Thrillers based on true-life events that balance action and drama have proven popular in recent years, and if you’re looking for movies like Zero Dark Thirty then there’s plenty of options out there.
From director Kathryn Bigelow, the story of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden was a major success, and the gripping narrative based on one of the most suspenseful moments in recent history was a firm awards season favorite in 2010.
If you want thrilling adaptations of real stories, then we’ve compiled a list of ten movies like Zero Dark Thirty that tick all of the same boxes that guarantee to keep you captivated for the entire running time.
Top 10 Thrilling & Suspenseful Movies Like Zero Dark Thirty
10. 12 Strong (2018)
The big-screen adaptation of the novel, Horse Stories, dramatizes the tale of a Special Forces unit sent into Afghanistan immediately after the events of 9/11, and the trials and tribulations they faced when they arrived.
Chris Hemsworth leads a solid ensemble in the action-driven retelling that opts for style over substance and succeeds despite opting not to focus too heavily on the political machinations behind the scenes.
It isn’t quite as fine-tuned as Zero Dark Thirty, but as a thrilling look at a pivotal moment in America’s not too distant past, 12 Strong bears more than a few thematic similarities.
9. The Kingdom (2007)
Peter Berg is known for his grounded and realistic action thrillers, and The Kingdom is one of just two entries on this list that aren’t directly based on a true story, but instead, weave a fictional narrative.
Jamie Foxx leads a cast of familiar faces, rising stars, and reliable veterans in a movie that goes big on the action without ever forgetting the personal stakes that come with such perilous political turmoil.
If you want movies like Zero Dark Thirty but prefer more pyrotechnics and a faster and looser interpretation of the facts, then The Kingdom packs plenty of punch into its breezy 109 minutes.
8. Green Zone (2010)
Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon re-teamed for a street-level look at the 2003 invasion of Iraq that utilizes the filmmaker’s preferred techniques to great effect despite the lack of big set pieces.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t any action to be found, but all of the major beats are solidly grounded and make complete context with the story being told.
In lesser hands, the story could have come off as a little dry, but with Greengrass and Damon leading the charge, Green Zone is a lot more propulsive than it had any right to be.
7. Syriana (2005)
If you’re looking for movies like Zero Dark Thirty that don’t have to rely on shoot-outs and explosions to get their point across, then Syriana is definitely well worth checking out.
George Clooney won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for delivering the best performance of his career as just one figure in a multi-stranded plot that never once loses sight of the narrative objective.
Ambitious, complex, and ultimately rewarding, Syriana forgoes action in favor of intelligence and becomes a much better movie for it.
6. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
Movies like Zero Dark Thirty don’t often rely on stylish camerawork and impeccably crafted destruction to sell themselves to audiences, but 13 Hours sacrifices subtlety for spectacle and largely succeeds.
Michael Bay was never going to craft a soberingly realistic drama, and his cast of macho men acquit themselves well as the story follows a military unit under siege against seemingly impossible odds.
There was inevitably criticism surrounding the man behind Transformers tackling such sensitive subject matter, but 13 Hours contains everything you’d expect from a Michael Bay war movie for better or worse.
5. Body of Lies (2008)
The second and final entry on this list that’s entirely fictional, Body of Lies is based on the novel of the same name by David Ignatius.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe take the lead roles under the direction of Ridley Scott, reimagining the standard government-issued thriller as a glossy star-powered blockbuster.
The performances often overpower the story, but when you’ve got two A-listers firing on all cylinders it often enhances the overall quality of the movie, which is exactly what happened with the reliably solid Body of Lies.
4. Argo (2012)
Argo is based on the stranger than fiction tale of the CIA using the cover of a fake sci-fi movie to infiltrate and rescue six American diplomats from Iran.
Star and director Ben Affleck impresses hugely pulling double duty, while the script doesn’t waste a single word and the watertight edit ensures that there’s not an ounce of fat on Argo’s two-hour running time.
A huge awards season favorite that scooped Best Picture at the Oscars, the superb political thriller is required viewing for anyone actively seeking out movies like Zero Dark Thirty.
3. Black Hawk Down (2001)
Black Hawk Down is a visceral and intense look at the U.S. military’s 1993 raid in Mogadishu that quickly spiraled out of control.
Ridley Scott directs one of the most stacked ensembles casts ever gathered together in one place, and as soon as the mission goes sideways the movie doesn’t let up for a second.
Movies like Zero Dark Thirty can often become bogged down in exposition, but Black Hawk Down is a shot of adrenaline that serves up a masterclass in precision-engineered and relentless action.
2. Lone Survivor (2013)
A harrowing look at a counter-insurgency mission gone wrong, Lone Survivor relied heavily on accuracy in recreating the wince-inducing struggle faced by the Navy SEAL team at the heart of the story.
Once the bullets start flying, you can’t take your eyes off the screen as every single frame is filled with dread, panic, the ricochet of bullets lent an added air of authenticity by the four central performances.
The entire second act is a doggedly realistic and often brutal depiction of a fight for survival, making Lone Survivor a difficult but entirety worthwhile watch.
1. The Hurt Locker (2008)
If you want more movies like Zero Dark Thirty, then The Hurt Locker is the obvious place to start given that it marked the first collaboration between director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal.
The movie traces both the psychological effects and the adrenaline rush that come with being forced into armed combat, and how different personalities react to the stress of war in different ways.
The Hurt Locker won big at the Oscars including Best Picture, Director and Original Screenplay, and is essential viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in true-life war movies.