9 21st Century Thriller Masterpieces That Have Aged Like Fine Wine, Ranked

The very best thrillers don’t just rely on twists or shock value. The best films in this genre pull you into their thrilling stories alongside their unforgettable characters. Over the past two decades, the genre has evolved in bold and unexpected ways. From nonlinear mind-bending films to chilling crime sagas, the 21st century has delivered an extraordinary group of thriller films that can be listed among the greats of all time.

In this list, we take a look at the best of those thrillers that get better each time you view them. Each rewatch reveals new layers, including hidden clues, subtle performances, and visual details that deepen your appreciation for the films. Anchored by powerhouse performances and directed by visionary directors like Christopher Nolan and Bong Joon-ho, these films guarantee you will want to watch them more than once.

9 'Barbarian' (2022)

Barbarian begins inconspicuously when Tess (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb in Detroit and finds that it has been double-booked. Tess and the stranger (Bill Skarsgård) then find a horrible secret hidden in the house. The owner, a problematic actor named AJ (Justin Long), goes there some time later and is oblivious to what has happened in the house.

Before he directed the runaway hit Weapons, Zach Cregger made his debut with a bold reinvention of the modern horror-thriller film. It is widely praised for its unpredictability and inventive structure. The performances by Georgina Campbell and Justin Long are perfect, and the twist is genuinely unexpected. At first watch, Barbarian delivers a unique, unexpected experience, especially since the promotional materials hide the film's secrets perfectly. The film is extremely rewatchable as audiences can see the setup and clues that lead to the bonkers third act. Each rewatch becomes more and more rewarding.

8 'Collateral' (2004)

Set over one long night in Los Angeles, Collateral follows cab driver Max (Jamie Foxx), who unknowingly becomes an accomplice to a hitman. His passenger is Vincent (Tom Cruise), a contract killer with multiple targets across the city, and Max is promised a handsome payment for his service. But, Max soon realizes that he's also a hostage in this agreement.

Directed by Michael Mann, Collateral is a stylish, atmospheric modern thriller that has unique digital cinematography and solid performances. Tom Cruise delivers one of his most chilling turns as Vincent, while Jamie Foxx, in his Academy Award-nominated role, brings vulnerability and authenticity to the out-of-his-depth Max. Cruise's rare antagonist turn alone is worth a rewatch. The film itself has memorable dialogues, intense action scenes, and character dynamics that make it entertaining every time you watch it.

7 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' (2011)

Based on a worldwide bestseller by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) as he investigates a decades-old disappearance within the wealthy Vanger family in Stockholm. He’s joined by Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a brilliant but deeply guarded hacker and together, they uncover dark secrets beneath the family's pristine standing in society. While the original Swedish adaptation of the trilogy is brilliant and underrated, David Fincher brings his meticulous, perfectionist eye and crafts a singular thriller film that's intense and also stylish.

Rooney Mara's performance is mesmerizing, earning her an Academy Award nomination. Also praised for its visuals and haunting atmosphere, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo also won an Oscar for Best Editing. The film is undoubtedly one of Fincher's best works to date, but it underperformed at the box office. Nevertheless, it remains rewatchable for its details and thrilling twists, subtle character beats, and little background details that reveal themselves after multiple rewatches. As we're not getting any sequels, it also doesn't hurt to keep rewatching this American remake.

6 'Infernal Affairs' (2002)

Infernal Affairs follows two moles: Senior Inspector Lau (Andy Lau), who is embedded in the police force on behalf of the triads, and Chan (Tony Leung), who is planted within the criminal underworld by Superintendent Wong (Anthony Wong) after he's expelled. As both men rise through the ranks, their respective superiors suspect there is a mole inside their organizations and dispatch them to catch the other.

Infernal Affairs was a massive critical and commercial success in Asia. It spawned two sequels and was remade by Martin Scorsese as the Oscar-winning The Departed. Andy Lau and Tony Leung are incredible, convincing as both outlaws and authorities and making the line between them blur even more. Infernal Affairs is immensely rewatchable for its intense pacing and thrilling set pieces, as well as amazing performances. Each repeat viewing reveals new parallels and tragic stories between the two men, making it clear why this film is called one of the best thrillers of the 21st century.

5 'Incendies' (2010)

Incendies follows twins Jeanne (Mélissa Desormeaux-Poulin) and Simon (Maxim Gaudette) as they travel to the Middle East to fulfill their mother’s final wishes which is to locate their unknown father and brother. The film then goes to flashback where it follows the mother Nawal (Lubna Azabal) as she goes through hardships caused by civil war and war crimes in her native country.

Denis Villeneuve crafts an emotionally devastating thriller that blends mystery with profound human drama. Lubna Azabal’s performance as the twins’ mother is extraordinary, anchoring the film with strength and heartbreak. Incendies was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, and it's unforgettable for its powerful storytelling and heart-wrenching final reveal. It's easy to overlook it in Villeneuve's increasingly huge filmography, but this film is still worth multiple rewatches for how carefully it plants the clues that make the twist devastating, as well as the superb story and performances.

4 'Mulholland Drive' (2001)

Mulholland Drive begins as a neo-noir mystery following aspiring actress Betty Elms (Naomi Watts) and an amnesiac woman known as Rita (Laura Harring) as they attempt to uncover Rita’s identity after a car accident in Los Angeles. The film then slowly transforms into something that blurs the lines between reality and dream, with other surreal characters joining the plot.

Mulholland Drive earned David Lynch an Academy Award nomination for Best Director and is frequently cited as one of the greatest films of the 21st century. Naomi Watts delivers a stunning breakout performance, and her pairing with Laura Harring is electric. Lynch’s masterpiece thrives on ambiguity, making it one of the most discussed and dissected thrillers of the century, not to mention an infinitely rewatchable one. Every viewing opens new interpretations, symbols, and emotional readings. Rather than providing answers, Mulholland Drive encourages audiences to revisit it again and again in search of meaning.

3 'No Country for Old Men' (2007)

In No Country for Old Men, war veteran Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and finds a suitcase full of cash. A brutal hitman named Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) is dispatched to recover the money, chasing Moss across West Texas as aging sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) struggles to investigate the case.

The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Javier Bardem’s terrifying portrayal of Anton Chigurh. In fact, Bardem’s villainous hitman ranks among cinema’s most iconic villains, while Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones provide grounded performances that keep the film flowing. With its minimalist storytelling and philosophical depth, No Country for Old Men is always rewatchable, not only as a movie that provides arthouse thrills but also as a meditation on violence and moral decay. It’s a thriller that stands the test of time, proving why it's one of the defining masterpieces of the century.

2 'Memories of Murder' (2003)

Memories of Murder follows Detective Park (Song Kang-ho), Detective Cho (Kim Roi-ha) and a Seoul-based investigator, Detective Seo (Kim Sang-kyun), as they attempt to solve a series of brutal murders targeting young women in the 1980s. The case spirals into frustration as leads dry up, suspects fall apart under scrutiny, and institutional incompetence slows their progress.

In just his second feature film, Bong Joon-ho has crafted a masterful thriller akin to David Fincher's Zodiac, which came out four years later. The film is a deeply human thriller, with a blend of realism and dark humor, including lots of jump kicks. Frequent collaborator Song Kang-ho delivers a career-defining performance here. Memories of Murder is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest Korean films ever made, and one of the most influential, too. Each rewatch reveals new layers from its brilliant storytelling, and you will also appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into each scene.

1 'Memento' (2000)

Memento follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man suffering from anterograde amnesia who can’t form new memories after his wife’s murder. Leonard relies on Polaroid photos, handwritten notes, and tattoos etched onto his body to piece together clues that are pivotal to hunt down his wife's killer. The film unfolds in reverse chronological order to mirror Leonard's fractured mind.

Memento is a thriller masterpiece for how effectively it uses its innovative structure, so that it's not just a gimmick. The reverse chronological order is integral to the emotional and thematic core of the story. Guy Pearce delivers a haunting performance, while Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano add layers of mystery and unpredictability to the film. Memento earned Academy Award nominations for Original Screenplay and Film Editing and put Christopher Nolan on the map. With each watch comes new details that can completely shift your understanding of the film. Just like how Leonard sees the world, each viewing feels like we're also solving the mystery all over again.