Best Thriller Shows on Netflix Right Now (May 2023)

Creators: Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble

Cast: Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Victoria Pedretti, Shay Mitchell, Dylan Arnold, Scott Speedman, Jenna Ortega, Tati Gabrielle, Ambyr Childers, Nicole Kang, Kathryn Gallagher

Told from the perspective of self-proclaimed romantic Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), You follows his quest to find the perfect girl. Joe goes to great (creepy) lengths to prove his love to the women who catch his eye throughout the series. He’s willing to stalk, kidnap, and murder to get them to fall for him. As much as you don’t want to root for someone with such questionable moral standards, the series makes it hard not to hope that things work out for Joe. Through voiceover narration, we get to hear Joe’s thoughts and how he rationalizes his actions. Badgley brings a charm to the character that makes him attractive and likable despite everything we watch him do. Like Joe, You gets more and more unhinged as the series progresses – the deaths get bloodier, the coverups get complicated, and the breakups become deadly. — Brynna Arens

Creator: Debora Cahn

Cast: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi

The Diplomat is an intense political thriller created by incredible writer/producer Debora Cahn. Cahn’s immense familiarity with political dramas, including award-winning series Homeland and The West Wing, allows her keen creativity to craft a captivating drama. Starring Keri Russell (The Americans), The Diplomat follows a career diplomat named Kate Wyler (Russell) as she finds herself unsuited for yet deeply entangled in a high-profile diplomatic position that unwittingly strains both her personal and professional life. Co-starring Rufus Sewell as Kate’s husband, The Diplomat weaves an intriguing tale of tension, ensuring a riveting drama deserving of seasons to come.

– Yael Tygiel

Creator: Shawn Ryan

Cast: Gabriel Basso, Luciane Buchanan, Hong Chau, D.B. Woodside

Inspired by the novel by Matthew Quirk, The Night Agent is an exciting new series starring Gabriel Basso, along with D.B. Woodside (Lucifer), Eve Harlow (Star Trek: Discovery), and Hong Chau (The Whale). Created by Shawn Ryan, The Night Agent is an espionage thriller about a rookie agent with the FBI (Basso). Featuring heart-pumping action, The Night Agent explores the dangerous world of spies, particularly when a low-level officer inadvertently becomes embroiled in a whirlwind government-shattering conspiracy. Although brimming with intense twists and turns in every episode, The Night Agent builds suspense through the mysterious puzzle as well as a budding romance, crafting a stand-out series within a saturated spy genre. – Yael Tygiel

Created by: Michael Clarkson, Paul Clarkson

Cast: Amelia Clarkson, Natalie Blair, Ellis Howard

Red Rose is the perfect intersection of teen angst and technological horror as you watch a phone app rip apart the lives of a group of teens. Series creators Michael and Paul Clarkson seek to produce a story that mirrors the anxiety and crushing expectations that come with leaving grade school and entering the adult world, and they capture that idea using a smartphone app called “Red Rose” that forces users to perform demands lest they be subject to deadly consequences. Red Rose is a dark and twisted thriller that moves at a breakneck speed through sinister territory, and the lead, Amelia Clarkson (The Last Kingdom), is the perfect vessel through which viewers can feel the heart-pounding turmoil of every decision she’s forced to make. – Tauri Miller

Creator: Charlotte Stoudt

Cast: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, Jessica Barden, Joe Dempsie

Created by Charlotte Stoudt, Pieces of Her is a nail-biting adventure worth watching in one sitting. Starring Toni Collette (Knives Out), who absolutely dazzles opposite Bella Heathcote (The Man in the High Castle), Pieces of Her is a quickly unraveling mystery, encouraging the audience to guess the truth at every turn. Pieces of Her is the story of a daughter (Heathcote) who begins to learn that her mother (Collette) has a secret past that is just now catching up with her. Over eight intriguing episodes, Pieces of Her pieces together a fascinating puzzle with exciting and unexpected twists. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: David Guggenheim

Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, LaMonica Garrett

Designated Survivor is an intriguing political thriller by David Guggenheim (The Christmas Chronicles) starring Kiefer Sutherland (Rabbit Hole). Based on the real concept, Designated Survivor follows Sutherland’s Thomas Kirkman, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as he is thrust into the leadership role of President of the United States. Although the series starts with an explosive attack killing everyone above Kirkman, Designated Survivor incorporates a fantastic and diverse cast, including Natascha McElhone, Adan Canto (The Cleaning Lady), Italia Ricci, and LaMonica Garrett (Arrow), building a deeper foundation on which the series and its twists evolve organically. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Alexi Hawley

Cast: Noah Centineo, Katharine King So, Alexandra Petrachuk, Vondie Curtis-Hall

The Recruit is a clever and exciting action drama from The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley and starring Black Adam’s Noah Centineo. Like Hawley’s other projects, The Recruit stems from a simple central plot – an inexperienced central intelligence lawyer who finds himself thrown into the deep end of international espionage – but evolves into an ensemble of talent once Vondie Curtis-Hall, Angel Parker (The Rookie), and Kristian Bruun (Orphan Black) grace the screen. Infused with Hawley’s undeniable quick-wit comedy style, The Recruit exposes viewers to the raw talent of its star (Centineo), who seamlessly transitions from awkward CIA newbie to combat-ready superspy. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Martin Gero, Brendan Gall

Cast: Melissa Barrera, Jeff Wilbusch, Florencia Lozano, Austin Stowell

Keep Breathing is an intense new survival series from Netflix. Competing with the recently canceled Amazon series The Wilds and Showtime’s hit drama Yellowjackets, Keep Breathing also depicts the survivor of a plane crash. In Keep Breathing, Melissa Barrera (Scream) stars as Liv, a smart and ambitious attorney who finds herself bracing the Canadian wilderness alone. Featuring a supporting cast including Jeff Wilbusch (The Calling) and Austin Stowell, Keep Breathing is created by a collaboration from Blindspot’s Brendan Gall (The Lovebirds) and Martin Gero (Quantum Leap). Gloriously presented with a cinematic scale, Keep Breathing reveals an intimate battle not just against the elements but also against Liv’s own mind and memories. – Yael Tygiel

Created by: Vanessa Gazy

Cast: Michelle Monaghan, Matt Bomer, Daniel Sunjata, Ali Stroker, Karen Robinson

A compelling mystery thriller, Echoes revolves around twins Leni and Gina (both played by Michelle Monaghan) who share a shocking secret: they’ve been switching lives since they were children. As adults still leading this double lives, this means they share two houses, husbands, and even a kid. When one of them goes missing, however, things are thrown into chaos. You’re sure to be kept guessing and theorizing through every minute of this twisty limited series. – Taylor Gates

Created by: David E. Kelley

Cast: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson, Christopher Gorham

Suspenseful, riveting, and constantly surprising, The Lincoln Lawyer is a thrilling legal drama. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s stellar embodiment of Mickey Haller grounds the show that revolves around the criminal defense attorney and recovering addict running his practice out of his town car. There are plenty of other star turns in addition to Garcia-Rulfo, too, including standouts Neve Campbell as Maggie McPherson, a criminal prosecutor who happens to be Haller’s ex-wife. The Lincoln Lawyer will have you on the edge of your seat from the first second to the final frame with its polished aesthetic, intriguing characters, and twisty, unpredictable plot. – Taylor Gates

Creator: Hwang Dong-hyuk

Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-Joon

The hit series that inspired a million memes and an explosion of costumes, Squid Game is more than just a pop culture craze — it is a sharply written exploration of class inequality that cuts deep. It is all built around a survival game where a group of unsuspecting adults are given an invitation to compete in a variety of children’s games for cash. The catch is that if you lose, you die. While this may sound familiar to a whole host of other similarly premised stories you’ve seen before, it quickly makes clear that it is both a great deal darker and more creative in its execution. Grounded yet gruesome, it shows how desperate the world has become for those at the bottom when left with limited options to survive. Visually vibrant and tonally grim, it is a show that remains one of the better things the platform has created in recent memory. By the time it all comes to a close, the impact it leaves is both insightful and indelible. – Chase Hutchinson

Creator: Rebecca Sonnenshine

Cast: Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit, Julia Chen, Ariana Neal, Matt McGory, Martin Donovan

In Archive 81, film archivist Dan Turner (Mamoudou Athie) is hired by the mysterious company L.M.G. to restore footage on video tapes that were damaged in a 1994 fire. As Dan makes his way through the footage, he uncovers a mystery surrounding their owner Melanie Pendras (Dina Shihabi), the Visser apartment building in New York, and the ritualistic cult that she was researching. Things get weird when Dan starts to see a demonic figure in the footage and discovers that he is able to communicate with Melanie in 1994 after watching them. Is the apparition of Melanie a ghost? Does watching the tapes open a portal to the past or another realm? Is Dan simply losing his mind in the isolation of this project? Check out Archive 81 to see just how wild this horror thriller series is. You won’t regret it. — Brynna Arens

Creators: Shannon Burke, Jonas Pate, Josh Pate

Cast: Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey

A melodrama through and through, Outer Banks is bolstered by its sense of adventure as well as a committed cast that elevates the material. The story is that the father of local kid John B (Chase Stokes) has gone missing. Determined to find him when everyone else tells him that he is dead, he enlists his friends to help him in his pursuit of the truth. Told through John B’s narration with his reflections on the world around him, the show is also about the schism between the have and have-nots of the picturesque North Carolina town where they all live. It is a bit more geared toward teen viewers as it often softens some darker aspects. However, it still manages to be an engaging ride that balances nostalgia with a compelling through line that keeps you invested in what will befall our young adventurers. — Chase Hutchinson

Creator: Meredith Averill, Aron Eli Coleite, Carlton Cuse

Cast: Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Jackson Robert Scott, Laysla De Oliveira, Petrice Jones, Griffin Gluck

Locke & Key is the long-awaited adaptation of the Eisner Award-winning graphic novel series of the same name by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez. The show is a mixture of genres, mostly horror and fantasy, but the mystery, suspense and twists make it a compelling watch. Following a shocking tragedy, the Locke family move back to their ancestral home in a small town named Matheson. In Keyhouse, the Locke children discover strange keys with magical powers, but they also unwittingly unlock a deadly evil. Can they keep themselves and their loved ones safe? Locke & Key takes a couple of episodes to settle, but once the story finds its stride, this show is riveting. The adaptation of the magical elements from the books to the screen is outstanding, and the showrunners have made an effort to update some graphic novels’ more problematic and regressive elements. Fans of the books will still be surprised by the changes in the show, but newcomers will not feel left out. – Monita Mohan

Creator: Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman

Cast: Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini, Sam Shepard, Sissy Spacek

One of the first Netflix original series in the post-House of Cards era, Bloodline is a seedy, thoroughly entertaining blend of pulpy melodrama and gripping emotional storytelling. Set on a beachside resort on the Florida coast, Bloodline follows the trials and tribulations of the controversial Rayburn family. The family’s most responsible son, John (Kyle Chandler), is a local sheriff who keeps a watchful eye on his older brother, the black sheep Danny (Ben Mendeloshn). Childhood insecurities bubble to the surface when the family reunites. Bloodline may have eventually headed into more ridiculous territory after the excellent first season, but Chandler’s nuanced performance never falters. — Liam Gaughan

Creator: Jed Mercurio

Cast: Richard Madden, Keeley Hawes, Sophie Rundle, Vincent Franklin, Pippa Haywood

Game of Thrones star Richard Madden essentially got his James Bond audition in this thrilling BBC miniseries, which became one of the most-watched programs in modern British television. The intense espionage series follows a series of attempted assassination of the enigmatic Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), who is assigned a new bodyguard after her fiery speeches court public controversy. Madden gives a star-powered performance as Montague’s new Personal Protection Officer; he’s a former veteran suffering from his trauma, and he’s unsure about Montague’s ambitions plans for international combat. With only six episodes, Bodyguard is a quick watch, but there’s no shortage of twists and turns along the way. –Liam Gaughan

Creator: Derek Simonds

Cast: Bill Pullman, Jessica Biel, Carrie Coon

An enthralling anthology thriller series that is centered around Bill Pullman’s deeply flawed Harry Ambrose, The Sinner focuses on different violent incidents that then get explored in detail to reveal the depressing realities underpinning all of them. It is more than just a crime procedural as it looks to dig into the nuances of the characters and the path they have taken that led to the horrible inciting incidents. Over four seasons we see everything from cults to widespread cover-ups that hide the uglier aspects of ourselves with a perpetual sense of tension. The first two seasons in particular are buoyed by strong performances from both Jessica Biel and Carrie Coon who build their multifaceted characters with a sense of grace mixed with prevailing tragedy. It is through all of these performances that the show really makes a name for itself as being both distinct and dedicated to telling a variety of darker stories. – Chase Hutchinson

Creator: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, and J. Michael Straczynski

Cast: Aml Ameen, Doona Bae, Jamie Clayton, Tina Desai, Tuppence Middleton, Max Riemelt, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Brian J. Smith, Freema Agyeman, Terrence Mann, Anupam Kher, Naveen Andrews, Toby Onwumere, and Daryl Hannah

Seeing that Sense8 was created by the Wachowskis is, in itself, a big reason to watch the show. After all, the Matrix and Cloud Atlas directors are among the best in their field. But beyond the people behind the camera, the show also boasts an intriguing premise and a truly international story.

Sense8 follows eight strangers around the globe who find that their minds have been connected by a mysterious event. As these “sensates” try to make sense of their new reality, they also have to escape the clutches of an organization hell-bent on destroying them. The international cast includes veteran actors from around the world and the series was filmed in multiple diverse locations including London, Reykjavik, Nairobi, and Mumbai. With two exciting seasons, a two-hour Christmas special, and a two-and-a-half-hour series finale, there’s plenty of content here for all your binge-watching needs.

Creator: Baltasar Kormákur and Sigurjón Kjartansson

Cast: Guðrún Eyfjörð, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Björn Thors, Íris Tanja Flygenring, Þorsteinn Bachmann, Aliette Opheim, Sólveig Arnarsdóttir

This Icelandic series is a newcomer on Netflix but it’s already proving to be one of the most popular thriller shows on the streaming service. In real life, Katla is the name of an active volcano in southern Iceland that had its last major eruption about a hundred years ago.

The show is set in a town called Vik near this real-life volcano and picks up a year after the volcano undergoes a large eruption. Ravaged by floods and ash clouds caused by the volcano, the town is all but deserted. And when a lost, ash-caked woman arrives in town, it’s the first of a series of strange events that hit what’s left of the community. And while all that is happening, a volcanologist from Reykjavik struggles to understand the strange data coming from the volcano, which could be a sign of worse things to come.

With a bleak, naturalistic setting and a mind-bending plot, the first eight-episode season of Katla has already become a favorite for thriller fans and it’s bound to be a good weekend watch.

Creator: Brad Wright

Cast: Eric McCormack, Mackenzie Porter, Jared Abrahamson, Nesta Cooper, Reilly Dolman, and Patrick Gilmore

When you pare it down to its bare bones, this Canadian-American series uses a tried and tested premise: time travelers trying to prevent a dystopian future. But Travelers takes this basic concept and turns it into something that’s brilliantly unique. The show follows a group of people from hundreds of years in the future whose minds are sent back in time to possess the bodies of people in our present. These “Travelers” work in secret using social media archives and what they know of history to perform missions that they hope will save humanity from their terrible future. Travelers ran for three seasons until it was canceled in 2019 and each of those seasons has had great reviews from both critics and fans.