There are few performers in Hollywood history who’ve appeared in a greater volume of high-quality thrillers. Since the 1970s, American actressJodie Fosterhas dominated the genre from every fathomable perspective. Whether you look through a lens of critical reception or name value, the best thrillers of Jodie Foster’s career are among the greatest ever made, let alone of their respective decades.
You’ll without a doubt recognize those in the upper echelon, while the first few films on the list may appear more unfamiliar. But they all play a part in rendering Foster the world’s greatest thriller actor. These aren’t just well-made films from talented directors — Foster also puts on the performance of a lifetime in the majority of these titles. Accolades at award ceremonies don’t even do them justice. You probably have many films materializing in this regard off the top of your ahead. So without further ado, this is every Jodie Foster thriller, ranked.
7Catchfire (1990)
Regardless of genre,Catchfire(1990) — also known by the 1992 director’s cut titleBacktrack— is among the lowest reviewed movies of Jodie Foster’s entire career. Directed by Dennis Hopper, who also appears as Milo, it features Foster as the protagonist.
She plays an artist named Anne Benton who, while fixing a flat tire, bears witness to a mob killing. She’s thentargeted by the mafiaas Hopper’s hitman character Milo is hired to track her down and end her life. She receives next-to-no help from law enforcement, creating tangible tension around every corner of its plot. But still, the theatrical release is an alleged far cry from Hopper’s original version, leading to greater praise for the aforementioned director’s cutBacktrack.
Critics were far more impressed with his original vision. But no matter which movie ended up being reviewed,Catchfiredid come up short at the worldwide box office. It accrued exactly half of its $10 million budget, with equally lackluster numbers of success attributed via critical reception. If you’re able to find the director’s cut,Backtrackis well worth your time. Historically, the same hasn’t been said forCatchfire.
Stream it on Prime Video
6Flightplan (2005)
Flightplan
Here, it’s worth noting that Foster’s thriller archive runs the gamut of popularity, with the list’s upper echelon representing the more famous films thereof. But many of these movies have been deemed underrated by fans, and in some cases, even in hindsight by critics. One such example isFlightplan(2005), a psychological thriller with a star-studded cast.
On top of Foster, it also features talented performers such as Peter Sarsgaard, Sean Bean, Matt Bomer, and Erika Christensen. The actress of the hour plays protagonist Kyle Pratt, an airplane engineerwho takes a flight(in a vessel she helped design) back to the United States. She has her daughter Julia in tow, along with her late husband’s body. And during the grieving process, to make matters worse, Julia ends up missing.
The crew then informs Kyle nobody saw her daughter board the flight in the first place, with an enticing thriller playing out from there. In spite of a lackluster response from critics,Flightplandid accrue tremendous money while in theaters. And it holds up well enough today.
Rent it on Prime Video or Apple TV
5The Brave One (2007)
The Brave One
Among the more underrated psychological thrillers ever made,The Brave One(2007) saw direction under Neil Jordan. Meanwhile, it’s script about a disc jockey was penned by three creatives: Cynthia Mort alongside brothers Roderick and Bruce Taylor. While those names might not ring any bells, there are several performers worth noting among the cast ofThe Brave One. And no, not just Jodie Foster as the aforementioned radio host Erica Bain.
There’s also Terrence Howard as a detective who investigates the murder of Erica’s fiancé, along with other names such as Zoë Kravitz, Naveen Andrews, and Mary Steenburg. They all perform wonderfully, with particular praise doled out to Foster for her leading efforts.
In fact, she received anomination for Best Actressin a Motion Picture — Drama at the Golden Globes. And although she came up short of a win, this remains among the best performances of Foster’s career. It helps thatThe Brave Onealso boasts an intelligent script with great direction from Jordan. Everyone showed up in spades.
Rent it on Apple TV
4Panic Room (2002)
Panic Room
Se7en(1995),Zodiac(2007),Gone Girl(2014) — all of these films and more have helped render David Fincher among the finest thriller directors to ever live. And perhaps the most underrated feature under his belt goes toPanic Room(2002), starring Jodie Foster as Meg Altman. Considering Fincher is also known for eliciting high-quality performances from his actors, it’s no wonder why critics praised the efforts from the lead actress.
For those unfamiliar:Panic Roomfollows Meg as she moves into a new home with her daughter, only for their abode to be immediately invaded. The robbers are played by Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, and Dwight Yokam, while Kristen Stewart portrays Meg’s daughter, named Sarah.
And asthe dynamic mother-daughter duolock themselves in the titular room full of high-tech security, the burglars engage in a game of proverbial chess to force their way through walls of concrete and steel. It’s an intriguing premise, withPanic Roomgoing down among the most thrilling adventures from everyone involved. That includes the actress at hand.
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3Inside Man (2006)
Inside Man
Though you’re unlikely to recognize the name of screenwriter Russell Gewirtz, most film fans should be familiar with Spike Lee. The latter directedInside Man(2006) from the former’s original script, and both creatives garnered widespread acclaim for their work. The same can be said for the many renowned actors among its star-studded cast. Foster stars alongside Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, with supporting efforts being provided by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Plummer, and Willem Dafoe.
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They all perform brilliantly, with each name sharing a tangible rapport with the next listed member of the cast. And as a whole,Inside Manholds up wonderfully today. It’s a heist film, following one of the more elaborate bank robberies you’re ever likely to see unfold on the silver screen. Owen plays the antagonistic bank robber who practices bardolotry, while Washington and Foster portray a hostage negotiator and a fixer from Manhattan, respectively.
Careful tactics of camerawork are on full display as their character arcs intertwine, with bold continuity editingand an engrossing scoreto boot. All of those behind-the-scenes figures are worth noting, as well. Cinematographer Matthew Libatique, editor Barry Alexander Brown, and composer Terence Blanchard are all frequent collaborators of director Spike Lee, with the film at hand going down among the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful from every name involved. That will always be the case.
Stream it on Starz
2Taxi Driver (1976)
Taxi Driver
Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster — no matter the name,Taxi Driver(1976) will always be among the most respected projects from everyone involved. It chronicles the descent into madness of Travis Bickle, a New York City taxi cab driver who served in the Vietnam War. It’s a famous plot, with Foster playing a child prostitute named Iris. The two characters form a friendship, with Travis eventually saving Iris from her unfortunate line of work.
Harvey Keitel plays her pimp, named Sport, while other performers inTaxi Driverinclude Cybill Shepherd, Albert Brooks, Peter Boyle, and Scorsese himself. Heralded by fans and critics alike as one ofthe best movies ever made, this entry nearly transcends the list itself in terms of name value alone. And considering its status as a high caliber project, it undoubtedly deserves to be cited among the finest films of Jodie Foster’s career.
1The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Silence of the Lambs
One part horror, one part thriller, equal parts psychological masterpiece that delves into the human condition while horrifying audiences every step of the way. Directed by Jonathan Demme, this is among the most famous and critically acclaimed films to ever hit theaters around the world. And with career-defining performances from its two most prominent thespians,The Silence of the Lambs(1991) holds up wonderfully today as perhaps the finest feature of their respective careers.
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Of course, Foster stars as Detective Clarice Starling, while Sir Anthony Hopkins portrays the menacing serial killer Hannibal Lecter. They both won Academy Awards in their respective categories, with the film accruing other wins for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. That makesThe Silence of the Lambsthe third and most recent picture to win the “Big Five” awards at the Oscars. And frankly, that’s only scratching the surface of its impressive legacy.
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