While the 1990s tend to spark a great amount of conversation around genres like comedy or action, or even the emergence of the independent film scene, one notable genre for the time is thrillers. Audiences love great suspense films, but these films don't spur sequels and franchises the way horror or comedy vehicles do, so they often aren't afforded the same level of discussion. Yet the 1990s were a great decade for thrillers.

Update May 30, 2023: This article has been updated with even more great underrated thrillers from the 1990s.

There's particular electricity to 90s thrillers: They're stylish, vibrant, and tackled the complex nature between good and evil. The decade gave instant classics like Seven, The Silence Of The Lambs, and Misery, most notably. But beyond the respected classics, take a look at some of the decades' most overlooking thrillers. These are undersung thrillers from the 90s worth revisiting.

15 Hana-Bi (1997)

MOV_Hannabi
Film Movement

Takeshi Kitano is one of the most accomplished filmmakers in Japan. Most of his stories are subjugating thrillers that immerse audiences in the minds of people committing heinous acts. Sometimes for good, most of the time for evil. Hana-bi (known as Fireworks in the West) is a story about a disgraced police officer named Yoshitaka Nishi who faces difficulties after a botched arrest leaves two of his partners crippled and another dead.

With his wife dying of terminal leukemia, he borrows money from the Yakuza to pay for her treatment. Unable to pay back his debt, Nishi commits a bank robbery and uses the money to pay the Yakuza and numerous good deeds that will haunt him until the last moments of his life.

14 By Dawn's Early Light (1990)

MOV_ByDawn
HBO Pictures

For most of the 80s and well into the 90s, every studio was filled with films brimming with threats of World War 3. Many of these depictions played hypothetical scenarios. By Dawn's Early Light is one of the best efforts, made on a low budget. This film by Jack Sholder is based on the book Trinity's Child written by William Porchnau.

The story begins when rogue dissidents launch a nuke from a NATO silo at Russia. Russia responded to the attack, not knowing America didn't start the conflict. With America ready to respond in kind, the Russians realize the attacks come from a rogue agent. They are willing to accept an attack based on their previous response, but escalating the conflict would mean the extinction of both countries. The encompassing tension keeps an incredible pace, and you never notice this is supposed to be a made-for-tv film at all, thanks to the outstanding performances of Powers Boothe, James Earl Jones, and Martin Landau.

13 Catchfire (1990)

MOV_Catchfire
Vestron Pictures

Catchfire is one of the weirdest thrillers of the 90s. Directed by Dennis Hopper on a screenplay by Rachel Kronstadt Mann, the movie tells the story of a conceptual artist named Anne Benton (played by Jodie Foster) who must go on the run after witnessing a mafia execution. After the mob tracks her down and kills her boyfriend, Anne tries to gain access to the witness protection program but realizes the agency has been infiltrated.

The mob sends a hitman named Milo (played by Dennis Hopper) to kill her, but she manages to dodge him for years. After finally catching up to Anne, Milo confesses he loves her and keeps her captive. She slowly begins to fall for him, leading to Milo being targeted by the mob as he fails to accomplish his mission. With Anna and Milo both a target now, they must face their pursuers and take them out before disappearing forever and searching for a new life in greener pastures.

12 Clockers (1995)

Clockers by Spike Lee
Universal Pictures

Clockers is a crime thriller directed by Spike Lee and produced by Martin Scorsese. Fun fact about this underrated classic: the film was supposed to be directed by Scorsese himself, but he chose to make Casino over this movie. The feature stars Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Delroy Lindo, and Mekhi Phifer. It's a harrowing story about a group of "clockers," the nickname used to refer to drug dealers in housing projects located in Brooklyn.

Related: 15 Thrillers With Perfect Endings

A kid named Strike is tasked with the dirty work of his boss Rooney, but he's unwilling to kill anyone, so he pegs the work on his mentally unstable brother. The police, who usually don't give a damn about crime in the suburbs, make a big deal out of this occurrence as the story of the perpetrator has too many holes in it. Strike has to deal with the backlash of his actions and ensure nothing can get pinned on him or his boos, which he fails miserably to do at every turn. Ultimately, he's left with very little and put on a train to search for a better life away from the slums.

11 Hackers (1995)

Hackers 1995
MGM/UA Distribution Co.

Hackers is a minor cult classic directed by Iain Softley and starring Jonny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie. It's a story about a group of young kids using the internet to gain clout and power (don't be surprised, things weren't that different back in the 90s). The film plays like a spy thriller, with former hackers forced into government work taking notice of their handiwork being used for other purposes.

They sic the Secret Service on these young upstarts who must do anything in their power to avoid being captured. Meanwhile, another hacker collective want their talents to capsize a company's oil tanker fleet. The game of cat and mouse involves dated technology, but the stakes feel real, as well as the excellent resolution that allows our main characters to walk away scott-free. Hackers is one of the most 90s movies ever, from the fashion to the lingo, and is an engaging thriller not to be overlooked.

10 Breakdown (1997)

Protagonist of Breakdown 1997
Paramount Pictures

Calling a 90s Blockbuster starring Kurt Russell "undersung" or "underrated" may seem out of touch, but the fact is Breakdown doesn't receive enough praise for being an agreeable, fun, and partially frightening chase flick. The movie follows a couple as they are moving cross-country to California. When they find themselves stranded in the desert, a trucker gives the wife a ride to a local diner to phone for help. The husband goes looking for his wife only to discover nobody has any idea who or where she is, and it becomes a missing person search and chase for the ages.

Breakdown is about as good as a mediocre film could be or as mediocre as a good film could be, but Breakdown is worth the watch. There's much fun to be had: This is a nail-biter that ups the ante and heightens tension around every corner. Breakdown is a bit Spielberg's Duel meets Deliverance in that it's big on the chase with horror elements - vulnerable people fighting to survive the senseless wrath of maniacs. It is an exciting action film and an engrossing mystery.

9 Pacific Heights (1990)

Still from Pacific Heights 1990
    20th Century Fox

Though it isn't remarkable as a whole, John Schlesinger's Pacific Heights is a surreal and entertaining look at a nutty sociopath and their damaging impact on well-meaning people. The plot is simple as it revolves around a couple renovating their dream home in the hopes of being landlords, only to come into conflict with the tenants. Schlesinger builds suspense quite nicely and does what he can with a lackluster script that's littered with plotting issues. Michael Keaton is fantastic as the cunning and manipulative maniac villain, remaining wacky and likable despite atrocious behavior. Pacific Heights is as ever a 1990s as a film from the year 1990 can be.

8 Unlawful Entry (1992)

Protagonist of Unlawful Entry 1992
    20th Century Fox

Unlawful Entry isn't exactly forgotten, but it isn't spoken of highly enough. A yuppie couple faces a violent home invasion. They seek the help of a local cop, who seemingly has their best interest at heart but eventually becomes a bigger threat. Unlawful Entry has a list of fun appearances from the likes of Roger E. Mosley, Ken Lerner, Andy Romano, and others, including lead roles by Kurt Russell and Madeline Stowe, but everybody's playing second-fiddle to Ray Liotta's as the bad cop.

Ray Liotta's portrayal is one of the most deranged (and hilarious) charismatic villains to bless a thriller. His frighteningly crystal-blue eyes shine with a glow of the deranged, appearing hilariously but grippingly maniacal as he terrorizes a naive and timid couple. The man's ready to explode anywhere on anyone at any given moment, and it's a pleasure to watch. Liotta's harsh intensity carries the show, which is just fine when it's all said and done. His jumps from composed but cunning to violent with rage set the tone - one that makes for a manic, never-dull thriller, rollercoastering from paranoia to volcanic action. The movie's crafted to create suspense, so it's a strong thriller, but the overblown rage of Liotta proves to have the firmest hold on viewers.

7 Shattered (1991)

Tom Berenger and Bob Hoskins in Shattered (1991)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

After a horrific car accident, a man is left with amnesia and forced to piece together the troubling past that led to the crash. If one can overlook outlandish implausibility in a suspense film and soapy moments with the acting to match, Shattered is a compellingly mysterious, stylish, and weird little early 90s number. Tom Berenger and Greta Scacchi make a dynamite, confused couple of adulterous liars in this highly suspenseful mess of amnesia, murder, and cheating.

To describe much of the plot would be to take away much of the fun, but worth noting is that Shattered is set in the hills of early '90s San Francisco. Whether it's rolling green hills, beautiful ritzy homes, or crisp blue water, there is almost always going to have your eyes set on something visually appealing.

Editing and effects may be questionable, but such choices make for good ol' hokey entertainment, with cheesy transitions, transparent shots of waves crashing over love-making scenes, and glass shattering whenever our hero Dan recollects trauma. The colors in Shattered are from the quintessential vibrant late 80s/early 90s palette - cool blues and glowy purples. Generally, Shattered is high in style.

6 The Vanishing (1993)

Still from The Vanishing 1993
20th Century Fox

Throughout watching The Vanishing, one may find yourself asking, "How is this not better?" On the surface, the plot's exhilarating. The cast is stacked with stars like Kiefer Sutherland, Nancy Travis, Sandra Bullock, and Jeff Bridges. Bridges is playing a maniac creep and having fun with the opportunity. It's a remake of a legendary Dutch suspense film directed by the very same guy who did the original. Why isn't this a knockout thriller with a cult following?

Related: 10 Psychological Thrillers from the 1970s That Will Break Your Mind

Put simply, The Vanishing follows too standard a route and sticks around safe, 90s blockbuster thriller territory when it calls for more off-the-wall treatment. Given the insanely evil lengths Bridges' character, Barney Cousins, goes to ensure Jeff (Sutherland) never lives peacefully, this calls for sharper turns and wilder twists. Don't get me wrong, The Vanishing is an enthralling ride. There's both a ferocity and a weirdness that locks you in. The Vanishing has its thrills and is worth a view.

5 The Substitute (1996)

Tom Berenger in The Substitute 1996
Orion Pictures

Another Tom Berenger thriller for the list, The Substitute, follows a retired mercenary who takes a substitute teaching job at the Miami high school where his fiance has had violent troubles with her students. The film follows a routine action formula, but The Substitute has both a heart and a pulse under the action gunplay. Bergeren's a commanding presence. He's stone-cold and alarmingly serious, as one probably should be when they're taking down hoards of teen thugs and busting a drug operation. His character, Shale, does have a softness to him, though, and it's nice to see Berenger reach beyond no-nonsense ass-kicker with a hardened exterior.

4 2 Days In The Valley (1996)

2daysinthevalley
Metro-Goldwyn-MAyer

2 Days In The Valley, from writer/director Jon Herzfeld, is very much a Pulp Fiction knockoff, as it spans a period of 48 strange hours where the lives and crimes of various Los Angeles people intersect. Despite trying to cash in on Pulp Fiction, it is a surprising cinematic force and borderline anomaly that covers ground from hilarious dark comedy to gritty crime thriller while showcasing the fallings, betrayals, anxieties, and redemptions of its absurdly offbeat yet endearing characters. The writing's sharp, the story has depth, and performances across the board are top-notch.

2 Days In The Valley will have emotions running high and amidst the thrill and comedic moments, Herzfeld covers meaningful themes as every character is working through trauma and trying to figure out who they want to be. It's high on sex, violence, laughs, fights, and twists. Herzfeld's underrated, darkly comic thriller isn't the most fascinating film of its kind, but it's intriguing, sincerely funny, and poignant.

3 Blown Away (1994)

Tommy Lee Jones and Jeff Bridges in Blown Away (1994)
MGM/UA Distribution Co.
United International Pictures
 

Blown Away is an explosive thriller about a couple of feuding bomb experts, one of whom is trying to destroy the city of Boston while the other is trying to protect it, starring Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones. That certainly is a great 1990s cast and is one of Tommy Lee Jones's first movies following his Academy Award for The Fugitive.

Bomb-defusing excitement, copious explosions, and fun stunts more than makeup for the thinly layered story. The characters are simple but compelling. Blown Away doesn't bring a lot of new action-thriller substance to the table, but it's well-acted and action-packed, and it has that Boston Irish touch for added uniqueness. It plays like a classically good cop movie but with bombs, added spirit, and Celtic flare.

2 Copycat (1995)

Copycat
Warner Bros.

A serial killer thriller with outstanding performances from Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, and Harry Connick Jr, Copycat missed its due credit by being overshadowed by similar but bigger standout movies of the day like Silence Of The Lambs or Seven. While it can't measure up to either of those films, Copycat is an above-average stalker venture with its own heavy atmosphere and style that's especially fantastic in how it prioritizes elegant, sharp characters over an expected playout of adrenaline-heightening events and hackneyed thriller tricks.

For some, Copycat may hardly rise above the lengthy list of cat-and-mouse thrillers bred through the 90s. Between the many characters to keep up with and the twists upon twists to keep an audience engaged, there's a complex mystery to try and solve within Copycat. Not a single character is dull, and the leads are all layered and compelling.

1 The Good Son (1993)

Protagonist from The Good Son 1993
20th Century Fox

If you're 25 or older, The Good Son probably occupies space in your brain. That may be in the form of a vague, weird memory or as a fondly remembered little thriller that one caught on TV. After knowing Macaulay Culkin as good-hearted prankster Kevin McCallister, it's hard to shake him as the evil, murderous cretin that is Henry Evans of The Good Son.

Culkin plays a disturbed boy disturbingly well. Those who first witnessed Henry Evans and all of his cousin-terrorizing malevolence at a naive young point in life can't help but recollect this as being a strong, legitimately scary psychological thriller. The Good Son isn't a fantastically groundbreaking suspense movie. It is, however, a great minor psychological thriller with disturbing shocks and an outstanding, unforgettable climax. The butt of the terror is carried by a child. That could go comically wrong in many contexts. The Good Son doesn't have moments of unintentional comedy. It's a straightforward psychological haunt with a hell of a creepy villain. Any film featuring a young Macaulay Culkin as a bloodthirsty psycho shouldn't be good, but The Good Son is.