Thrillers are designed to hold your interest and elicit feelings of suspense and anticipation. You’ll often hear the term ‘nail-biting’ and ‘edge of your seat’ attributed to a thriller.
Movies categorized as thrillers can produce anxiety towards characters within the narrative. The protagonist will more than likely be in danger from the very beginning of the film.
Thrillers generally don’t include a lot of graphic violence unless specifically included with another genre.
The Cure (2026) stars David Dastmalchian and Ashley Greene in a genetic thriller about blood, clones, and betrayal. Watchable but predictable.
2026 is shaping up to be a genuinely strong year for thriller movies. Sharks in hurricanes, Charlize Theron hunted through the Australian outback, Anne Hathaway in a psychosexual A24 pop melodrama, and Keanu Reeves being blackmailed. In release order. R-rated first.
Twisted (2026) review: Darren Lynn Bousman’s horror thriller starring Djimon Hounsou and Lauren LaVera explores brain surgery, real estate fraud, and moral rot. Full spoilers inside.
Killer Whale (2026) review: Virginia Gardner deserves better than this Lionsgate theatrical misfire featuring studio-tank effects, melodramatic plot pivots, and wasted potential. A creature feature that sinks under technical deficiencies and narrative confusion.
In Dead Sea (2024), Phil Volken shifts from creature feature thrills to tense survival horror. Read our spoiler-aware review of this aquatic thriller where help isn’t what it seems.
In Bight (2026), a dinner party turns into a fight for survival. Mother of Movies reviews Maiara Walsh’s directorial debut, a dark, sensual, and bloody look at the cost of open relationships.
