The 18 Best Thrillers On Netflix


Normally when people think about the different movies on Netflix, they might think of romantic comedies, kids shows, comedies, or the occasional superhero movie. But there’s much much more!  

Whether it is horror films, or just thrillers that interest you Netflix has you covered.

Netflix has many movies in their thriller section, including classics and new movies that are bound to become favorites. So if you’re looking for a scary movie on date night, or just a new thrill, here are some of the Best Thrillers on Netflix at just the click of a button!


1. Hush (2016)

Hush Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr. Movie HD

Hush is the newest movie on this list, and has quickly been growing in popularity since its release. The movie follows a deaf writer who moved to the woods for a quite life, but has to fight for her life when a man in a mask shows up outside her window.

And although she’s deaf, that doesn’t mean she’ll be easy prey. With a plot line that’s quite unique and exciting, this movie will have you on the edge of your seat!


2. Jaws (1975)

Jaws Official Trailer #1 - Richard Dreyfuss, Steven Spielberg Movie (1975) HD

If you’re into classics, then Netflix has your back! Jaws is a must see at some point in your life. A shark shows up on the shores of a beach resort, and begins to attack swimmers and cause chaos. Soon after the attacks start, a part-time sheriff, marine biologist, and an old seafarer team up to stop the monster.

If you enjoy it then Netflix also offers Jaws 2Jaws 3, and Jaws: The Revenge. So if you’re looking for hours of suspense, consider the Jaws movies.


3. Time Lapse (2014)

Time Lapse Official Trailer 1 (2015) - Sci-Fi Thriller HD

Time Lapse is a cross between sci-fi and thriller, but the two come together to create an interesting and intense plot line. When three friends find a mysterious machine, they use it to take pictures 24 hours into the future.

They use the pictures for personal gain, but after a while they begin to see disturbing images developing. These three friends have to watch their backs as they begin to lose trust in each other. 

Time Lapse is a great option if you’re looking for a different type of thriller.


4. Would You Rather (2013)

Would You Rather Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Brittany Snow Movie HD

Would You Rather follows a girl named Iris who is looking for a way to earn money and help her recently injured brother. She then accepts an invite to a dinner party that seems like easy money, however she soon realizes that she’s involved in a dangerous game.

The dinner guests are all involved in a lethal game of would you rather, where the winner takes all. Would You Rather is a mix between a thriller and a horror movie, so this is a great option if you really want something that’s going to scare you.


5. Nightcrawler (2014)

Nightcrawler TRAILER 1 (2014) - Jake Gyllenhaal Crime Drama HD

Lou Bloom is trying to find a job, but when no one will hire him he decides to film crime scenes. But soon, this local news journalist goes from reporting crimes to committing them.

And with the help of Nina, he becomes the star of his own stories. With high speed chases, danger, and some questionable character choices, Nightcrawler should definitely be on your list of best thrillers on Netflix.

6. Marlowe (1969)

Marlowe (1969) Official Trailer - James Garner, Bruce Lee Movie HD

A classic thriller of the ’70s, Marlowe is an excellent example of Altman’s ability to deconstruct genres. Although a remake of the novel was released in 2003, Altman’s version remains faithful to Chandler’s original plot.

Newman portrayed the hunter-gatherer character in a role that was previously unimaginable. The film’s characters are also rooted in the reality of the characters in an oddly bizarre world.

7. The Game (1997)

The Game (1997) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

Those who are into conspiracy theories will enjoy David Fincher’s investigations. In The Game, Michael Douglas’ character becomes the focus of an international conspiracy. The plotline is complicated and Fincher’s unique style leaves audiences wondering. Ultimately, though, he makes you care about his characters and their situation.

This sci-fi thriller is a must-see for all fans of the director.

8. Se7en (1995)

Se7en (1995) Official Trailer - Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman Movie HD

David Fincher’s de facto directorial debut sets the tone for his subsequent films. Set in a perpetually rainy Gotham, this film follows two police detectives who try to figure out the identity of a serial killer. Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is a sage who knows how to get to the truth without causing too much trouble.

Se7en also features some of the best twists in film history, and its unflinching gruesomeness is a definite sign that Fincher has an uncanny stomach.

9. Tenet (2020)

TENET - NEW TRAILER

For fans of auteur-driven films, Robert Pattinson has been proving himself as a compelling and versatile leading man with his new thriller, Tenet. While this film won’t give him much room to showcase his acting talents, Pattinson’s role as a CIA agent in this action movie is quotable.

He’s also a strong presence in this movie, with his role as Neil making him a likable character.

10. High Life (2018)

HIGH LIFE Official Trailer (2018) Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche Sci-Fi Movie HD

High Life is another film that showcases Pattinson’s versatility. It is a sci-fi thriller with a French origin. In the movie, a group of death row inmates go on a mission to space, where everyone else dies except for Monte and his newborn daughter Willow (Scarlett Lindsey).

Once the mission is completed, the survivors must survive the environment of the harrowing spaceship, as Monte and his daughter try to make it back to earth. The film is a visually striking experience.

11. Lost Highway (1997)

Lost Highway 1997 Official Trailer

Lost Highway is one of David Lynch’s most cult classics. It follows a jazz musician on a journey through a dark and sinister town. He needs to find out whether or not he’s responsible for the murder of his wife.

The movie has flashing lights, mobsters and underground pornography, along with cringe-worthy performances by Robert Blake. This film is one of the most surreal of Lynch’s productions.

12. Get Out (2017)

Get Out Official Trailer 1 (2017) - Daniel Kaluuya Movie

If you’ve seen the film ‘Get Out,’ you’ll know that it’s an Oscar-winning, powerful, and highly influential thriller about a young Black man who is terrorized by a white family. The film was so controversial that some Academy members refused to see it.

Despite this, the film managed to receive four Oscar nominations and won Best Original Screenplay. The film’s bleak subject matter and compelling performances made Get Out an instant hit with audiences.

The film is based on a real story, and was hailed for its strong cast. Jordan Peele, the writer-director of Get Out, has since directed four more films that will feature social themes. In an interview with Business Insider, Peele said that Get Out is only the first of five films he plans to make that deal with race and racism in America.

However, he did confirm that he has more social thrillers in the works.

The director Jordan Peele has imitated Hitchcock, and the movie is a crowd-pleasing strategic horror flick. Despite its modest budget, Get Out is one of the most successful thriller movies of 2017. Peele knows that “brand” and “message” are synonyms. His film also introduced several pop-cultural phrases.

13. No Country for Old Men (2007)

No Country For Old Men (2007) Official Trailer - Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem Movie HD

No Country for Old Men is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking crime thriller from the Coen brothers. The film is set in the 1980s, where small towns have become a free-fire zone between rival drug runners. The Coen brothers have always been known for their ability to blend atrocious violence and soulful musings.

This film is no different. While the film has a relatively low amount of dialogue, it’s still packed with action and tension.

This thriller features a ruthless ex-con, played by Robert Mitchum. The score, by Bernard Hermann, is alarming and eerie. This adaptation of John D. MacDonald’s 1957 novel is a great example of how to make a thriller entertaining without using explicit language. The film also manages to avoid using the word “rape,” yet there’s no denying that the sexual offenses of the ex-con are chilling.

14. The Piano Teacher (2001)

The Piano Teacher (2001) - Trailer

This French psychological thriller, directed by Michael Haneke, is one of the best films of the 2000s. It explores the gender and power dynamics in a twisted and terrifying way. The protagonist of the movie, Erika Kohut, is a young piano teacher who becomes the center of a super disturbing plot.

This film is an extremely disturbing experience and could threaten your sanity.

“The Piano Teacher” explores the repressed emotions of its heroine. Erika’s mother is a dominating figure and is not able to protect her daughter from her mother’s violent fantasies. This has a profound effect on Erika, who begins to lose control of her life and become a monster. This leads to a harrowing and gruesome conclusion.

If you love thriller movies and are interested in seeing more movies about them, “The Piano Teacher” should be on your list of films to watch.

15. Dirty Pretty Things (2002)

2002 Dirty Pretty Things Official Trailer 1 HD Miramax

Dirty Pretty Things is a well-crafted, gripping thriller. Set in a New York City hotel, this film explores life on the edge of society. The protagonist, Okwe, works as a cab driver. His day job isn’t exactly glamorous, but it serves him well enough.

Moreover, Senay, played by Sophie Okonedo, doesn’t exactly have a heart of gold.

Stephen Frears’ filmmaking versatility spans four decades and his latest thriller is a potent example of that versatility. The film’s bleak urban naturalism is tempered by a slyly humorous, sentimental ending. ‘Dirty Pretty Things’ returns to the territory Frears explored in his earlier movies, which were often based in London’s multi-cultural environment. Frears”smart, dirty realism’ films also explored London as an imperial capital.

16. The Bourne Identity (2002)

The Bourne Identity Official Trailer #1 - Brian Cox Movie (2002) HD

Director Doug Liman’s ‘find-it-as-he-shoots’ approach may be what set The Bourne Identity apart from other Hollywood action films. The style worked well on the low-budget Swingers, but can cause tension in a high-budget production.

Liman’s method of filmmaking was secretly known to Universal bosses, who were shocked when they learned that the film was being shot by a new director. The term “Limania” wasn’t even invented until after the film was finished.

The film was originally scheduled to release on 7 September 2001. However, a producer and director fought over direction, forcing the movie to be pushed back to 2002.

It has an unusual plot structure: one character has several identities, including a spy, free-lance assassin, terrorist, and plain old killer. But despite the risk of becoming a bad guy, Jason Bourne does his job without agitation or shock. Instead, he reacts with steely determination.

17. Set It Off (1996)

Set It Off Trailer 1996

French director Jean-Pierre Melville’s cryptic thriller combines abstract concepts of beauty and fate. Alain Delon plays a hitman, and his trenchcoat-clad, chiseled body glides through the film like he is predestined to die.

The plot never becomes sentimental, and it never reaches the point of melodrama. It never even gets sentimental when it’s about a dead girl.

18. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Theatrical Trailer - Assault On Precinct 13 (1976)

Assault on Precinct thirteen is one of the best thriller movies, but many people haven’t even heard of the movie. Carpenter wrote it as a Western, but it’s set in a ghetto-like area of Los Angeles during the 1970s.

The film’s new cop, Tommy Wallace, has a boring first day, but the story quickly takes an unpredictable turn, and he ends up fighting for his life.

This 1976 action thriller is a rare classic that defies its genre. It was overlooked when it was first released, but it played at the Cannes Film Festival the following spring. Many consider it the best action movie of the ’70s and one of Carpenter’s best.

The film looks better than it cost, thanks to its $100 million budget, and is a perfect example of Carpenter’s style.

Stephen R.

Hi my name is Stephen and I am the founder of NetflixUpdate.com. I created this site to help give some information about what is happening in the streaming world.

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