Where are the thriller lovers? Thriller movies are something that is liked by everyone, especially the movie buffs. If you are looking for the same, here’s a list for you.
Netflix has currently become the biggest OTT platform for movies where users can find the best film and series curation. Although the platform is best known for offering the latest movies, you can also find a lot of older movies here which prove to be the best ones in the industry. Just like any other genre; Netflix has an extensive collection of thriller movies which is considered to be one of the favorite genres for most movie buffs. If you are also a thriller lover, here is a list of 20+ best thriller movies of all time.
20+ Best Thriller Movies on Netflix
- 22 July
Well, this movie came out in 2018 and offered a different picture of terrorism. While terror and gun fights are the main ingredients for most American movies; this movie is based on the 2011 terrorist attack in Norway which makes it quite memorable and impactful. It was a complete massacre that took place in two parts and it caused a total of 77 deaths the saddest part is that 69 of them were teenagers only. This movie is written and directed by Paul Greengrass and there is no doubt that he has done a remarkable job in crafting this movie depicting the exact incident. It is not an easy movie to watch but it is also a movie that you cannot just skip.
- Anon
Anon was released in 2018 and this British-American sci-fi thriller has gained much critical acclaim. The story is based on the central character named Sal Frieland who is a troubled cop and navigating his way through a dystopian oppressed world. It is shown in the movie that the entire population is implanted with an ocular device that helps to record and track the movements of every citizen. The government’s transparency methods seem to be harassing normal people’s privacy while allowing a loophole for criminals. The cop later on comes across a woman with no digital footprint and so the mystery continues. Unveil the story by watching this masterpiece on Netflix.
- Bird Box
Bird Box was released in the same year when ‘A Quite Place’ was released, in 2018. However, Bird Box did not receive the attention it deserved even though both movies are based on a similar kind of idea of alien invasion and survival. Sandra Bullock is the main protagonist here who played the role of Malorie Hayes and she had the responsibility of transporting two young children down a river while wearing blindfolds. The blindfold is a strategy to save yourself from the aliens who can make humans commit suicide if looked at them.
- Compliance
This unique thriller movie was released in 2012 and it is based on a true story. The story mainly revolves around a fast food manager named Sandra who gets a call from a man identifying himself as a police officer. The man tells her that he is investigating a potential theft by Becky who apparently works as an employee at the restaurant. With the officer’s pressure, Sandra starts humiliating Becky along with her fiancé, employees, and others. Becky goes through a series of traumatic situations and it showcases how humans can turn evil when they believe that they are on the right side. It movie is the biggest depiction of societal hypocrites.
- Creep
Just like the name suggests, this movie has an uneasy and eerie effect to it which makes the story even stronger and compelling. Directed by Patrick Brice, this amazing movie was released back in 2014 and is still one of the best in the genre. It is mainly a found-footage two-hander with the central characters like Aaron and Josef. Josef explains that he has an inoperable brain tumor and wants to leave something behind for his soon-to-be-born son, but his eccentric behavior becomes increasingly concerning. He decides to record a day of his life and that is when things turned to little creepy. Get an added dose of the same feeling with its sequel Creep 2.
- The Devil All The Time
This is a Netflix original thriller that includes Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Sebastian Stan. The powerful cast helped to make this story even more engaging with an ample dose of darkness in it. The story takes place in the timeline of World War II and the mid-1960s and it mainly revolves around two small towns in Southern Ohio. This movie deals with a lot of stuff and mostly it’s evil so, the devil can be seen all the time. It offers an impactful blend of religious evangelism, war, corruption, suicide, abandonment, murder, and so on. It is a perfect mix of drama and dark thriller that can captivate everyone.
- El Camino
El Camino or Breaking Bad movie released in 2019 and it offered a climax to the series by adding a justifying story for the one of main roles, Jesse Pinkman. Just where the series ends with Walter White saving Jesse and letting him escape; this movie starts and it shows that Jesse comes back to his friends Skinny Pete and Badger. This movie is specially made to add more attention to Jesse’s character and offer a continuation to the story so that fans can see what happened to Jesse after. What is necessary to offer this clarity? No. But it is a well-made movie and you can go back to the meth-making era again.
- Emily the Criminal
This movie was released in 2022 and offered a complete dose of entertainment with Aubrey Plaza’s amazing performance. Drowning in debt and student loans, Emily is one of Los Angeles’ many broke artists on the verge of financial ruin. She already has a felony conviction preventing her from finding a job that might pay enough to survive and so, she decides to rob people with a credit card fraud ring. The blend of morality and blunt practicality is well projected here while depicting the harsh economic realities. The movie is engaging, thrilling, and also enjoyable while offering a tight reality slap on your face.
- Fair Play
It is more like a recent movie that was released in 2023 and gained attention from the movie buffs. It mainly revolves around the newly engaged couple, Luke and Emily decide to keep their relationship discreet at their workplace. However, when Emily secures a managerial position at their hedge fund, the power shift within the bullpen begins to splinter their romantic bliss. The power play and diplomacy in the workplace are well described through this movie and sometimes this power play can big problem for the personal love life. The director has successfully blended the ideas of victimhood or being villainous.
- The Good Nurse
This one is one of the most mind-bending thrillers that you can watch on Netflix where the crime takes place inside the hospital. Nurses are considered to be the angels who save lives; what if one of them is a serial killer? This psychological thriller is an absolute menace where a ‘Good Nurse’ finds out that her work husband and colleague is actually the serial killer who had been deliberately killing people at the hospital instead of saving their lives. It is a twisted and dark story but also based on a true story as such people exist in broad daylight. Eddie Redmayne’s acting will put some chill in your spine.
- I Care A Lot
Rosamund Pike garnered a lot of attention after her performance in ‘Gone Girl’ and that villainous aura can be also found in this movie. She played the character of Marla Grayson, a con artist who fronts as a professional “legal guardian” to fleece the elderly of their life savings. However, things went a notch higher when she met Jennifer Peterson, another Marla-like character who has ties with dangerous people. Marla finds herself in great competition with Jennifer their rivalry like chemistry truly enjoyable to witness.
- I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore
Macon Blair is best known for his creative works like Yellowjackets, Togetherness, Mrs. America, and then, there is this banger of the movie. The story is based on Ruth who is a down-on-her-luck nursing assistant who decides after her house gets broken into that she’s fed up. It is time for her to take her stuff back from that house and this time, she teams up with Tony for the quest. The story proceeds with a quirky journey that’s both suspenseful and inspiring for the downtrodden. It is more like a co-op adventure that keeps evolving as the story follows. Check out this masterpiece on Netflix.
- Lou
Lou is a Netflix original film that was released back in 2022 and gained much attention from audiences due to Allison Janney’s amazing performance. She does not only deliver lines but also a fair amount of punches in this movie. Janney played the lead character in the movie, a misandrist landlord who rents a home to a single mother named Hannah and her young daughter, Vee. However, Vee gets kidnapped and Lou promises Hannah to bring their little Vee back but in order to do that, she must confront her messy past. Director Anna Foerster did an amazing job, and this female-oriented thriller has a league of its own. Another important element in the movie is the mud and you will agree to this when watching this crime thriller that comes with a fair amount of twists as well.
- Ma
Ma was released in 2019 and offered a fresh concept in the genre. Thanks to Octavia Spencer’s mind-blowing performance which further helped to grow the subject matter. This psychological thriller deals with a very sensitive or common issue of alcoholism but the other dark necessities are perhaps even more toxic than alcohol itself. The movie starts with a teenage party and then transitions to the horrific exploration of decades-old betrayals. Spencer as Ma is the best cast done by the director as she owned the character. There is a fair of drama, betrayal, and diplomacy in the story which makes it one of the best thriller movies, directed by Tate Taylor.
- Munich — The Edge of War
This movie is based in the setting of World War II which showcases a fictional account of a pivotal historical period. ‘Munich — The Edge of War’ is based on Robert Harris’ best-selling novel where the story is mainly based on two old college friends namely, Hugh Legat, a British civil servant, and Paul von Hartmann, a German diplomat. It is an old-fashioned spy movie that focuses on Europe’s political powder keg.
- The Novice
This movie is Lauren Hadaway’s directorial debut which was released in 2021. There is no doubt that Isabelle Fuhrman can play every character well and she proved that since ‘Orphan’. She played the character of a compulsive college student who is determined to make her school’s varsity rowing team at all costs. There is another personality to her as she also makes virtuoso performance as Alex. The character of Alex can be explained as a queer first-year student whose addiction to being the best torpedoes her mental and physical health, her academic performance, and her social and romantic life. This movie is uneasy for anyone who does not know what self-destructive nature looks like.
- Oxygen
If you are into sci-fi thrillers, Oxygen can match your taste by offering you a minimal story that is also heart-pounding. However, this movie will also give you a fair dose of claustrophobia as the protagonist in this movie finds herself in a hibernation tube. After waking up, she only has 90 minutes to oxygen supply and then starts the struggle of life and breathing. It is a well-executed French sci-fi movie that can put you on the edge of your seat. You will also meet M.I.L.O. (Medical Interface Liaison Officer) who helps her escape from the pod. This movie can make you feel a strong determination to live.
- Parasite
Everybody knows Bong Joon Ho and his creative sci-fi movies which focus on the contest of classism and social discrimination. While he kept the subject matter the same, he made a different approach in the case of Parasite without adding any sci-fi references. And perhaps that worked as he received the Oscar for that. The film showcases the real story of classism in urban societies where one small portion of the population is very wealthy and lacks empathy while other people are trying to build their dreams based on their financial success. This movie will question your morality and humane values by offering deeply relatable moments.
- Platform
This is a Spanish dystopian thriller movie that brought a fresh new concept to the genre. While this movie also focuses on the aspects of capitalism, consumerism, and classism; director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia did a great job of showcasing the whole structure through a vertically moving platform. The platform goes down from above slowly through a vertical prison where there are prisoners on every floor. However, this platform full of food is never equally distributed but rather left altogether to showcase the animal instincts of humans when they’re hungry for a long time. It is a gore and compelling watch for all!
- Psycho
A lot of years ago when there was no American Psycho, there was only one ‘Psycho’ capable of taking everyone down. This psychological thriller is made by none other than the legend himself, Alfred Hitchcock. It is considered one of the cult movies in Hollywood that broke cinematic and cultural barriers when it premiered in 1960. Exploring the themes of sexuality and violence; this classic thriller is a must-watch for everyone. And you would amazed to see what this director has done back in the 60s which most directors are unable to do in the modern days. No CGI, no help from AI or the internet; it is just pure movie magic.
