While the thriller genre has always been impactful and wildly popular in filmmaking, it truly came into its own late in the 20th century and leading into the 21st century. This refinement has allowed it to thrive massively in the past 25 years, with some of the most memorable and critically acclaimed films of the generation being thrillers. A significant reason these films have become so notable to modern audiences is the wide array of brilliant performances that thriller films spotlight.
The grittier and more tension-fueled energy of a thriller inherently allows actors to delve into darker sides to create great, complex, and multi-layered performances. More than any other genre, the thriller seems tailor-made to create exceptional performances from its actors, with the thriller performances of the 21st century being some of the best that the genre has ever seen. Several of these award-winning performances have even been touted among the best overall performances of the century, and some rank among the best performances of all time.
10
Nicolas Cage in ‘Pig’ (2021)
While Nicolas Cage is most commonly recognized and acclaimed for his more manic, over-the-top impulses, the inherent brilliance of his work in Pig lies in its reserved nature and inherent subtleties. He fully engrosses himself in the role of Rob Feld, a man with a fractured and intricate past who, despite all he has gone through, is willing to trudge through the pains of his past to save his beloved swine companion. The performance lacks deranged outbursts or chaotic acts of aggression yet undeniably plays into Cage’s greatest attributes as an actor.
It shows a great deal of range and continued room for growth for Cage, simultaneously delving outside his comfort zone while feeling right at home with this melancholy attitude and demeanor. His emotional performance is the cornerstone element that makes Pig such a compelling and heartfelt experience, transforming it into Cage’s essential movie of the 2020s and arguably his best film of the 21st century so far.
9
Song Kang-ho in ‘Parasite’ (2019)
By nature of being one of the most critically acclaimed and overall best thrillers of all time, nearly every performance in Parasite adds exceptional weight and impact to the overall experience. However, the standout is Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek, the patriarchal figure of a poverty-stricken family doing everything they can to get by. While one would expect his performance to be one of desperation following his family’s poor state, it ends up being one of kindhearted strength and love for his family, regardless of their situation.
The performance becomes more dynamic and layered when observing his interactions with non-family characters compared to those with his immediate family, revealing a stark shift in perception of the world around him that he doesn’t allow his family to see. Kang-ho and director Bong Joon Ho have collaborated many times over the years, so by this point in both their careers, they bring out the absolute best in one another to make each moment more dynamic and impactful than the last.
8
Sandra Hüller in ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ (2023)
The central figure in a murder mystery story is always going to be one of abject focus and attention, yetSandra Hüller‘s performance inAnatomy of a Fall reshapes traditional notions surrounding murder mysteries. Her emotional portrayal as Sandra Voyter significantly enhances the film’s overall focus on how the murder trial impacts this family unit. It’s a performance that ranges greatly and can be interpreted in multiple ways, depending on whether audiences believe she did or did not murder her husband.
Through emotional outbursts and pleas for help while in court, alongside her painful displays of anger against her husband shown off to the courtroom, Hüller makes each scene deeply memorable. Her exceptional performance acts as the key component that makesAnatomy of a Fall work so effectively, with its layers of depth and different meanings beingthe very crux and weight behind the film’s impact and rewatchability.
7
Rooney Mara in ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (2011)
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