2000s Thrillers That Are Completely Unwatchable Today

The 2000s pumped out a huge wave of thrillers—studio remakes, star vehicles, and high-concept mysteries—driven by box-office trends, early-internet fears, and the PG-13 horror boom. Below is a unified set of forty titles from that decade, each with quick snapshots of who made them, who starred, what they’re about, where they were shot, and how they landed with critics and audiences. Think of it as a practical field guide for revisiting the era’s twisty plots, tech anxieties, and glossy thrills. If you’re digging back into this period, this list keeps the essentials at your fingertips.

‘The Wicker Man’ (2006)

Directed by Neil LaBute and starring Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, and Kate Beahan, this remake relocates the story to a matriarchal island community in the Pacific Northwest. It adapts the premise of the British folk-horror landmark but alters character motivations and lore. The production shot extensively in British Columbia with a major studio handling distribution. It underperformed domestically compared with its budget and drew broadly negative reviews for its deviations from the original.

‘Basic Instinct 2’ (2006)

Michael Caton-Jones directs, with Sharon Stone returning as Catherine Tramell opposite David Morrissey. The London-set sequel shifts the cat-and-mouse dynamic to a psychiatrist entangled in a series of murders. Notable for a long, troubled development cycle that spanned script rewrites and casting changes. It opened wide through a major distributor and received poor critical notices alongside weak box-office receipts.

‘The Number 23’ (2007)

Joel Schumacher directs Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen in a psychological thriller about numerology obsession. The narrative uses a book-within-a-book device to mirror and distort the protagonist’s life. Shot primarily in Los Angeles, it pairs noir stylings with fractured timelines. Critics cited a muddled script, and audiences delivered only modest returns relative to its star power.

‘Perfect Stranger’ (2007)

James Foley directs Halle Berry as an investigative reporter and Bruce Willis as an advertising executive drawn into an online-identity mystery. The story leans on early chat-room culture and corporate intrigue, with New York City locations central to the plot. Giovanni Ribisi co-stars as a tech-savvy confidant whose motives complicate the case. Reviews skewed negative, and the domestic gross lagged behind expectations.

‘The Happening’ (2008)

Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this eco-thriller stars Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel as teachers fleeing a wave of unexplained mass deaths. The story frames nature as a stealth antagonist, unfolding across Northeastern U.S. towns. Principal photography emphasized practical outdoor locations and widescreen panoramas. Despite a strong opening, critical reception was largely unfavorable.

‘One Missed Call’ (2008)

An English-language remake of Takashi Miike’s ‘Chakushin Ari’, this version stars Shannyn Sossamon and Edward Burns. The hook centers on voicemails that predict imminent deaths, tying victims through a cursed call chain. Shot in Atlanta and Rome, it blends J-horror imagery with American collegiate settings. It was widely panned by critics, though the marketing achieved a strong opening weekend before sharp declines.

‘FeardotCom’ (2002)

Directed by William Malone, the film features Stephen Dorff and Natascha McElhone investigating a website linked to fatal visions. The narrative taps early-web fears about snuff content and viral urban legends. Luxembourg doubled for New York during production, giving the film its industrial, decayed look. It struggled at the box office and drew very low aggregate review scores.

‘Alone in the Dark’ (2005)

Uwe Boll directs Christian Slater, Tara Reid, and Stephen Dorff in an adaptation of the survival-horror video game series. The plot follows a paranormal investigator uncovering artifacts tied to ancient creatures. Canada and Germany hosted principal photography, with stylized gunfights and creature effects throughout. The movie became known for severe critical reception and minimal theatrical revenue relative to genre peers.

‘White Noise’ (2005)

Michael Keaton headlines as an architect using electronic voice phenomena to reach his deceased spouse. Geoffrey Sax directs, using EVP recordings and radio interference as plot drivers. Vancouver stands in for American settings, and the sound design foregrounds static and glitch motifs. Despite poor reviews, it opened strongly due to a January release slot and a high-concept campaign.

‘Stay Alive’ (2006)

This teen techno-thriller follows friends who die after playing a haunted video game linked to the legend of Erzsébet Báthory. William Brent Bell directs a cast including Jon Foster, Samaire Armstrong, and Frankie Muniz. New Orleans locations and game-engine visuals intersect through a PG-13 theatrical cut later expanded on home video. The film saw soft legs at the box office and limited critical support.

‘Godsend’ (2004)

Nick Hamm directs Robert De Niro, Greg Kinnear, and Rebecca Romijn in a story about clandestine human cloning after a family tragedy. The narrative explores identity and nature-versus-nurture within a suburban suspense framework. Shot in Canada, it uses sterile labs and domestic interiors to contrast science with family life. Reviews were unfavorable, and the film earned modest theatrical returns.

‘Swimfan’ (2002)

John Polson directs Jesse Bradford and Erika Christensen in a high-school stalker thriller centered on a swimmer’s one-night encounter. The film mirrors the structure of adult fatal-attraction plots within a teen milieu. Production utilized New Jersey locations and a compact shooting schedule. It opened at number one but faded quickly amid lukewarm word of mouth.

‘Prom Night’ (2008)

This PG-13 remake features Brittany Snow as a traumatized student targeted by an escaped killer during a hotel-set dance. Nelson McCormick directs, updating the premise of the earlier slasher ‘Prom Night’. The production emphasized upscale interiors and a glitzy setting over grit. Box-office performance was front-loaded, and critics were largely dismissive.

‘Obsessed’ (2009)

Steve Shill directs Beyoncé, Idris Elba, and Ali Larter in a workplace-intrusion thriller about a temp fixated on an asset manager. The narrative unfolds in corporate offices and a modern suburban home, building to a prolonged confrontation. The release benefited from star visibility and a wide theatrical rollout. While a strong commercial hit, it received negative critical notices.

‘The Uninvited’ (2009)

This remake of the Korean film ‘A Tale of Two Sisters’ stars Emily Browning, Elizabeth Banks, and David Strathairn. Guard Brothers direct, blending psychological mystery with supernatural elements centered on a returning patient. Filming took place in British Columbia with a coastal mansion as a key location. It posted decent opening numbers for a winter genre release and saw mixed-to-negative reviews.

‘Ghost Ship’ (2002)

Dark Castle Entertainment produced this seafaring thriller starring Julianna Margulies, Gabriel Byrne, and Karl Urban. Steve Beck directs a salvage crew that finds a derelict ocean liner carrying deadly secrets. The film is known for elaborate practical sets replicating rusted interiors and precarious catwalks. Despite a memorable opening sequence, reviews were poor and overall grosses were moderate.

‘The Forgotten’ (2004)

Joseph Ruben directs Julianne Moore as a mother confronting a conspiracy that challenges her memories of her child. The story mixes grief drama with sci-fi-tinged mystery, adding government and psychological layers. New York and Toronto served as principal locations, with aerial stunts and wire work in key scenes. It debuted at number one but faced sharp critical and audience drop-offs later.

‘Taking Lives’ (2004)

D. J. Caruso directs Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, and Kiefer Sutherland in a serial-impersonation investigation set largely in Montreal. The plot follows an FBI profiler assisting local police in tracking a killer who assumes identities. Moody, desaturated visuals and European festival backdrops shape the tone. Reviews cited formulaic elements, and grosses landed mid-tier for the genre.

‘The Watcher’ (2000)

Keanu Reeves plays a serial murderer taunting a burned-out FBI agent portrayed by James Spader, with Marisa Tomei as a therapist. Joe Charbanic directs, leaning on Chicago exteriors and a pulsing electronic soundtrack. The production gained attention for its casting turnabout, with Reeves in a rare villain role. Critical reaction was unfavorable, though the film recouped its modest budget.

‘Twisted’ (2004)

Philip Kaufman directs Ashley Judd as a San Francisco homicide inspector whose one-night stands are turning up dead. Samuel L. Jackson and Andy Garcia co-star in a plot that mixes police procedural with psychological suspicion. The film uses waterfront locations and frequent nighttime photography. It drew negative reviews and posted a brief theatrical run.

‘Mindhunters’ (2004)

Renny Harlin directs an ensemble including LL Cool J, Val Kilmer, and Kathryn Morris as FBI profiler trainees on a remote island. The setup strands the group in a lethal training compound where a killer turns their exercises against them. Shot in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, it faced distribution delays before a wider release. Critics were unkind, and the film performed weakly in North America.

‘Darkness’ (2002)

Jaume Balagueró directs Anna Paquin, Lena Olin, and Iain Glen in a haunted-house story tied to an occult solar eclipse ritual. The film’s Spanish production was later trimmed for an English-language cut distributed in the U.S. It emphasizes shadowy interiors and minimal-light setups to stretch tension. Reviews criticized the U.S. edit, and the release earned limited box-office returns.

‘The Reaping’ (2007)

Hilary Swank stars as a former missionary turned debunker investigating Biblically styled plagues afflicting a small Southern town. Stephen Hopkins directs, staging large-scale set pieces like insect swarms and a blood-red river. Baton Rouge and surrounding areas hosted production, with extensive visual-effects work. The film was marketed heavily but landed poorly with critics.

‘Gothika’ (2003)

Mathieu Kassovitz directs Halle Berry as a psychiatrist who awakens as a patient in her own penitentiary after a shocking incident. Robert Downey Jr. and Penélope Cruz co-star, and the setting leans into cold, institutional design. A major studio backed the release with a high-profile soundtrack tie-in. Despite a strong opening weekend, reviews skewed negative and audience drops followed.

’88 Minutes’ (2007)

Jon Avnet directs Al Pacino as a forensic psychiatrist receiving a death threat with a countdown framing the narrative in real time. The cast includes Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, and Neal McDonough, with Vancouver doubling for Seattle. The film employs phone calls, classroom lectures, and campus chases to structure its ticking-clock suspense. It received broadly negative critical assessments and modest theatrical grosses.

‘When a Stranger Calls’ (2006)

Directed by Simon West, this remake stars Camilla Belle as a babysitter terrorized by persistent phone calls. The story expands the opening premise of the earlier slasher into a single-night siege set in a modern glass house. Principal photography took place in Vancouver, with a PG-13 cut aimed at teen audiences. The film opened strongly but received negative reviews and faded quickly.

‘Pulse’ (2006)

An English-language remake of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s ‘Kairo’, ‘Pulse’ is directed by Jim Sonzero and features Kristen Bell and Ian Somerhalder. The plot connects a series of suicides and disappearances to a cursed wireless signal spreading through computers and phones. Filming centered in Romania standing in for American locations, with extensive digital effects. Critics were largely unfavorable, and the box office trailed off after an early marketing push.

‘The Messengers’ (2007)

Directed by the Pang Brothers, this supernatural thriller stars Kristen Stewart, Dylan McDermott, and Penelope Ann Miller. The narrative follows a family relocating to a North Dakota sunflower farm where apparitions and a buried crime resurface. Production used Canadian locations to portray rural Midwest landscapes and an isolated farmhouse. Reviews skewed negative, though the film performed respectably for a modest budget.

‘Untraceable’ (2008)

Gregory Hoblit directs Diane Lane as an FBI cybercrime agent tracking a killer who livestreams murders that escalate with viewer engagement. Portland serves as the primary setting, with real bridges and neighborhoods featured prominently. The film integrates early social-media and streaming anxieties into its procedural structure. It received harsh critical notices and delivered moderate theatrical returns.

‘I Know Who Killed Me’ (2007)

Directed by Chris Sivertson, the film stars Lindsay Lohan in dual roles tied to an abduction and identity mystery. The production employs a strong blue-and-red color motif to mirror split identities and psychological dislocation. Filming took place in California with a score by Joel McNeely. The movie was widely panned on release and earned multiple Razzie Awards.

‘The Hitcher’ (2007)

Dave Meyers directs this remake starring Sophia Bush, Zachary Knighton, and Sean Bean as the titular drifter. The story follows a young couple pursued across desert highways after a roadside pickup goes wrong. New Mexico provided the sunbaked vistas and long-stretch road sequences. It drew negative reviews and underperformed relative to other mid-2000s horror-thrillers.

‘The Glass House’ (2001)

Daniel Sackheim directs Leelee Sobieski and Diane Lane in a suspense plot about orphans taken in by guardians with hidden motives. The setting moves between a sleek Malibu home and corporate intrigue tied to a financial scheme. Notable for its glossy production design and coastal exteriors. The film opened modestly and received poor critical reception.

‘Hide and Seek’ (2005)

Directed by John Polson, this psychological thriller features Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning as a father and daughter coping with a traumatic loss. The narrative introduces an imaginary friend whose presence coincides with disturbing events. Upstate New York locations and a muted color palette shape the atmosphere. The film was a commercial success but met with negative reviews.

‘Domestic Disturbance’ (2001)

Harold Becker directs John Travolta and Vince Vaughn in a suburban thriller involving a boy who suspects his stepfather of murder. The story unfolds around custody tensions, a boating business, and a cover-up that draws in local police. Wilmington, North Carolina, hosted production, with coastal and small-town backdrops. It had a wide release but did not meet critical or commercial expectations.

‘Murder by Numbers’ (2002)

Barbet Schroeder directs Sandra Bullock, Ryan Gosling, and Michael Pitt in a case inspired by a notorious real-life murder. The plot follows detectives unraveling a crime staged as a perfect, motiveless act by two privileged teens. Filming took place in Southern California, blending beach cliffs and suburban high schools. Reviews were mixed to negative, and the film’s earnings landed mid-tier.

‘Flightplan’ (2005)

Robert Schwentke directs Jodie Foster as an aerospace engineer whose daughter vanishes during a transatlantic flight aboard a double-deck airliner. The production built large aircraft interior sets to accommodate long tracking shots and complex blocking. The supporting cast includes Peter Sarsgaard and Sean Bean, with a score by James Horner. It opened strongly worldwide while drawing mixed critical response.

‘Cellular’ (2004)

Directed by David R. Ellis, the film stars Chris Evans, Kim Basinger, and Jason Statham in a high-concept, real-time phone-rescue scenario. Los Angeles locations and freeway chases structure the escalating set pieces. Larry Cohen provided the story, linking it to a lineage of phone-based thrillers. The movie earned modestly positive audience turnout and mixed critical notices.

‘The Covenant’ (2006)

Renny Harlin directs this supernatural thriller about four New England prep-school students bound by a hereditary pact of witchcraft. The cast includes Steven Strait, Taylor Kitsch, and Sebastian Stan. Shooting occurred in Quebec, with wire work and digital effects for power duels. Reviews were overwhelmingly negative, though the film found a teen audience on home media.

‘The Mothman Prophecies’ (2002)

Mark Pellington directs Richard Gere and Laura Linney in a mystery rooted in the Point Pleasant legend of a prophetic entity. The plot interweaves precognition, phone anomalies, and a bridge disaster into a slow-burn investigation. Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh stood in for West Virginia locales, with overcast cinematography emphasizing unease. The film drew mixed reviews and a moderate box office.

‘Dreamcatcher’ (2003)

Adapted from Stephen King’s novel, this thriller-horror hybrid is directed by Lawrence Kasdan and stars Thomas Jane, Damian Lewis, and Morgan Freeman. The story centers on four friends with psychic bonds who face an otherworldly threat during a snowbound hunting trip. Principal photography used British Columbia forests and large-scale practical gore effects alongside CGI. It received poor critical reception and disappointed commercially relative to its pedigree.

Share which 2000s thrillers you’d add—or swap out—to complete your own version of this forty in the comments!