There is something incredibly satisfying about settling in to watch a film that puts you on the edge of your seat. Whether it’s a gripping thriller or a horror film that has you looking over your shoulder into the shower, the rush of adrenaline is no joke. Netflix continues to be a treasure trove for lovers of suspense, offering up everything from tense psychological dramas to terrifying supernatural tales and high-octane thrillers. If you’re scrolling endlessly trying to figure out what to watch next, consider this your shortcut. Here are 10 of the best thrillers and horror films currently streaming—starting at number 10 and counting down to the absolute can’t-miss number 1.
10. Watcher
Ever get that eerie sense of somebody watching you? Watcher makes that queasiness one snappy, atmospheric psychological thriller. The movie is about Julia, Maika Monroe, who moves with her husband to Bucharest. Alone in a foreign town, she begins to feel convinced that a neighbor is spying on her a bit too closely. That anxiety gets compounded when reports of a neighborhood serial killer preying on women hit the news. This one’s a slow burn, full of mood and paranoia, and it plays on that old fear we all have of not being believed.
9. Gerald’s Game
If you’ve ever fantasized about being trapped in a secluded cabin, this film will make you change that idea pretty fast. Gerald’s Game, a film based on the Stephen King novel, begins with what was intended to be a romantic weekend. Instead, it becomes a survival nightmare when Jessie is left handcuffed to a bed after her husband suddenly dies. Alone and trapped, she begins to confront memories and hallucinations that blur the line between trauma and terror. Carla Gugino’s performance is raw and gripping, and the story dives deep into the human psyche in ways that linger long after the credits roll.
8. The Platform
This one isn’t merely a horror movie—it’s a gut punch with a chaser of existential horror. The Platform takes place in a vertical prison facility where food arrives on a descending platform from the top to the bottom level. The twist? There is only enough food for the upper levels to be well-fed. Prisoners are shuffled monthly to new levels at random, a harsh metaphor for inequality and survival. It’s uncomfortable, intense, and challenging in the best—and worst—possible ways.
7. Fair Play
Ambition and power intersect in Fair Play, a contemporary thriller that marries romantic tension with corporate ruthless drive. When Emily is promoted over her fiancé Luke, their relationship begins to disintegrate. What begins with subtle resentment quickly turns into control, manipulation, and secrecy. The acting is charged, the chemistry explosive, and the disintegration of their relationship is a page-turner. It’s sexy, sleek, and full of just enough moral complexity to make you wonder what everyone is after.
6. Run Rabbit Run
In Run Rabbit Run, Sarah Snook leaves boardroom intrigue behind and enters the creepy realm of psychological terror. She’s a fertility specialist whose daughter starts behaving… not exactly right. Bizarre doodles. Quirky behavior. A creeping feeling that something otherworldly—or very deeply buried—is going on. The movie goes big on atmosphere and maternal angst, with plenty of themes involving guilt, mourning, and memory. It is not your jump-scare horror, but it sure crawls under your skin.
5. Carry-On
Airports are chaotic enough—now throw in a ticking time bomb. Carry-On is about a TSA agent (Taron Egerton) who’s blackmailed by a sinister figure (played with cool menace by Jason Bateman) into passing a questionable bag through security. What happens next is a tightrope cat-and-mouse game played over the course of a day, and the pace is kept high and the pressure even higher. It’s the type of thriller that gets you early and doesn’t release you, with a balance of suspense and action that provides just the right amount.
4. Parasite
All horror isn’t blood and ghosts—occasionally, it’s sociological. Parasite is one of those few films that defy genre and yet remain deeply disturbing. It begins as an astute con, with a lower-class family penetrating the world of an upper-class one. But what starts as a comedy of manners soon devolves into something darker, nastier, and much deeper. It’s wickedly directed, tense to the point of breaking, and filled with observation about class, privilege, and survival. And yes, it still works magnificently.
3. Rear Window
Despite all these years, Rear Window is still the benchmark for suspense. The setup is straightforward: an injured man spends his convalescence voyeuristically watching his neighbors, comes to suspect one of them of murder. With Grace Kelly and James Stewart in the lead, it’s a masterclass in old-fashioned tension. Hitchcock creates suspense not in what you see, but in what you perceive that you see. The effect is a slow-moving thriller that remains timely and thrilling today.
2. Vertigo
Hitchcock strikes again, this time with one of his most complex and emotionally rich thrillers. Vertigo follows a retired detective who becomes obsessed with a woman he’s been hired to follow. What unfolds is a psychological descent wrapped in mystery, identity, and longing. It’s beautifully shot, emotionally layered, and laced with suspense from beginning to end. If you’ve never seen it, now’s the time—it’s a film that only grows more haunting with each viewing.
1. Woman of the Hour
Gracing number one is Woman of the Hour, a disturbing foray into true crime that doesn’t play on shock value to get its point across. Directed by Anna Kendrick, the movie draws upon the terrifying true story of how serial killer Rodney Alcala showed up as a contestant—and took home the prize—on a live television dating show back in 1978. What’s so compelling about this movie is that it doesn’t just dwell on the killer, but on the systems that enabled him to remain in plain sight. It’s intelligent, witty, and human in its approach. Kendrick gives a sensitive performance in front of and behind the camera, infusing empathy and ferocity into this unforgettable tale.
Whatever your mood—psychological, supernatural, or just something that gets your heart pounding—Netflix has a formidable slate in store for you. Dim the lights, pick your go-to snack, and get comfortable—it’s time for thriller and horror movies.