With heart-pounding excitement and a gripping sense of drama, thriller films have become an integral part of America's cinematic identity and one of the most popular genres around the world. While it is usually paired with complimentary genres like crime or mystery, there have been plenty of less likely genre mixes that have yielded surprisingly enthralling results, with comedy-thrillers providing some absolute treats with the subgenre's rise to prominence through the 21st century.

Whether it's social satires that pack a punch, or riveting monster movies which flaunt a comedic inflection, many of these pictures have become modern sensations due to their unusual yet alluring sensitivities. From subversive and outlandish comedies which meticulously build the suspense to subdued, but no less comical pictures which present a unique viewing experience, these comedy thriller movies offer emphatic proof that there is more to a suspense flick than just unexpected twists and disturbing characters.

12 'Saltburn' (2023)

Directed by Emerald Fennell

Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick sitting on a chair with a drink in his hand in Saltburn
Image via MGM

The second feature film written and directed by Emerald Fennell, who made an attention-grabbing debut with Promising Young Woman, 2023’s Saltburn has proven to be quite a provocative and polarizing picture. It centers on a young student struggling to fit in at Oxford University who becomes enamored with a wealthy classmate’s home, the Saltburn estate, and becomes entranced by the eccentric allure and the more sinful delights alike.

The film finds three captivating leads in Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, and Rosamund Pike, all of whom operate at their best as the film delves deeper into the darkness beneath the lavish lifestyle. Commanding and unafraid of stoking controversy and even outrage, Saltburn sends viewers on an intoxicating roller-coaster of high-life hysteria which explores the toxicity of wealth and those who idolize it as well. – Ryan Heffernan

Saltburn
R

Release Date
November 17, 2023
Director
Emerald Fennell
Cast
Rosamund Pike , Barry Keoghan , Jacob Elordi , Carey Mulligan , Archie Madekwe
Runtime
127 minutes

Watch on Amazon Prime

11 'Fresh' (2022)

Directed by Mimi Cave

A close-up shot of Daisy Edgar-Jones in Fresh. She looks concerned.
Image via Searchlight Pictures

With the compelling pairing of Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan in the lead roles, Fresh ran as a twisted psychological thriller dressed up as a rom-com with plenty of horror intrigue to boot. It follows a woman who, having grown frustrated with dating apps, starts seeing a guy she met at her grocery store and is pleasantly surprised, however her blossoming romance turns sour when she agrees to join him on a weekend getaway and learns of her new lover’s disturbing true nature.

Grounded by the two leads who are both phenomenal, Fresh is a provocative lampooning of the modern dating scene which provides a wickedly engrossing spectacle that isn’t afraid to venture into some bizarre areas. While the underlying theme has a stern focus on the exploitation of women’s bodies, Fresh plays out as a fun-loving thriller with a knack for getting under the audiences’ skin. – Ryan Heffernan

Fresh
R

Release Date
March 4, 2022
Director
Mimi Cave
Cast
Daisy Edgar-Jones , Jojo T. Gibbs , Sebastian Stan , Andrea Bang
Runtime
114 minutes

Watch on Hulu

10 'Spree' (2020)

Directed by Eugene Kotlyarenko

Joe Keery in Spree
Image via RLJE Films

With Stranger Things star Joe Keery in the leading role, Spree was an underrated comedic satire that had plenty to say about society's current obsession with social media and the desensitization towards violence. It follows a young rideshare driver desperate to become a celebrity figure on social media who sets up cameras in his car and starts killing his passengers on a live stream to develop an internet following.

Loosely inspired by real cases that co-writer Gene McHugh had read about, Spree flaunts an over-the-top indulgence in blood and gore which compliments its comedic overtones quite brilliantly. With Eugene Kotlyarenko's finely balanced direction and a sublime lead performance from Keery, Spree is a gruesome movie with plenty of bite to overcome its narrative shortcomings.

Spree
Release Date
August 14, 2020
Director
Eugene Kotlyarenko
Cast
Joe Keery , Sasheer Zamata , David Arquette , Kyle Mooney , Mischa Barton , Frankie Grande
Runtime
93 minutes

Watch on Hoopla

9 'Cocaine Bear' (2023)

Directed by Elizabeth Banks

A bear roaring while surrounding by a cloud of cocaine in Cocaine Bear’ (2023)
Image via Universal Pictures

Having become an acclaimed comic actress, Elizabeth Banks' pivot to film direction started with mixed results, but flourished with her third feature film in the pop-culture sensation Cocaine Bear. The outlandish comedy thriller took a loose basis on a true story as it followed a bear which, after ingesting a bag of cocaine, embarks on a vicious rampage in a Georgia forest which endangers the lives of cops, criminals, teenagers, and tourists alike.

A B-movie with surprisingly high production values, Cocaine Bear shines because of Banks' assured direction and a stellar cast of reliable talent. However, the titular apex predator is the Cocaine Bear's true star, brought to life with chilling accuracy and becoming the main source of chills, thrills, and laughs in this uneven but ultimately satisfying exercise in excess.

Cocaine Bear
R

Release Date
February 24, 2023
Director
Elizabeth Banks
Runtime
95 minutes

Watch on Amazon Prime

8 'I Care a Lot' (2020)

Directed by J Blakeson

Rosamund Pike as Marla Grayson smiling in front of a whiteboard covered with photos in I Care A Lot (2020)
Image via Netflix

Oscar nominee Rosamund Pike won a Golden Globe for her wicked performance in the 2020 black comedy thriller I Care a Lot. The plot centers on Marla Grayson, a ruthless court-appointed guardian who seizes her charges' assets after dumping them in assisted living facilities. Things take a dangerous turn when her most recent mark turns out to be the mother of a dangerous mafia boss.

Uncompromisingly dark and scathing, I Care a Lot relies entirely on Pike to stay afloat. The actress fares admirably, delivering a deliciously icy turn that recalls her career-best work in Gone Girl. With a brilliant supporting cast and a screenplay that shines a light on the broken and seemingly unfixable system, I Care a Lot is a venomous comedic thriller for audiences to sink their teeth into.

I Care A Lot
R

Release Date
February 19, 2021
Director
J Blakeson
Runtime
118 minutes

Watch on Netflix

7 'Black Bear' (2020)

Directed by Lawrence Michael Lavine

A despondent woman sits on a dock by a lake in a red swimsuit.
Image via Momentum Pictures

A master of dry, black comedy, Aubrey Plaza was at her brilliant best in the underrated black comedy thriller Black Bear, which became an underappreciated film due to a quiet digital release. The film sees Plaza play a filmmaker looking for creative inspiration who seeks closure for her complicated past at a rural retreat, only to find the setting feeding into her inner demons as she becomes embroiled in the marital issues of her hosts.

Odd and deliberately twisting, Black Bear excels as a showcase for Plaza's considerable talents. Supported by the ever-reliable Christopher Abbott and Sarah Gadon, Plaza arguably delivers her best performance, a provocative and evocative turn that perfectly complements the wry, insightful screenplay. Black Bear offers no clear answers, but it triumphs as a complicated look into the creative process and the intricacies of art creation.

black bear

Release Date
December 4, 2020
Director
Lawrence Michael Levine
Runtime
106

Rent on Apple TV

6 'The Menu' (2022)

Directed by Mark Mylod

Ralph Fiennes as Chef Julian Slowik smiling softly in The Menu
Image via Searchlight Pictures

Boasting an eat-the-rich narrative that is delivered with a delicious sense of horror cynicism and propped up by perfect performances from its indelible cast which includes Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and Hong Chau, The Menu was a cultural hit upon release. With stirring satirical rage, it focuses on a group of egregiously wealthy diners at an exclusive restaurant on a secluded island who discover their dinner will be far more dangerous than they imagined.

The Menu takes aim at ideas of wealth, class, and status, while also offering a searing critique of modern celebrity stardom and vain indulgence. Able to generate genuine chills as the narrative unfolds and the violent motives behind Chef's display become ever-clearer, The Menu was a perfect blending of thrills and high-minded comedy which, despite being simple in its criticisms, was defined by its great conviction.

The Menu
R

Release Date
November 18, 2022
Director
Mark Mylod
Runtime
107 minutes

Watch on Hulu

5 'I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore' (2017)

Directed by Macon Blair

Ruth and Tony in a car looking out the left window in I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore
Image via Netflix

As the criminally underrated Melanie Lynskey starts getting her dues thanks to series like Yellowjackets and The Last of Us, many new fans of the actress are being introduced to her impressive body of work which dates back to the mid-1990s. Among the best of them is 2017's black comedy thriller I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore in which Lynskey stars as Ruth, a depressed woman who sets out to find a thief with help from her quirky neighbor, Tony (Elijah Wood), after she is burglarized and the police do little to help her.

As clever as it was acidic, I Don't Feel at Home is a black comedy that had plenty to say about social dynamics in what director Macon Blair clearly viewed to be a broken and increasingly corrupt America. Lynskey and the equally brilliant Elijah Wood are a fiery combo, enhancing an already sharp screenplay to produce a cynical and poignant thriller that rewards its audience's commitment.

Watch on Netflix

4 'A Simple Favor' (2018)

Directed by Paul Fieg

Emily smiling confidently in A Simple Favor.
Image via Lionsgate

Paul Feig joins forces with the wickedly divine pairing of Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively for the campy and gleefully twisted A Simple Favor. The story follows the rapid friendship between overachieving single mom Stephanie (Kendrick) and elegant and elusive working mom Emily (Lively) and the former's efforts to locate the latter after she goes missing.

Sexy, stylish, and devilishly confident, A Simple Favor is a rousing riot. Kendrick is at her best as the intense and committed Stephanie, but the movie belongs to Lively, who delivers one of her best performances as the suave and mercurial Emily. Blending mommy drama with a thrilling mystery, A Simple Favor is a fun and dry movie, a clever ride that proves how well comedy and mystery go together.

A Simple Favor
R

Release Date
August 29, 2018
Director
Paul Feig
Cast
Anna Kendrick , Ian Ho , Joshua Satine , Glenda Braganza , Andy Rannells , Kelly McCormack
Runtime
119

Watch on Amazon Prime

3 'American Psycho' (2000)

Directed by Mary Harron

Patrick Bateman smiling while wielding an axe in American Psycho.
Image via Lionsgate Films

With its critique of masculinity and being handled with a cynical, twisted comedy that made for a movie that was ahead of its time, it is no surprise that American Psycho has become even more of a classic today than it was when it was first released in 2000. Adapted from Bret Easton Ellis' novel of the same name, it explores the lifestyle of Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a psychotic and materialistic investment banker who takes to serial killing to satiate his bloodlust.

Rising on the back of Bale's bravura performance and a razor-sharp directing display from Mary Harron, American Psycho often managed to be hilarious and disturbing at the same time. Complemented by swift social commentary, a killer soundtrack, some snazzy business cards, and no small number of shocking moments, it provides a magnificent viewing experience defined by violence and escalation.

American Psycho
R

Release Date
April 13, 2000
Director
Mary Harron
Runtime
102

Watch on Peacock

2 'Thoroughbreds' (2017)

Directed by Cory Finley

Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke as Lily and Amanda, two teenage girls, in 'Thoroughbreds'
Image via Focus Features

A triumphant comedy-thriller that also incorporates elements of horror and teen angst, Thoroughbreds coasted on the brilliant central performances of Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke to mark an impressive directorial debut from Cory Finley. It follows Lily (Taylor-Joy), a pristine upper-class student, and Amanda (Cooke), an emotionless psychopath with yearnings for violence, as they reconnect to hatch a plan to rid Lily of her abusive stepfather.

With both actresses on the cusp of their international breakouts into stardom, their acting was a delight to watch as they actively engage with the bloodthirsty screenplay which tells an intelligent and vibrant story of revenge and sisterhood. While methodical, Thoroughbreds still excels as an unpredictable and exciting story imbued with a hard-hitting edge and a refusal to settle for easy resolutions.

Watch on Hulu

1 'Parasite' (2019)

Directed by Bong Joon-ho

Choi Woo-shik, Song Kang-ho, Jang Hye-jin and Park So-dam as the Kim family folding pizza boxes in 'Parasite' in 'Parasite'
Image via Barunson E&A

The winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture amid a total of four Oscars the film won from six nominations, Parasite isn't just an outstanding comedy-thriller, but stands among the best films made this century of any genre. With Bong Joon-ho serving as the director and co-writer, it follows the struggling Kim family as they hatch a scheme to infiltrate the Park household with each of them working a different service for the wealthy family.

Timely and topical, Parasite is a modern masterpiece and a rare movie that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of modern society while also thriving as both a picture rich with ideas and world views and a commercial success. Gripping and thrilling, Parasite is smart, twisting, elegant, shocking, funny, and commanding, a near-perfect movie that juggles themes, genres, and ideas to craft a scathing takedown of capitalism and an incendiary portrayal of class struggle and wealth.

Parasite
R

Release Date
May 8, 2019
Director
Bong Joon-ho
Cast
Seo Joon Park , Kang-ho Song , Seon-gyun Lee , Yeo-Jeong Jo , Woo-sik Choi , Hye-jin Jang
Runtime
132 minutes

Watch on Max

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