Netflix has so many movies, and with new ones added each week, it can be hard to figure out what to watch. This is where we come in! We've rounded up some of the best thrillers for you to watch right now, from classics to contemporary hits.
There's also the best comedy, horror and action movies lists if you want something different. But for now, let's dig into this super suspenseful list...
I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore
Nursing assistant Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) comes home one day to find her house burglarised. Together with her obnoxious neighbour (Elijah Wood) they set out to find the thieves, but they soon find themselves dangerously out of their depth against a pack of degenerate criminals.
The movie is funny, tense, and quirky without being annoyingly so.
The Silence of the Lambs
Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), an FBI agent, seeks help from Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a psychopathic serial killer and former psychiatrist, in order to apprehend another serial killer who has been claiming female victims. Even if you know how it ends, it's a thrilling ride time and time again.
Shutter Island
Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), two US marshals, are sent to an asylum on a remote island in order to investigate the disappearance of a patient, where Teddy uncovers a shocking truth about the place. Featuring a grade-A twist, rewatching is still fun as you try and spot director Martin Scorsese's foreshadowing.
You Were Never Really Here
When a teenage girl goes missing, a jaded, brutal enforcer attempts a rescue mission. He uncovers corruption and abuse of power along his way. You Were Never Really Here stars Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) and was written and directed by Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin).
The Invitation
While attending a dinner party at his former house, a man (Logan Marshall-Green) starts to believe that his ex-wife (Tammy Blanchard) and her new husband (Michiel Huisman) have sinister plans for the guests. Directed by Karyn Kusama, the movie takes a sharp turn towards horror towards the end, and it's still a chest-clutching thriller throughout.
Uncut Gems
We called Uncut Gems an exhausting and compelling thriller, adding: "It seems odd to recommend a movie that makes you feel constantly stressed, yet it's a unique experience that you'll find hard to tear yourself away from."
It follows a charismatic jeweller who makes a high-stakes bet that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. In a precarious high-wire act, he must balance business, family and adversaries on all sides in pursuit of the ultimate win.
Misery
One of the best Stephen King adaptations, Misery tells the story of Paul Sheldon, a best-selling novelist on his way home after completing his latest book when he meets with a car accident. He is rescued by an obsessed fan (Kathy Bates), only to discover that he is her prisoner.
Training Day
Detective Alonzo, a senior narcotics officer, must train Jake Hoyt during the course of a day. However, Hoyt learns that Alonzo's methods are not ethical and he soon realises that he is being trapped. Rotten Tomatoes' critics consensus calls it a "taut and brutal police drama," plus... Denzel Washington. That should be enough.
The Interview
A psychological drama that explores guilt and the uncertain nature of truth. A duel between a suspected murderer and a detective pressed by people who want results.
Almost the entire film takes place in a police interrogation room, with some short flashback sequences, and the cast consists primarily of three key actors – Hugo Weaving, Tony Martin and Aaron Jeffery. It gets 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, so you're in safe hands with this one.
A Simple Favour
An "irresistible mystery thriller" according to, well, us, A Simple Favor stars Anna Kendrick as Stephanie, a widowed, single mother who works as a vlogger in Connecticut. Her best friend, Emily (Blake Lively), seems to have it all – a successful career, a loving family and a glamorous lifestyle. When Emily mysteriously disappears one day, Stephanie launches her own investigation by digging into her friend's past – and finding a few surprises along the way.
American Psycho
Co-written and directed by Mary Harron, based on Bret Easton Ellis's 1991 novel of the same name, American Psycho stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a wealthy investment banker who hides his psychopathic ego from his friends. Later, his illogical fantasies escalate and he submits to an uncontrollable bloodlust in a satire of '80s Wall Street materialism.
Reservoir Dogs
One of Quentin Tarantino's best films, Reservoir Dogs features a stellar cast, some gruesomely memorable scenes, and a great soundtrack. The film follows six criminals, hired to steal diamonds, who do not know each other's true identity. While attempting the heist, the police ambushes them, leading them to believe that one of them is an undercover officer.
Gerald's Game
It's no surprise another Stephen King adaptation has made it on the list. Gerald's Game stars Carla Gugino as Jessie, a woman who accidentally kills her husband during a kinky game. Handcuffed to her bed with no hope of rescue, she begins hearing voices and seeing strange visions. It is a doozy.
Gone Girl
The 2014 psychological thriller was written by Gillian Flynn, and was based on her 2012 novel of the same title. It follows Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), a teacher who discovers that the entire media focus has shifted on him when his wife Amy Dunne disappears on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary.
But her disappearance, like most events in any given thriller, is not at all what it seems. We gave it five stars.
The Platform
Set in a vertical prison system dubbed "the pit" by the residents, The Platform follows Goreng (Iván Massagué) as he tries to make sense of his bizarre new situation, in which the only source of food moves downwards between the floors each day. We spoke to director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia about the ambiguous ending, and its relevance to today.
Nightcrawler
Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a petty thief, realises that he can make money by capturing photographs of criminal activities and starts resorting to extreme tactics to get them. We gave it four out of five stars, saying: "Nightcrawler is a far more black-hearted and sinewy affair, as hollow and callous as its protagonist, but a whole lot more fun to spend an evening with."
There you have it, some of the best thrillers to watch on Netflix right now.
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