Thrillers are a universal genre that transcend borders, captivating audiences across the globe with their nail-biting tension and suspense. Whether from the North, South, East, or West, people everywhere love a well-crafted thriller that keeps them on the edge of their seats.
Unfortunately, many of the world’s best international thrillers remain underappreciated by mainstream audiences. Despite critical acclaim, some of these films have far fewer than 100,000 ratings on Letterboxd—a stark contrast to the overwhelming popularity of recent Hollywood thrillers like The Killer and Saw X, which boast over 200,000 ratings. From modern hits like The Chaser and The Guilty to classic masterpieces like The Vanishing and High and Low, these thrilling gems deserve a much wider audience.
10. City on Fire (1987) – Hong Kong
IMDb Rating: 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Why It’s a Must-See:
A hallmark of Hong Kong cinema, Ringo Lam’s City on Fire tells the gripping story of an undercover cop infiltrating a gang of jewel thieves. Starring Hong Kong legend Chow Yun-fat, the film’s influence on Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs is undeniable. Despite its accolades—including wins for Best Director and Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards—it has only around 12,000 Letterboxd ratings.
9. The Chaser (2008) – South Korea
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
Why It’s a Must-See:
Brutal and unrelenting, Na Hong-jin’s The Chaser is based on the horrifying real-life crimes of a South Korean serial killer. Following a former cop turned pimp hunting down his missing girls, this film is not for the faint of heart. With numerous awards and box office success, it remains underrated with just 57,000 ratings on Letterboxd.
8. Infernal Affairs (2002) – Hong Kong
IMDb Rating: 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Why It’s a Must-See:
Before The Departed became an Oscar-winning hit, there was Infernal Affairs. This Hong Kong thriller, co-directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, features a gripping cat-and-mouse game between a mole in the police force and an undercover cop in the Triads. While The Departed has over a million Letterboxd ratings, Infernal Affairs only has 79,000—yet it’s every bit as deserving of recognition.
7. The Guilty (2018) – Denmark
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Why It’s a Must-See:
Gustav Möller’s minimalist thriller The Guilty is a masterclass in tension, taking place entirely in one location as a police officer tries to rescue a kidnapped woman over the phone. With excellent sound design and an unforgettable lead performance by Jakob Cedergren, this small-budget film won numerous awards but has only 72,000 ratings on Letterboxd—compared to the 324,000 ratings for its inferior Hollywood remake.
6. Knife in the Water (1962) – Poland
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Why It’s a Must-See:
Roman Polanski’s directorial debut, Knife in the Water, is a tense psychological thriller set aboard a yacht with a married couple and a mysterious hitchhiker. Winning international acclaim, it was Poland’s first film to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Despite being a cornerstone of Polish cinema, it has only 30,000 Letterboxd ratings.
5. Le Trou (1960) – France
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Why It’s a Must-See:
Le Trou, directed by Jacques Becker, is one of the greatest prison escape thrillers ever made. Based on a true story and featuring a cast of mostly non-professional actors—including one who took part in the actual prison break—the film is a masterpiece of French cinema. It has only 31,000 ratings on Letterboxd, despite being hailed as one of the 44th best-rated movies on the platform.
4. The Vanishing (1988) – The Netherlands
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Why It’s a Must-See:
Stanley Kubrick called The Vanishing the most terrifying film he had ever seen. This Dutch thriller tells the story of a man’s obsessive search for his missing girlfriend after she vanishes at a gas station. With chilling tension and a haunting conclusion, The Vanishing is a must-watch for thriller fans, though it remains underappreciated with 81,000 ratings on Letterboxd.
3. Z (1969) – France
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Why It’s a Must-See:
Costa-Gavras’ political thriller Z is a landmark film based on the assassination of Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis. The film was not only a hit at the Academy Awards but also won at Cannes. Considered one of the best political thrillers ever made, Z remains criminally underrated with only 39,000 ratings on Letterboxd.
2. Joint Security Area (2000) – South Korea
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Why It’s a Must-See:
Park Chan-wook’s Joint Security Area is a gripping mystery set on the tense border between North and South Korea. A massive box office hit in South Korea, it remains under-seen internationally, with only 55,000 ratings on Letterboxd. Quentin Tarantino himself called it one of the best films of the past 17 years.
1. High and Low (1963) – Japan
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Why It’s a Must-See:
Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low is a crime thriller masterpiece, following a businessman caught in a moral dilemma when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake. Lauded for its impeccable storytelling and shot composition, High and Low continues to inspire filmmakers around the world. With just 99,000 Letterboxd ratings, it ranks as the sixth highest-rated film on the platform, but it deserves even more attention.
