1980 Film Was Just Ranked the 'Greatest '80s Thriller Movie'

The 1980s are known for the incredible movies released in the era, specifically thrillers.

The publication Colliderrecently released a list of the 9 greatest thrillers of the decade. The ranking, published on April 2, featured suspenseful '80s films like Blue Velvetfrom 1986, The Killer, released in 1989, After Hours from 1985, and 1981'sThief.

The 1980 film The Long Good Friday secured the list's top spot. According to Collider, the John Mackenzie-directed movie deserved the title of the best '80s thriller due to Bob Hoskins' incredible portrayal of British gangster Harold Shand and its well-crafted script, inspired by true events.

The Long Good Friday has a score of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Pierce Brosnan Shared Details About Filming the Final, Iconic Scene of 'The Long Good Friday'

Collider reported that The Long Good Friday was actor Pierce Brosnan's first movie. In a 2006 behind-the-scenes interview, Brosnan suggested he didn't audition for his role as an IRA hitman. According to the actor, he received a call from his "first film agent," who let him know he had about "3 days' work on a film called The Long Good Friday."

Brosnan said he wasn't sent the script but knew his character didn't have any dialogue. The GoldenEye star also noted that his character holds Shand at gunpoint in a car in the film's infamous final shot. Brosnan shared that he didn't actually film with Hoskin for the iconic scene. Instead, his scene partner was the movie's cinematographer Phil Méheux.

"Bob Hoskins gets whisked away and then I show up in the front seat, popping up with the gun. Welcome to the world of film, I showed up to shoot the sequins Bob Hoskins wasn't there. Phil Méheux was in the back with the camera and lights, John McKenzie driving, and me giving my best smile of malevolence," said Brosnan in the 2006 interview.

Brosnan also shared he didn't anticipate the scene to become so memorable.

"I was completely ignorant. I didn't realize that it was going to be such a cinematic moment," said the Irish actor, now 72.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 11:44 AM.