These are the best thrillers to watch on Netflix right now
15-11
15. Leave the World Behind
- Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller
- Release date: October 25, 2023
- Director: Sam Esmail
- Cast: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Myha’la
- Regions: Everywhere
- How long is it? 2 hours 20 minutes
What it’s about: Based on Rumaan Alam’s novel of the same name, the story sees a family vacation turn into a tense apocalyptic ordeal as tech failures spark paranoia, distrust, and questions of survival.
Why we like it: Say what you want about this film (“predictive programming” and all), there’s no denying it’s an apocalyptic thriller for our times. So much so that it hits the newsfeed every time there’s a tech-related failure. Alongside its enticingly dark story and stunning shots, Leave the World Behind benefits from its top-tier cast performances – even if we can’t forgive that dance scene.
14. Calibre
- Genre: Psychological/Thriller
- Release date: June 29, 2018
- Director: Matt Palmer
- Cast: Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran
- Regions: Everywhere
- How long is it? 1 hour 40 minutes
What it’s about: Two old friends reunite for a hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands, but a single mistake spirals into life-altering consequences, transforming their journey into a devastating moral nightmare.
Why we like it: Watching Calibre is like experiencing a nightmare; you’ll wake up from it feeling grateful that none of it was real. It’s a simple premise, brought to life by convincing performances and a claustrophobic tension that snowballs to the point of absurdity. It’ll undoubtedly raise those cortisol levels but the wash of relief when it ends is euphoric. Trust me, it’s worth the stress.
13. Creep
- Genre: Horror thriller
- Release date: July 14, 2015
- Director: Patrick Brice
- Cast: Mark Duplass,
- Regions: Everywhere
- How long is it? 77 minutes
What it’s about: Josef, an unusual man who’s dying from an inoperable brain tumor, hires a cameraman to film a video diary for his unborn child – but as the day goes on, his increasingly intense behavior starts to frighten his guest.
Why we like it: Creep isn’t just one of Netflix’s best thrillers, it’s one of the best horror movies ever made. Its tension, brilliantly amped by Brice and Duplass, lies in the power of the uncanny; the pitch-black depths of moments that are seemingly innocent yet undeniably weird. Found-footage movies may be ten a penny, but this still feels bolder – and, most importantly, scarier – than anything that’s come since. It’s tubby time!
12. Compliance
- Genre: Crime/Thriller
- Release date: January 21, 2012
- Director: Craig Zobel
- Cast: Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Pat Healy, Bill Camp
- Regions: US and Canada
- How long is it? 1 hour 30 minutes
What it’s about: Based on the 2004 strip search phone call scam, a fast food manager receives a disturbing phone call, leading to the increasingly invasive interrogation of a young employee.
Why we like it: Some movies are simply too unbelievable to be realistic, and Compliance should be one of them. But it’s not. Watching this is like passing a train wreck; you can’t look away, no matter how much you want to. Zobel succeeds in creating a film that is as compelling as it is claustrophobic, but the true story behind it is where the tension lies (you’ll find yourself screaming at the baffling decisions being made, all the while wondering whether “icky thriller” should be a new genre).
11. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
- Genre: Whodunnit, Comedy, Thriller
- Release date: November 23, 2022
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Janelle Monae, Edward Norton
- Regions: Everywhere
- How long is it? 2 hours 19 minutes
What it’s about: Master Detective Benoit Blank is invited to a murder-mystery game on a beautiful Greek island by a tech billionaire called Miles Bron. But Miles is then promptly murdered by one of his guests, meaning Blanc is tasked with figuring out which of his fellow holiday-makers committed the crime.
Why we like it: While the island location is certainly more glamorous than the first Knives Out movie, the central mystery isn’t quite as satisfying. But it’s nevertheless a blast spending time with Benoit Blanc, while the cast that includes Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Edward Norton, and Kate Hudson is clearly having as much fun as the audience watching. Especially Hugh Grant, who delivers a delicious cameo.