Paramount+ added more than 60 movies to its lineup for July, and while tried-and-true Paramount regulars like , , and still linger around in the streamer's top 10, sometimes you might just want to cut to the chase with a good thriller.Worry not, thrill-seekers; we're here for you.A handful of excellent thriller movies are splayed out below for your weekend, or weekday, pleasure, including a newly added disaster epic starring Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell, a silent-but-terrifying sci-fi horror, and an intense standoff film at a dusty Arizona rest stop.
Buckle up! 3 Deepwater Horizon It's Marky Mark vs.the worst oil disaster in U.S.history New to Paramount+ this month, takes one of the worst oil disasters in U.S.
history and turns it into a harrowing and action-packed survival thriller.With a script that was crafted by Matthew Sand () and Matthew Michael Carnahan () and based on a New York Times article (and corresponding book) of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster that spilled 134 million gallons of oil into the ocean and killed 11 crew members, director Peter Berg's film drops you on the oil rig with chief electronics technician Mike Williams (Mark Wahlberg) and no-nonsense rig boss Jimmy "Mr.Jimmy" Harrell (Kurt Russell) as they contend with BP oil exec Donald Vidrine (John Malkovich) whose cost-cutting tactics pushes the behind-schedule drilling operation to the brink.
Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge Name that disaster movieTrivia challenge Earthquakes, asteroids, and tidal waves — can you identify the greatest disaster films ever made from just a few clues? ClassicsSci-FiDirectorsCastPlot Begin 01 / 8 Plot In this 1970s disaster classic, a massive ocean liner is capsized by a giant wave on New Year's Eve, and a small group of survivors must climb upward through the inverted ship to reach safety.Which film is this? AThe Towering InfernoBAirport 1975CThe Poseidon AdventureDEarthquake Correct! Released in 1972, this film became one of the defining disaster movies of the decade, earning two Academy Awards including Best Original Song.The concept of survivors navigating an upside-down ship was groundbreaking for its time. Not quite — the answer is The Poseidon Adventure (1972).
It set the template for the disaster genre with its ensemble cast and upside-down ship survival premise, earning two Oscars and inspiring a wave of similar films throughout the 1970s. Continue 02 / 8 Cast This 1996 summer blockbuster features Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum as unlikely heroes who help repel a massive alien invasion threatening to wipe out all of humanity.Name the film. AArmageddonBIndependence DayCThe Day After TomorrowDDeep Impact Correct! Independence Day became one of the highest-grossing films of 1996 and is remembered for its iconic White House destruction sequence.Director Roland Emmerich cemented his reputation as the king of large-scale disaster spectacle with this film. Not quite — the answer is Independence Day (1996).
Directed by Roland Emmerich, it paired Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum in a globe-spanning alien invasion story that grossed over $817 million worldwide and became a defining blockbuster of the 1990s. Continue 03 / 8 Directors This 1997 James Cameron film depicts the sinking of the world's most famous ocean liner and became the highest-grossing movie of all time upon its release, winning 11 Academy Awards. What is it? AThe Poseidon AdventureBA Night to RememberCTitanicDS.O.S.Titanic Correct! Titanic tied the record for most Oscar wins in a single night alongside Ben-Hur and later All About Eve.James Cameron famously said 'I'm king of the world' at the ceremony, echoing the film's iconic line.
It held the box office record for 12 years. Not quite — the answer is Titanic (1997).James Cameron's epic romance and disaster film dominated the box office and awards season, winning 11 Oscars and remaining the highest-grossing film in history for over a decade until Cameron's own Avatar surpassed it. Continue 04 / 8 Sci-Fi In this 1998 disaster film, NASA discovers that a massive comet is on a collision course with Earth and sends a crew of veteran astronauts — including one played by Robert Duvall — to destroy it.Which film is this? AArmageddonBMeteorCSeeking a Friend for the End of the WorldDDeep Impact Correct! Deep Impact was released just two months before the similarly themed Armageddon in 1998, making it part of a famous Hollywood trend of competing twin films.
It was notable for its emotional tone and its depiction of a Black president, played by Morgan Freeman. Not quite — the answer is Deep Impact (1998).While Armageddon gets more pop culture attention, Deep Impact came first and took a more grounded, character-driven approach. Morgan Freeman's portrayal of the U.S.president was widely praised and considered ahead of its time. Continue 05 / 8 Classics This 1974 film features an all-star cast including Steve McQueen and Paul Newman battling a catastrophic fire in the world's tallest skyscraper during its grand opening night.
Name the film. ABackdraftBThe Towering InfernoCFirestormDThe Poseidon Adventure Correct! The Towering Inferno was produced jointly by two rival studios — Warner Bros.and 20th Century Fox — marking a rare Hollywood collaboration.It received eight Oscar nominations and won three, making it one of the most acclaimed disaster films ever made. Not quite — the answer is The Towering Inferno (1974).
This film is remarkable for being co-produced by two competing studios and for assembling one of the greatest ensemble casts in disaster film history.It won three Academy Awards and remains a benchmark of the genre. Continue 06 / 8 Plot A paleoclimatologist warns that global warming is triggering a catastrophic new ice age, but his warnings are ignored until massive superstorms begin freezing entire cities in seconds. Which disaster blockbuster is this? AGeostormBSnowpiercerCFrozen (2010)DThe Day After Tomorrow Correct! Released in 2004, this Roland Emmerich film used then-cutting-edge CGI to depict the Statue of Liberty buried in ice and a frozen-over Los Angeles. Despite mixed critical reviews, it sparked genuine public conversations about climate change and grossed over $540 million worldwide. Not quite — the answer is The Day After Tomorrow (2004).Directed by Roland Emmerich, the film dramatized rapid climate collapse in spectacular fashion.
Scientists critiqued its timeline as wildly exaggerated, but it remains one of the most commercially successful climate-themed films ever made. Continue 07 / 8 Cast In this 1998 Michael Bay film, a ragtag crew of oil drillers — led by Bruce Willis — is recruited by NASA and trained to land on a massive asteroid and drill into its core to save Earth from destruction.What is it? ADeep ImpactBGravityCArmageddonDThe Martian Correct! Armageddon was the highest-grossing film of 1998 and is famous for its over-the-top action and Aerosmith's power ballad 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing.' NASA reportedly uses the film in management training — asking new hires to identify as many scientific inaccuracies as they can. Not quite — the answer is Armageddon (1998).Michael Bay's bombastic blockbuster topped the global box office that year and is beloved for its sheer excess.
Perhaps most famously, NASA has used the film in training exercises to challenge employees to spot its many scientific errors. Continue 08 / 8 Directors This Steven Spielberg-directed 2005 film follows a divorced father desperately trying to protect his children as Earth is systematically devastated by towering alien war machines that have lain dormant underground for centuries.Name the film. ACloverfieldBSignsCWar of the WorldsDA Quiet Place Correct! Spielberg's adaptation of H.G.Wells' classic novel starred Tom Cruise and was praised for its visceral, ground-level perspective on an alien invasion.
The film grossed over $591 million worldwide and is notable for depicting mass destruction with unusual emotional weight and realism. Not quite — the answer is War of the Worlds (2005).Steven Spielberg modernized H.G.Wells' 1898 novel with Tom Cruise in the lead role.
Unlike many disaster films of its era, it focused on the chaos from an ordinary person's perspective rather than showing military or government responses. See My Score Challenge Complete Your Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again Nominated for two Oscars for its booming sound editing and visual effects, if rumbling, realistic audio, and intense and eye-popping visuals and action-sequences are your thing, will not disappoint.Strap in for the ride as safety systems fail, the rig is engulfed in flames and starts to sink, and when the big blowout finally comes, it's staged with terrifying, ground-shaking realism.Rounding out the cast of this critically-adored thriller (82% on Rotten Tomatoes) are Gina Rodriguez and Kate Hudson.
Deepwater Horizon PG-13 Drama Action Release Date September 30, 2016 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT Cast Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, Gina Rodriguez, Dylan O'Brien, Kate Hudson, J.D.Evermore, Ethan Suplee, David Maldonado, Henry Frost, Jeremy Sande, Brad Leland, Douglas M.Griffin, Joe Chrest, James DuMont, Chris Ashworth, Rob Steinberg, Peter Berg, Anthony 'Ace' Thomas, Stella Allen, Jason Kirkpatrick, Robert Walker Branchaud, Jonathan Angel, Juston Street, Henri Esteve Runtime 107 minutes Director Peter Berg Writers J.C.
Chandor, Matthew Michael Carnahan, Matthew Sand Producers David Womark, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson Main Genre Drama Budget $110 million Studio(s) Lionsgate Distributor(s) Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment Executive Producer(s) Jeff Skoll, Jonathan King Powered by Expand Collapse 2 A Quiet Place Emily Blunt has to zip it to keep her family alive in this horror thriller I loved this movie so much when it arrived in theaters in 2018 for a couple of reasons—it was written and directed by Jim from , and it was an alien sci-fi thriller that was unlike anything I had ever seen in that there was almost no dialogue.Apparently, I wasn't the only one who loved , as the sleeper hit went on to spawn a $900-million franchise, and (ironically) earned an Oscar nod for its sound editing.Krasinski directs and stars as Lee Abbott, who—alongside wife Evelyn (real-life wife Emily Blunt), deaf daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and son Marcus (Noah Jupe)—has kept his family alive on a secluded farm for more than a year after a species of blind alien monsters with lethal hearing has wiped out most of humanity.
There’s a big problem, though: Evelyn is pregnant, and babies aren't exactly quiet little things.The Abbotts prepare for the newborn while also trying to find ways to stay quiet, and maybe combat the terrifying predators that are hell-bent on eradicating humankind.is the film that kicks off the main timeline, and with and the prequel streaming on Paramount+ too ( due in theaters July 30, 2027)—there's never been a better time to catch up.
Just be quiet about it.A Quiet Place PG-13 Horror Drama Science Fiction Release Date April 6, 2018 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Cast John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cade Woodward, Leon Russom, Rhoda Pell Runtime 90 Minutes Director John Krasinski Writers John Krasinski, Scott Beck, Bryan Woods Producers Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Celia D.Costas, Michael Bay, Allyson Seeger Main Genre Horror Box Office $341 million Budget $17 million Studio(s) Platinum Dunes, Sunday Night Productions Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Powered by Expand Collapse 1 Last Stop in Yuma County A desert pit stop goes horribly wrong Don't let its nondescript, slightly misleading title fool you— should have been called something like Everyone's Got a Gun at the Diner.
The top pick on my list this week, this crime-thriller was one of the best-reviewed movies of 2024—it still sits at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes—and is proof that you don't need a big budget to keep an audience squirming.And you will.Writer/director Francis Galluppi's (who’ll be directing the upcoming Evil Dead Wrath) first feature finds a mild-mannered guy known simply as The Knife Salesman (Jim Cummings) at a lonely gas station and diner in the Arizona desert.
It’s quiet, no one’s around, and the pumps have gone dry until the fuel truck arrives.While waiting in the diner with its lone waitress, Charlotte (Jocelin Donahue), a pair of bank robbers, Beau (Richard Brake) and Travis (Nicholas Logan), wander in, fresh off a heist and with a bag of stolen cash.They need gas, too, so the rule is, shut up, go about your day, and no one gets hurt.
Well, that doesn't go as planned, and each new customer through the door winds the tension a little tighter.At a lean 90 minutes, this sun-bleached, '70s-flavored pressure cooker builds to a finale you won't see coming.The Last Stop in Yuma County NR Crime Thriller Release Date May 10, 2024 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT Cast Jim Cummings, Jocelin Donahue, Richard Brake, Nicholas Logan, Faizon Love Runtime 90 Minutes Director Francis Galluppi Writers Francis Galluppi Main Genre Crime Studio(s) Random Lane Productions, Local Boogeyman Productions, Carte Blanche Distributor(s) Well Go USA IMDb ID tt11674730 TMDB User Rating 0 .0 Powered by Expand Collapse Thrills, chills, and oil spills A great thriller can add some fun and excitement to your movie night and doesn't usually come with a lot of baggage or deep thinking.
These three picks have been vetted by me and are all highly rated on Rotten Tomatoes as well.But for more weekend watch ideas (or more thriller ideas on Netflix), browse the rest of our streaming coverage on How-To Geek Paramount Plus Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams 3 Live TV Select live sports (NFL on CBS & UEFA Champions League) Price Starting at $8/month or $60/year Stream on Paramount+ Expand Collapse
Read More
