10 Overlooked Thriller Movies That Roger Ebert Loved

The late Roger Ebert is still hailed to this day as one of the greatest film critics ever, and his earnest reviews of thriller movies helped give credit to some undersung gems of the genre. On his eponymous website, rogerebert.com, Ebert’s reviews of some of the best thrillers of all time are immortalized, which gave credit where credit was due without holding back on the films that failed to satiate his hunger for suspense. Never one to judge a film by its pedigree or popularity, looking through Ebert’s old reviews uncovers some hidden treasures in the thriller space.

The unique rating system of Roger Ebert makes it easy to identify which thrillers were impressive, and which failed to generate the mystery and tension promised by the genre. Those with three stars or above were generally considered to be given the coveted “thumbs-up”, which signified an enthusiastic recommendation from the esteemed cinema writer. The term “thriller” can cover a wide range of settings, subgenres, and tones, be they closer to a standard drama or a straight-up horror film. Ebert remained fairly diverse in his tastes, appreciating some lesser-known films within the category.

10
Premium Rush (2012)

Ebert’s score: 3 1/2 stars

A sort of take on Keanu Reeves’ Speed sans the combustion engine, Premium Rush was enjoyed by Ebert as “A breakneck chase movie on bicycles“. Roger Eberts appreciated Premium Rush for what it was, acknowledging that “If you’re looking for depth and profundity, this is the wrong movie.” while still giving credit to the expertly-choreographed chase sequences and nail-biting stunt work blended with tastefully-done CGI. Even if the characters weren’t the most developed and the themes weren’t anything thought-provoking, Premium Rush certainly justified its existence as a brisk chase movie in Ebert’s eyes.

9
The Possession (2012)

Ebert’s score: 3 1/2 stars

Roger Ebert could certainly appreciate horror movies, and double-dipping genres with a horror-thriller mix is one of the most consistently compelling ways to enhance the category. Enter The Possession, a haunting exorcism movie centered around Jewish folklore rather than the typical Catholic demons of The Exorcist popularity. Ebert acknowledged the former’s influence while still appreciating what new twists to the formula the film was able to offer, remarking “‘The Exorcist’ has influenced a lot of films, and this is one of the better ones.“

8
Arbitrage (2012)

Ebert’s score: 4 stars

A film that made no reservations about its vile protagonist, Arbitrage told the story of a corporate fraudster who tries to get away with covering up both his company’s debt and his own infidelity, all while using his daughter as a scapegoat. Ebert praised Richard Gere’s leading role, calling him “Improbably handsome” while conveying the insidious callousness bubbling under the surface of a “Wall Street lion, worth billions, charming, generous, honored and a fraud right down to his bones.” Ebert flinched as director Nicholas Jarecki made him identify with such a foul hero, respecting him for doing so.

7
End Of Watch (2012)

Ebert’s score: 4 stars

One of the premiere buddy cop movies, End of Watch pairs Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña as archetypal loose cannons who get results. Ebert gave props to both central performances, admiring Jake Gyllenhaal’s previously-undiscovered “presence and stability” while calling Peña’s role as Zavala “one of the performances of his career.” With a strong foundational chemistry to navigate the delicate territory of police work in some of California’s most dangerous areas, End of Watch was a success in Ebert’s book, and gave the film his illustrious four-star seal of approval.

6
The Pledge (2001)

Ebert’s score: 4 stars

Another thriller centered around police work, The Pledge‘s title refers to the oath given by Jack Nicholson’s character, a Nevada detective in the twilight years of his career, to the mother of a young murder victim. Ebert was enthralled by the equally microscopic examination of both the crime scenes and the waning identity of Nicholson’s Jerry Black. The esteemed reviewer admired The Pledge for how it “plunges deeper into the mysteries of innocence, evil, and a man’s need to validate himself“, high praise for a relatively unheard of entry in Nicholson’s illustrious film career.

5
Badlands (1973)

Ebert’s score: 4 stars

Capitalizing on Hollywood’s obsession with Bonnie and Clyde, Badlands told a similar story of star-crossed lovers on the wrong side of the law that utterly enthralled Roger Ebert. It’s clear the lauded critic held Badlands in high regard, calling it “one of the great films of the flowering of American auteurs in the 1970s.” Ebert gave special praise to Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek’s effortlessly iconic looks and shallow, yet deadly relationship. The fateful road trip of Kit and Holly was at once meditative and thrilling for Eberts, and afforded the film the lasting laurel of a “thumbs-up”.

4
Leaves Of Grass (2009)

Ebert’s score: 4 stars

Though often seen as a cringeworthy gimmick, Leaves of Grass proved that films with a single actor in a dual leading role could be incredibly poignant, insightful, and most of all, tense. The movie starred Edward Norton as a pair of twins navigating the dangerous marijuana trade of isolated rural Oklahoma. Not only did Norton’s dual-pronged acting ability dazzle Ebert, calling him “flawless as both an elite intellectual and a good ol’ boy.“, but he lavished the film’s heady exploration of theology and monotheism amid the crime-ridden background of its story.

3
We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)

Ebert’s score: 4 stars

Motherhood isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, and Roger Ebert enjoyed Tilda Swinton’s descent into madness and depravity alongside her child-rearing in We Need to Talk About Kevin. The film chronicled the relationship between Swinton’s Eva and Ezra Miller’s Kevin over a fractured timeline, which Ebert expertly observed as a symptom of Eva having “been so overwhelmed by despair that her life exists in her mind all at the same time.” Beyond being one of the best performances in Tilda Swinton’s career, Ebert hailed the film as a masterful “portrait of a deteriorating state of mind“.

2
Rampart (2011)

Ebert’s score: 4 stars

Another L.A. crime story that piqued Ebert’s interest, Rampart posited Woody Harrelson as a tense corrupt cop that must endure the consequences of his participation in the rampart scandal that inspired TV’s The Shield. Ebert was once again fascinated by an unsavory protagonist, remarking Harrelson’s Dave Brown had “no moral center, but he has the survival instincts of a rat.” While Rampart is better remembered today for its controversial posters and disastrous promotional Reddit AMA, Ebert enjoyed the film itself as a curious character study of a loveless scoundrel.

1
Take Shelter (2011)

Ebert’s score: 4 stars

Thoughtfully combining elements of disaster movies and thrillers, Take Shelter followed the climate crisis to its natural conclusion to the delight of Roger Ebert. The film critic was astounded by the slow descent of Michael Shannon’s character into unbridled paranoia and fear, having remarked “I think an Oscar nomination for best actor would be well-deserved.” Having perfectly encapsulated the very real dread created by the modern age of environmental deterioration, Take Shelter earned a deserved spot as one of Roger Ebert‘s most beloved thrillers.