In years past, we’ve seen an explosion of the thriller genre. It’s widened the scope to include films inspired by true events, and incorporate other genres. In honor of the new year, we’ve done the research—here are the thrillers we’re most excited to see in 2018.
Proud Mary (January 12)
Taraji P. Henson is starting off our year with a bang. Mary is a hit woman working for an organized crime family in Boston. Her life is turned upside down when she crosses paths with young boy after a hit fails and leaves the boy orphaned. He threatens the stability of Mary’s career as she catches herself feeling drawn to the child. Henson kicks butts and takes names in the trailer.
The 15:17 to Paris (February 9)
While on a train en route to Paris, three American friends are caught in the midst of a terrorist attack. Friendship is their greatest weapon as they fight to save the lives of the many passengers on the train. This Clint Eastwood-directed film is based on the real-life story of Anthony Sadler, Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone, three men who thwarted a terrorist attack on a Thayls train on August 21, 2015. The trio will actually play themselves in this biographical thriller-drama, providing a fresh twist to the "based on a true story" genre.
Death Wish (March 2)
When intruders break into the home of Paul Kersey, then murder his wife and rape his daughter, he snaps. Kersey, played by Bruce Willis, leaves behind his quiet life as a Chicago surgeon and takes to the streets to avenge his family, becoming a vigilante not afraid to gun down any criminal who crosses his path. This reboot of the 1974 thriller classic promises guns, guts, and gore with Eli Roth in charge.
Related: Death Wish Trailer Promises a Revenge Flick for the Ages
Red Sparrow (March 2)
After pushing her mind and body to the absolute limit, prima ballerina Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) suffers a career-ending injury. In return for her mother’s health, Dominika agrees to attend the Sparrow School—a training ground for Russian spies. After enduring a brutal training program, she emerges, not only at the top of her class, but as the most dangerous Sparrow the program has ever created. When she’s sent to America, Dominika must decide which side she’s on, and who is looking out for her at the end of the day.
7 Days in Entebbe (March 16)
Following the all too true events of the 1972 hijacking of the Air France flight traveling from Tel Aviv to Paris, 7 Days in Entebbe tells of the daring rescue mission to save those on board. With Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) and Daniel Bruhl in the lead roles, 7 Days in Entebbe aims to offer a nuanced take on the events.
Acrimony (March 30)
This upcoming psychological thriller will leave your head spinning. It follows a faithful wife named Melinda who learns that her husband Robert has been living another life—complete with another fiancée. Melinda decides to take matters in her own hands. Yet as Melinda's therapist reminds her, there may be another side to this twisted tale. Taraji P. Henson stars in the Tyler Perry-directed thriller.
Related: 8 Psychological Thriller Books That Will Torment You For Days
Ocean’s 8 (June 8)
This team’s about to pull off the greatest heist seen in years. In this sequel to Ocean’s Eleven, Danny’s sister, Debbie Ocean, played by Sandra Bullock, recruits seven others as they attempt an impossible heist during the renowned Met Gala. There are some names you may recognize in this cast: Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett, among many, many others. The trailer for Ocean’s 8 has us waiting on tenterhooks for the upcoming film.
Sicario 2: Soldado (June 29)
Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin reprise their roles as the deadly Alejandro and federal agent Matt Graver in this sequel to 2015's Sicario. The first installment found Alejandro and agent Graver waging a secretive war against the drug cartels along the U.S.-Mexico border. Now, the cartels are funneling terrorists across the border, and it’s up to the pair to put a stop to it. Sadly, both Emily Blunt and director Denis Villeneuve are absent from this sequel. Time will tell if director Stefano Sollima (Gomorrah) can conjure the same haunting imagery and high-intensity storytelling that made the first film so thrilling.
The Little Stranger (August 31)
Based on the novel by Sarah Waters, The Little Stranger follows Dr. Faraday, the son of a housemaid, who has secluded himself from society to create a quiet and refined life. When Faraday is called to the aid of the Ayers family, there’s something strange in the air. You may recognize the film’s director, Lenny Abrahamson, thanks to his work on 2015’s Room. We can expect this edge-of-your-seat suspense in The Little Stranger.
The Girl in the Spider’s Web (Oct. 19)
A follow-up to the 2011 film, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl in the Spider’s Web refocuses on the brilliant and mysterious Lisbeth Salander, a talented computer hacker. Claire Foy will star as Salander in the film, joined by Sverrir Gudnason as journalist Mikael Blomvist. Together, they’re caught in a web of international criminals and corrupt government officials. If you liked the high-intensity, pulse-pounding story of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, you’re bound to fall under the spell of this thriller.
Related: 10 Thrilling Nordic Noir Novels
Apostle (Unknown)
In search of his sister, Thomas Richardson (Dan Stevens) finds himself caught in the trappings of a religious cult. They’re demanding a ransom for his sister’s release, but what this cult will soon discover is they picked the wrong man to bait. During Thomas’s time on this remote island, he digs into the plethora of secrets and lies the commune was built on and unravels its very foundation.
Related: 10 Best Mystery Shows Currently on Air—and Where to Watch Them
Siberia (Unknown)
This thriller stars Keanu Reeves as an American diamond merchant who ventures to Russia to sell rare blue diamonds of questionable origin. But as his deals start to unravel, he finds himself in an obsessive relationship with a Russian cafe owner in a small Siberian town. As their relationship grows into a passionate love affair, the dangerous world of the diamond trade threatens to envelop him and take the lives of those he cares for most.
Above Suspicion (unknown)
This film is based on Joe Sharkey's chilling true tale Above Suspicion. For his first assignment, young FBI agent Mark Putnam (Jack Huston) travels to a small Kentucky town in the Appalachian mountains. While there, he falls into an illicit liaison with a local woman named Susan (Emilia Clarke). For Mark, she’s the key informant in his investigation. For Susan, he’s her ticket out of the tiny town. The fiery affair is destined to combust, resulting in the first known FBI agent to confess to murder.
Featured promotional still from "Ocean's 8" via Smokehouse Pictures