Martha sits in the grass at the cult's commune, shielding her face from the sun in Martha Marcy May Marlene Image via Fox Searchlight Pictures By Remus Noronha Published Jun 26, 2026, 12:51 AM EDT Remus is a writer, editor, journalist, and author with an eye for detail and an extremely active imagination. He is an enthusiast of everything to do with the graphic medium, whether it's Western comics and their adaptations or manga and anime. Remus is also the author of the sci-fantasy novel Once Upon a Time in Hyperspace and several works of short fiction in the mystery, comedy, and horror genres. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread 1 Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Over the years, the thriller genre has delivered numerous entertaining films that have sparked the interest of critics and audiences worldwide, with many of them becoming perennial favorites that people return to time and again. The best of these are the movies that tell gripping stories brought to life with artful direction, impeccable production, and charismatic performances. But sometimes, as the years wear on, even the most perfect thrillers can become sadly forgotten.
That’s certainly the case with the movies we’re discussing here, whose twisted plots and layered characters have more or less faded from the public consciousness. But though forgotten, these films are still just as perfect as they were when they first hit screens. So, without further ado, here’s a look at some of the most perfect thriller movies that practically nobody remembers.
A stressed looking Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell) in 'Phone Booth' Image via 20th Century Fox Directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Larry Cohen , Phone Booth is a psychological thriller starring Colin Farrell as a New York City publicist who happens to use a public phone booth in Times Square. He is then targeted by a hidden sniper who threatens to kill him and the people he loves unless he does exactly what he tells him to. Besides Farrell, the film also stars Forest Whitaker , Katie Holmes , Radha Mitchell , and Kiefer Sutherland .
Phone Booth was quite favorably received after its world premiere at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival, but its theatrical release was delayed until the next year because of the real-life D.C. sniper attacks. Once released, the movie became a box office success, and even though the film isn’t very well-remembered, it’s still a thoroughly absorbing watch with a great, contained story and excellent performances. If you like your thrillers Hitchcockian and your villains as enigmatic as they are charismatic, then this 2000s classic is a must-watch.
Michelle Monaghan sitting down next to Robert Downey Jr in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Image via Warner Bros. Pictures Written and directed by Shane Black in his directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a neo-noir black comedy crime thriller inspired by the 1941 Brett Halliday novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them . Robert Downey Jr. stars as Harry Lockhart, a thief fleeing a burglary gone wrong, who is mistaken for an actor and cast in a movie. When he arrives in Hollywood, Harry befriends a private detective ( Val Kilmer ) and finds himself drawn into a treacherous murder investigation. The movie also stars Michelle Monaghan and Corbin Ber…