Even some classic movies might have one or two scenes that seem to drag, but there are other thrillers that don’t have a single dull moment. Action thrillers often fall under this category, since maintaining a rapid pace can make everything feel sharper and more urgent, but there are good examples in other genres too.
Too much action can be just as boring as a slow-moving drama sometimes, so filmmakers need to find ways to heighten the stakes and keep things interesting. Movies that can balance thrilling action with romance, humor, or a compelling mystery are often the ones which people want to rewatch over and over again.
10
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
James Cameron’s Sci-Fi Sequel Kicks Things Up A Notch
James Cameron has always had a sharp eye for cinematic spectacle, which began with his early sci-fi action blockbusters. Although The Terminator is already exciting, Terminator 2: Judgment Day kicks things up a notch, and it’s often hailed as one of the greatest sequels ever made.
James Cameron has always had a sharp eye for cinematic spectacle.
Arnold Schwarzenegger gets the chance to play a good guy in Terminator 2, which makes good use of his easygoing charms. Even as a cold-blooded machine, he’s easy to root for. Thanks to a simple but entertaining premise, Terminator 2 can spend most of its time on its remarkable action sequences, which still hold up brilliantly.
9
Back To The Future (1985)
Doc And Marty’s Adventure Maintains A Rapid Pace
Back to the Future blends a fun sci-fi concept with a lot of comedy and some frantic action, and it crams all these elements into an economical plot that never wastes a moment. From the very first scene, Back to the Future maintains a steady pace as if it has somewhere to be.
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It’s remarkable how many iconic moments are packed into Back to the Future, from the DeLorean’s first ride to Marty’s guitar solo at the dance and many more in between. Every scene propels the plot forward, and most of them have at least one great joke or moment of exhilarating action.
8
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
The Legacy Sequel Picks Up Where The Franchise Left Off
Although 30 years passed between Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road, the Mad Max franchise picked up with a rare sense of purpose. George Miller proved that he hadn’t lost an ounce of his flair for the action genre in the intervening years, even if his biggest hits in that period were movies like Babe and Happy Feet.
Fury Road is basically one long chase sequence, but it never feels stale or predictable. The fascinating worldbuilding that often takes place in the background gives the story extra layers of intrigue, which heightens the drama of Furiosa’s desperate escape from Immortan Joe. The practical effects and creative stunt choreography make Fury Road an instant action classic.
7
The Dark Knight (2008)
Christopher Nolan’s Second Batman Movie Never Wastes A Moment
There’s often some debate over Christopher Nolan’s best movie. While Oppenheimer is the Oscar-winner, and thrillers like Memento and Inception explore fascinating concepts, it’s hard to beat The Dark Knight in terms of sheer entertainment value. The second movie in Nolan’s Batman trilogy has helped shape the superhero genre in many ways.
From the Joker’s elaborate bank heist in the opening scene, The Dark Knight hinges on the ideological conflict between him and Batman. This plays out in many thrilling encounters and dark social experiments, with Nolan showing his flair for large-scale action alongside some quieter scenes which are just as compelling in their own way.
6
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Al Pacino Delivers An Outstanding Performance In A Captivating Crime Thriller
Dog Day Afternoon
- Release Date
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December 25, 1975
- Director
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Sidney Lumet
Dog Day Afternoon is one of the best heist movies ever made, and it’s even more interesting considering that it’s based on a real-life bank robbery. Al Pacino and John Cazale reunite after the first two Godfather movies to play two nervous and poorly-prepared thieves who take hostages inside a Brooklyn bank when the police get involved.
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Dog Day Afternoon begins as a frantic crime comedy, with Pacino giving one of the best performances of his life. He slides around the smooth floors of the bank, struggling to deal with the hostages, the police negotiators gathering outside and his own accomplice with an itchy trigger finger. This comedy eventually falls away to reveal a desperately tense thriller.
5
Whiplash (2014)
Damien Chazelle’s Taut Thriller Keeps Time Brilliantly
Whiplash is meticulously paced, like a movie about a drummer should be, so that it never rushes and never drags. The story of a young student’s toxic dynamic with his volatile mentor is more gripping than it has any right to be. Damien Chazelle succeeds in making jazz drumming seem like the most important thing in the world.
Whiplash creates an engrossing dynamic between student and teacher, thanks to an intelligent script and two superb performances from Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons. Their story touches on abusive relationships, the pursuit of greatness, and the sense of purpose that people often assign to suffering. Whiplash manages to explore all these subjects while remaining light on its feet.
4
Goodfellas (1990)
Martin Scorsese Breezes Through The Life Of A Gangster
Crime movies have been trying to mimic Goodfellas ever since it first came out, but it isn’t easy to bottle Martin Scorsese’s mastery of dark comedy and mazy storytelling. Scorsese elevates many scenes which could otherwise seem ordinary into thoroughly entertaining slices of a dangerous life, and he’s helped by a brilliant ensemble cast.
Goodfellas is packed with great quotes, including a lot of naturalistic dialogue that humanizes the violent mobsters. Rather than making his characters into grotesque criminal caricatures, Scorsese shows that they’re all products of their environment who desperately want to belong. Goodfellas is also a good example of how Scorsese prioritizes beginnings and endings to his movies, carrying his audience on a wild ride right until the very last moment.
3
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
The First Indiana Jones Movie Is A Perfect Adventure
The first Indiana Jones movie starts with the iconic rolling boulder scene, and it ends with the equally famous face-melting scene. Wedged between these two moments, Steven Spielberg creates an incredible number of memorable scenes, filled with action, romance, humor and a swashbuckling adventure that harks back to an earlier time.
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Raiders of the Lost Ark is emblematic of Spielberg’s expert craftsmanship and eye for cinematic spectacle. He has an intuitive feel for cinema that means he can conjure jaw-dropping moments from anywhere. When he has a story as entertaining and layered as Raiders of the Lost Ark, it results in a crowdpleasing classic.
2
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Edgar Wright’s Action Comedy Is Finely Balanced
Hot Fuzz is Edgar Wright’s satirical take on the action genre, but he shows a deep reverence for the classics, in the same way that Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End can be seen as love letters to horror and sci-fi. While he pokes fun at the action genre’s tropes and excesses, he also fills Hot Fuzz with some breathtaking shootouts and chase scenes.
Hot Fuzz is endlessly quotable, with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s buddy cop dynamic generating a lot of great jokes. They ensure that every scene in Hot Fuzz has something to make the audience laugh, even those that focus on the dark criminal conspiracy in Sandford.
1
1917 (2019)
Sam Mendes’ Immersive War Drama Brings The Audience Into The Trenches
1917 is shot to look like one continuous long take, and this creates a disturbingly immersive atmosphere as the camera follows two young soldiers on a dangerous mission in the trenches of the First World War. It’s a heart-pounding war story that takes inspiration from a story Sam Mendes’ grandfather told him.
It’s understandable if the audience needs some time to decompress, just like Schofield.
The ending of 1917 is the only moment that eases the suffocating tension, but the bittersweet finale doesn’t feel like a true victory. After everything that Schofield has been through, both physically and emotionally, it’s clear that his story hasn’t found much of a resolution. It’s understandable if the audience also needs some time to decompress.