If you’re reading this, you’re most likely looking for an adrenaline boost. Well, buckle up because you’ve come to the right place. There’s a myriad of thriller movies on Netflix you can watch right now, but such a vast selection comes with a challenge: how to pick the best flicks for your binge?
That’s precisely why I put together this list of films that will keep you at the edge of your sofa.
Sometimes, getting your thrills can be challenging: imagine being overseas and not being able to access the same content you can watch at home. Or being stuck at work or school with Netflix blocked on the local network and no fun to be had!
CyberGhost VPN can help you avoid these unpleasant situations and kickstart the thriller night, or morning, or midday: whenever you prefer your nail-biting fun.
Quick Guide: How to Watch Netflix with CyberGhost VPN
- Sign up for CyberGhost VPN. You’ll be able to stream seamlessly even on your holiday overseas.
- Connect to a server. We’ve got special streaming-optimized servers for Netflix in over a dozen countries.
- Make a big bowl of popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show!
The 11 Best Thriller Movies on Netflix
1. Stowaway (2021): Best Sci-Fi Thriller
A spaceship is not a relaxing establishment. You’re trapped in a metal can, flying thousands of miles from Earth, with the vast, unfriendly darkness around you.
That sounds like a great setting for a thriller, right? The story follows a three-person crew on a mission to Mars that discovers – you guessed it – a stowaway on board. Everything goes wrong, of course, with our protagonists unsure whether they can reach their destination alive.
Should they get rid of the mysterious stranger to save themselves? Should you go get some more popcorn? The answer is certainly yes to the latter.
2. The Devil All The Time (2020): Best Southern Gothic Thriller
Ohio isn’t a walk in the park either. The Devil All The Time tells the interconnected stories of several troubled characters in the postwar South, including a veteran with a tortured soul, a twisted couple who prey on hitchhikers, and a manipulative preacher. Isn’t this the recipe for a rollercoaster ride?
Even if you’re not the biggest fan of this subgenre, the powerhouse ensemble should change your mind with Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Robert Pattinson, Sebastian Stan, and Mia Wasikowska, all with their best possible southern accent.
3. Uncut Gems (2019): Best Crime Thriller
You might see Adam Sandler on the trailer’s thumbnail and think this one will have a comedic twist to it. You’d be very wrong.
Uncut Gems follows a New York jeweler as he attempts to pay off his massive gambling debts through sketchy schemes. As his deadline approaches, Howard spirals into a nightmarish, anxiety-inducing high-stakes game, with his life constantly on the line.
Sandler is a revelation and Safdie brothers’ fast-paced direction leaves you, sometimes quite literally, breathless. This could easily be the most stressful movie you’ll ever see, which speaks to its quality as a true nail-biter.
4. Velvet Buzzsaw (2019): Best Off-Beat Thriller
The world of high-class art is either enchanting or silly, depending on who you ask.
In Velvet Buzzsaw, however, it also gets bloody. An art critic, brilliantly played by Jake Gyllenhaal, discovers a dead artist surrounded by his horrific yet well-crafted paintings, which quickly become big hits on the market.
Needless to say, there’s something dark lying within those paintings and things will take a very unexpected turn pretty fast.
A mix of satire, horror, and suspense, this movie is a nice eccentric break in the overcrowded thriller genre.
5. The Platform (2019): Best International Thriller
“Hell is other people,” someone once said, and The Platform is the perfect illustration of that quote.
This dystopian Spanish movie tells the story of Goreng as he awakes in a vertical prison where a platform laden with food descends from the top floor to the bottom. The prisoners on the upper levels eat first, leaving those below with scraps, if anything at all.
Strange premise? It is! But behind it lies commentary on consumerism, class violence, and human nature. That said, take note: this is not a film for the faint of heart.
6. Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023): Best TV Spinoff Thriller
It’s Luther, John Luther. The grittiest British detective on earth is back and he’s grittier than ever.
On the run from the law himself, Luther must navigate a web of corruption and deceit to bring a sadistic serial killer terrorizing London. Intense action? Check. Earth-shattering plot twists? Check. Idris Elba? Check.
What else could you possibly have in mind when somebody says good thriller movies on Netflix?
7. Joker (2019): Best Comic Book Thriller
Straight off the bat: this movie won the main award at the Venice Film Festival, so no, it’s not just another comic book adaptation.
Joaquin Phoenix shines as Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian turned notorious villain. Set in a dark, crime-ridden Gotham City, this origin story delves deep into Arthur’s descent into madness and the birth of the infamous Joker.
A more serious entry on the list, Joker is a haunting character study that will leave you questioning the fine line between what makes a hero and a monster.
8. The Pale Blue Eye (2022): Best Period Thriller
Misty swamps, gruesome murders, Edgar Allan Poe… in other words, get your thriller pajamas on as fast as possible!
The Pale Blue Eye features Christian Bale as a veteran detective investigating a series of mysterious deaths at West Point Academy in 1830. He teams up with the legendary American writer, played by Harry Potter’s Harry Melling, whose keen insight into the macabre proves invaluable in solving the crimes.
This one is a must-watch for fans of dark, atmospheric thrillers with a few mind-bending twists here and there.
9. Fight Club (1999): Best Classic Thriller
Sure, 1999 may seem too recent for a film from that year to be considered a classic, but Fight Club has a strong case in the landscape of the modern thriller.
Edward Norton stars as an insomniac office worker who escapes from banality by forming an underground fight club with a charismatic soap salesman, played by Brad Pitt.
As the club’s influence grows, the lines between reality and delusion blur, leading to shocking revelations and explosive confrontations. This thought-provoking thriller explores themes of identity, capitalism, and masculinity in a way it hadn’t been done before.
And the final plot twist is, of course, one of the most iconic ones in the genre.
10. Book of Eli (2010): Best Post-Apocalyptic Thriller
No movie list is complete without a Denzel Washington entry – and why would we overlook this hidden gem?
This is a story about a lone wanderer with a mission to protect a mysterious book that holds the key to humanity’s survival. In a desolate landscape, he must fend off ruthless scavengers and the power-hungry warlord Carnegie, played by Gary Oldman, who will stop at nothing to seize the book’s power.
If you ever need a cheesy, action-packed rollercoaster ride with Washington throwing bad guys around against all odds, this here is the perfect pick.
11. Baby Reindeer (2024): Most Talked-About Thriller Series This Year
This is a special mention, as some folks would probably debate whether Baby Reindeer can be classified as a thriller per se. Personally, I think that all good art goes beyond strict categorization, and Baby Reindeer is certainly a good piece of art.
This intense mini-series follows Donny Dunn, played by showrunner Richard Gadd and based on his actual experience, as he recounts being stalked by Martha, a deluded and dangerous individual. What starts as a seemingly innocent encounter spirals into a chilling tale of obsession and paranoia.
Although it features elements of dark comedy and drama, I see Baby Reindeer first and foremost as a powerful psychological thriller that delves deep in analyzing human connection, self-harm, abuse, and other challenging topics.
If you’re not afraid to go there, don’t miss it.
Why Watch Netflix with a VPN?
Enjoy Your Favorite Thrills from Overseas
Netflix has different content libraries in different countries. This means that if you travel abroad, you might not be able to access the same titles you can watch at home.
Why miss out on your kind of fun? Simply connect to a VPN server in your home country: it will mask your IP address, making it look like you never left. You’ll be able to keep watching the same movies and shows.
Unlock Streaming on Restricted Networks
There’s nothing thrilling about going on break at school or work and being unable to stream because all streaming services are blocked on the local network.
You can use a VPN to get around that kind of obstacle. When you connect to a VPN server, your data is encrypted, so the network can’t see what you’re doing and block you. Stream freely, but remember: too much excitement is not advised during lunch!
Say Goodbye to ISP Slowdowns
Ever sat down on the couch, ready to start your movie marathon, but when you hit the play button, all you see is the buffering wheel? You might be the victim of activity-based ISP throttling. Some ISPs might deliberately slow down your connection when they detect bandwidth-heavy activity, like streaming. That is, if they can see what you’re doing.
They won’t be able to while you’re using a VPN. It encrypts your connection so that no one can snoop on your online activity – not even your ISP. A few clicks and you’re able to stream new thriller movies on Netflix both safely and smoothly.
Protect Your Data on Public Wi-Fi
What’s not to like about being in a nice hotel room, enjoying your favorite whodunit via the free Wi-Fi? Only issue: public networks are vulnerable to all sorts of threats, and it simply isn’t worth it to take the risk, even if it looks slim.
Using a VPN is an excellent preventive measure. All you need to do is connect: the VPN will encrypt your data, making it virtually impossible for the potential snooper to take a peek into your private digital life.
Why CyberGhost Is the Best VPN for Streaming
The VPN That Works with Netflix
You can change your IP address with any VPN, but not all VPNs can help you access streaming services. This is where CyberGhost VPN shines. We have streaming-optimized servers for some of the world’s biggest platforms, including servers for Netflix in 15+ countries around the world.
These servers are constantly tested to ensure they work with Netflix so that you’re always able to binge your nail-biters restriction-free.
Stream Smoothly
When you’re about to binge the last season of The Night Agent, the last thing you want is constant buffering. You shouldn’t have to compromise your connection quality just because you want to stream securely.
That’s why CyberGhost is both a secure and a fast VPN. Our network includes 10-Gbps servers in popular locations to prevent slowdowns due to overcrowding. You can enjoy your movie night without loading wheels popping up.
Grab Easy-to-Use VPN Apps
A good thriller gives you goosebumps not only via your smart TV, but also via your laptop, your tablet, or even your smartphone.
And a good VPN provides you with user-friendly apps for all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. CyberGhost VPN comes with all that, plus dedicated apps for Android TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Want to cover all your devices in one go? Configure CyberGhost VPN on your home router to stream even on devices that don’t natively support VPNs.
In case you need help getting set up, just reach out to our 24/7 customer support team via live chat or email.
Enjoy Unlimited Bandwidth
Imagine: you’re at the edge of your seat watching this insane car chase and all of a sudden, your VPN says you’re out of data and stops working.
We couldn’t do that to you! CyberGhost VPN provides unlimited bandwidth for streaming, browsing, downloading, uploading, or anything else you’re doing online. You’ll never reach a cap, regardless of how hard you try.
Try All the Features Risk-Free
Our multi-month plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. Go ahead and give CyberGhost VPN a go.
Can I use a VPN to access a different country’s content library?
Some streaming fans may connect to a VPN server in a different country in order to access different content on a certain streaming platform. While we don’t snoop on our users’ online activity, this is against our terms of service and is not acceptable.
Rest assured that CyberGhost VPN never logs your browsing data and your activity is always private, but you should always comply with all relevant terms and applicable law, including copyright.
FAQ
There’s plenty of new thriller movies on Netflix added monthly, so it’s difficult to say what’s the best genre film on the platform. That said, I think that Baby Reindeer is the most popular and talked-about mini-series on Netflix right now due to its controversial topics, unconventional style, and superb acting.
Yes, Netflix has a great selection of psychological thrillers, including great titles like Baby Reindeer, The Platform, The Devil All the Time, etc.
These films and series are known for their intense plots, unexpected twists, and deep character developments.
The Pale Blue Eye is a strong contender for the best mystery movie on Netflix right now. Its atmosphere, plot, and characters all create the feeling of a classic mystery film, but ultimately give it a modern spin. Bonus: very few can foresee the plot twist for this one.
The number one movie on Netflix updates frequently and depends on the region you’re accessing Netflix from. To see what’s trending in your country, check the Top 10 section to see the current most-watched movie.
Several suspense thrillers on Netflix boast high IMDb ratings, even entering the famous Top 250 all-time list. Notable mentions include Fight Club (ranked 13), Joker (ranked 83), Gone Girl (ranked 189). These films have received both critical acclaim and high viewer ratings for their gripping narratives and intense suspense.
If you enjoyed The Watcher, you might like You. Both series feature intense suspense and psychological twists centered around stalking and obsession. Another similar recommendation is The Stranger, which is, similarly to the other two titles, full of secrets and suspenseful turns.
Not all VPNs work with Netflix, but CyberGhost VPN does. We have streaming-optimized servers specifically for Netflix in various countries, including the US, the UK, Germany, France, Japan, and others. We constantly monitor these servers to ensure that they work with the service.
Netflix categorizes its content by genre, and the code for thrillers is 8933. You can use this number to search for thriller movies and shows directly on Netflix by appending it to the URL. See more Netflix codes here.
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