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The Best Indie Thriller Movies, Ranked

Updated February 18, 2021 2.3k votes 279 voters 20.3k views100 items

List RulesVote up your favorite thriller movies released by independent studios.

This list contains information on the best indie thriller movies, ranked from best to worst by user votes. The best indie thriller films come in many forms. Some indie suspense movies involve life and death situations while other good indie thriller films are about revenge. A few of the best indie thrillers even took home Academy Awards.

What films will you find on this top independent thriller movies list? Memento has to be at the top. This 2000 movie followed a man – with a severe memory disorder – investigate and punish the killer who murdered his wife. The film's writer/director, Christopher Nolan, later went on to direct such big budget films as the Dark Knight franchise. Donnie Darko is another good indie thriller full of suspense.

Only God Forgives, Nicolas Winding Refn's 2013 film about an American ex-pat navigating the criminal underworld in Bangkok, is a true white-knuckle viewing experience. Other good independent thrillers featured on this list include The Usual Suspects, Drive, and American Psycho.

Do you have a favorite independent suspense film? Give the best movies a thumbs up and please add any good thrillers we may have missed.

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Donnie Darko
Drew Barrymore, Ashley Tisdale
Released: 2001
Directed by: Richard Kelly
Donnie Darko is a 2001 American supernatural drama film written and directed by Richard Kelly... more
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Fargo
Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy
Released: 1996
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Fargo is a 1996 American neo-noir dark comedy crime film written, produced, edited, and... more
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Get Out
Daniel Kaluuya, Catherine Keener
Released: 2017
Directed by: Jordan Peele
Get Out is a 2017 American horror film directed by Jordan Peele. A young African-American... more
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Prisoners
Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal
Released: 2013
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Prisoners is a 2013 American drama thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve. Two young girls... more
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Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo
Released: 2014
Directed by: Dan Gilroy
Nightcrawler is a 2014 American neo-noir thriller film written and directed by Dan Gilroy in... more
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Memento
Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss
Released: 2000
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Memento is a 2000 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan.... more
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Seven
Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow
Released: 1995
Directed by: David Fincher
Seven is a 1995 American psychological thriller film directed by David Fincher. The film stars... more
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It Follows
Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist
Released: 2014
Directed by: David Robert Mitchell
It Follows is a 2014 supernatural psychological horror film written and directed by David... more
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American Psycho
Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe
Released: 2000
Directed by: Mary Harron
American Psycho is a 2000 American neo-noir satirical psychological horror film directed by... more
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Pulp Fiction
John Travolta, Bruce Willis
Released: 1994
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
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The Usual Suspects
Kevin Spacey, Benicio del Toro
Released: 1994
Directed by: Bryan Singer
The Usual Suspects is a 1995 German-American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Bryan... more
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The Machinist
Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Released: 2004
Directed by: Brad Anderson
The Machinist is a 2004 English-language Spanish psychological thriller film directed by Brad... more
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Drive
Christina Hendricks, Ryan Gosling
Released: 2011
Directed by: Nicolas Winding
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The Astronaut's Wife
Charlize Theron, Johnny Depp
Released: 1999
Directed by: Rand Ravich
The Astronaut's Wife is a 1999 American science fiction/thriller film directed and written by... more
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One Hour Photo
Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen
Released: 2002
Directed by: Mark Romanek
One Hour Photo is a 2002 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Mark... more
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Saw
Danny Glover, Monica Potter
Released: 2004
Directed by: James Wan
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Primer
Shane Carruth, David Sullivan
Released: 2004
Directed by: Shane Carruth
Primer is a 2004 American science fiction drama film about the accidental discovery of a means... more
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The Boondock Saints
Willem Dafoe, Norman Reedus
Released: 1999
Directed by: Troy Duffy
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The Art of Self-Defense
Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola
Released: 2019
Directed by: Riley Stearns
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The Neon Demon
Elle Fanning, Karl Glusman
Released: 2016
Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
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Mulholland Drive
Naomi Watts, Billy Ray Cyrus
Released: 2001
Directed by: David Lynch
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Nocturnal Animals
Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal
Released: 2016
Directed by: Tom Ford
Nocturnal Animals is a 2016 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Tom... more
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Funny Games
Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Mühe
Released: 1997
Directed by: Michael Haneke
Funny Games is a 1997 Austrian psychological thriller film written and directed by Michael... more

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Take Shelter
Jessica Chastain, Michael Shannon
Released: 2011
Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Take Shelter is a 2011 American drama-thriller film written and directed by Jeff Nichols and... more
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The Nightingale
Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin
Released: 2018
Directed by: Jennifer Kent
The Nightingale is a 2018 Australian period thriller film directed by Jennifer Kent. In 1825... more