If you’re an aficionado of that heart-pounding sensation when a television program has you hooked from the initial episode, you are not alone. The thriller genre is full of mind games, intrigue, and suspenseful drama—but sometimes the greatest ones fly entirely beneath the radar. They are the programs that never received the attention they so rightfully deserved but absolutely should have. The following are ten underappreciated thriller shows that could become your new obsession, listed from #10 to #1.
10. Shining Girls
This time-bending genre-skeptical psychological thriller will take you by surprise. Based on Lauren Beukes’ book of the same name, Shining Girls tracks Kirby Mazrachi (played by Elisabeth Moss), a woman attempting to rebuild her life after a brutal assault. When fresh evidence comes to light years later, she sets out to connect the dots that lead her to believe that her perpetrator could be outside the bounds of time. What takes this series to the next level is its daring storytelling and Moss’s phenomenal performance. It’s not a show to watch lightly, but if you allow it your focus, it pays you back with an emotional, complex, and wonderfully fresh tale.
9. The Twelve
Ditch everything you thought you knew about courtroom dramas—The Twelve (also known as De Twaalf) revolutionizes the genre. This Belgian show shines the light on the jurors, rather than the defendant. As they weigh a case against a school principal who stands accused of two murders, you see how they and their own lives and emotional entanglements influence the way they understand justice. It’s unvarnished, unpredictable, and full of depth. Each juror introduces something new to the mix, so each episode feels like unwrapping a fresh layer of humanity.
8. Counterpart
This one’s a necessity for lovers of intelligent sci-fi with a spy spin. In Counterpart, J.K. Simmons plays two versions of the same man in alternate worlds—one shy, one hard-bitten by spy work. The show explores identity, destiny, and loyalty in depth, in a Cold War-era rivalry between dimensions. Simmons is compelling, able to make you feel as though you’re looking at two entirely different individuals. It’s a tense mix of political suspense and high-concept sci-fi that somehow never received the accolades it had coming.
7. The Kettering Incident
It is set in a Tasmanian outback town, and The Kettering Incident is heavy on atmosphere. The story begins when Anna Macy (Elizabeth Debicki) returns to her hometown after her best friend went missing years ago in mysterious circumstances. What you have next is a creepy, slow-burning story packed with secrets, bizarre occurrences, and questions regarding what’s real. The haunting terrain is a character unto itself, so the series feels intimate and alien at the same time. If you like moody mysteries with a supernatural twist, this one’s for you.
6. Escape at Dannemora
Inspired by real events, Escape at Dannemora dramatizes the 2015 jailbreak that rocked New York state. The series isn’t merely about the breakout—it’s an in-depth exploration of the bizarre relationships and manipulation that made it all happen. Benicio del Toro and Paul Dano are riveting as the breakout artists, and Patricia Arquette vanishes into thin air as the prison worker caught in the middle. Directed by Ben Stiller (yes, that Ben Stiller), the series takes its time, but that slow build pays off with rich character studies and nail-biting tension.
5. Top of the Lake
Created by Jane Campion, Top of the Lake brings together beautiful cinematography, tough subject matter, and a powerhouse performance by Elisabeth Moss. Moss stars as Detective Robin Griffin, a woman who becomes embroiled in gritty investigations that uncover layers of corruption and trauma in isolated communities. It’s not your average detective series—this one’s more contemplative, more moody, and frequently deeply disturbing. The show doesn’t flinch from tough subjects, but it approaches them with sensitivity and realism that lingers long after the credits fade.
4. The Killing
Moody and emotionally charged, The Killing makes the tried-and-true “who done it?” formula feel richer. Based in rainy Seattle, the show tracks Detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder as they investigate poignant murder cases while struggling with their demons. The show is paced slowly, the mood is somber, and the chemistry between the leads is palpable. If you enjoy mysteries that are just as much about people as plot, this delivers.
3. Utopia (UK)
Dark, chic, and unflinchingly bold, the original UK series of Utopia is a gem that packs way more punch than its humble frame might suggest. It’s about a group of strangers who discover a manuscript that foretells actual-world disasters—and are then pursued by a shadowy entity. The visual aesthetic is impressive, with heightened colors and dreamlike scenarios that set it apart from the competition. It’s clever, kinky, and odd for oddness’ sake. If you’re in the mood for something unconventional, this one is worth considering.
2. Delirium
One of the lesser-seen global thrillers that gets too little attention is Delirium, a Colombian psychological thriller found on Netflix. It centers around Augustina Londoño, whose mental breakdown unlocks a terrifying journey into family secrets and unresolved trauma. The series leaps between timelines, gradually unfolding how choices made in the past continue to inform the present. Estefania Piñeres is breathtaking as the lead, shouldering the emotional charge of a story that’s intimate yet terrifying. The crime elements give it an extra level, so this is more than a personal drama—it’s a psychological thriller with teeth.
1. Slow Horses
At the top of the list is Slow Horses, a wickedly sharp British spy thriller that somehow manages to marry dry humor with actual stakes. It centers around a mismatched team of MI5 misfits demoted to a department called Slough House—it’s basically an agency junkyard for agents who’ve botched it. But when a genuine threat arises, they’re given an opportunity for redemption. Gary Oldman stars as the wonderfully gruff Jackson Lamb, and he’s having a ball playing the role. The script is witty, the pacing is brisk, and the entire production has the feel of a contemporary update to vintage espionage stories.
If you’re sick of too-smooth spy dramas, this tough-around-the-edges gem will catch you off guard. These ten shows may not have grabbed headlines or topped streaming charts, but they pack all the tension, character depth, and narrative twists any thriller lover could ask for. Whether you’re into psychological slow burns, sci-fi espionage, or gritty crime dramas, there’s something on this list that’s bound to keep you watching well past bedtime.