4 Best Thriller Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now

The 4 Best Thriller Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now

Colin Farrell in Ballad of a Small Player standing on a neon-lit street

Colin Farrell in Ballad of a Small PlayerImage via Netflix

By Michael Block Published 17 minutes ago Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK. In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

If there is one genre of movie that casts a wide net, it's thrillers. Some are mysteries, some are psychological. Some leave you gasping for air, while others pack a punch at the very end. What makes a good thriller is that it leaves you on the edge of your seat. The hard part of finding a good thriller is that it feels as if we've seen it all. Are there even new concepts possible? The answer is yes!

When you finally decide that you're selecting Netflix as your streamer for the night, half the battle is choosing the right film that will satisfy your whims. With so many titles in their vast catalog, how do you know what to watch when your "My List" keeps piling up? Do you pick an ensemble piece like Don't Look Up or go with a classic like Scarface? Still struggling to decide? Lucky for you, we have four incredible titles that might be perfect for your next thriller film.

4 'It's What's Inside' (2024)

The cast of It's What's Inside tripping out as a group.Image via Netflix

I will firmly stand by the opinion that Greg Jardin's It's What's Inside is one of the best films of the decade. The science fiction horror comedy is a thrilling good time that is more than just a buddy reunion film; it's a captivating exploration of humanity and the evolution of our dynamics in relationships. Let's back up for a moment as we explain the plot. As a group of friends reunites for a wedding, the night before takes a dark and shocking turn when a surprise guest reveals a machine that allows them to swap bodies. After reluctantly agreeing to play along, the device unleashes hidden secrets, old insecurities, violent vendettas, and long-buried feelings that trigger chaos, an array of identity crises, and dark revelations, culminating in a shocking wedding day. Exploring themes of insecurity and the consequences of wanting to be someone else, It's What's Inside is anything but simple.

A genre-bending, thrilling good time, It's What's Inside incorporates the necessary tropes of horror, like a creepy, dimly lit house where danger lurks around every corner, as well as the ideals of science fiction, including the whys and hows of the body-swapping that occurs. But at the end of the day, the film is extraordinarily entertaining because the characters are brilliantly written and portrayed. A tried-and-true ensemble piece, the party features a variety of characters: anxious Shelby (Brittany O’Grady), her insensitive boyfriend Cyrus (James Morosini), globally envied influencer Nikki (Alycia Debnam-Carey), charming groom Reuben (Devon Terrell), trust-fund kid Dennis (Gavin Leatherwood), artist Brooke (Reina Hardesty), spiritual Maya (Nina Bloomgarden), and the enigmatic Forbes (David Thompson). It's What's Inside brings the existential crisis to the forefront that still makes us want to try it out ourselves. With guardrails, of course. Now, if you just watched Wicked: For Good and loved hearing Colman Domingo as the voice of the Cowardly Lion, he was certainly not cowardly here as one of the lead executive producers on the Netflix film.

3 'The Lost Daughter' (2021)

The Lost Daughter Image of Nina (Dakota Johnson) and Leda (Olivia Colman) via IMDb.Image via IMDb

Not every thriller has to be a high-octane adrenaline rush. Sometimes, that blood pressure can rise with an emotionally captivating and gripping story. Such is the case in the devastating The Lost Daughter. Written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal in her feature directorial debut, the psychological drama is based on Elena Ferrante's 2006 novel. The film follows Leda Caruso (Olivia Colman), a middle-aged professor, whose quiet Greek vacation is disrupted by her fascination with a young mother, Nina (Dakota Johnson), and her daughter. With flashbacks exploring her past, with Jessie Buckley as young Leda, The Lost Daughter reveals Leda's own difficulties as a young mother. A daring exploration of motherhood amid the ongoing pressures, resentment, and selfishness that come with raising children, The Lost Daughter is destined to pull out an array of visceral emotions.

With a firm 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, The Lost Daughter deserves all the praise it has received. Colman's performance is wonderfully exasperating, as you want to shake her but understand her mindset. It's an affecting performance, no matter how unraveled Leda becomes. Because Colman is such a dynamite performer, you simply cannot despise her character even if she is morally imperfect — an enigmatic character propelled by trauma. Gyllenhaal does a sensational job at the helm in her debut. If you enjoyed the performances by Buckley and Paul Mescal in The Lost Daughter, you're in luck, as they'll be appearing in the upcoming Hamnet together.

2 'Ballad of a Small Player' (2025)

Colin Farrell playing baccarat intensely in Ballad of a Small Player

Colin Farrell playing baccarat in Ballad of a Small PlayerImage via Netflix

Debuting on Netflix only a month ago, Ballad of a Small Player was a hit at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival this summer. Based on the Lawrence Osborne novel, Ballad of a Small Player stars Colin Farrell as Brendan Reilly, better known as "Lord Doyle," a corrupt English lawyer who flees to Macau after stealing money from a client. While in the casinos, he becomes obsessed with gambling, namely baccarat, all while his grip on reality starts to slip. With the lore of the Hungry Ghost in the background, the psychological thriller brings greed and identity into the mix as the blurred line between reality and hallucination is explored.

Director Edward Berger brings the stakes of Lord Doyle's predicament into full view as you watch the literal sweat drip off of Farrell's face. To say that Farrell exudes the essence of a stressful situation is an understatement. It makes for an unsettling viewing, made real by Farrell's smart performance. Berger goes all in on bringing this bright universe to life in a visually stunning neon world of Macau. Furthermore, if you're a fan of watching Tilda Swinton in goofy wigs, Ballad of a Small Batch has you covered.

1 'The Woman in Cabin 10' (2025)

Keira Knightley in The Woman in Cabin 10.

Another new Netflix film, The Woman in Cabin 10 brings a thrilling story to the sea. Directed by Simon Stone, the film is based on the novel of the same name by Ruth Ware. The psychological thriller follows journalist Lo Blacklock (Keira Knightley). While on assignment covering a charity charter aboard a luxury yacht to Norway, she witnesses a violent event and becomes convinced that a woman was thrown overboard, but the crew is adamant that all passengers are accounted for. While no one believes her, Lo investigates, putting her life in danger as she becomes desperate to prove what she saw was real, all while grappling with her own self-doubt and leagues of trauma.

Imagine an Agatha Christie mystery with a much darker tone, and you get The Woman in Cabin 10. Despite the luxury yacht that dreams are made of, the film is rightly claustrophobic. There is simply nowhere to run; all you can do is try to hide. Though it feels a bit contrived and overstuffed, The Woman in Cabin 10 is a perfect film for mystery lovers. It's not as simple as a generic whodunit. With a killer ensemble behind Knightley, The Woman in Cabin 10 includes dazzling performances from Guy Pierce, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Hannah Waddingham. The Woman in Cabin 10 is a thrilling hour-and-a-half adventure.

7 10

The Woman In Cabin 10

Like Follow Followed R Mystery Drama Thriller Release Date October 10, 2025 Director Simon Stone Writers Anna Waterhouse, Joe Shrapnel, Simon Stone, Ruth Ware Producers Debra Hayward, Cindy Holland, Elisabeth Murdoch

Cast

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Keira Knightley Laura Blacklock
Guy Pearce Richard Bullmer

Genres Mystery, Drama, Thriller Powered by

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Movie
Netflix
The Lost Daughter

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