"No mere mortal can resist... the e-vil of the Thriller!"
A thriller is a genre in visual media and literature which focuses on action, fast pacing, excitement and tension. The conflicts are usually between desperate heroes and powerful antagonists who outmatch them by a large margin. Frequent location changes, time shortage, and Cliffhangers are extremely common.
Thrillers can overlap with almost any other genre. They are more defined by their plot and devices than by their content. They can be identified by the thrills the work gives to the reader or viewer.
Usually goes hand in hand with Suspense, the Thriller's Evil Twin. Both use anxiety and anticipation, but Suspense is more about inducing dread, that terrible feeling that something '’awful'’ is going to happen as oppose to thrills. While Suspense can be a genre within itself, it pairs well with Thriller and works often overlap and are call "suspense thrillers."
Modern incarnations of Thrillers seem to overlap more and more often with Horror and Science Fiction genres, leading to a misclassification of all Thrillers as being Horror, Science Fiction, or both. Mystery Fiction and Detective Fiction can also overlap with Thrillers, if there is central question that needs to be resolved.
Not to be confused with either the Michael Jackson album or the old Boris Karloff-hosted anthology series, nor yet the 1970s British anthology series. Although the Michael Jackson music video for the album's Title Track does slightly fit in.
Subgenres
- British Conspiracy Thriller
- Conspiracy Thriller
- Genius Thriller
- Legal Thriller
- Paranoid Thriller
- Psychological Thriller
- Puzzle Thriller
- Techno Thriller
Medium subpages
Related genres
- Action Genre
- Crime Fiction
- Disaster Movie
- Film Noir
- Horror
- Mystery Fiction
- Science Fiction
- Spy Fiction
Tropes often associated with the genre
- Cliffhanger
- Mad Lib Thriller Title
- The Reveal
- Title In: Used to make sure the audience doesn't get confused by frequent location changes.
- The Un-Reveal
- What Cliff Hanger?
Examples
open/close all folders
Anime and Manga
- AFTERLOST
- Anne Freaks
- Buddy Daddies
- Canaan
- Death Note
- D-Live!!
- Eden of the East
- The Fable
- High Card
- Kagewani, overlapping with horror.
- The King of Fighters: Another Day
- Love of Kill
- Monster (1994), overlapping with horror.
- Night Head Genesis
- Night Head 2041
- Terminator Zero
- Ultraman
- Under Ninja
- Yami no Aegis
Comic Strips
Film
- 1BR
- 10 to Midnight
- 12 Feet Deep
- 13 Tzameti
- 21 Bridges
- 22 Bullets, overlapping with Action.
- 28 Days Later, overlapping with Horror.
- .45
- 8mm
- Accident
- L'Accordeur
- Across 110th Street
- Act of Vengeance, overlapping with Crime and Exploitation.
- Acts of Vengeance (2017), overlapping with Action/Martial Arts.
- Adam Chaplin
- The Aggression Scale, overlapping with Action.
- Albino Alligator
- All the Money in the World
- The Amateur (2025)
- The Ambulance, also a comedy.
- Angel (1984), overlapping with Action.
- Animal Room
- Anthropoid, overlapping with historical drama and war film.
- Apartment Zero
- Archenemy (2020)
- Assassination Tango
- Atomic Blonde, overlapping with Action.
- Atomic Train
- AWOL-72
- Backcountry - overlaps with Horror.
- Balibo, overlapping with war film.
- The Bank, overlapping with drama.
- Barbarian, overlapping with horror comedy.
- Beast (2022) - overlapping with Action.
- Berkshire County
- Berserk! (1967)
- Beyond Justice, overlapping with Action.
- The Big Doll House
- Big Legend, overlapping with Horror.
- A Bittersweet Life
- Black Book
- Black Cat Run, is a thriller mixed with action and mystery elements.
- The Black Dahlia
- Black Site (2022)
- Black Sunday, overlapping with Action.
- Black Wake
- Black Widow (1987)
- Blooded
- Blood Ransom
- Blood Simple
- Bluebeard (1972)
- A Blueprint for Murder, overlapping with Film Noir.
- Body
- Body Count (1998)
- Body of Lies
- The Bourne Series, overlapping with Action.
- The Boy Next Door
- Brake
- Breakdown
- Buried
- Burning Bright
- Cadaver (2020)
- Caddo Lake
- Caged Fury
- The Call
- Cape Fear (1962)
- Carry-On (2024)
- The Castle of Fu Manchu
- Caught Up
- The Chain Reaction is a thriller mixed with action and Disaster Movie elements.
- Charade
- Chariot
- Circle
- City of Ghosts (2002)
- Cleaner (2007)
- Cleaner (2025)
- Cleanskin
- Clinton and Nadine
- The Clovehitch Killer
- Cocaine Bear
- Code 8
- Cold Comes the Night, a crime thriller.
- Cold Sweat
- The Colony (2016): Overlaps with historical drama.
- Columbus Day
- Coma
- Coming Home in the Dark
- The Commuter
- Companion
- Compliance
- Conclave
- Confessions of a Psycho Cat
- The Conspiracy, overlapping with Horror.
- Conspiracy (2008)
- Cop Car
- Criminal (2016)
- Crush (2013)
- Cry Wolf (1947)
- Cube (Film Series)
- Cube (1997), overlapping with Science Fiction and Horror.
- Cube 2: Hypercube
- Cube Zero
- Cut to the Chase
- Damaged (2024)
- Dark Asylum
- The Dark Knight Trilogy is a thriller mixed with superhero and neo-noir. Each of the movies qualifies in different ways:
- Batman Begins fits this genre in the second half of the movie, as the first half focused on Batman's origins.
- The Dark Knight is a crime thriller throughout the whole movie.
- The Dark Knight Rises is a thriller mixed with Disaster Movie elements.
- The Day the Earth Caught Fire, overlapping with Disaster Movie.
- Death and Cremation
- Death Machines, overlapping with Action/Martial Arts.
- The Death of Robin Hood
- Death Weekend
- Deception (2008)
- The Deep (1977), overlapping with Action.
- Deep Gold
- Deliverance (1972) - overlapping with Action.
- Desierto
- Detonator (2003)
- The Dinner Plan - overlapping with Comedy
- Domino (2019)
- Don't Breathe
- Don't Hang Up
- Don't Look Down (1998) - overlapping with Horror.
- Downrange
- Drop
- Duel
- Elizabeth Harvest - overlapping with Science-Fiction.
- Eloise
- The Empty Beach
- End Game
- The End We Start From
- Escape Room (2017) - overlapping with Horror.
- Escaping Dad
- Eternal - overlapping with Horror.
- Even Lambs Have Teeth - overlapping with Horror.
- Everly- overlapping with Action.
- Exception to the Rule
- Exit (2019) - overlapping with comedy and Disaster Movie elements.
- Exit 0
- EX_MACHINA, - overlapping with Science-Fiction.
- The Face of Fu Manchu
- Fair Game (1986)
- Fair Game (1995) - overlapping with Action.
- Fall
- Fallen
- Faster - overlapping with Action.
- Fatale (2020)
- Femme Fatale (2002)
- Fermat's Room
- Final Girl (2015) - overlapping with Action.
- Flareup
- Force of Nature: The Dry 2- overlapping with Mystery
- Freeway - overlapping with Comedy.
- Friend of the World - overlapping with Horror.
- Frozen (2010) - overlapping with action.
- Gang In Blue
- Getaway Plan
- The Ghost and the Darkness - overlapping with Action.
- Ghost Lab (2021)
- The Gift (2015) - a Psychological Thriller
- Glasshouse - Overlapping with Science-Fiction.
- Golden Rendezvous - Overlapping with action.
- Goliath Awaits
- The Good Doctor (2011)
- Good Neighbors
- A Good Woman is Hard to Find
- Grandpa's Psycho
- Grand Piano
- Green Room
- The Grey, overlapping with Action/survival
- The Guest , overlapping with Mystery and Action.
- Hallow Road
- Hard Candy
- Hard Cash
- Harlequin
- Heat
- Heatwave (2022)
- Hell Drivers
- Hemet, or The Landlady Don't Drink Tea
- Heretic (2024)
- Hidden
- Highwaymen
- Hit List
- The Hit List
- Hit Team
- Hope
- Horrorvision
- Hounds of Love
- The Hunted (1995)
- The Hunter
- The Hunt for Red October
- The Ice Harvest
- The Immortals, overlapping with Action
- In Bruges, dramedy too
- The Incident
- Infamous (2020)
- Into the Grizzly Maze
- Intruders
- I Saw What You Did
- The Island (1980)
- Jacob's Ladder, overlapping with horror.
- Jackdaw
- Jack's Back, overlapping with Supernatural Thriller.
- Jack the Ripper (1976)
- Jigen Daisuke (2023)
- John Doe: Vigilante
- Joshuu Sasori, overlapping with Crime.
- Juggernaut (1974)
- Julia X, overlaps with Horror.
- Juncture
- Jurassic Park
- Kalifornia
- Kild TV
- KILL, overlapping with action.
- Killer Force, overlapping with action.
- Kill Me Again
- Killer Under the Bed
- Kimi
- Kindergarten Cop, overlapping with comedy.
- Kisapmata
- Knock at the Cabin
- Kruel
- Last Breath
- Leave the World Behind, a horror-thriller overlapping with drama.
- The Lesson
- Level 16
- The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
- Little Woods
- The Loft
- A Lonely Place to Die
- Longlegs
- The Long Walk (2025)
- Low Tide
- The Mad Magician
- Mako (2021)
- Man on Fire (1987)
- Man on Fire (2004)
- The Man on the Roof
- Man Vs, overlapping with science fiction and horror.
- Masquerade (2021)
- The Matrix (1999), overlapping with Cyberpunk.
- Men at Work (1990)
- The Merciless
- Mesrine
- Messages Deleted
- Messenger of Death, overlapping with Action.
- M.F.A.
- The Minus Man
- Mom (2017), a crime thriller overlapping with drama.
- Money Monster
- Monster Party, overlapping with horror.
- The Naked Cage
- Naked Fear
- The Negotiation
- Nemesis Game
- Nerve
- New Town Killers
- Next Time I'll Aim for the Heart
- Night After Night After Night
- The Night of the Hunter, overlapping with Crime and Horror.
- Night of the Running Man
- No Escape (2015)
- No Good Deed (2002)
- No Tears for the Dead
- North Sea Hijack
- Numb
- Number 17, overlapping with comedy
- The Occupant
- Open Grave, overlapping with Horror.
- The Outfit (1973)
- Panic Room
- The Paperboy (2012)
- Paranoia (2013)
- Paranoid (2000)
- Parasite (2019), overlapping with Dramedy.
- Passion (2012)
- Payback (1995)
- Pathology
- Perfect Assassins, overlapping with Action and Mystery
- The Phantom Express (1932), overlapping with Mystery.
- Piranha (1972), overlapping with Adventure.
- Pitch (2009), overlapping with Fantasy.
- The Playground (2017)
- Poker Night
- The Power (1968), overlapping with Science Fiction.
- Preservation, overlapping with Horror.
- The President's Last Bang
- Prisoners
- The Professional, overlapping with Action and Criminal Procedural.
- The Protégé
- The Prowler (1951), overlapping with Film Noir.
- The Purge Universe
- The Purge, overlapping with Horror and Science Fiction.
- The Purge: Anarchy
- The Purge: Election Year
- The First Purge
- The Forever Purge
- Quick
- The Quiet
- Rattle The Cage
- Rebel Ridge
- Rear Window
- Red Corner
- Red (2008)
- Red Hill
- Relay
- Replicas
- Reservoir Dogs, overlapping with Crime And Punishment.
- Resurrection (1999), overlapping with Horror.
- Retribution (2023), overlapping with action.
- Ripley Under Ground, overlapping with crime
- Rites of Passage
- The River Wild, overlapping with Action.
- River Wild, overlapping with Adventure and Mystery.
- Rogue (2020), overlapping with Action.
- Rollercoaster, overlapping with Action.
- Rolling Thunder (1977), overlapping with crime, action and Exploitation Film.
- The Room (2019)
- The Roommate
- The Row
- Runaway Jury, overlapping with Crime and Punishment, and Law Procedural.
- Run for the Sun, overlapping with Adventure.
- The Sadist, overlapping with Horror.
- Safer at Home
- A Score to Settle, overlapping with Action.
- Scream and Scream Again, overlapping with Sci-Fi Horror.
- Sea of Love
- The Seduction
- Self Defense
- Send Help
- The Shadow Men overlapping with Science Fiction.
- Shiri
- Shockwave
- Shooter
- Shut In, overlapping with Horror.
- Shuttle
- The Silence of the Lambs, overlapping with Horror.
- Silent Rage
- Siren (2010), a psychological thriller overlapping with horror.
- Sisters of Death
- The Sixth Sense
- Skin Trade, overlapping with Action.
- Sleepers
- Sleeping Dogs (1977), overlapping with Action.
- Snakeskin
- Snapshot (1979)
- Sneakers
- The Snowman (2017), overlapping with Horror.
- Soft & Quiet (2022)
- Solace
- Solo (2013)
- Songbird
- Son of a Gun
- Sorcerer (1977), overlapping with Action and Drama.
- Sorry, Wrong Number
- Sound of Freedom, overlapping with Action.
- Split
- Stag
- The Standoff at Sparrow Creek
- Stay (2005)
- Strangers on a Train
- Striking Distance
- Suddenly
- The Suppressor
- Surveillance
- The Survivalist
- Suspect
- Swamp Shark
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
- Targets
- Tell No One
- Ten Dead Men, overlapping with Action.
- Tesis
- Tetris (2023), overlapping with Biopic.
- Thane of East County, overlapping with Drama
- The Thieves, overlapping with Action.
- Through Black Spruce
- The Tie That Binds
- Ties That Bind 2006, overlapping with Drama.
- Ties That Bind (2010), overlapping with Mystery and Crime.
- Tiger House, overlapping with Crime.
- Transit, overlapping with Action.
- The Treacherous, a historical thriller about the Decadent Court of Yeonsan-gun of Joseon.
- The Transporter, overlapping with Action.
- Trap for Cinderella
- Trauma Center (2019)
- Triple Threat (2019)
- Trust No 1
- Two-Minute Warning, overlapping with Action.
- Unbreakable
- Under the Shadow
- Unthinkable
- Veronica Mars
- Vice Squad
- Vitals
- Vivarium
- Vows of Deceit - also known as Deadly Matrimony
- The Wages of Fear, overlapping with Action and Drama.
- Walled In
- Welcome Home (2018)
- White Fire, overlapping with Action
- Who'll Stop the Rain
- Widows
- Winterskin
- Wolfs
- The Wolf's Call, overlapping with Drama.
- Year of the Gun
- You Can't Run Forever
- Youth of the Beast
- You Were Never Really Here
Live-Action TV
- 20 Minutes, overlapping with drama.
- The 7 Lives of Lea
- The 8 Show, overlapping with black comedy, satire, and drama
- Amerika
- Apple Tree Yard, overlapping with crime/courtroom drama
- Ares, overlapping with horror
- Awaken, overlapping with mystery.
- Bad and Crazy
- Behind Your Touch, Overlapping with mystery, Dramedy, and Suspense.
- Bosch
- Braquo
- Cape Fear (2026)
- Cassandra, overlapping with science fiction and horror.
- Cleverman
- Colony, overlapping with drama and science fiction.
- The Consultant (2023), overlapping with dark comedy.
- Dare Me, overlapping with drama and mystery.
- Dark Hole, overlapping with science fiction.
- Deutschland 83, overlapping with spy fiction.
- Devil in Ohio, overlapping with horror.
- The Devil Judge, overlapping with mystery.
- D.☆P.
- Dublin Murders
- The Enemy Within
- Entrevías
- Falsify
- Fauda
- FBI
- The Flight Attendant
- Get Even (2020)
- Girl from Nowhere
- Golden Years
- Halo (2022)
- Healer
- H/JACK
- Himmelsdalen, overlapping with crime drama.
- Iron Reign, overlapping with crime drama.
- The K2, overlapping with K-drama.
- The Lady in Dignity, overlapping with mystery and drama.
- The Last Empress, overlapping with mystery and romantic comedy.
- Liar (2017), overlapping with crime drama.
- Locked Up, overlapping with prison drama.
- The Man in the High Castle
- Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, overlapping with comedy
- Medici: overlapping with historical fiction.
- Moimi Glazami, overlapping with supernatural/horror.
- Mouse (2021), overlapping with mystery.
- NCIS: Origins
- Night Has Come, overlapping with horror.
- On Call
- The Penthouse: War in Life overlapping with mystery and drama.
- Priest (2018), overlapping with supernatural/horror.
- Psychopath Diary, overlapping with comedy.
- Reacher
- Scandal (2012), overlapping with politics and drama.
- Shots Fired
- The Silent Sea, overlapping with Sci-Fi and Mystery
- Six (2017)
- Skymed
- Snowpiercer
- Spotless
- Tehran
- Tracker (2024)
- Tyrant (2014)
- War of the Worlds (2019)
- Wayward (2025), overlapping with mystery
- Weak Hero thriller drama
- Will Trent
- W - Two Worlds
Video Games
- Blood & Truth
- Disaster: Day of Crisis
- Fast & Furious Crossroads
- Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach: While the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise is mostly Survival Horror, this game is more focused on being on the edge of your seat than flat out terrifying you.
- Fox Hunt
- Gods Will Be Watching, a Point-and-Click thriller with some Science Fiction elements.
- Gunpoint attempts to create an interactive noir thriller, dropping the player into a near future town of West Point, which used to be the home of a thriving gun industry - but after a new gun control bill, industry has crashed and burned, and the few remaining businesses became extremely ruthless to survive. Notably, the gameplay is based around outsmarting enemies and setting traps for them by hacking electric appliances, and the game features mechanics that resemble thriller tropes, like the ability to tackle people unarmed (even through a window, several floors down!) or hold them at gunpoint (as the title implies).
- Late Shift
- Metal Gear is a series where every installment tries to replicate feel of a thriller movie. Notably, pretty much every game features a nuclear threat, Metal Gear Solid ends with a typical thriller trope where you fight the main villain with your bare hands, and both Solid 1 and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty are based on the "Die Hard" on an X premise, where you're dopped alone - with no weapons - into a facility overtaken by terrorists.
- The Quiet Man
Webcomics
- Toying With Daddy: It follows the tension and suspense that takes place in the Flora Residence, where the main leads play a messy, sensual game of cat and mouse chase. This manhwa is an erotic/smut thriller.
Web Videos
Western Animation