Arts & Entertainment
9 Thrillers To Watch This Labor Day Weekend
Check out this list of thriller films including "Argo," "Widows" and "A Quiet Place" that will have your heart racing this weekend.
Hoping to watch a good thriller film this Labor Day Weekend? Well, you're in luck because we've compiled a list of the best thrillers from the past decade for you to enjoy this weekend.
Do you remember the nail-biting finale of “Argo”? How about the four women determined to forge their own path in “Widows”? And we can't forget the deafening silence in “A Quiet Place.”
There’s also the pulse-pounding “Captain Phillips,” a seafaring thriller based on a true story. And if you’re looking for a movie thriller set in this day and age of social media, look no further than Sundance winner “Searching.”
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Check out the full list of the nine best thriller films from the 2010s below.
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“Argo” — Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman; directed by Ben Affleck
With scintillating wit and captivating gravitas, the Best Picture winner at the 85th Academy Awards delivers a nail-biting re-creation of a rescue mission to exfiltrate six U.S. diplomats from Tehran during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. Based on true events, the movie chronicles the covert operation that was led by exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) under the guise of developing a Hollywood sci-fi film titled “Argo.”
"Widows" — Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki; directed by Steve McQueen
From the visionary director Steve McQueen (who directed “12 Years a Slave”) comes the powerhouse caper thriller about four widows coming together from different walks of life to carve their own fate and destiny. Set in contemporary Chicago, the film stars Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo, four widows who have nothing in common but the need to pick up the pieces of their lives after their husbands die in a failed heist. Together, can the four widows prevail?
“Drive” — Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan; directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
Based on James Sallis’ best-selling novel, the 2011 film version stars Ryan Gosling as Driver, a mysterious mechanic who spends his days as a Hollywood stuntman and his nights as a getaway driver. One night, Driver’s seemingly normal world comes crashing down when a million-dollar heist goes awry. Within moments, he finds himself shifting gears on the offense to defend the love of his life (Carey Mulligan). Well-crafted and well-acted, “Drive” blends romance and violence seamlessly while keeping you on the edge of your seat.
"Good Time" — Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh; directed by Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie
The Safdie brothers’ 2017 crime thriller centers on an ill-fated bank robbery carried out by Connie Nikas (Robert Pattinson) and his developmentally challenged younger brother, Nick Nikas (Benny Safdie). In the process, during their getaway, Nick gets arrested, incarcerated and hospitalized. Meanwhile, Connie navigates New York City’s psychedelic underworld to find a way to free his brother from police custody, while eluding the cops hot on his trail. With stellar performances, a well-executed plot and clever direction, "Good Time" is undeniably pulse-pounding.
“Captain Phillips” — Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi; directed by Paul Greengrass
Richard Phillips’ memoir comes to life in Paul Greengrass’ Oscar-nominated film, “Captain Phillips,” a drama-thriller about the fateful 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking incident. In the film, Tom Hanks plays the titular merchant mariner, who takes command of the Alabama with orders to sail through from Oman to Kenya. Everything is seemingly routine on their route — that is, until a group of Somali pirates hijacks the U.S.-flagged cargo ship and take Phillips and his crew as hostages. Gripping and intense, the biopic unleashes a riveting seafaring thriller.
“Nightcrawler” — Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo; directed by Dan Gilroy
The 2014 neo-noir crime thriller follows the story of Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a thief turned freelance photojournalist who records the aftermath of fatal incidents and sells the footage to news stations. However, unbeknownst to the news producers, Lou tampers with crime scenes to give the clips a much juicier impact. Will he be caught red-handed in the end? Or, does news director Nina Romina (Rene Russo) even care, considering she needs to save her TV station from sagging ratings? Gyllenhaal is brilliant as he takes audiences to a thrilling, thought-provoking ride of dark comedy.
“The Town” — Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm; directed by Ben Affleck
Romance and secrets abound in Ben Affleck’s film adaptation of Chuck Hogan’s 2004 novel, “Prince of Thieves.” At the center of the story is a group of lifelong friends and bank robbers — Doug (Affleck), James (Jeremy Renner), Albert (Slaine) and Desmond (Owen Burke) — who set their sights on their biggest heist yet, robbing Fenway Park. However, one FBI agent (Jon Hamm) and Doug’s ex-girlfriend (Blake Lively) won’t make it easy for the foursome to score big. “The Town” is highly stylized and smartly written, buoyed by an outstanding ensemble cast.
"A Quiet Place" — Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds; directed by John Krasinski
What if you lived every day in fear as you tried to escape malevolent creatures whose hearing was so sharp they could even sense your whispers? This is the premise of "A Quiet Place," which stars Emily Blunt and John Krasinski as a married couple whose family is forced to live in silence. For Lee (Krasinski) and Evelyn Abbotts (Blunt), along with their three young children, silent language is golden. In fact, it's the only option. Why? They need to protect themselves from evil beasts that are hunting them through the sounds they make. Hauntingly impressive, this sci-fi horror thriller will take your breath away.
"Searching" — John Cho, Debra Messing; directed by Aneesh Chaganty
Winner of Sundance's Audience Award, Aneesh Chaganty's feature debut, "Searching," centers on love and family in the age of social media. At the core of the story is the perplexing disappearance of David Kim's (John Cho) daughter Margot (Michelle La), a 16-year-old girl who has been missing for more than 37 hours. Feeling trapped and desperate for help, David scours Margot's laptop for clues. Meanwhile, Detective Vick (Debra Messing), the police officer assigned to the case, mounts an investigation. Will they ever find Margot? Simply put, “Searching” has a beating heart.
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