Thriller movies have captivated audiences since the advent of film. The feeling of suspense throughout most of these movies keeps the audience on their toes. The best movie thrillers make the audience hold their breath until the climax and resolution of the story.

More often than not, the hero or heroine is involved in a deadly or dangerous situation. They are ordinary people and not used to danger. In some movies, though, the heroes could be policemen or other officers accustomed to putting their lives in harm's way.

The movie revolves around getting out of the perilous situation or escaping from the villains, thus building tension. Chase scenes are common in thriller movies. The settings of thriller movies are ordinary cities or suburbs, though some are in foreign cities or exotic places.

Thriller is a broad genre that encompasses several subgenres:

Mystery thrillers

Crime thrillers

Psychological thrillers

Paranoid thrillers

Mystery Thrillers

Movies involving investigations and solving mysteries attract viewers who love problem solving and puzzles. These movies have heroes or heroines in life-threatening situations while trying to solve a case or mystery.

The villains in these movies range from wealthy individuals or public figures to government agencies. Most mystery thrillers focus on the obvious disadvantages of the heroes or heroines at the start of the film.

Common examples of these disadvantages include having no money, malfunctioning vehicle, obsolete computer system (or computer illiteracy), having a drinking problem or simply being misinformed. Meanwhile, the villains have all the upper hand: money, fast cars, sophisticated computer systems and friends in high places.

The heroes or heroines are cornered towards the climax of the story, right after having solved the mystery. In the end, the heroes or heroines escape defeat with their smarts and resourcefulness or are rescued by friends or authorities. National Treasure and The Da Vinci Code are prime examples of mystery thrillers.

Crime Thrillers

Crime thrillers are popular in both movies and television series. Crime thrillers include kidnappings, heists, or revenge. Chase scenes are expected parts of these movies. The Die Hard movies paint an accurate picture of what crime thrillers are made of: kidnapping, revenge, chase scenes and arrest of the villains.

It is interesting to note, though, that the heroes or heroines in these films are not always the “good guys.” In some crime thrillers, the heroes and heroines are the “bad guys” performing heists. A perfect example would be Ocean’s Eleven and its sequels. The heroes and heroines rob high-security establishments like casinos and museums with flawless execution of their plans.

Psychological Thrillers

Some elements of psychological thrillers consist of death-traps, mind games, stalking and obsession. The main character is usually the victim of the psychological entrapment.

The movie is then focused on the hero surviving dangerous situations. In some movies, the main character can be the creator of the mind game while other times, the whole movie is just a product of the hero’s or heroine’s imagination. Some examples of psychological thrillers include The Box and Inception.

Paranoid Thrillers

Conspiracy theories, mistaken identities, false accusations and paranoia are frequent elements of paranoid thrillers. The hero or heroine fears for his or her safety for the most part of the film. Other times, the hero or heroine saves the paranoid character from himself or the villains. Paranoid thrillers are best exemplified by The Game, Salt and Conspiracy Theory.

Thrillers can be confused with mystery stories. Villains in thrillers are revealed or known from the start of the film. This adds an additional element of suspense to the movie. However, the same knowledge of the villain’s identity would spoil a murder mystery.

What Makes the Best Thriller Movies?

The best thriller movies have all the elements to keep the audience on the edge of their seats: a hero to root for, a villain to hate or be afraid of and a climax to make their hearts pound out of their chests.

Over the years thriller movies have evolved. The plots of thriller movies are now more intense than before, especially with the advancement of technology.

Many thriller movies are now tinged with elements from the horror genre. Sadistic violence, terror and body counts are now more intense in thriller films. Examples of these movies are After.Life, Funny Games and Untraceable.