Conspiracy thriller films have a way of sticking with our minds maybe it’s because they show that the authorities are hiding something and we know that actually might be true or maybe it’s just thrilling to uncover a large conspiracy even in a fictional world. We thought of compiling a list of the best and most thrilling conspiracy movies and we have only included the films that are entertaining and have a large conspiracy in their story. So, here are the 10 best conspiracy thriller movies you shouldn’t miss out on.
All the President’s Men (Rent on Prime Video)
All the President’s Men is a biographical political thriller film directed by Alan J. Pakula from a screenplay by William Goldman. Based on a 1974 non-fiction book of the same name by authors Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, the 1976 film is set during the 1972 elections and it follows the story of two reporters working for The Washington Post as they investigate a case involving the Watergate complex break-in which was later named the “Watergate scandal.” Their findings of the investigation were printed which compelled President Richard Nixon to resign from the Oval Office. All the President’s Man stars Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman in the lead roles with Jason Robards, Jack Warden, Hal Holbrook, Meredith Baxter, Jane Alexander, Martin Balsman, Stephen Collins, Ned Beatty, and F. Murray Abraham starring in supporting roles.
The Manchurian Candidate (Max & Prime Video Add-On)
The Manchurian Candidate is a neo-noir psychological political thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme from a screenplay by Daniel Pyne and Dean Georgaris. Based on a 1959 novel of the same name by author Richard Condon and a 1962 film by John Frankenheimer and George Axelrod, the 2004 film follows the story of Major Ben Marco, who was ambushed during the Gulf War with his entire squad to be saved by Sergeant Raymond Shaw, who later used his reputation to rise up in politics to become the Vice President. When Ben Marco finds an implant embedded in his back his real memories of the incident begin to return and he finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy to assassinate the President. The Manchurian Candidate stars Denzel Washington in the lead role with Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber, Jon Voight, Kimberly Elise, Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Mackie, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Ted Levine, Bruno Ganz, and Paul Lazar starring in supporting roles.
The Report (Prime Video)
The Report is a historical political drama film written and directed by Scott Z. Burns. Partly based on an article titled Rorschach and Awe by Katherine Eban, the 2019 film follows the story of Daniel J. Jones, a Senate staffer as he leads the Senate Intelligence Committee trying to investigate the use of torture by the CIA after the 9/11 attacks. The Report stars Adam Driver in the lead role with Corey Stroll, Evander Duck, Jr., Jon Hamm, Linda Powell, Annette Bening, John Rothman, Victor Slezak, Guy Boyd, Alexander Chaplin, Joanne Tucker, and Maura Tierney starring in supporting roles.
The Nice Guys (Rent on Prime Video)
The Nice Guys is a neo-noir buddy action comedy film directed by Shane Black from a screenplay co-written by Anthony Bagarozzi. The 2016 film is set in 1977 Los Angeles and it follows the story of a private investigator and a muscle for hire as they team up to find a missing girl who might have run away, but they are completely unaware of the conspiracy involving porn, politicians, and Detroit car companies which was the reason behind her disappearance. The Nice Guys stars Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in the lead roles with Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Yaya DaCosta, Keith David, Beau Knapp, Lois Smith, and Murielle Telio starring in supporting roles.
Three Days of the Condor (Prime Video & Pluto TV)
Three Days of the Condor is a political thriller film directed by Sydney Pollack from a screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Jr. and David Rayfiel. Based on a 1974 novel titled Six Days of the Condor by author James Grady, the 1975 film follows the story of Joe Turner, a bookish CIA researcher in New York as he returns from lunch and is shocked to find all of his co-workers murdered. Now, with an assassin following him at every turn, he must find out who is behind the assassinations and why is he the one being blamed for everything. Three Days of the Condor stars Robert Redford in the lead role with Faye Dunaway, Max von Sydow, Cliff Robertson, Dino Narizzano, Don McHenry, Addison Powell, John Houseman, and Tina Chen starring in supporting roles.
Sorry to Bother You (Rent on Prime Video)
Sorry to Bother You is a sci-fi dark comedy film written and directed by Boots Riley. The 2018 film follows the story of Cassius Green, a telemarketer who finds that speaking in a “white voice” over the phone helps him rise through the ranks in his office but soon he comes across an odd corporate conspiracy that will change his life forever. Now, Cassius must choose between his greed and his loved ones. Sorry to Bother You stars LaKeith Stanfield in the lead role with David Cross, Tessa Thompson, Lily James, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Patton Oswalt, Terry Crews, and Danny Glover starring in supporting roles.
Network (Rent on Prime Video)
Network is a satirical dark comedy-drama film directed by Sydney Lumet from a screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky. The 1976 film is set in a fictional television network suffering from poor ratings and we follow the story of a veteran news anchorman Howard Beale, who finds out that he is about to be fired and after hearing that he threatens to shoot himself on live television but instead of doing that, he launches into a rant about greed and modern television industry which brings even more people on the network. This incident allows an ambitious producer to make even more outrageous programs like this but this concept ends up in the Network conspiring with a revolutionary group to profit from their violent acts that get eyeballs to their channel. Network stars Peter Finch and Faye Dunaway in the lead roles with William Holden, Ned Beatty, Lee Richardson, and Beatrice Straight starring in supporting roles.
The Fugitive (Rent on Prime Video)
The Fugitive is an action thriller film directed by Andrew Davis from a screenplay co-written by Jeb Stuart and David Twohy. Based on a 1960s crime-drama series of the same name by Roy Huggins, the 1993 film follows the story of Dr. Richard Kimble a vascular surgeon in Chicago who returns home one day and is shocked to find his wife murdered. When he is wrongly accused of the crime he flees while being transported to prison and vows to find the person who committed the heinous crime but that is made difficult because of a US marshal who is hunting him down. The Fugitive stars Harrison Ford in the lead role with Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, Julianne Moore, Andreas Katsulas, and Jane Lynch starring in supporting roles.
Enemy of the State (Rent on Prime Video)
Enemy of the State is a political action thriller film directed by Tony Scott from a screenplay by David Marconi. The 1998 film follows the story of Robert Dean, who is passed a videotape containing evidence for the murder of Congressman Phil Hammersley. But suddenly his life takes a turn when a group of rogue NSA agents try to hunt him down because of the videotape. Enemy of the State stars Will Smith in the lead role with Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Regina King, Lisa Bonet, Jack Black, Jason Lee, Seth Green, Scott Caan, and Gabriel Byrne starring in supporting roles.
Chinatown (Paramount+, Pluto TV & Rent on Prime Video)
Chinatown is a neo-noir mystery film directed by Roman Polanski from a screenplay by Robert Towne. The 1974 film follows the story of Jake, a private detective specializing in matrimonial cases as he is hired by Mrs. Mulwray to spy on her husband, the builder of the city’s water system. But when Mr. Mulwray dies, Jake finds himself caught in a conspiracy involving political corruption and real estate in Southern California. Chinatown stars Jack Nicholson in the lead role with Roman Polanski, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Diane Ladd, Perry Lopez, C.O. Erickson, John Hillerman, and Roy Jenson starring in supporting roles.
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