Most of us sit on our couches to watch movies or shows, just to get out of our routine lives bound by work, household chores, tasks, and duties.And what better way to do it than watching a thriller that keeps us hooked until the end? I love the genre, especially the thrillers that play with my mind.Netflix has a plethora of movies and shows, but “Thriller” is the genre I associate the streaming service most with.
When I think about Netflix thrillers, I can quickly recall titles like , a Spanish mystery-thriller miniseries, which completely changed my perspective on screenplays, with a twist at the end of each episode.Titles like these prove the genre association I have with Netflix.Just as Apple TV has become a go-to place for sci-fi shows or movies, I can confidently say Netflix is the go-to platform for thrillers.
As I write this, I want to recall my top five movies that prove the platform has more capable thrillers to take the crown.My No.1 pick on this list hails from David Fincher, a master in the genre.
5 Intrusion A couple's dream home becomes a psychological nightmare is a home invasion thriller that revolves around a psychological mind game about trust, betrayal, and the secrets we keep from the people we love.The title might sound generic, but the premise—architect husband Henry (Logan Marshall-Green) and his wife Meera (Freida Pinto) moving into an ultra-modern smart home in a secluded area that starts turning against them—made me curious.Meera, a breast cancer survivor, finally hopes for a peaceful life in her new home, only to find hidden truths that unfold after a break-in.
The film slowly builds mistrust through small details and character depth with the right number of plot twists.Unlike other movies on the list that involve complex narration or storytelling, is a couch-potato thriller, with easy-to-digest content, making it perfect for casual weekend streaming.Despite low scores from critics, its straightforward plot helped the film find a massive audience, and to be honest, it worked for me, too.
Netflix Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams Two or four Visit Netflix Expand Collapse 4 Gerald's Game Stephen King's "unfilmable" novel becomes a Netflix masterpiece , directed by Mike Flanagan (known for The and ), is considered one of Netflix's groundbreaking psychological thrillers.Based on Stephen King's 1992 novel, was widely considered "unfilmable" because the premise revolves largely around the internal monologue and psychological fear of the victim, Jessie (Carla Gugino).The plot involves a couple, Jessie (Carla Gugino), who gets stuck in handcuffs during foreplay with her husband, Gerald (Bruce Greenwood), suffers a heart attack at their secluded lake house.
Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge Name that Netflix thrillerTrivia challenge From twisted mysteries to edge-of-your-seat crime dramas — can you identify these Netflix original thrillers from just a clue? CrimeMysterySuspenseDramaOriginals Begin 01 / 8 Crime A seemingly perfect suburban mom discovers her neighbor is harboring a dark secret, leading her down a rabbit hole of lies, manipulation, and murder in this 2018 Netflix limited series based on a bestselling novel. AThe Haunting of Hill HouseBBehind Her EyesCYouDDirty John Correct! Dirty John is based on the true crime podcast of the same name and stars Eric Bana and Connie Britton.It follows Debra Newell, whose romance with charming con man John Meehan unravels into something terrifying. Not quite — the answer is Dirty John.This chilling limited series is based on a true story and a hit podcast, following a woman whose seemingly ideal new partner turns out to be a dangerous deceiver with a criminal past. Continue 02 / 8 Suspense A New York City bookstore clerk becomes obsessed with a woman he meets, going to increasingly disturbing lengths to insert himself into her life — all while narrating his actions with unsettling charm. AMindhunterBOzarkCYouDThe Sinner Correct! You stars Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, a soft-spoken bookstore manager whose romantic obsessions quickly spiral into stalking and worse.
The show's genius lies in making viewers almost sympathize with its deeply disturbing protagonist. Not quite — the answer is You.Penn Badgley plays Joe Goldberg, a charming but deeply dangerous man whose inner monologue pulls viewers into his warped worldview.The show has run for multiple seasons and become one of Netflix's biggest hits. Continue 03 / 8 Mystery A financial advisor relocates his family to a lakeside Missouri town to launder money for a drug cartel, making increasingly desperate decisions to keep his family alive in this slow-burn crime drama. ABloodlineBOzarkCNarcosDSafe Correct! Ozark stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney as Marty and Wendy Byrde, a couple forced to flee Chicago and set up a money-laundering operation in the Missouri Ozarks. The show ran for four seasons and won multiple Emmy Awards. Not quite — the answer is Ozark.
Jason Bateman both stars in and directs much of this critically acclaimed series, which follows a family's terrifying descent into the criminal underworld after a money-laundering scheme goes wrong. Continue 04 / 8 Drama FBI agents travel across the country in the 1970s interviewing imprisoned serial killers to understand the psychology of violence and build the foundations of modern criminal profiling. AManhuntBCriminal: UKCMindhunterDThe Killing Correct! Mindhunter is directed by David Fincher and based on the real memoir by FBI agent John Douglas.It features chilling conversations with fictionalized versions of real killers like Ed Kemper and Dennis Rader, and is praised for its meticulous period detail. Not quite — the answer is Mindhunter.This David Fincher-produced series dramatizes the true origins of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit.
Its interviews with serial killers are so unsettling partly because many are based on real transcripts. Continue 05 / 8 Suspense A woman wakes up with no memory of who she is or what she's done, only to discover she may be more dangerous than the people hunting her in this action-heavy 2020 Netflix original film. AThe Old GuardBKateCExtractionDTidelands Correct! Kate stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as a professional assassin who is poisoned and given only 24 hours to live, during which she tears through Tokyo seeking revenge. The film is packed with stylish action sequences and neon-lit visuals. Not quite — the answer is Kate.Mary Elizabeth Winstead delivers a fierce performance as a dying assassin on a revenge mission through Japan.The film leans into its action-thriller roots with inventive fight choreography and a bold visual style. Continue 06 / 8 Crime A true crime docuseries that investigates the mysterious death of a woman on a hiking trail, raising questions about whether local authorities ignored key evidence in their rush to close the case. AThe KeepersBMaking a MurdererCThe StaircaseDAmerican Murder: The Family Next Door Correct! Making a Murderer follows Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey, who were convicted of murdering Teresa Halbach.
The series sparked a massive public debate about wrongful convictions and police misconduct when it launched in 2015. Not quite — the answer is Making a Murderer.This landmark Netflix docuseries ignited a national conversation about the justice system when it suggested Steven Avery may have been framed by the very law enforcement he was suing at the time of his arrest. Continue 07 / 8 Mystery In this Spanish-language thriller, a group of students and professors are taken hostage inside the Royal Mint of Spain by a criminal mastermind known only by a city name, who orchestrates the heist from a remote location. ACable GirlsBEliteCMoney HeistDThe Pier Correct! Money Heist, known in Spanish as La Casa de Papel, became one of the most-watched non-English series in Netflix history.It follows a genius criminal called The Professor as he guides a team of robbers — each named after a city — through an elaborate heist. Not quite — the answer is Money Heist (La Casa de Papel).
This Spanish phenomenon ran for five seasons and turned characters like The Professor and Tokyo into global icons. It's one of the most successful non-English language shows ever made. Continue 08 / 8 Drama A wealthy family's patriarch dies under mysterious circumstances, and as each sibling fights for control of the family business, long-buried secrets begin to surface in this 2018 psychological thriller series set in Florida. ABloodlineBOuter BanksCThe Haunting of Bly ManorDOn My Block Correct! Bloodline is set in the Florida Keys and stars Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, and Linda Cardellini as members of the Rayburn family.Ben Mendelsohn's performance as the troubled black sheep Danny earned widespread critical acclaim. Not quite — the answer is Bloodline.This brooding family thriller uses a non-linear narrative to build dread across three seasons.
Ben Mendelsohn is particularly magnetic as the volatile Danny Rayburn, whose return home sets a tragic chain of events in motion. See My Score Challenge Complete Your Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again The plot intrigued me, and I had a midnight watch of the movie.The film builds on tension around Jessie's isolation, her fear, and the memories she's been running from her entire life.Carla single-handedly carried , and director Mike would have done a brilliant job of translating Jessie's inner voice into conversations with hallucinations, which keeps us hooked.
No doubt it got an RT score of 91% and sits on this all-time list.Gerald's Game NR Horror Thriller Release Date September 29, 2017 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming Runtime 104 minutes Director Mike Flanagan Powered by Expand Collapse 3 Forgotten A Korean mind-bender with twists upon twists is one such movie I've watched that keeps you guessing through every single scene.Just when you seem to have got answers, it raises a whole new set of questions.
This 2017 Korean psychological mystery thriller follows Jin-seok (Kang Ha-neul), whose older brother is kidnapped and returns 19 days later with no memory of what happened.But Jin-seok starts noticing inconsistencies—his brother isn't acting like himself, and the family seems to be hiding something.Why should U.S.
viewers be interested in a Korean drama? I can confidently bet a good amount of money that you can't guess the film's twists.Thanks to Director Jang Hang-jun's mind-boggling screenplay, the film's genre shifts seamlessly throughout.It starts as an atmospheric, supernatural-feeling horror movie with haunted house vibes, evolves into an intense psychological conspiracy thriller, and ends as a tragic, emotional crime drama.
Forgotten TV-MA Thriller Mystery Crime Release Date November 29, 2017 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming Powered by Expand Collapse 2 Nightcrawler Jake Gyllenhaal's career-best performance is a movie about media ethics cloaked as an exciting crime thriller.Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as Lou Bloom—portraying a dark, cynical exploration of unethical journalism—is still widely discussed on the internet.The apt word for his performance would be "visceral." The movie is set in Los Angeles, where Lou finds a freelance job on a camera crew to film crime at night for a media company.
The film explores greed, the cynical nature of Lou, and the terrifying ways a sensationalist media system rewards moral corruption for profit.Dan Gilroy's screenplay, which got an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, coupled with Jake's performance, makes the movie a masterpiece.Every time I see a news channel screaming about a crime, I think of .
Nightcrawler R Crime Drama Thriller Release Date October 23, 2014 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Runtime 118 minutes Director Dan Gilroy Powered by Expand Collapse 1 Gone Girl The marriage thriller that makes you question everything A thriller movie list without David Fincher's direction would be insane.Based on the 2012 best-selling novel , written by Gillian Flynn, it revolves around Nick (Ben Affleck), who turns out to be the prime suspect when his wife, Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike), goes missing.doesn't just have a twist; it has a mid-film reveal that completely reframes everything you've watched so far.
The film, which is considered to be Fincher's psychological masterpiece, is a big box office hit, collecting $369 million worldwide, making it Fincher's highest-grossing film to date.Amy Dunne is the most complex, fascinating, and well-written character I've ever seen in a movie, and it rightly sparked social debates around exhausting expectations placed on women to alter their personalities for men.Gone Girl R Mystery Thriller Drama Release Date October 3, 2014 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Powered by Expand Collapse More movies to check out If you're more into this kind of movie and not bound by a single streaming platform, you can check out more options like , a psychological horror thriller, on Hulu.
If you want to stick to Netflix, I'd suggest watching , a psychological thriller plotted around a father searching for his missing wife and daughter who disappeared from a hospital's ER.
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