Suspense Films: the 15 best of all time

You suspense films have a clear mission: to make us restless, attentive and, often, breathless.

They stir our emotions and challenge our perception. And when done well, they stay in your memory for a long time.

In this article, we have gathered the 15 best suspense films of all time — productions that made a mark in cinema, which mix tension, mystery, psychology and twists.

Prepare the popcorn and mental health!

Hugh Jackman plays a desperate father after his daughter disappears, while Jake Gyllenhaal is the detective on the case. The film delves into pain, doubt and the moral dilemma of how far one can go for justice. Tense direction by Denis Villeneuve.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Mercado Play.

Leonardo DiCaprio investigates the disappearance of a patient at an isolated psychiatric hospital. Nothing is as it seems in this psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese. Unforgettable ending.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video.

Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) and Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) create one of the most iconic dynamics in cinema. A disturbing crime thriller that won the Oscar for Best Film.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play Movies.

Alfred Hitchcock’s classic redefined the genre. The soundtrack, the shower, Norman Bates — everything became a reference. Essential for understanding modern suspense.

Where to watch: Telecine, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

Jordan Peele mixes structural racism with escalating tension in this modern thriller full of social critique. Original, uncomfortable and brilliant.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Globoplay and Apple TV.

Based on Gillian Flynn’s best-seller, it features a collapsing marriage and a missing wife. Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck shine in this puzzler directed by David Fincher.

Where to watch: Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.

“I see dead people.” The phrase became a symbol of one of the biggest plot twists in cinema. Suspense with emotion and sensitivity.

Where to watch: Mercado Play and Disney+.

Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman face a serial killer who uses the seven sins as a method. Heavy atmosphere, devastating ending. Directed by David Fincher.

Where to watch: HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Google Play Movies.

Jake Gyllenhaal discovers an identical doppelganger living a parallel life. Surreal, enigmatic and with sharp direction by Denis Villeneuve. A puzzle that stays in your head.

Where to watch: YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and Google Play Movies.

Natalie Portman delivers the performance of her career as a ballerina consumed by perfection. Extremely high psychological tension. Directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Where to watch: Mercado Play and Disney+.

Jack Nicholson plays a writer who goes crazy in an isolated hotel. Psychological horror, claustrophobic atmosphere and memorable scenes. Stanley Kubrick delivers a timeless classic.

Where to watch: HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies and Apple TV.

Winner of the Oscar for Best Film, it mixes social criticism, acid humor and an escalation of tension that culminates in a surprising outcome. Bong Joon-ho’s Korean masterpiece.

Where to watch: Globoplay, Telecine, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV.

Another Hitchcock classic, “Vertigo” is a psychological thriller that deals with obsessions, illusions and identity. One of the most studied films in the history of cinema.

Where to watch: Telecine, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Filmes, Apple TV.

Another Hitchcock classic. A photographer trapped at home begins to suspect that a neighbor has committed a crime. Pure suspense with intelligence and elegance.

Where to watch: Google Play Movies, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video.

Robert De Niro plays a lonely and disturbed war veteran in New York. Growing tension and sharp social criticism. Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Where to watch: Mercado Play, Telecine, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Google Play Filmes and Apple TV.

We’ve collected the greatest classic thriller films in this list.

These are productions that marked their name in the history of cinema and brought tension to every moment on screen.

From classic to contemporary, they all offer intense experiences, whether due to aesthetics, narrative construction or psychological density.

And if you haven’t seen any of them yet, enjoy: your next cinematic obsession could be here.

Enjoy, there’s only film!