Sometimes we want to be terrified by what we watch, other times laugh, cry, or be left shocked – and sometimes we want it all.
From police procedurals to twisted romances and exhilarating heists, thriller movies often have us going through a range of emotions.
And the 1990s brought us some of the genre’s most iconic titles, from Trap director M. Night Shyamalan’s most legendary twist, to one of the inspirations behind this year’s horror hit Longlegs.
If you’re looking to enjoy a thrilling trip through cinema history, we’ve rounded up 15 essential 90s thriller films everyone should watch at least once.
And what’s better is that they’re all available on streaming platforms in the UK right now.
Misery
In the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s acclaimed novel, Kathy Bates traumatised a generation as the terrifying Annie Wilkes.
After a serious car crash, novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who claims to be his biggest fan, bringing him to her remote cabin to recover before her true, controlling motives come to light.
Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+
Cube
Directed by Vincenzo Natali, 1997 thriller Cube follows a group of strangers who awaken to find themselves placed in a giant cube.
To escape they must work together and use their individual skills to work their way through an endless maze of deadly traps – but all is not what it seems.
Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and the Sky Store
The Usual Suspects
Released in 1995, Bryan Singer’s The Usual Suspects brings together Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Chazz Palminteri, and Kevin Pollak in one of the most twisty thrillers.
In it, con man Roger ‘Verbal’ Kint (Spacey) is interrogated by the police after surviving a deadly shoot-out. He reveals a story about five criminals led by a notorious mastermind named Keyser Soz and the events that led to the massacre.
Where to watch: Prime Video via an MGM+ subscription
True Romance
Romance crime story True Romance, released in 1993, follows pop culture-obsessed Elvis fanatic Clarence (Christian Slater) and a prostitute named Alabama (Patricia Arquette) who fall in love.
Clarence breaks the news to her pimp Drexl Spivey (Gary Oldman) but ends up killing him. In the process, he grabs a suitcase of cocaine and goes on the run from the mob, who are soon after him and Alabama.
Where to watch: Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and the Sky Store
Heat
Directed by Michael Mann, 1996’s Heat is about Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro), a professional thief, who hopes to pull off one last heist before he retires – despite being under constant surveillance from police detective Lt Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino).
The star-studded film also features Val Kilmer, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, and Natalie Portman.
Where to watch: Disney+
The Fugitive
Tommy Lee Jones, Harrison Ford, Julianne Moore, Sela Moore, and Joe Pantoliano are all among the cast of Andrew Davis’ 1993 hit The Fugitive.
After wrongly being accused of murdering his wife, Richard Kimble (Ford) escapes from custody while being taken to prison and vows to find the man responsible for her death,
Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and the Sky Store
Blue Steel
Before cementing her success as a scream queen in the Halloween franchise, Jamie Lee Curtis appeared in Kathryn Bigelow’s 1990 crime drama Blue Steel.
She stars as Megan Turner, a new female recruit in the police, who catches the attention of murderer Eugene Hunt (Ron Silver) after she arrests him.
Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and the Sky Store
The Sixth Sense
M. Night Shyamalan shocked film fans in 1999 with one of cinema’s biggest twists in his supernatural thriller The Sixth Sense.
The iconic film follows Dr Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), a psychologist who is called to help troubled child Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) who is struggling with a unique problem.
Where to watch: Disney+
The Bone Collector
Released in 1999, Phillip Noyce’s The Bone Collector follows policewoman Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie) who is investigating a serial murderer whose calling card is a small shard of bone extracted from each of his victims.
Unable to decipher the cryptic clues the killer leaves behind, she contacts quadriplegic forensic criminology expert Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) to help.
Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and the Sky Store
Se7en
David Fincher delivered one of the most gut-punching twists on screen in his 1995 thriller Se7en.
As he prepares to return, Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is paired with relative newcomer Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) on one last case to catch a serial killer whose crimes are linked to the seven deadly sins.
Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and the Sky Store
Face/Off
John Woo’s cult classic Face/Off, released in 1997, follows FBI Special Agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) and terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) who undergo an experimental surgery to swap their faces and, in the process, their identities.
Under their new identities, the new Archer uses his alias to elicit information about a bomb, while the new Troy tries to track down the doctor who performed the surgery.
Where to watch: Disney+
Eyes Wide Shut
Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut is still one of the most talked-about and controversial movies of all time.
It stars former married couple Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise as onscreen married couple Alice and Bill Harford who fall into an underground group obsessed with sex after Alice admits to fantasising about another man.
Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+ and the Sky Store
Cape Fear
Martin Scorcese released the mind-blowing thriller Cape Fear in 1991 starring Juliette Lewis, Jessica Lange, Nick Nolte, and Robert De Niro.
It follows convicted rapist Max (De Niro) who, after serving a 14-year prison sentence for the crime, stalks his defence lawyer Sam (Nolte) and his family for concealing evidence in his trial.
Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and the Sky Store
Basic Instinct
Basic Instinct, the hit 1992 neo-noir thriller, follows police detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) as he investigates the brutal murder of retired rock star Johnny Boz (Bill Cable).
The prime suspect is charismatic writer Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), who soon embarks on a passionate and intense relationship with Curran.
Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Apple TV+ and the Sky Store
The Silence of The Lambs
Jonathan Demme’s history-making adaptation of The Silence of The Lambs chills viewers to this day.
Jodie Foster stars as Clarice Starling, a top student at the FBI’s training academy who wishes to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a psychiatrist serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism, who she believes could give her insight into a current serial killer case.
Where to watch: Prime Video via an MGM+ subscription
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