. It is a film that offers an early hint of Nolan’s fascination in both time and the mind’s perception of it, pulling back the curtain on one man’s psyche as he comes to terms with how he wants to lead what is left of his life. — Chase Hutchinson
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