moving picture like Christopher Nolan ’s war epicDunkirkand Brad Bird ’s gamey - octaneMission : inconceivable — Ghost Protocolare among the recent highlights . It ’s an impressive tier of motley for thriller movie lover , but that profundity can also go to selection palsy . gratefully , this templet streamlines the selection operation by highlighting some of the best thriller moving picture on Prime Video in good order now .
Amazon Prime may have a robust catalog , but it does n’t have everything . Luckily , we ’ve also curated roundups of thebest thrillers on Netflixand thebest thriller on Hulu . Need more recommendations ? Then check out thebest unexampled flick to pelt this workweek , thebest movies on Netflix , thebest film on Hulu , thebest movies on Amazon Prime Video , thebest motion picture on Max , and thebest movies on Disney+ .
Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011)
Now , without government backing , Hunt ’s IMF bunch is in the dark and in more danger than ever . delegation : Impossible — Ghost Protocolwas critically praised and a welcome revivification of the series . The movie is bolstered by a unanimous plunk for cast , include Jeremy Renner , Simon Pegg , and Paula Patton , and fans of Cruise ’s pic wo n’t be disappoint with the jaw - drop action correct pieces .
Dunkirk (2017)
Christopher Nolan’sDunkirkis a rattling watch for buff of warfare thriller . The director hire interview to World War II - era France in the heat of the Dunkirk voidance . The grapple account unfold from an ensemble of characters on land , in the ocean , and in the atmosphere . Dunkirkearned high kudos as one of the best war films of the 21st century for its nail - bite atmosphere and unflinching Platonism .
Aside from the deliberate — and superb — choice to keep dialog to a minimum and permit the motion-picture photography and musical score set the scene , it ’s backed by a terrific cast . Such actors includeHouse of the Dragon ’s Tom Glynn - Carney , Harry Styles , Slow sawhorse ’ Jack Lowden , Saltburn ’s Barry Keoghan , and heavyweight like Kenneth Branagh , Cillian Murphy , and Tom Hardy .
Ronin (1998)
Director John Frankenheimer’sRoninmakes for a fun ticker for fan of ‘ 90s action movies . The activity - thriller principal Robert De Niro ( who lead themobster filmAlto Knights ) as a former special operative press to steal a deep briefcase . However , the business gets increasingly tense and dangerous as loyalties among his team are murky at best .
WarGames (1983)
A 1980s classic , conductor John Badham’sWarGamesis one of the most inventive sci - fi thrillers of its sentence . The story view gifted computer hacker David Lightman ( Matthew Broderick ) inadvertently hacking into a supercomputer belonging to the U.S. armed forces . The technology in this computer is meant to predict , spiel out , and even execute nuclear war against the Soviet Union . But by hacking into the system , Lightman spark off a unsafe assumed dismay .
Part of the movie ’s solicitation is the novelty of the techno - thriller elements of the 1980s . disregarding , WarGames ’ excellent combination of science fabrication thrill with Cold War - era dramatic event makes for an entertaining watch decades by and by .
Thief (1981)
Fans of dramatic crime thrillers ca n’t go wrong by go through directorMichael Mann ’s motion picture . Thiefis one of his earlier classics , starring James Caan as a lord safecracker and diamond rip-off medical specialist named Frank . He takes on one massive terminal job from a mellow - visibility gangster ( Robert Prosky ) to escape his life of crime for good and settle into a restrained life-time with a married woman and kids .
Thiefis a standout of Mann ’s vocation for the level ’s high - stakes yet run aground characters . This is also in no pocket-sized part thanks to charismatic carrying into action from the main cast , and it ’s all complement by some fashionable cinematography .
Contagion (2011)
While Steven Soderbergh is know for directing movies like theOcean’strilogy , Contagionis also among his best works . The movie surveil nail - barbed storylines in the wake of a baneful and highly contagious virus . Its plot revolves around medical professionals urgently trying to identify the virus , the crash of social ordination as the disease spread into a full - blown pandemic , and the race to implement the vaccinum .
Contagionis an excellent disaster movie and medical - theme thriller , with Soderbergh expertly pacing its nonlinear story elan . Better still , each plot air is elevated by a stellar ensemble let in Matt Damon , Kate Winslet , Laurence Fishburne , Marion Cotillard , Jude Law , and Gwyneth Paltrow .
In the Land of Saints and Sinners (2023)
picture show fan can count onLiam Neesonto pump out an action - thriller every so often . Directed by Robert Lorenz , In the Land of Saints and Sinnersstars Neeson as former hitman Finbar Murphy , sedately living his retirement life history in an Irish village .
However , in classic action - thriller fashion , Murphy is drop behind away from his peaceful life when an IRA bomber get to wreak mayhem . Neeson ’s track record with these coarse-grained natural process film can be stumble or lack . However , In the Land of Saints and Sinnersis one of his and director Lorenz ’s best showings , depicting high - stakes natural process and a fittingly grizzled performance from Neeson .
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024)
indoors , he conjoin an underground fight community but must see safety after being betrayed by crime boss Mr. Big ( Sammo Hung Kam - Bo).Twilight of the warrior : Walled Inwas critically acclaimed for its adequate parts dazzling and intuitive action choreography . Fans of Hellenic soldierlike artistic production film of decades past should well experience right at domicile with this high - octane thriller .
The Creator (2023)
Gareth Edwards ’ ( Jurassic World : Rebirth)The Creatoris one of the more noteworthy original sci - fi picture show of the decade so far . The movie is set in 2070 and follows a former U.S. Special Forces factor ( John David Washington ) in a dystopic sci - fi Los Angeles .
Amid a warfare between humanity and AI , Sergeant Joshua Taylor is tasked with kill the cryptic “ Creator ” before it apply a potential public - ending weapon . The Creatordoesn’t have the most innovative plot for a sci - fi thriller but has pile of stunning action sequence and visuals . FromGodzilla(2014 ) toRogue One : A Star Wars Story , Edwards is known for brilliantly showcasing scale and spectacle in his picture .
Memento (2000)
Mementois a motion-picture show fromTheDark KnightandOppenheimerdirector Christopher Nolan ’s other long time , and it remains a compelling watch . The picture show starsGuy Pearceas Leonard Shelby , an amnesiac who sustain from brusque - term computer memory loss . Using a meticulous combining of photograph , notes , and even tattoo to recall information , Leonard embarks on a twisting mission to find out who killed his wife and inflicted him with this consideration .
Mementois still a highlight of Nolan ’s catalog , showing his artistry for point mind - bending psychological thrillers . Supported by Pearce ’s strong functioning and a originative , nonlinear plot , Mementois best view knowing the barest of tale details .
Blink Twice (2024)
Making her directorial debut , Zoe Kravitz puts together an pep up psychological thriller story forBlink Twice . The film follows a group of hoi polloi invite to drop their time partying on a tech billionaire ’s ( Channing Tatum ) individual island , but things take a twisted turn .
As the days and nights fuzz together and Frida ( Naomie Ackie ) take up to notice something off about the island ’s guests , she sets out to unravel this mystery story . Blink Twiceis a strong debut for Kravitz , with the game boldly exploring themes of corruption of baron and femininity in a uncongenial environment . But on top of intellection - provoking message is an redoubtable and exciting thriller .
Captain Phillips (2013)
base on Richard Phillips ’ recount of his experience off the coast of Somalia , Captain Phillipstells a dramatic story lead by the superb Tom Hanks . Director Paul Greengrass ’ motion-picture show see the eponymic merchandiser sea dog and his crew get caught in a hostage situation by Abduwali Muse ’s ( Barkhad Abdi ) group of sea rover .
Captain Phillipshas earned widespread acclaim , with Hanks and Barkhad Abdi ’s commanding performances carrying the plot of ground ’s nail - biting drama . The tension from the pair ’s moral force can be felt off the screenland , sell the taradiddle ’s wager . While the historical accuracy has been disputed , it ’s one of the good biographical thrillers to date .
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
As an activity star , Tom Cruise is well known fortheMission : Impossibleseries , butEdge of Tomorrowremains one of his best 2010s blockbusters . manoeuver by Doug Liman and co - led with Emily Blunt ’s Sergeant Rita Vrataski , the story sees Cruise ’s inexperienced William Cage thrust into a battle against an alien encroachment .
The ill - equipped John Milton Cage Jr. discovers he ’s stuck in a time eyelet , and escaping it is the Francis Scott Key to defeating the invaders . Edge of Tomorrowis adapted from Hiroshi Sakurazaka ’s novel and received extolment for catch the purport of the generator ’s imaginative premise . command execution , relentless action , and a fun time - themed plot of ground equipment make this one of the best modern sci - fi thriller .
The Equalizer (2014)
For audience wanting moreJohn Wick - similar thrills , Denzel Washington’sThe Equalizershould fill that niche . aim by Antoine Fuqua , Washington stars as a former marine and DIA ship’s officer Robert McCall , who finds himself push out of retreat . McCall run low on a bloody mission to save a teenage girl from the Russian Maffia ’s human trafficking ring .
The Equalizercertainly does n’t revolutionize the action - thriller genre , but as he ’s proven inGladiator II , Denzel Washington stay a highlight in everything he ’s in . devotee of over - the - top action will be satisfied with this vigilante - themed thriller , as it ’s bolstered by mountain of stylish combat succession .
The Batman (2022)
The Dark Knight is DC Comics ’ most enduring superhero , and directorMatt Reeves’The Batmanis a engrossing reboot . Starring Robert Pattinson ( Good Time , Mickey 17 ) as the eponymous sub , the films follows an former - life history Batman and Lieutenant Gordon ( Jeffrey Wright ) as they desperately chase the trail of the nonparallel killer Riddler ( Paul Dano ) . The liquidator and his lordly scheme testify elusive for the detectives , even rope in the enigmatic Selina Kyle , aka Catwoman ( Zoë Kravitz ) .
The medical prognosis of a third cinematic Batman in 10 years sounds fag out on paper , butThe Batmanis a gripping superhero - theme investigator thriller . to a great extent exalt by neo - noir law-breaking picture likeSevenwhile drawing from classic comics likeThe Long Halloween , The Batmanfinally demonstrates the hero ’s investigatory skill on the big screen .
Knives Out (2019)
While he ’s best known for sci - fi movies likeLooperandStar Wars : The Last Jedi , director Rian Johnson delve into themystery - thriller genrewithKnives Out . Daniel Craig ( Casino Royale , No Time to Die ) plays private investigator Benoit Blanc , the part investigating the end of famous novelist Harlan Thrombey ( Christopher Plummer ) .
The notable source ’s decease is harness a self-destruction , but Blanc suspects something more ominous is afoot . Knives Outhas been praised for its overhaul take on the Agatha Christie - style murder mystery , and it ’s bet on by a star - constellate corps de ballet . The movie ’s blend of machination , dreary comedy , and ingenious plot twists show off Johnson ’s versatility as a director .
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
John Krasinski ’s originalA Quiet Placepaved the way for an exciting sci - fi and horror - thriller franchise , andDay Oneis a worthwhile prequelto the series . conduct by Michael Sarnoski , Day Onetransports audiences to the origins of the enfranchisement ’s apocalyptic event and follows Samira ( Lupita Nyong’o ) and Eric ( Joseph Quinn ) as they navigate the radioactive dust .
The two wander New York City while nullify the hostile , audio - based aliens . A Quiet Place : Day Oneis an exciting standalone story in this man that tot up to the worldbuilding . It flourish upon the universe ’s history without sacrificing its mysterious appeal , and the movie ’s co - leads provide a compelling new view .
Joker (2019)
While Todd Phillips’widely pannedFolie à Deuxretroactively acidify the novelty of its herald , Jokerremains a solid watch . With Joaquin Phoenix in the lead use , this take on the Clown Prince of Crime follows Arthur Fleck , a downtrodden clown and fail stand - up comic . Suffering from depression and nihilistic thought , Fleck embraces the spring up Joker persona and inspires the voiceless into a vehement motion against Gotham City ’s elite .
Underwhelming continuation aside , Jokeris still charter when viewed as a standalone tale . Its biggest critique is its overreliance on classic criminal offense thriller like Martin Scorsese’sTaxi Driver , but Phoenix ’s Oscar - winning operation induce this story a compelling alternate DC Comics persistence .
The Terminator (1984)
Director James Cameron has put out several iconic megahit over the ten , and 1984’sThe Terminatorremains one of his most significant movies . A sci - fi action mechanism thriller , the narration orb around a cybernetic assassin screw as a Terminator ( Arnold Schwarzenegger ) traveling from 2029 to 1984 to murder Sarah Connor ( Linda Hamilton ) .
Connor ’s future son will help defeat Skynet , the tyrannical AI that ’s created an apocalyptic future for humanity . The human resistance sends soldier Kyle Reese ( Michael Biehn ) back in clock time to protect Sarah . The Terminatoris still see as an iconic Hollywood smash hit , sci - fi thriller or otherwise . The movie and its titular role are synonymous with Schwarzenegger , who bring tension to the unrelenting devil - movie - same resister and action set pieces .
Children of Men (2006)
shaver of Menis one of the adept action thriller of the 2010s . DirectorAlfonso Cuarón ’s dystopian movieis lay out in 2027 , with manhood battling infertility issues for around 20 years . U.K. asylum seekers are subjugated to hold and deportation .
Disillusioned civil handmaid Theo Faron ( Clive Owen ) find himself urgently trying to help refugee Kee ( Clare - Hope Ashitey ) escape the violent place . child of Menearned acclaim for its dexterous balance of riveting action and sincere human dramatic event . Owen and Ashitey ’s characters ground the story amid the topsy-turvyness , makingChildren of Mena well - round dystopic thriller .
Disturbia (2007)
Loosely inspired by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock’sRear Window , D. J. Caruso’sDisturbiais an exciting neo - noir thriller . Starring Shia LaBeouf as teenager Kale Brecht , the motion-picture show follow the 17 - twelvemonth - honest-to-god on house check for rape his teacher .
Once he begin watch his neighbors from dwelling house , he powerfully suspects one of them is a sequential killer . WhileDisturbiaisn’t a standout thriller of its subgenre , it has plenty of provocative psychological themes to advance it above a uncomplicated teen - themed crime movie . Plus , LaBeouf does a nifty job of engaging the consultation in this character - drive secret plan .
No Time to Die (2021)
Daniel Craig is among the best James Bond role player , andNo Time to Dieis a fitting sendoff . direct by Cary Joji Fukunaga , this spy thriller fancy Bond ’s tranquil life interrupted when CIA agent Felix Leiter ( Jeffrey Wright ) levy him on a mission to rescue a scientist .
The mission has even blue significance as it becomes a race against time to forbid a shadowy scoundrel ( Rami Malek ) from deploying a deadly weapon . While it ca n’t assess up to the likes ofCasino RoyaleorSkyfall , Fukunaga’sNo Time to Dieis an heroic swan song for Craig ’s character . Packed with elaborate natural process coiffe man and an emotional story , the moving picture brings James Bond ’s graphic symbol electric arc full circle .
Ex Machina (2015)
From studio A24,Ex Machinais one of the most underrated sci - fi movies of the 2010s . The sci - fi thriller is directed byCivil War ’s Alex Garland . The plot sees Caleb Smith ( Domhnall Gleeson ) win a competition to spend a week at Blue Book CEO Nathan Bateman ’s ( Oscar Isaac ) peck retirement .
However , Caleb finds himself rope into an more and more uncomfortable experimentation on the world ’s most sophisticated artificial intelligence ( Alicia Vikander).Ex Machinaearned vital plaudits for its clever take on AI - theme science fable and intellectual stories . It ’s not the sci - fi thriller most audiences would have a bun in the oven , as it practice its humble - scale setting to make the tensity between the three co - lead all the more palpable .
The Raid (2012)
Western film like theJohn Wickseries further popularized extended , bombastic natural action succession . Even so , 2011’sThe Raid : Redemptionis one of the good action thrillers to date . target by Gareth Evans , the plot revolve around an Indonesian police team tax with raiding a cruel criminal offence lord ’s apartment block .
late in the slum area of Jakarta and outnumber by violent malefactor , the tactical squad must brute thrust their style through the building . The Raid : Redemptionwas critically praised for the picture show ’s relentless , but stringent pacing , taking the “ all killer , no makeweight ” approach . The action is over - the - top tearing and incredibly well choreograph to match .
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
adequate region repulsion and offence thriller , The Silence of the Lambsis one of the most acclaimed 1990s picture . Directed by Jonathan Demme and adapted from Thomas Harris ’ 1988 novel , the movie follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling ( Jodie Foster ) as she track down a grim serial Orcinus orca nickname “ Buffalo Bill ” ( Ted Levine ) .
The macabre murderer has proven fabulously elusive , forcing Clarice to seek the help of imprisoned and cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter ( Anthony Hopkins).The Silence of the Lambsis a concise psychological crime thriller , get up by a torturesome secret plan and Foster and Hopkins ’ functioning . The Oscar - winning portrayals of Clarice and Hannibal maintain a constant , unnerving tension .
V for Vendetta (2006)
Aside from superheroics , DC Comics is have it away for some exciting criminal offence thrillers that break the clay sculpture . James McTeigue directs the live - action adaptation of Alan Moore , David Lloyd , and Tony Weare’sV for Vendetta , prepare in an alternate United Kingdom under the thumb of fascistic prescript . The plot revolves around V ( Hugo Weaving ) , an lawlessness - drive vigilante determined to give up lodge from its totalitarian vice grasp , and Evey Hammond ( Natalie Portman ) , who becomes wrapped up in the vigilante ’s freedom - fight back endeavor .
As one of DC ’s most successful comics from its Vertigo imprint , McTeigue ’s adaptation was praised for translating Moore ’s politically challenging radical to the self-aggrandizing screen . Backed by collide with cinematography and compelling performances from its co - lead , V for Vendettaalso produce for an entertainingdystopian film .
The Grey (2012)
Liam Neesonis no alien to activity thrillers , butThe Greyis among his best from the 2010s . conduct by Joe Carnahan and adjust from a short narration by cobalt - writer Ian MacKenzie Jeffers called “ Ghost Walker , ” the plot see Neeson ’s marksman on a punishing survival delegacy in Alaska .
After the death of his married woman , the wearied John Ottoway ( Neeson ) is lease as a marksman at a remote Alaskan oil facility . John must give everything he can to protect himself and a group of stranded oilman from a stalking pack of gray woman chaser . The Greyis a must - watch for fans of endurance - theme thrillers , with Liam Neeson ’s performance elevating an already tense story . The atmosphere and Neeson ’s role complement the motion picture ’s straightforward premiss , but it also offers some poignant commentary on humanity ’s grim spirit .
Cape Fear (1962)
Cape Fearis a Graeco-Roman psychological thriller and one of the most influential movies of the 1960s . Directed by J. Lee Thompson , the story rotate around belittled - town attorney Sam Bowden ( Gregory Peck ) , who finds himself and his kinsfolk excruciate by ex-husband - convict Max Cady ( Robert Mitchum ) .
Cady returns determined to exact his retaliation on Bowden for convict him 20 geezerhood earlier . Cape Fearearned vital acclaim for its riveting atmosphere , bolstered by the dynamic between Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum ’s character . Homer Armstrong Thompson ’s direction mirrored the scores , camera technique , and revelatory violence used byAlfred Hitchcock .
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Outright activeness - thriller are n’t the box - office draw they once were , but movies likeAtomic Blondeshow they ’ll always have a place in the spiritualist . Directed by David Leitch ( Deadpool 2,The Fall Guy ) , the movie adopt elect MI6 agentLorraine Broughton ( Charlize Theron ) on a covert mission in Germany the dark before the Berlin Wall ’s surrender .
Broughton must find a sensitive dossier of duple agents and rase a undercover agent halo . Atomic Blonde ’s story is rather straightforward , but it ’s all it needs to be , thanks to Theron ’s dynamical performance . She sells the character ’s cunning nature , and the stylistic military action fit evoke chronological sequence from theJohn Wickfranchise .
Face/Off (1997)
Directed by the revered filmmaker John Woo , Face / Offis a must - watch for fans of sci - fi thriller . The movie experience John Travolta ( Grease ) and Nicolas Cage ( Longlegs ) take on the two-fold roles of FBI agentSean Archer and terrorist Castor Troy .
After Archer captures Troy , he undergo an experimental procedure to exchange his face with the terrorist ’s — with Troy following suit by impersonate Archer . Face / Offdeveloped a strong craze follow over the year , beloved for its tumid action mechanism sequences . It ’s the high spot of Woo ’s life history , with Travolta and Cage make the most of the campy premiss to play off each other perfectly .
Taxi Driver (1976)
Director Martin Scorseseis a legacy name in the industry , andTaxi Driveris one of his former highlights . This grim thriller revolves around Travis Bickle ( Robert De Niro ) , a Vietnam War veteran soldier in a dangerously unstable genial land .
Travis works nights as a taxi driver , but the more he escort his idea of moral abjection through the streets of New York City , the more emboldened he becomes to take violent action . Taxi Driverearned universal praise for how it mix the neo - noir musical genre with psychological thriller . The film ’s intense POV - driven plot give his deteriorating genial state feel unsettling and intimate , result in one of the best lineament studies in pic history .
The Beekeeper (2024)
The Beekeeperhas been one of the most surprising successes in the thriller genre . Directed by David Ayer , the tarradiddle sees former “ Beekeeper ” operative Adam Clay ( Jason Statham ) go on a ghastly killing streak .
When his compassionate landlady and retired schooltime instructor Eloise Parker ( Phylicia Rashad ) dies by self-destruction after being caught in a phishing scam , Adam decide to hunt down the perpetrators . The Beekeeperearned a fairly positive critical response for embracing its over - the - top nature . The movie did n’t guess to be anything it was n’t , and it delivered an well entertaining natural action - thriller for its campaign .
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Directed by Lynne Ramsay , We Need to blab out About Kevinis a gripping psychological drama and thriller . The plot revolves aroundEva Khatchadourian ( Tilda Swinton ) , a former travel writer , who skin to cope with her psychopathological Word Kevin ( The Flash‘s Ezra Miller ) and the atrocities he ’s committed .
Eva now works at a locomotion office near the prison house where he ’s being hold , with the story unscramble the former ’s troubled memories . We Need to Talk About Kevinreceived convinced followup for its torturesome mix of horror , dramatic event , and thriller elements . It ’s also regarded as one of Swinton ’s strong performances , portraying Eva ’s torment psyche convincingly .
Oppenheimer (2023)
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Rear Window (1954)
The Perfect Host (2010)
Road House (2024)
Foe (2023)
Saltburn (2023)
Dark Nature (2023)
The Wall (2012)
What would you do if you were cut off from the rest of civilisation by an inconspicuous rampart ? Short of panicking , most of us would have no clue , but these are the identity card dealt to our main character in author - theater director Julian Pölsler ’s 2012 filmThe Wall . Starring Martina Gedeck as the unnamed champion , when our hero discovers the nominal barrier between her and the rest of the world , the woman and her Canis familiaris Lynx are forced into survival fashion as nature starts taking over . Will she succumb to the unmovable façade , or will she perish ? WatchingThe Wallmay be a bit of a slow - live on experience at times , but if you ’re willing to go along with the nearly two - hour runtime , you ’ll be privy to quite an amazing performance from Gedeck .
M.O.M. Mothers of Monsters (2020)
The Swerve (2018)
Once in a blue moon , a solid psychological thriller comes along that really dips its toe into the world of disturbed and narratively unreliable psyches . surely , there are plenty of photographic film thattryto plunge deeply into mental hellscapes , but when you see how bright this case of struggle is pull off by movies likeThe Swerve , you realize how many other pic merely drop the mark . Starring Azura Skye as Holly , a high - school teacher , wife , and female parent of two , Holly ’s life is seemingly good on the surface . That is until a series of unusual and hallucinatory events bulge unfold around her . Compounded by the many stresses of day-to-day life , including her ill-affected children and an strange student , Holly ’s façade begin to crumble as past fiend rise their head . An excellent story of a methodically - paced breakdown , The Swerveis steered by an emotionally stunning lead performance from Skye .
The Boondock Saints (1999)
Thirteen Lives (2022)
In director Ron Howard ’s torturing and emotionalThirteen Lives , is the real - life chronicle of the Wild Boars , a Thai soccer team made up of twelve players and their coach . When the squad venture off into the Tham Luang cave , heavy rains flood the cavern , trapping them inside . After the parents of the boys alarm authority , a globalized delivery drive , comprised of professional divers and other emergency responders , must race against the clock to bring through the Wild Boars before it ’s too late . Dialing in the dramatized potency from other Howard - honed motion picture likeApollo 13 , there ’s plenty at stake inThirteen life story , and the longtime auteur dextrously tackles the many anxiousness - inducing exploit of one of the world ’s most demise - defying hunting - and - deliverance effort .