There’s nothing better than settling in at night with a great thriller. The genre has been a staple of cinema for decades, and the best films have stood the test of time. Thanks to Netflix and other streaming services, viewers no longer need to leave their homes to experience the delights of a detective thriller. Whether it be a disgraced private detective, someone investigating the murder of a loved one, or just a classic game of cat and mouse, even just a decent detective thriller can make for a fun night in. If you’re looking for the next great detective thriller on Netflix, we’ve compiled a list of films to watch at your leisure.
10
‘The Guilty’ (2018)
The Guilty is a remake of a 2018 Danish film of the same name, starring Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role. With a script penned by True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto, the film reunited director Antoine Fuqua and Jake Gyllenhaal after their work on the 2015 boxing movie Southpaw. The Guilty stars Gyllenhaal as a 911 dispatcher who receives a distress call from a woman who claims she is about to be murdered.
Finding The Victim
Gyllenhaal’s character, Joe Baylor, is in the middle of his own legal troubles following a case gone awry. In the middle of this new and potentially dangerous case, Baylor does everything in his power to help the woman and her daughter from their alleged killer. The remake has been regarded for Gyllenhaal’s powerful performance and is not to be missed.
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9
‘Fractured’ (2019)
An unsettling thriller like Fractured will have you questioning everything. After bringing his daughter to the hospital due to a fall, Ray Monroe (Sam Worthington) is left searching for answers. Fractured finds Ray scratching his head after he can no longer locate his daughter or wife after what should have been a routine procedure.
Anything But Routine
But nothing adds up for Ray, who believes the hospital and its staff are hiding something from him. He begins to search for his family, but there is no trace of them. He follows the clues left behind for him, but he discovers a twist no one will see coming. The Netflix thriller concocts a perfect mystery that requires your full attention.
8
‘The Clovehitch Killer’ (2018)
16-year-old Tyler Burnside (Charlie Plummer) must go after the one man he would never have expected, his father. In a rural Kentucky town, the Burnside family, along with the rest of the community, have been traumatized by the murders of ten women in their area. When Tyler finds a disturbing photo in his father’s possession, it leads him to believe his father may be the murderer.
Small Town Tragedy
In The Clovehitch Killer, Tyler leads his own investigation into his father, which puts him in danger with a man believed to be pure evil. He must use his resourcefulness if he is to make it out alive and not become the killer’s next victim. The Clovehitch Killer is the perfect slow burn that will leave you with goosebumps.
7
‘I Came By’ (2022)
This thriller follows a tense cat-and-mouse game between politically-motivated graffiti artist Toby (George MacKay) and, at first, a seemingly decent judge, Sir Henry Blake (Hugh Bonneville). However, Toby stumbles across the fact that the judge harbors a dangerous secret. In retaliation, the judge targets Toby and his loved ones.
Bad Judge
The events that Toby triggers cannot be foreseen by either the character or the audience. The standout performances from MacKay and Bonneville — who plays against type in a pitch-perfect villainous role — help elevate the already intriguing story. The movie also touches on some deeper themes of injustice that will make the film resonate with viewers after the credits roll.
6
‘The Pale Blue Eye’ (2023)
Set in the 1800s, The Pale Blue Eye follows retired detective Augustus Landor (Christian Bale) is hired to investigate the murder of a young cadet at West Point. During the investigation, Landor enlists the help of another cadet, the yet-to-be-famous poet Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling). The eerie film, written and directed by Scott Cooper, was created with Bale specifically in mind for the role.
Death of a Cadet
When more murders occur at the academy, the quest for the culprit becomes more pressing. The film crafts a complex mystery that may require multiple viewings to understand all the hidden clues. The Pale Blue Eye also successfully immerses viewers in the era with its cinematography, atmosphere, and great costume design.
5
‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2022)
The second installment of the Knives Out series finds Daniel Craig reprising his role as Benoit Blanc. Glass Onion pairs Craig with yet another A-list cast centered around a murder mystery game created by an eccentric billionaire. However, what was initially supposed to be a game turns into a real-life case with lies, deception, and plenty of twists.
A Thrilling Sequel
After dazzling fans in the first film, it was no surprise to see the detective return to the screen again. The cast consists of high-profile names like Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Edward Norton, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, and many more. This twisting detective story has countless moments of humor and horror. It even led to an upcoming third installment, slated for release in 2025. Here are some of the characters we hope to see return for Knives Out 3.
4
‘The Stranger’ (2022)
- Release Date
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October 6, 2022
- Runtime
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117 minutes
- Director
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Thomas M. Wright
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-
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Jada Alberts
Detective Kate Rylett
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Fletcher Humphrys
Detective Graham Ikin
Based on a real-life child abduction case, The Stranger follows Joel Edgerton’s character, Mark Frame, in a high-stakes sting operation. Frame must get close to the killer in the hopes of finding evidence to convict him, but as he gets more involved in the case, he begins to lose sleep and grows more concerned over the safety of his child.
Getting Close to the Enemy
Frame and several other cops organize a community of criminals to lure the killer into a false sense of security. This ultimately leads them in the right direction, but they must remain undercover to avoid spooking their suspect. The search for evidence and proximity to the killer will surely send chills down your spine, making this an absolute must-watch.
3
‘Revelations’ (2025)
- Release Date
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March 21, 2025
- Runtime
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122 Minutes
- Director
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Yeon Sang-ho
- Writers
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Yeon Sang-ho, Choi Gyu-seok
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Ryu Jun-yeol
Sung Min-chan
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Shin Hyun-been
Detective Lee Yeon-hui
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Shin Jae-min
Kwon Yang-rae
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One of the latest additions to Netflix’s outstanding selection of Korean Cinema, Revelations follows two mens whose lives intersect after a series of unfortunate events. Sung Min-chan (Ryu Jun-yeol), a struggling pastor who, after killing a thug in self-defense, begins to cope by believing he was ordained by god to punish the wicked, and Detective Lee Yeon-hui (Shin Hyun-bin), who had his own sense of justice stripped away when the man he was hunting for the murder of his sister was the Pasto’s victim.
In the Realm of Moral and Religious Ambiguity
Revelations blends elements of horror, drama, and detective thriller in exhilarating fashion. The continued sense of dread and suspense is perfect for fully immersing viewers in the mystery that unravels and the films play with themes of religion and morals in a way that stays ambiguous up till the thrilling conclusion. The performances here are top-notch, and there is some phenomenal cinematography, including a single-take scene at the film’s climax; Revelations is an all-around well-rounded Korean thriller.
2
‘To Catch a Killer’ (2023)
- Release Date
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April 21, 2023
- Director
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Damián Szifron
- Writers
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Damián Szifron, Jonathan Wakeham
Eleanor Falco (Shailene Woodley), a Baltimore cop with a history of addiction and self-harm, is given another chance to prove her merit when she is tasked by the FBI to aid in the search for a sniper terrorizing the city. Starting with a New Year’s Eve Massacre, the trail to catch the shooter becomes a race against time, with mistakes along the way pushing Falco further than ever before in her years of fighting crime.
To Catch a Sniper
Shailene Woodley’s portrayal of Eleanor is phenomenal in To Catch a Killer, allowing for the emotional ups and downs and high stakes to really land with an audience. The pacing and atmosphere also perfectly build tension, with the ever-looming threat of another sniper attack making for an engaging watch. While the plot does seem slightly derivative of other familiar titles like Zodiac or Seven, for those who can’t get enough of mystery-driven detective thrillers will find To Catch a Killer a pleasant surprise.
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1
Reptile (2023)
Hardened detective Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro) is assigned to solve the brutal murder of a real estate agent. While the first major suspect becomes her boyfriend and colleague, Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), who found the body in a vacant home, the more Nichols digs, the more he discovers. This includes police corruption, drug-trafficking and scams. Tom Nichols is forced to navigate a web of lies, even from his own department, in order to solve the case.
Corruption Hiding in Plain Sight
Reptile offers up Benicio Del Toro at his best, as a morally challenged detective forced to choose between his commitment to the force and his own morality. The film also draws heavy influence from the noir genre, crafting a gritty and suspenseful atmosphere using a slow-burn approach. Like all good detective thrillers, Reptile throws in plenty of red herrings, and twists and turns that will keep audiences on their toes.
