5 Best Conspiracy Thrillers That Will Make You Question Everything

In a world where the line between truth and fiction is growing thinner, conspiracy thrillers have become a cultural reflection of our collective fears and suspicions.

These movies exploit the deep-seated human anxiety that reality is merely a facade and that true power lurks in the shadows, governing our lives according to inscrutable rules.

1. 'Kill the Messenger', 2014

IMDb Score: 6.9/10

While researching an article, a reporter finds himself in an unusual situation when he discovers classified CIA files that clearly outline the government's involvement in transporting large quantities of cocaine to California.

Despite the trouble that follows the revelation, the story is published in one of the most renowned US magazines. The reporter's life becomes a threat to anyone connected to the case.

After the article receives widespread publicity, it becomes impossible to simply kill the journalist because the truth of the story would become obvious. However, the agency could accuse the reporter of other crimes.

2. 'All the President's Men', 1976

IMDb Score: 7.9/10

In 1974, police arrested five agents installing wiretaps at the Democratic Party headquarters in a Watergate hotel room. This scandal ultimately led to President Nixon's resignation, and two years later, Alan J. Pakula made a movie about it.

Thanks to Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Americans learned about Nixon's dirty politics during the election campaign.

Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman spent weeks visiting the newspaper's office and attending planning meetings. They memorized their lines so thoroughly that they could interrupt each other on camera without breaking character.

3. 'Enemy of the State', 1998

IMDb Score: 7.3/10

Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation was released in 1974. The movie stars Gene Hackman as a wiretapping genius who becomes entangled in a complex story while working on his latest assignment.

In 1998, Tony Scott released Enemy of the State, for which he persuaded Hackman to reprise the role. It's the same role as in The Conversation, but with an added layer of paranoia that is quite justified by the plot.

The story follows an innocent lawyer, Robert Clayton Dean, who finds himself drawn into a conspiracy in the highest echelons of state security.

4. 'They Live', 1988

IMDb Score: 7.2/10

One day, Nada, a simple construction, discovers a pair of unusual sunglasses. When he puts them on, he gains the ability to see the world as it really is.

He realizes that the government and the media are bombarding people with hidden messages that influence them subconsciously. Even more terrifying, Nada sees the true faces of many politicians and important members of society.

They aren't human – they're aliens. Their mission on Earth is to subjugate Earthlings and keep them in the dark.

5. 'Reality', 2023

IMDb Score: 6.7/10

When Reality Winner returns home from the store, she is met by two FBI agents – they have a search warrant. She denies her involvement in leaking classified information to the American media.

Winner has long remained in the shadows of Edward Snowden and Julian Assange. This experimental movie is based on the interrogation of an intelligence officer and meticulously conveys every detail of an unpleasant conversation in real time.