Deliverance
Deliverance is one of the classic survival thrillers and just might be the best that the genre has to offer thanks to its pacing, production design, and combination of natural and human obstacles that help raise it into the ranks of Greatest Films of All Time.
Die Hard
Led by breakout performances from Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, Die Hard perfectly encapsulates the classic tropes of older action films while also playing forward into modern action films with its over-the-top explosions and stunts and sprinkling of dark comedy to push the whole thing to the next level.
The Secret in Their Eyes
A combination of stellar performances and a deep story in terms of emotion and content helped win The Secret in Their Eyes an Oscar in the same way that they continue to keep it steady in people’s minds, worthy of a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal headlines Nightcrawler’s critique of the American dream and our preference for violent and disastrous media as the terrifying lead Lou Bloom, carrying the film to its gut-wrenching conclusion.
Assault on Precinct 13
Assault on Precinct 13 is an action film that gets a lot of things right – its succinctness, thrilling action, decently memorable leads, and an engagement with relevant issues all go a long way in helping make the film as great as it is, elevating the cult classic.
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Denzel Washington carries The Tragedy of Macbeth on his shoulders with the help of Frances McDormand and the rest of the supporting cast and an incredibly well-crafted production design and cinematographic offering.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Carried by its strong performers and an engrossing plot, The Talented Mr. Ripley has become a classic crime thriller that keeps you on edge until the very end of what is undoubtedly one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs is carried by Tarantino’s self-contained story about a group of criminals who can’t trust each other, which is itself carried by the excellent performances of its ensemble of a cast on its way to becoming one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Last King of Scotland
With a solid outing from James McAvoy, an awards-winning performance from Forest Whitaker, and a historical narrative that also brings its audience to the edge of their seats, it is easy to see how The Last King of Scotland achieves greatness.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Though it is a bit overstuffed toward the end, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s atmospheric production design combined with its lead actors’ strong performances turn it into a great mystery thriller.
No Time to Die
No Time to Die provides a satisfying send-off to Daniel Craig’s Bond, allowing him to showcase his acting chops as he faces off against a relatively iconic villain with a plot that is both personal and global.
The Passenger
Nicholson’s uncharacteristically subtle and nuanced performance played against a script with themes of dissatisfaction that many can relate to combined with an incredibly shot climax help make The Passenger as great as it is.
Eastern Promises
Strong leading performances go hand in hand with an authentic and compelling mob narrative in Eastern Promises to make it one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Poseidon Adventure
Character connection brought about through intentional moments and strong performances pairs with the well-crafted effects of a disaster thriller to turn The Poseidon Adventure into one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Blood Simple
The Coen Brothers’ first outing – Blood Simple – suffers at times from its small budget and limited scope but is bolstered by their familiar style, a proto-No Country story, and a stellar breakout performance by Frances McDormand as their leading lady.