Netflix has become a go-to platform for shows spanning across many different genres, and thrillers are at the top of the list. This is not the least surprising considering that their narratives keep audiences glued to their screens, sometimes even to their seats. Whether you’re craving a slow-burn mystery or a mind-bending sci-fi, the streaming giant has consistently delivered some of the most talked-about and binge-worthy series of the last decade.
However, with so many options, how do you separate the great from the greatest? We’ve scoured the platform and brought you the best Netflix original thriller shows that make for some of the most binge-watchable stories. From Black Doves to Mindhunter, these Netflix thrillers make audiences pause, rewind, and come up with the wildest theories.
10
‘Black Doves’ (2024–)
Created by Joe Barton
For those who enjoy spy thrillers, Joe Barton‘s Black Doves may be the right pick. It rises beyond the spy thriller genre and becomes a game of smoke and mirrors, played out against the backdrop of London’s streets. The series follows Helen (Keira Knightley), a spy with a double life as a politician’s wife and mother, and Sam (Ben Whishaw), her loyal confidant.
Black Doves refuses to settle for genre tropes. Sure, there are plenty of assassinations, betrayals, and set pieces, but the real tension comes from the characters’ internal struggles. Knightley’s Helen, for one, is a standout, combining vulnerability and a steel resolve into the mix. Whishaw’s Sam, on the other hand, is haunted by a past he cannot outrun. With an engaging narrative and great acting, the Netflix series is a gentle reminder that the best spy shows are often more about the people that inhabit their worlds than their plots.
9
‘The Diplomat’ (2023)
Created by Debora Cahn
Starring The Americans‘ talented Keri Russell, this Debora Cahn show perfectly pulls audiences into the world of international intrigue. The Netflix political thriller centers on Kate Wyler, a career diplomat who thrives in crisis but finds herself outside of her comfort zone as the new U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
The Diplomat refuses to play it safe, and that’s what makes it a standout. Packed with intelligently written dialogue and high-stakes power plays, Cahn’s show features a magnetic and sharp lead and her charming master manipulator husband (Rufus Sewell), and it’s impossible not to root for them—their chemistry is electric, and the personal drama adds to the series’ drama. The great news? A new season is arriving in fall and promises to “flip the chessboard,” according to Cahn.
8
‘Bloodline’ (2015)
Created by Todd A. Kessler
Set against the sun-soaked and seemingly tranquil backdrop of the Florida Keys, this Todd A. Kessler Netflix thriller weaves a slow-burning tale of secrets, lies, and guilt that bind a family tighter than their blood ever could. The story focuses on the Rayburns—parents Robert (Sam Shepard) and Sally (Sissy Spacek) and their adult children John (Kyle Chandler), Meg (Linda Cardellini), Kevin (Norbert Leo Butz), and Danny (Ben Mendelsohn), all pillars of their community, running their family’s seaside inn. However, when Danny returns home, the cracks in their dynamic begin to show.
In Bloodline, the dread builds slowly but surely, with each episode delving into new betrayals and unresolved wounds. By peeling back the family’s history, Bloodline delivers some of the most thrilling meditations on family, guilt, and the cost of secret-keeping. At its heart, it is a reminder that family isn’t merely about love, but sometimes even about survival.
- Release Date
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2015 – 2016
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Mikael Håfström, Todd A. Kessler, Michael Morris, Ed Bianchi, Mario Van Peebles, Jean de Segonzac, Johan Renck, Daniel Zelman, Dennie Gordon, David Manson, Alex Graves, Michael Apted, Daniel Attias, Simon Cellan Jones, Stephen Williams, Tate Donovan, Carl Franklin
- Writers
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Arthur Phillips, Bill Cain, Lizzie Mickery, Addison McQuigg, Ashlin Halfnight, Lucas Jansen, Barry Pullman, Melanie Hoopes, Dani Vetere
7
‘The Night Agent’ (2023–)
Created by Shawn Ryan
Although not groundbreaking, Shawn Ryan‘s The Night Agent knows how to hook audiences. Set in a world where the White House basement is more dangerous than any battlefield, the series follows a low-level FBI agent, played by Gabriel Basso, stuck answering a phone that rarely rings. When it suddenly does, he is plunged into a conspiracy that spirals up the ranks of power and forces him to confront everything.
Those enthusiastic about relentlessly paced television series will probably appreciate this Netflix thriller hit. However, beyond its high stakes, this spy thriller actually cares about the themes it tackles and the bureaucracy it’s set in. And while it does stumble when trying to tackle complex politics, it makes up for these gaps with a cast of memorable characters, moody cinematography, and well-choreographed action.
The Night Agent
- Release Date
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March 23, 2023
- Network
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Netflix
6
‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)
Created by Carlo Bernard, Chris Brancato, and Doug Miro
Throwing audiences into the heart of the Colombian drug wars, Narcos illustrates the blurred line between cops and criminals. At its center is Wagner Moura‘s Pablo Escobar, a man whose ambition is as vast as his appetite for chaos. Instead of merely chronicling his rise and fall in the drug world, this 2015 series immerses viewers in the paranoia of a scene where everything has a price.
Narcos stands out in its morally ambiguous nature—it refuses to paint anyone as purely good or evil but rather as flawed individuals. Add that to the show’s intriguing narration, which makes it feel like a true-crime documentary but with the pacing and tension of a high-stakes thriller, and it’s difficult to argue that the highly produced, yet intentionally messy Narcos isn’t one of the best shows about drug cartels out there.
5
‘Ripley’ (2024)
Created by Steven Zaillian
If you’re short on time and looking to watch a captivating miniseries in the thriller genre, Ripley may be the right pick. Steven Zaillian‘s adaptation of Patricia Highsmith‘s The Talented Mr. Ripley (which had previously earned a movie adaptation, too) is a masterclass in tension, unfolding in crisp black-and-white cinematography that feels just right. Set in early 1960s New York and Italy, the series follows Andrew Scott’s Tom Ripley, a shadow slipping into identities and lives.
Whether we’re talking about its supporting cast—Dakota Fanning as the suspicious Marge, Johnny Flynn as wealthy heir Dickie, or Maurizio Lombardi as Inspector Ravini—its stunningly immersive visuals or the story at its center, Ripley is certainly one of the most captivating Netflix thrillers. It’s as much about the psychology of its characters as it is about the twists, and that’s what makes it a haunting watch.
4
‘Ozark’ (2017–2022)
Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams
Ozark dives into the American underbelly headfirst and grabs viewers along for the ride. The show follows the Byrde family: Marty (Jason Bateman), a financial planner with a knack for laundering money, and his ambitious wife Wendy (Laura Linney). After a cartel deal goes south, they are forced to relocate from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks. There, they must launder millions—or face the consequences.
Ozark thrives on its character development and relentless tension and is anchored by its electric leads, delivering an intriguing commentary on financial schemes, local politics, and cartel showdowns. With moody cinematography that engulfs audiences and perfectly mirrors the characters’ isolation and desperation, Ozark is perfect for those interested in the morally ambiguous; it’s a show about survival and the cost of that survival.
3
‘Squid Game’ (2021–2025)
Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk
Squid Game goes beyond just lingering on your watchlist to actually lingering in your nightmares. This South Korean Netflix hit has caught audiences by surprise ever since its release, blending childhood nostalgia and twists into a frightening scenario: 456 desperate people, drowning in debt and despair, invited to play a series of mortal games for a life-changing cash prize. The catch, of course, is that they lose, and they die. At its center is Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), a down-on-his-luck gambler who’s trying to keep his family afloat.
What’s great about Squid Game is how it goes beyond its shocks and gore, delivering a sharp social commentary on capitalism and inequality. For those who enjoy their series brainy and thought-provoking, Squid Game may be worth watching. The first season became a global phenomenon, sparking conversations about class and the cost of survival and earning critical acclaim for its high production values and unsettling and, ironically, deeply entertaining narrative.
2
‘Dark’ (2017–2020)
Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese
Another show for those intrigued by family dynamics, Dark is the kind of series that will make you question your own family tree (and perhaps even the fabric of time itself). This German sci-fi thriller created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese delivers a compelling labyrinth of interconnected families and secrets, all set against the backdrop of the small town of Winden.
Rising beyond your usual science fiction thriller, Dark is fascinating because of its ambition. It isn’t merely about time traveling—it’s a beautiful meditation on fate, free will, and the cycles of history. For those who appreciate rich and dense narratives, the Netflix essential may reveal itself to be one of the most unforgettable shows they have ever seen. Add to that the strong performances, writing, and direction, and Dark is a blueprint for thriller television.
1
‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)
Created by Joe Penhall
If the conversation is your favorite part about police procedurals rather than the chase, Joe Penhall‘s fan-favorite Mindhunter is a top match. Set in the late 1970s, this beloved Netflix series follows FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) along with psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), as they pioneer the study of criminal profiling. They do this by sitting down with some of America’s most notorious serial killers, attempting to crack the code of what makes a murderer tick.
Mindhunter‘s slow and methodical unraveling of the human mind’s darkest corners is what makes it a chilling watch. The series is directed by the talented David Fincher, with his signature style shining through, and anchored by the incredible performances at its center. Penhall’s show is a slow burn, but never a dull one, with each episode building on the last and proving to be one of the most clever and intriguing shows ever made.
