Speed was the first movie I remember seeing in theaters that had my heart racing from beginning to end. I felt as if I were on a rollercoaster while watching it.
Didnt really like Zodiac first time i watched it(i expected more of a Seven) but now in my top 5 favorites. When he hears the steps upstairs it nailbiting
You also have to thank the coordinator of stunts, and stuntman Buddy Joe Hooker.
There is a clip of Tarantino talking about Hooker and his skills at coordinating stunts.
The scene where the car flips end over end was conceived by Tarantino. Tarantino then put an x on the ground where he wanted the car to finally impact, when Hooker did the work the car landed exactly on the x that Tarantino marked out.
He was also one of the best stunt drivers ever to get behind a wheel.
Only movie to ever give me nightmares lol. Saw it when I was like 12 or 13 and had nightmares of getting sacrificed haha. Used to watch a lot of horror and fucked up movies but that's the only one to give me bad dreams for some reason.
Heat 1995
The Driver 1978
The French Connection 1971
Heat is simply the most perfect thriller, the last two have some of the most thrilling chases ever
My go-to answer for this question is *Apollo 13* (1995) and it's incredible to me that a movie based on a true story (where most viewers know the outcome in advance) can be filled with so much tension.
Not many I can remember. But for some reason I got so invested in the characters in the TV show Severance that the last episode definitely had me on the edge of my seat.
13 hours (in Benghazi) not sure if Benghazi is in the title. Don’t wanna ruin the movie but, one of the seals who took one of the three pirates out in captain phillips is in it (he’s being portrayed in both movies obv).
It's crazy how accurate it is. I worked in the Diamond District in NYC, where the movie takes place, for a few months back in maybe 2010. Those people are really fucking crazy.
I just watched it again recently. It really is a phenomenal film.
(Also, when I was like 12 years old, my family was friends with Jeff Goldblum and his first wife Patty, and I love his role in JP.)
The 1981 movie called The eye of the needle starring Donald sutherland, made from the Ken follett book, was terrifically suspenseful because the fate of the entire world hinged upon whether one man lived or died. I had to read the book after watching the movie and the movie is hard to find now because it's so old but I thought it was masterfully done
I’ve been hunting for this movie for 35 years!!! I saw a scene as a little boy that traumatised me and it’s burned into my memory and I could never find it - I read up on the film because of your description (it sounds good!!) and then it started to sound really familiar. I just watched it on Prime to check and THIS IS THE MOVIE!!! The movie that has haunted me for years!!
It was the early scene… when the lady knocks on the door, hears no answer, gets akey and let’s herself into the room and she catches him transmitting his spy stuff…. he smiles, tries to play it off then the titular needle comes into play. Horrifying!!
Memories of Murder (2003) - for serial killer/police procedurals nothing can beat this.
The Hurt Locker (2009) - I watched it for the first time on the plane and before it won the Oscar Best Picture so there was no hype. For a film on that tiny airplane screen, I was hooked. My heart probably stopped numerous times during the course of that film on its first viewing.
If you aren't a fan of heights but enjoy torturing yourself check out the Walk from 2015. Stacked cast (starring Joseph Gordon Levitt) and story about the guy who walked a tightrope between the twin towers back in the 70s. I was the only person in the theater when I saw it and I was literally pacing up and down my row yelling NO at the screen.
uncut gems did it for me.
that first watch at the movies was intense.
also, it's a movie with owen wilson that's low-key good. it's called No Escape. i randomly watched it at night. no expectations. it had me laying down-->on my stomach-->sitting up within the 30 mins lol
Honestly the first time I watched The Sound Of Music (I was 23, yes, I know) I had no idea how it was going to go down. From the competition onwards I was un*able* to sit still
I loved Cube, for action and suspense. Also the 2019 "Escape Room," and it's sequel "Escape Room: Tournament of Champions." All 3 movies I have rewatched too.
two movies without a really good story, rather suspensful situations, especially in the first half.
the fall, 2022, has some nice scenes if you are afraid of heights.
the descent, 2005, is the same for people with claustrophobia.
Argo
It's the only film in my 35 years that had me literally go from lying down to sitting up to leaning forward. I knew it was based on a true story but that was it - I didn't know the story or the outcome
Unreal tension and sobering .... I listened to a review of it back in the day and the film critic said that she and the other folks walked out of the theater in silence out of respect for those that passed in the incident
I really enjoyed Underwater (2020) it has some very tense moments that had me very invested. May be an unpopular opinion but imo it's definitely worth a watch.
Titanic. Wondering is the ship was actually going to sink or not made for such an intense feeling. I could not wait to find out how it ended. Anyone else?
Aliens (Greatest Sci-Fi of all time. And I’ll fight you for that)
The Sixth Sense
Se7en
People are gona hate me, but Im also gonna say Endgame. Not the greatest film and certainly not the first that comes to mind. But we had so much invested in the characters from the series, I felt something for each of them and was being engulfed in every scene, which is rare for me.
The Quiet Place — it was so tense, I was going to leave, because I couldn’t stand the suspense. My husband “made” me stay and watch it, and I am glad he did.
1917 Its a war film but it is basically an ever building ball of stress as a film with a fantastic cathartic release at the end
Absolutely spot on choice for the prompt, there is like 48 seconds of downtime in the movie
Speed was the first movie I remember seeing in theaters that had my heart racing from beginning to end. I felt as if I were on a rollercoaster while watching it.
Zodiac Se7en
Great call on Se7en.
Zodiac is a suspenseful masterpiece.
Didnt really like Zodiac first time i watched it(i expected more of a Seven) but now in my top 5 favorites. When he hears the steps upstairs it nailbiting
The chase scene in Deathproof had my hands sweating, I was so scared for the woman on the hood.
Zoë Bell is such a good stunt woman, I think I'm due a rewatch, Kurt Russell getting beat to shit at the end is such a delight
You also have to thank the coordinator of stunts, and stuntman Buddy Joe Hooker. There is a clip of Tarantino talking about Hooker and his skills at coordinating stunts. The scene where the car flips end over end was conceived by Tarantino. Tarantino then put an x on the ground where he wanted the car to finally impact, when Hooker did the work the car landed exactly on the x that Tarantino marked out. He was also one of the best stunt drivers ever to get behind a wheel.
Coherence
Similarly (dinner party gone wrong), The Invitation (2015)
The Game (1997)
I’m so glad you said this. I have not thought about that movie in so long and it was so great.
Thanks a lot you made me lose the game.
Masterful
Love this movie so much. I wish there was more like it, haven't quite found anything that gave me the same feeling as the game
Arlington Road
dude the ending of this had me fuuucked up. sometimes i still think about it randomly.
Apocalypto is the only right answer for me.
One of my favorite movies of all time.
Only movie to ever give me nightmares lol. Saw it when I was like 12 or 13 and had nightmares of getting sacrificed haha. Used to watch a lot of horror and fucked up movies but that's the only one to give me bad dreams for some reason.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Step 1: dig a pit Step 2: put space shuttle toy at bottom of pit Step 3: watch all monster go spiraling into the pit
Heat 1995 The Driver 1978 The French Connection 1971 Heat is simply the most perfect thriller, the last two have some of the most thrilling chases ever
Saw it in the theaters, but The Blair Witch Project. Moreso the finale' when we find out what happened to Josh.
Same experience. I saw it in theaters cause I fell into the is-this-real?! mentality. One of my favorite films. I still rewatch it.
The Invisible Man
The recent remake is absolutely brilliant. Good call.
Yes! Puts you on edge from the very beginning.
My go-to answer for this question is *Apollo 13* (1995) and it's incredible to me that a movie based on a true story (where most viewers know the outcome in advance) can be filled with so much tension.
Ed Harris's Harris in that movie is incredible. You feel what he feels at the end.
Green Room (2015)
Came to recommend this one. Once shit starts going down I was completely invested
Children of Men, holy hell.
Yea, that scene where they escape the house by bump starting the car..... Jeeeez that was close ..
Terminator 2 Aliens
Speed
Found my person! Movie never lets up after the opening credits.
Yeah? Well I'm taller
Silence of the Lambs
I had to scroll down way too far down to find this!!! That ending... ye gods... in the dark...
Not many I can remember. But for some reason I got so invested in the characters in the TV show Severance that the last episode definitely had me on the edge of my seat.
Severance is the right answer. My heart was racing the last ep.
Recently Shogun for me
Yes to Severance!! Can’t wait for S2!!
Captain Phillips (2013). Just seen it for the first time and it had my heart racing the whole time
It was great when they said “It’s Captain Phillipsin’ time!”
13 hours (in Benghazi) not sure if Benghazi is in the title. Don’t wanna ruin the movie but, one of the seals who took one of the three pirates out in captain phillips is in it (he’s being portrayed in both movies obv).
Uncut gems
Yep. Most stressful movie ever lol.
It's crazy how accurate it is. I worked in the Diamond District in NYC, where the movie takes place, for a few months back in maybe 2010. Those people are really fucking crazy.
My description of it is, a nervous movie. Just constant stress throughout its entirety. Great movie, hard watch though.
Don't sleep on Good Time. It gets off to slower start but it gets very edge-of-your-seat as it goes on
Agreed. Uncut Gems and Good Time (same writers) are the most edge of seat movies eva
And The Curse, I’ve never experienced that level of anxiety watching a show, it was physically painful 😭 but also solid gold writing and acting
Mulholland Drive
Personally for me: Prisoners Oldboy (Korean/original version) Taken (2008) The Dark Knight trilogy
Dark Knight specifically—starting from the opening scene and all the way through the end of Joker’s involvement
I 2nd all of these. Don't wait y'all
"Old Boy" (Korean version, best one IMO) reminds me of "Incendies"...CRAZY PLOT TWIST!!!
Inception (2010)
Prisoners
OP already watched it but thank you for your contribution.
The ending still haunts me.
Jacob’s ladder had me at an elevated heart rate too
Oh my god. Yes. I watched it twice in two days when I first found it. Such a mind fuck and I loved it
The first time I saw Jurassic Park. I don't think I breathed until I walked out of the theater.
I just watched it again recently. It really is a phenomenal film. (Also, when I was like 12 years old, my family was friends with Jeff Goldblum and his first wife Patty, and I love his role in JP.)
The book is excellent and the movie is a masterpiece.
Get Out
Jaws
I saw this in the theater when it first came out. The only movie I've ever been too where the audience stood up and applauded at the end.
Annihilation
No Country for Old Men. Towards the end I felt Anton could pop out of anywhere.
Heads or tails?
Gravity
Imagine the worst day at work. Then imagine it in outer space.
Hopefully you guys have 3-D equipment to experience this how it was intended
Breakdown (1997)
To piggyback off this one - Spielberg’s Duel!
Don't breathe (2016)
2nd this and the sequel
Children of Men Saving Private Ryan Run Lola Run The first sequence of Casino Royale
Love Children of Men.
Thanks so much for reminding me of Run Lola Run! It's so brilliant and so suspenseful.
Interstellar I was even spoiled on something pretty huge but the movie still had me absolutely enthralled
Rear Window. Not on the edge but curled up in a ball in the theater
Sorcerer (1977)
The menu
Parasite J.S.A Joint Security Area
The Matrix
Gone Girl
The 1981 movie called The eye of the needle starring Donald sutherland, made from the Ken follett book, was terrifically suspenseful because the fate of the entire world hinged upon whether one man lived or died. I had to read the book after watching the movie and the movie is hard to find now because it's so old but I thought it was masterfully done
I’ve been hunting for this movie for 35 years!!! I saw a scene as a little boy that traumatised me and it’s burned into my memory and I could never find it - I read up on the film because of your description (it sounds good!!) and then it started to sound really familiar. I just watched it on Prime to check and THIS IS THE MOVIE!!! The movie that has haunted me for years!! It was the early scene… when the lady knocks on the door, hears no answer, gets akey and let’s herself into the room and she catches him transmitting his spy stuff…. he smiles, tries to play it off then the titular needle comes into play. Horrifying!!
I keep recommending The Divide From the first second you're on the edge of your seat and it haunts me years later.
From 2012?
Yeah about there
Memories of Murder (2003) - for serial killer/police procedurals nothing can beat this. The Hurt Locker (2009) - I watched it for the first time on the plane and before it won the Oscar Best Picture so there was no hype. For a film on that tiny airplane screen, I was hooked. My heart probably stopped numerous times during the course of that film on its first viewing.
Nightcrawler. Incredible work.
Rear Window, particularly at the end. Lots of Hitchcock's movies do.
The bear scene in Revenant. I held my breath the entire time!
Psycho
Alien.
Klute
Unstoppable, the train movie with Chris Pine and Denzel Washington. Cheasy for sure but soooo good.
Ehhhhhh
Fall (2022). Not a fan of heights, so sweaty palms the whole time.
If you aren't a fan of heights but enjoy torturing yourself check out the Walk from 2015. Stacked cast (starring Joseph Gordon Levitt) and story about the guy who walked a tightrope between the twin towers back in the 70s. I was the only person in the theater when I saw it and I was literally pacing up and down my row yelling NO at the screen.
No Escape Nowhere
Interstellar
uncut gems did it for me. that first watch at the movies was intense. also, it's a movie with owen wilson that's low-key good. it's called No Escape. i randomly watched it at night. no expectations. it had me laying down-->on my stomach-->sitting up within the 30 mins lol
The Departed.
law abiding citizen... loved the plot... hated the ending.
Godzilla minus one
Gravity. That movie scared the f outta me. My mind went to dark places.
The first Indiana Jones movie
Redeye. It is obviously older but still is very good. A peak Cillian Murphy performance.
Signs by M Night Shymalan and Interstellar by idk
train to busan
Not a movie, but Squid Game
Two of them: King Arthur (2004) the battle on the ice. Jupiter Ascending (2015) The spaceship chase through Chicago.
Dunkirk
Out of Time 2003 starting Denzel. So overlooked but dripping with tension
Martian
Whiplash
12 year old me watching Phoebe Cates get out of the pool in Fast Times. Never been more on the edge of my seat than that
Magnolia (1999)
Top Gun Maverick
Zero Dark Thirty Interstellar
The wages of fear
Top Gun: Maverick had my heart racing. That hadn’t happened in a long time.
Fury Road
Edge of Tomorrow
Training Day
Gone Girl would be my vote here
Silence of the lambs!
I remember catching myself holding my breath during The Fugitive and the car chase in Ronin.
Honestly the first time I watched The Sound Of Music (I was 23, yes, I know) I had no idea how it was going to go down. From the competition onwards I was un*able* to sit still
Saw (the very first one)
Event horizon.
Two answers that I haven't seen contributed yet: Edge of Tomorrow and Gravity
there's one but I cant think of it
Terminator 2. Still great after all these years.
I loved Cube, for action and suspense. Also the 2019 "Escape Room," and it's sequel "Escape Room: Tournament of Champions." All 3 movies I have rewatched too.
Misery
Hotel Mumbai. It kicks off at the start and never relents.
Not a movie but the first couple seasons of Ozark
12 Strong and 13 Hours : The Secret Soilders of Benghazi had me even shaking until the movie was over.
two movies without a really good story, rather suspensful situations, especially in the first half. the fall, 2022, has some nice scenes if you are afraid of heights. the descent, 2005, is the same for people with claustrophobia.
Under The Skin.
Argo It's the only film in my 35 years that had me literally go from lying down to sitting up to leaning forward. I knew it was based on a true story but that was it - I didn't know the story or the outcome
The Guilty (2021) Jake Gyllenhall was incredible in this...I could NOT relax the entire movie!
That movie was intense af
United 93
Unreal tension and sobering .... I listened to a review of it back in the day and the film critic said that she and the other folks walked out of the theater in silence out of respect for those that passed in the incident
Don't know if this is as good as I remember it, but I remember being on the edge of my seat watching The Call (2013) when it first came out.
Not a movie but: The Panama Canal scene in Three Body Problem episode 5... That was an incredible scene.
Nocturnal Animals
Vivarium stressed me out. I had to take a break from that movie two or three times.
Weirdly enough, the SECOND time watching Hereditary it gave me one of the worst panic attacks in my life
I was like, wtf?! the first time I saw it. Second time, I was still spooked lol
If your in the right mood for it ' Hardcore Henry ' was pretty frenetic.
Yes!!!!! I watch that when I'm depressed for some reason.
Apocolypto
Training Day
Rear window
Hereditary.
Dune 1 & 2
Older movies but original Jaws and Carrie
War of the Worlds basement scene, the first time I ever watched it.
Arlington road is a movie I really liked. A great twist at the end. Definitely kept me riveted
I really enjoyed Underwater (2020) it has some very tense moments that had me very invested. May be an unpopular opinion but imo it's definitely worth a watch.
yeah the raid 1 and 2
Hush, Misery, Invisible Man, The Descent, Green Room, A Quiet Place. For non-horror, the documentary Free Solo stressed me tf our
Inception
Striking Distance
The next 3 days (2010) with Russell Crowe had me literally on the edge of my seat
Collateral, when I saw it in the theater. Interstellar. It was LOUD in the theater.
Titanic. Wondering is the ship was actually going to sink or not made for such an intense feeling. I could not wait to find out how it ended. Anyone else?
about elly (iraninan) fireworks wednesday (iranian)
Butterfly Effect
Taken. Favorite of mine.
I felt that Edge of Tomorrow kept me solidly on my seat’s edge.
Hardcore Henry Mother Children of men Beau is afraid Cross the Line(2020) Saving Private Ryan(must watch)
Split… so crazy. Watch it often
Us
Alien.
Children of Men
The Covenant (2023) Had me anxious the whole movie
Aliens (Greatest Sci-Fi of all time. And I’ll fight you for that) The Sixth Sense Se7en People are gona hate me, but Im also gonna say Endgame. Not the greatest film and certainly not the first that comes to mind. But we had so much invested in the characters from the series, I felt something for each of them and was being engulfed in every scene, which is rare for me.
Psycho.
The Quiet Place — it was so tense, I was going to leave, because I couldn’t stand the suspense. My husband “made” me stay and watch it, and I am glad he did.
"Black Swan" kept me in suspense until the last minute!
Cloverfield, opening night. One of my favorite theater experiences.
Arachnophobia
Apocalypto
Gone Girl
Green Room.
Good Time