AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills
America's 100 Greatest Thrillers
100 YEARS...100 THRILLS


The 400 Nominees

by American Film Institute (AFI)




The American Film Institute in Los Angeles, California in mid-June 2001 made a definitive selection of the 100 greatest American "heart-pounding" and "adrenaline-inducing" films of all time, as determined by more than 1,800 actors, directors, screenwriters, historians, studio executives, critics, and others from the American film community. There were originally 400 nominated films from which the top 100 were selected.

AFI’s 100 Years…100 Thrills revealed America’s 100 greatest thrillers, as chosen by leaders of the entertainment community, in a three-hour television event, that aired on the CBS Television Network in June 2001.

Most of the memorable moments and scenes mentioned in these thrilling films have already been catalogued on this site, at Greatest Moments and Scenes. See also this site's description of the Thriller/Suspense Films Genre and various notable examples of the Greatest Thriller/Suspense Films.

Judging Criteria for Selection of Nominated Films included:

  • U.S. made
  • Feature-length fiction films
  • Films whose thrills have "enlivened and enriched America's film heritage"
  • Jurors were asked to also consider "the total adrenaline-inducing impact of a film's artistry and craft," regardless of the genre

AMERICA's
GREATEST THRILLERS

(400 Nominees - Winners in bold)


  1. ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, THE 1938
  2. AFRICAN QUEEN, THE 1951
  3. AIR FORCE 1943
  4. AIR FORCE ONE 1997
  5. AIRPORT 1975, 1974
  6. ALIEN 1979
  7. ALIENS 1986
  8. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT 1930
  9. ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN 1976
  10. ANATOMY OF A MURDER 1959
  11. AND THEN THERE WERE NONE 1945
  12. ANDROMEDA STRAIN, THE 1971
  13. APOLLO 13 1995
  14. ASPHALT JUNGLE, THE 1950
  15. ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 1976
  16. ATTACK! 1956
  17. BACK TO THE FUTURE 1985
  18. BACKDRAFT 1991
  19. BAD SEED, THE 1956
  20. BASIC INSTINCT 1992
  21. BATAAN 1943
  22. BATMAN 1989
  23. BATTLEGROUND 1949
  24. BEAU GESTE 1939
  25. BEN-HUR 1926
  26. BEN-HUR 1959
  27. BIG CLOCK, THE 1948
  28. BIG HEAT, THE 1953
  29. BIG PARADE, THE 1925
  30. BIG RED ONE, THE 1980
  31. BIG SLEEP, THE 1946
  32. BIRDS, THE 1963
  33. BLACK PIRATE, THE 1926
  34. BLACK STALLION, THE 1979
  35. BLACK SUNDAY 1977
  36. BLACKBOARD JUNGLE 1955
  37. BLADE RUNNER 1982
  38. BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, THE 1999
  39. BLOB, THE 1958
  40. BLOOD SIMPLE 1984
  41. BLOOD SPORT 1987
  42. BLUE VELVET 1986
  43. BODY HEAT 1981
  44. BODY SNATCHER, THE 1945
  45. BONNIE AND CLYDE 1967
  46. BOOMERANG! 1947
  47. BOYS FROM BRAZIL, THE 1978
  48. BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA 1992
  49. BRAVEHEART 1995
  50. BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE 1935
  51. BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, THE 1957
  52. BRUTE FORCE 1947
  53. BULLITT 1968
  54. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID 1969
  55. CALL NORTHSIDE 777 1948
  56. CANDYMAN 1992
  57. CAPE FEAR 1962
  58. CAPRICORN ONE 1978
  59. CAPTAIN BLOOD 1935
  60. CARNIVAL OF SOULS 1962
  61. CARRIE 1976
  62. CASABLANCA 1942
  63. CAT AND THE CANARY, THE 1927
  64. CAT PEOPLE 1942
  65. CHAMPION 1949
  66. CHARADE 1963
  67. CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, THE 1936
  68. CHEAT, THE 1915
  69. CHINA SYNDROME, THE 1979
  70. CHINATOWN 1974
  71. CLIFFHANGER 1993
  72. CLOCKWORK ORANGE, A 1971
  73. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND 1977
  74. CODE OF SILENCE 1985
  75. COFFY 1973
  76. CONTACT 1997
  77. COOL HAND LUKE 1967
  78. COPYCAT 1995
  79. COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE 1934
  80. COVERED WAGON, THE 1923
  81. CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON 1954
  82. DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, THE 1951
  83. DEATH RACE 2000 1975
  84. DEATH WISH 1974
  85. DEER HUNTER, THE 1978
  86. DEFIANT ONES, THE 1958
  87. DELIVERANCE 1972
  88. DESTINATION TOKYO 1943
  89. DETOUR 1945
  90. DIAL M FOR MURDER 1954
  91. DIE HARD 1988
  92. DIRTY DOZEN, THE 1967
  93. DIRTY HARRY 1971
  94. D.O.A. 1950
  95. DO THE RIGHT THING 1989
  96. DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE 1920
  97. DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE 1932
  98. DOG DAY AFTERNOON 1975
  99. DON JUAN 1926
  100. DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK 1952
  101. DOUBLE INDEMNITY 1944
  102. DRACULA 1931
  103. DRESSED TO KILL 1980
  104. EAGLE, THE 1925
  105. EARTHQUAKE 1974
  106. EDGE OF DARKNESS 1943
  107. EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE 1980
  108. ENTER THE DRAGON 1973
  109. ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ 1979
  110. ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK 1981
  111. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 1982
  112. EVIL DEAD, THE 1983
  113. EXORCIST, THE 1973
  114. FACE/OFF 1997
  115. FAIL-SAFE 1964
  116. FARGO 1996
  117. FATAL ATTRACTION 1987
  118. FIRST BLOOD 1982
  119. FLY, THE 1958
  120. FLY, THE 1986
  121. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT 1940
  122. 48 HRS. 1982
  123. FOURTEEN HOURS 1951
  124. FRANKENSTEIN 1931
  125. FREAKS 1932
  126. FRENCH CONNECTION, THE 1971
  127. FRIDAY THE 13th 1980
  128. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE 1963
  129. FUGITIVE, THE 1993
  130. FULL METAL JACKET 1987
  131. FURY 1936
  132. FURY, THE 1978
  133. F/X 1986
  134. GAME, THE 1997
  135. GASLIGHT 1944
  136. GENERAL, THE 1927
  137. GETAWAY, THE 1972
  138. GHOSTBUSTERS 1984
  139. GLORY 1989
  140. GODFATHER, THE 1972
  141. GOLDFINGER 1964
  142. GREAT ESCAPE, THE 1963
  143. GUN CRAZY 1950
  144. GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL 1957
  145. GUNGA DIN 1939
  146. GUNS OF NAVARONE, THE 1961
  147. HALLOWEEN 1978
  148. HEAT 1995
  149. HIGH AND THE MIGHTY, THE 1954
  150. HIGH NOON 1952
  151. HILLS HAVE EYES, THE 1977
  152. HITCH-HIKER, THE 1953
  153. HONEYMOON KILLERS, THE 1970
  154. HOOSIERS 1986
  155. HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, THE 1939
  156. HOUSE OF GAMES 1987
  157. HOUSE OF WAX 1953
  158. HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL 1958
  159. HOUSE ON 92ND STREET 1945
  160. HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, THE 1939
  161. HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, THE 1990
  162. HURRICANE, THE 1937
  163. HUSH, HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE 1965
  164. HUSTLER, THE 1961
  165. I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG 1932
  166. IN THE LINE OF FIRE 1993
  167. INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, THE 1957
  168. INDEPENDENCE DAY 1996
  169. INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE 1989
  170. INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM 1984
  171. INTOLERANCE 1916
  172. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS 1956
  173. INVISIBLE MAN, THE 1933
  174. IRON MASK, THE 1929
  175. ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, THE 1933
  176. IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA 1955
  177. IVANHOE 1952
  178. JACOB'S LADDER 1990
  179. JAGGED EDGE 1985
  180. JAWS 1975
  181. JFK 1991
  182. JURASSIC PARK 1993
  183. KARATE KID, THE 1984
  184. KILLERS, THE 1946
  185. KILLING, THE 1956
  186. KIM 1950
  187. KING KONG 1933
  188. KING SOLOMON'S MINES 1950
  189. KISS ME DEADLY 1956
  190. KISS OF DEATH 1947
  191. KLUTE 1971
  192. L.A. CONFIDENTIAL 1997
  193. LADY FROM SHANGHAI, THE 1948
  194. LAST DAYS OF POMPEII, THE 1935
  195. LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT 1972
  196. LAST OF SHIELA, THE 1973
  197. LAST OF THE MOHICANS, THE 1992
  198. LAST SEDUCTION, THE 1994
  199. LAURA 1944
  200. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA 1962
  201. LETHAL WEAPON 1987
  202. LICENSE TO KILL 1989
  203. LITTLE CAESAR 1930
  204. LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER, THE 1935
  205. LODGER, THE 1944
  206. LONGEST DAY, THE 1962
  207. LOST PATROL, THE 1934
  208. LOST WORLD, THE 1925
  209. MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, THE 1960
  210. MALTESE FALCON, THE 1941
  211. MAN HUNT 1941
  212. MAN IN THE IRON MASK, THE 1939
  213. MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, THE 1962
  214. MANHUNTER 1986
  215. MARATHON MAN 1976
  216. EL MARIACHI 1992
  217. MARK OF ZORRO, THE 1920
  218. MARK OF ZORRO, THE 1940
  219. MATRIX, THE 1999
  220. MEAN STREETS 1973
  221. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS 1978
  222. MIGHTY JOE YOUNG 1949
  223. MISERY 1990
  224. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 1996
  225. MOBY DICK 1956
  226. MOST DANGEROUS GAME, THE 1932
  227. MUMMY, THE 1932
  228. MURDER, MY SWEET/FAREWELL MY LOVELY 1944
  229. NATIONAL VELVET 1944
  230. NATURAL BORN KILLERS 1994
  231. NEAR DARK 1987
  232. NEW JACK CITY 1991
  233. NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, THE 1955
  234. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 1968
  235. NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, A 1984
  236. NO WAY OUT 1950
  237. NORTH BY NORTHWEST 1959
  238. NOTORIOUS 1946
  239. OMEGA MAN, THE 1971
  240. OMEN, THE 1976
  241. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE 1969
  242. ONE FALSE MOVE 1992
  243. ONION FIELD, THE 1979
  244. OUT OF SIGHT 1998
  245. OUT OF THE PAST 1947
  246. PANIC IN THE STREETS 1950
  247. PARALLAX VIEW 1974
  248. PATRIOT GAMES 1992
  249. PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE 1925
  250. PI 1998
  251. PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET 1953
  252. PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, THE 1945
  253. PINOCCHIO 1940
  254. PIT AND THE PENDULUM, THE 1961
  255. PLANET OF THE APES 1968
  256. PLATOON 1986
  257. PLAY MISTY FOR ME 1971
  258. POINT BLANK 1967
  259. POLTERGEIST 1982
  260. POSEIDON ADVENTURE, THE 1972
  261. POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, THE 1946
  262. PREDATOR 1987
  263. PRISONER OF ZENDA, THE 1937
  264. PSYCHO 1960
  265. PUBLIC ENEMY, THE 1931
  266. PULP FICTION 1994
  267. RAGING BULL 1980
  268. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 1981
  269. REAR WINDOW 1954
  270. REBECCA 1940
  271. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE 1955
  272. RECKLESS MOMENT, THE 1949
  273. RED BADGE OF COURAGE, THE 1951
  274. RED ROCK WEST 1993
  275. RESERVOIR DOGS 1992
  276. RETURN OF THE JEDI 1983
  277. RIDE LONESOME 1959
  278. RIGHT STUFF, THE 1983
  279. ROBIN HOOD 1922
  280. ROBOCOP 1987
  281. ROCKY 1976
  282. ROLLERBALL 1975
  283. ROMANCING THE STONE 1984
  284. ROPE 1948
  285. ROSEMARY'S BABY 1968
  286. RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP 1958
  287. RUNAWAY TRAIN 1985
  288. SABOTEUR 1942
  289. SAFETY LAST 1923
  290. SAN FRANCISCO 1936
  291. SANDS OF IWO JIMA 1949
  292. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 1998
  293. SCARAMOUCHE 1952
  294. SCARFACE 1932
  295. SCREAM 1996
  296. SEA HAWK, THE 1940
  297. SEA OF LOVE 1989
  298. SECONDS 1966
  299. SERGEANT YORK 1941
  300. SERPICO 1973
  301. SE7EN 1995
  302. SEVEN DAYS IN MAY 1964
  303. 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD 1958
  304. SHADOW OF A DOUBT 1943
  305. SHAFT 1971
  306. SHEIK, THE 1921
  307. SHINING, THE 1980
  308. SHOCK CORRIDOR 1963
  309. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE 1991
  310. SILKWOOD 1983
  311. SIXTH SENSE, THE 1999
  312. SLEEPY HOLLOW 1999
  313. SLEUTH 1972
  314. SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT 1977
  315. SOLDER'S STORY, A 1984
  316. SORRY, WRONG NUMBER 1948
  317. SOYLENT GREEN 1973
  318. SPARTACUS 1960
  319. SPEED 1994
  320. SPEEDY 1928
  321. SPELLBOUND 1945
  322. SPIRAL STAIRCASE, THE 1946
  323. SPY WHO LOVED ME, THE 1977
  324. STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN 1982
  325. STAR WARS 1977
  326. STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. 1928
  327. STEEL HELMET, THE 1951
  328. STEPFATHER, THE 1987
  329. STEPFORD WIVES, THE 1975
  330. STRANGERS ON A TRAIN 1951
  331. STRAW DOGS 1971
  332. SUDDENLY 1954
  333. SUPERMAN II 1980
  334. SUSPECT, THE 1944
  335. SUSPICION 1941
  336. TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE, THE 1974
  337. TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, THE 1999
  338. TARGETS 1968
  339. TARZAN THE APE MAN 1932
  340. TAXI DRIVER 1976
  341. TEN COMMANDMENTS, THE 1956
  342. TERMINATOR, THE 1984
  343. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY 1991
  344. TEST PILOT 1938
  345. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, THE 1974
  346. THELMA & LOUISE 1991
  347. THEM! 1954
  348. THEY LIVE BY NIGHT 1949
  349. THIEF OF BAGDAD, THE 1924
  350. THIEF OF BAGDAD, THE 1940
  351. THING (FROM ANOTHER WORLD), THE 1951
  352. THIRD MAN, THE 1949
  353. THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, THE 1968
  354. THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR 1975
  355. THREE MUSKETEERS, THE 1939
  356. TINGLER, THE 1959
  357. TITANIC 1997
  358. T-MEN 1947
  359. TO HELL AND BACK 1955
  360. TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. 1985
  361. TOMORROW NEVER DIES 1995
  362. TOP GUN 1986
  363. TOPKAPI 1964
  364. TOUCH OF EVIL 1958
  365. TOWERING INFERNO, THE 1974
  366. TRAIN, THE 1965
  367. TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, THE 1948
  368. TRUE GRIT 1969
  369. TRUE ROMANCE 1993
  370. TUMBLEWEEDS 1925
  371. 12 ANGRY MEN 1957
  372. TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH 1949
  373. 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA 1954
  374. TWISTER 1996
  375. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968
  376. UNDER FIRE 1983
  377. UNDER SIEGE 1992
  378. UNFORGIVEN 1992
  379. UNINVITED, THE 1944
  380. UNION PACIFIC 1939
  381. UNTOUCHABLES, THE 1987
  382. USUAL SUSPECTS, THE 1995
  383. VERTIGO 1958
  384. WAIT UNTIL DARK 1967
  385. WAR OF THE WORLDS 1953
  386. WARGAMES 1983
  387. WAY DOWN EAST 1920
  388. WESTWORLD 1973
  389. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? 1962
  390. WHEN A STRANGER CALLS 1979
  391. WHITE HEAT 1949
  392. WILD BUNCH, THE 1969
  393. WIND, THE 1928
  394. WINGS 1927
  395. WITNESS 1985
  396. WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION 1957
  397. WIZARD OF OZ, THE 1939
  398. WOLF MAN, THE 1941
  399. WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, THE 1944
  400. WRONG MAN, THE 1956



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