Characters who left a mark on us all
Julia Roberts starred in the 2000 movie 'Erin Brockovich,' which tells the real-life story of an average but exceptional woman who goes after big business. Single mother Erin Brockovich becomes a legal assistant and discovers a huge cover-up.
He discovers that a secret government agency is protecting the Nazi, played by Laurence Olivier, and he gets caught up in a dark and twisted conspiracy. Be warned: there's an infamous scene where Hoffman is tortured in a dentist's chair!
Dustin Hoffman stars in 'Marathon Man,' another classic '70s conspiracy thriller! Hoffman plays a PhD student who works on the case of a Nazi war criminal who turns out to be in hiding.
'The Insider' tells a true, but little-known story about the whistleblower who uncovered a sinister conspiracy by big tobacco companies in the US.
Needless to say, this one is based on a true story. The 1991 movie 'JFK' explores the mysterious assassination of John F. Kennedy, an historical event that initiated even more conspiracy theories than the Moon landing or 9/11.
'Enemy of the State' is a conspiracy movie with an all-star cast. Will Smith stars as an unsuspecting lawyer who is framed for the murder of a congressman.
'The Matrix' might seem like a surprise entry on the list, but at the heart of this cult classic is the story of a computer programmer trying to fight a major conspiracy.
This 2006 movie starring Tom Hanks is another film based on a best-selling novel. 'The Da Vinci Code' follows a symbologist on a mission to understand his friend's murder, which takes him down a mysterious path involving a 2,000-year-old secret society and a quest for an ancient religious artifact.
'The Manchurian Candidate' (2004) stars Denzel Washington as a decorated soldier who returns home from the Gulf War. Underneath his story of heroism is a sinister mystery involving brainwashing and murder.
This Oscar-winning movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz is based on the acclaimed book by John le Carré. When his wife is murdered in Kenya, Justin Quayle uncovers a massive conspiracy while trying to find out why she was killed.
The existence of the Illuminati is one of the most hotly debated conspiracy theories in the world. In 'Angels & Demons,' they are orchestrating a deadly plot against Vatican City.
'Angels & Demons' is based on the second book in the popular series by Dan Brown. This time it gets a little closer to home, with Tom Hanks' character in a race against time, and the Illuminati!
'The Interpreter' stars Nicole Kidman as a UN interpreter who claims to overhear an assassination plot. A Homeland Security officer, played by Sean Penn, is assigned to her to discover if she's telling the truth.
Bourne struggles to uncover his true identity and find out what he did in the past, at the risk of uncovering a dangerous CIA conspiracy.
John Grisham certainly knows how to spin a suspenseful mystery, and the 1993 adaption of his book 'The Firm' is a thrilling watch. Tom Cruise stars as a recently qualified lawyer who lands a great case defending a large company, but he begins to uncover a much darker story.
This 1995 movie directed by Oliver Stone stars Anthony Hopkins as the notorious Richard Nixon. Hopkins gives an exceptional performance as the US president who was famous for his use of intimidation and dodgy dealings.
The 1998 movie based on the hit TV show follows FBI agents Scully and Mulder, played by Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. They are sent to investigate a bombing, and discover that criminal evidence has been destroyed.
In typical 'X-Files' fashion, things get supernatural. They discover that the US government is attempting to cover up the fact that aliens are colonizing Earth.
Gene Hackman plays a surveillance expert who is hired to listen in on a couple, but when he hears them discuss their fear of being murdered, he begins to wonder about the people who hired him. He descends into paranoia and obsession.
'The Conversation' is one of Francis Ford Coppola’s greatest creations. It's a wonderful ode to the growing panic people were feeling in the '70s over increased surveillance and dissipating privacy. It was released during the era of the Watergate scandal.
Neo discovers that his entire reality has been constructed by powerful computers, and he wages war on the system to regain control.
A journalist named Lowell Bergman, played by Al Pacino, discovers that certain tobacco companies have been secretly and purposefully making cigarettes more addictive, and more dangerous.
He frantically follows the spiderweb to the heart of the conspiracy in order to clear his name. The movie also features Regina King, Jon Voight, and Gene Hackman.
'Three Days of the Condor' (1975) is another film that reflected the anxiety and paranoia of that period in history. Robert Redford plays a CIA researcher who is charged with outwitting the entire intelligence organization when his colleagues all turn up dead.
The 1962 original directed by John Frankenheimer’s is also a fantastic watch. It's a masterful depiction of Cold War paranoia. It stars Frank Sinatra and Angela Lansbury, so that's an extra bonus!
He takes a group of people hostage to buy time while he searches for the truth about who is trying to set him up. Kevin Spacey plays the negotiator sent in to deal with him.
Sources: (The Atlantic) (Glamour) (What Culture)
See also: The craziest royal conspiracy theories
Samuel L. Jackson plays a respected police negotiator in the 1998 movie 'The Negotiator.' When his reputation is ruined by false allegations of corruption, he takes extreme action to clear his name.
'The Bourne Trilogy' starring Matt Damon is a great place to start when it comes to conspiracy movies. Damon's character Jason Bourne wakes up with amnesia and tries to put together the pieces of his past life as a CIA agent.
We're living in a time where conspiracy theories and paranoia are flourishing. One wild idea can be quickly disseminated through the internet and reach people all over the world, gaining traction and getting further and further from reality. This can get dangerous, but let's be honest: it's absolutely thrilling to go down the rabbit hole and see all the evidence that suggests Tupac is still alive and Avril Lavigne has been replaced with a body double. However, it's probably safer if we keep these thrills within the realm of entertainment.
Let's take a look at the most exciting thrillers that deal with conspiracies. Click through the following gallery to get started.
The best conspiracy movies of all time
Let's save the paranoia for the big screen
MOVIES Thrillers
We're living in a time where conspiracy theories and paranoia are flourishing. One wild idea can be quickly disseminated through the internet and reach people all over the world, gaining traction and getting further and further from reality. This can get dangerous, but let's be honest: it's absolutely thrilling to go down the rabbit hole and see all the evidence that suggests Tupac is still alive and Avril Lavigne has been replaced with a body double. However, it's probably safer if we keep these thrills within the realm of entertainment.
Let's take a look at the most exciting thrillers that deal with conspiracies. Click through the following gallery to get started.