thriller
n. countablen. a book, movie, or play that tells an exciting story about a crime or a mystery. It usually makes you feel nervous or excited because you want to know what happens next.
n. a work of fiction, such as a novel or film, characterised by suspense, excitement, and anticipation. The plot typically revolves around a high-stakes conflict, crime, or conspiracy.
I am reading a psychological thriller that I cannot put down.
The director's latest political thriller kept the audience on the edge of their seats until the final scene.
While many critics dismissed the film as a standard action thriller, its nuanced exploration of corporate surveillance elevated it above the typical genre tropes.
From thrill + -er.
Often modified by adjectives like 'psychological', 'political', or 'legal' to specify the sub-genre.