Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Sharper:
Nightmare Alley
Guillermo del Toro has built a career on finding beauty in darkness, crafting stories that, even in their bleakest moments, hold onto some sense of wonder, nostalgia, or hope. Movies like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, and his stop-motion Pinocchio remake all explore the perseverance of the human spirit, even in the face of terrible atrocities. That’s what makes Nightmare Alley such a striking outlier in his filmography—it’s a film almost entirely devoid of hope, a cynical neo-noir that suggests people are, at their core, selfish and opportunistic. Instead of offering redemption, Nightmare Alley leaves you with a sick feeling in your stomach, hammering home its central thesis: trust is a liability, and grifters will always find a way to exploit it.
The Game
Fresh off the success of Se7en, David Fincher used the opportunity to make a move that is deeply idiosyncratic and cynical, matching his personal interests with a story that breaks down the infrastructure of masculinity in a world of wealthy businessmen. The Game is not only a David Fincher movie, it feels like the most David Fincher movie, and amalgamation of common themes regurgitated with each film that follows.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Although it’s still setting the pace in terms of quality that other murder mysteries strive for, Netflix’s latest Knives Out installment, Glass Onion, feels like a rehashing of every character arch and narrative beat that the original did so much better.
Hypnotic
At least Hypnotic mostly understands its role as a B-side psychological thriller. It’s certainly not on the same scale as some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, and it relishes in its audacious premise and tries to have fun in the margins. If a more committed Ben Affleck showed up, and the script knew when to hit the brakes, there may have been a better movie here at play. Instead, Hypnotic lands with a quiet thud and leaves without a trace.
Saltburn
Emerald Fennell‘s sophomore movie, Saltburn, emerges from the rubble of her polarizing debut, Promising Young Woman, with a cast that elevates the material despite its endlessly convoluted and plainly put narrative. This comedy-drama-thriller hybrid film weaves a perplexing tale of obsession, deception, and tragedy within the confines of the aristocratic Catton family’s titular estate.
Blood Simple
Nearly every time I revisit Blood Simple, I’m struck by how confident and precise Joel and Ethan Coen were right out of the gate. Released in 1984, Blood Simple is the Coen brothers’ debut film and still stands as one of the greatest first features ever made. A neo-noir steeped in paranoia, betrayal, and bloody miscommunication, it’s a film that knows exactly what it wants to be—lean, stylish, and razor-sharp.
Don’t Worry Darling
While it’s easy to point fingers and blame the film’s issues on just a few individuals, Don’t Worry Darling, at its core, is flawed. A meandering story can’t be saved by Florence Pugh and Harry Styles.
Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Eleven might just be the coolest heist movie ever made. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and featuring one of the most effortlessly charismatic ensembles in film history—George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia—it’s a masterclass in smooth, stylish entertainment. Decades later, it remains endlessly rewatchable, a perfect blend of clever plotting, sharp dialogue, and pure Hollywood star power.
Another Simple Favor
Another Simple Favor isn’t just a misfire—it’s a symptom of the growing problem with streaming-era content. What once felt like an opportunity to tell smaller, riskier stories has increasingly become a dumping ground for shallow IP extensions that lack any creative spark. This is not a thriller. It’s not even really a movie. It’s plain, dull, and disposable “content.”
Wolfs
The appeal of Jon Watts’ Wolfs is obvious. The film serves as the long-awaited reunion between George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The two mega movie stars have shared the screen for a handful of projects over the years, most notably the Ocean’s franchise and Burn After Reading.
READ MORE: Sharper (2023)
