Eve and Villanelle from 'Killing Eve'Image via BBC America
By
Marcel Ardivan
Published 34 minutes ago
Marcel is a writer who is passionate about most movies and series. He will watch anything that's good. He is a content manager by day and a videographer when needed. Marcel used to work at a major streaming service based in Asia Pacific as a Content Specialist and was the Distribution Manager for a local movie distribution company.
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Thriller shows are highly addictive. They pull you in with gripping mysteries, sharp twists, and complex characters. Whether it's political conspiracies or serial killer mind games, the genre thrives on tension and unpredictability. These shows keep you leaning forward, guessing, and occasionally yelling at the screen as secrets unravel and danger closes in. The great shows blend their stories well with the characters who respect the audience's intelligence to follow them.
Prominent streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video or even Apple TV have an abundance of thriller shows. But in this list, we feature thriller shows that are free to stream on platforms such as Tubi and Roku. Many of these shows earned critical acclaim and award recognitions, with different premises, from cat-and-mouse detective stories to an intense kitchen setting. You will find limited series and even long-running, 100-plus-episode shows to quench your thirst for thrills and mysteries.
1 'The Following' (2013–2015)
Max (Jessica Stroup) and Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) race into action on 'The Following.'Image via FOX
The Following revolves around Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), a former FBI agent called out of retirement when a charismatic serial killer, Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), escapes prison. Hardy soon discovers that Carroll has built a group of devoted followers who carry out murders in his name. The second and third seasons also follow Hardy as he tries to capture other serial killers with their own cult.
Created by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the Scream movies, the series leans into pulpy thriller vibes, amplified by Kevin Bacon's committed, brooding lead performance and James Purefoy's chilling charm as the antagonist. The series is notable for being Bacon's first leading role in a television show. Fans praised its relentless pacing, big cliffhangers, and disturbing premise of a serial-killer fandom. It's all pretty straightforward and the tense, psychological showdown between Hardy and Carroll keeps it consistently gripping for viewers who enjoy dark thrillers. The Following is available to watch on the Roku Channel.
2 'Tunnel' (2017)
Two men and a woman observe a crime scene on a playground in Tunnel, 2017.Image via OCN
Tunnel follows Detective Park Gwang-ho (Choi Jin-hyuk), who accidentally travels from 1986 to the present day while chasing a serial killer through a tunnel. Confused by modern technology and tormented by the unfinished case, he teams up with a new partner, Detective Kim Seon Jae (Yoon Hyun-min) and criminal psychologist Professor Shin Jae-yi (Lee Yoo-young) to stop the murderer and solve both cases from the past and present.
Tunnel is a standout in the K-drama genre thanks to its thriller premise and engaging time-travel hook. The show is tightly plotted and has strong chemistry between its leads, making the 12-episode run so engaging to watch. The show received praise for its smart twists, suspenseful pacing, and emotionally satisfying resolution, making it a favorite among fans of both crime dramas and sci-fi thrillers. The series was a hit in Asia, with remakes made in Thailand and Indonesia. Tunnel is available to watch on The Roku Channel.
3 'The Fall' (2013–2016)
Gillian Anderson follows a suspicious man wearing a balaclava in The Fall.Image via BBC
The Fall follows Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) as she's called to Belfast for a serial killer case. The suspect, Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan), appears to be a family man and grief counselor. They try to outflank each other as they get closer and closer to one another. This psychological thriller ran for three seasons with a total of 17 episodes.
The series, which originally ran on BBC, is a slow-burning psychological thriller gem. It is elevated by Gillian Anderson's icy character and Jamie Dornan's unnerving performance. Critics frequently praised the show for its psychological realism and refusal to sensationalize violence. Its intense character study and grounded storytelling set it apart from more formulaic crime dramas. It earned strong acclaim and a reputation as one of the best modern serial-killer thrillers. The Fall is now streaming for free on Pluto.
4 'Killing Eve' (2018–2022)
Killing Eve centers on Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a bored MI5 analyst who becomes obsessed with tracking Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a stylish, unpredictable assassin working for a mysterious criminal organization. As their cat-and-mouse game stretches across Europe, the line between pursuit and attraction blurs dangerously. Based on a novel series, Killing Eve has four seasons with showrunners like Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Emerald Fennell.
Killing Eve's biggest strength is the electric chemistry between Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, whose performances earned universal acclaim and multiple awards. Phoebe Waller-Bridge's sharp, darkly comedic writing in the first season brings freshness to the spy-thriller formula, mixing elegance and violence. While the third and fourth seasons received more mixed reviews, Killing Eve remains celebrated for its stylish direction and its bold character-driven storytelling that made the genre exciting again. All four seasons of Killing Eve are available on Tubi.
5 'Scandal' (2012–2018)
Olivia Pope with her arms crossed looking serious in Scandal.Image via ABC
Created by Shonda Rhimes, Scandal follows Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), a crisis-management fixer in Washington, D.C., whose firm protects the powerful from political and personal ruin. While she tries to keep her elite clients out of the headlines, Olivia gets involved in a dangerous on-again, off-again relationship with President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn), which pulls her into the inner workings and conspiracy of American politics.
If you might not understand what Olivia Pope does exactly, the series is able to thrill and entertain audiences with its story and characters. The series thrives on its rapid-fire pacing, twisty scripts, and strong performances, especially Kerry Washington's leading role. Shonda Rhimes' blend of political intrigue and melodrama keeps every episode unpredictable, while the ensemble cast are able to sell even the wildest plot turns. Scandal is often mentioned in the same breath as other series such as Damages and House of Cards, making it one of TV's most iconic political thriller shows. Scandal's seven seasons are streaming on Tubi.
6 'Boiling Point' (2023)
A male and a female chef are preparing their dishes in a professional kitchen in the Boiling Point TV series.Image via BBC
Boiling Point continues the story from the acclaimed film with the same title. Set in a high-end London restaurant, head chef Carly (Vinette Robinson) takes charge of the new restaurant after her previous restaurant's head chef Andy (Stephen Graham) suffered a heart attack. She tries to maintain high culinary standards while dealing with financial strain, personal struggles, and the staff pushed to the breaking point. Boiling Point is co-created by Philip Barantini, who directed the series Adolescence.
If you think The Bear is stressful, Boiling Point triples the pressure. The series stands out because of its grounded tension and near-documentary realism. Vinette Robinson leads an excellent ensemble cast who bring raw authenticity to characters constantly operating on the brink. Critics praised the show's intense filmmaking style and sharp writing. Continuing the style of the film it is based on, several of the sequences in this series are shot in lengthy oners to capture the intensity of the kitchen. The series is available on The Roku Channel.
7 'Broadchurch' (2013–2017)
Olivia Colman as Ellie and David Tennant as Alec looking to the distance in Broadchurch.Image via ITV
In Broadchurch, the body of a young boy is discovered on the beach in a quiet seaside town. This discovery triggers a massive investigation led by detectives Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman). As they dig deeper, hidden secrets and betrayals begin to surface within the close-knit community. Running for three seasons, each one expands the story, with first focusing on the murder case, then its fallout, and finally a new crime that tests both detectives.
Broadchurch is widely praised for its emotional depth and careful pacing. David Tennant and Olivia Colman's performances anchor the series with humanity and nuance. Colman won a BAFTA for her role while Tennant reprised his role in the American remake, Gracepoint. The writing avoids typical crime-show shortcuts, instead unfolding slowly as the town's psychological fractures emerge. The result is a poignant, award-winning thriller that is also about community and healing on top of solving a murder case. Broadchurch is streaming for free on the Roku Channel and Pluto.
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TV-MA
Crime
Drama
Mystery
Release Date
2013 - 2017
Network
ITV1
Showrunner
Chris Chibnall
Directors
Euros Lyn, James Strong
Cast
See All-
David Tennant
DI Alec Hardy
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Olivia Colman
DS Ellie Miller
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Broadchurch
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