Unlock Your Next Obsession: The Thriller TV Shows That’ll Keep You Guessing and Glued to the Screen
Ever find yourself binge-watching a thriller and suddenly wondering, “Wait, how did I get this hooked so fast?” That’s the magic of a great thriller TV show—where every episode leaves you gasping, guessing, and glued to the screen. From the international intrigue of Netflix’s The Diplomat starring Keri Russell navigating political minefields, to the pulse-pounding twists of Apple TV+’s Smoke, these shows aren’t just about suspense—they’re about getting under your skin and refusing to let go. Whether you’re in the mood for a cerebral chase or a spine-tingling mystery, this curated list—handpicked by Harper’s BAZAAR editors—serves up the best thriller series to keep your adrenaline rushing and your mind racing. So, ready to dive headfirst into these captivating tales of suspense, secrets, and survival? Let’s roll the credits on boredom and start the thriller marathon!
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Smoke
What starts out as a straightforward detective show about a serial arsonist soon devolves into one of the most unexpected, unpredictable, and downright wild TV thrillers in recent memory. Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett team up to investigate a string of fires but neither is what they seem. And the end of season 1 will have you staring at the TV screen with your jaw fully on the floor.
Untamed
Netflix’s Untamed has been such a hit with viewers, the streamer renewed the formerly limited series for a second season. Eric Bana stars as a special agent with the National Park Service, who is tasked with solving the brutal murder of an unidentified woman. With the help of rookie ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), Kyle Turner must overcome his own demons to figure out why a woman met her death in Yosemite State Park—and the list of suspects is long.
Long Bright River
Liz Moore’s book Long Bright River has been adapted into a fast-paced miniseries starring Amanda Seyfried. The actress plays Mickey, a police officer in Philadelphia who works in a neighborhood dealing with high levels of crime. A large-scale investigation is launched following the deaths of three local women—and Mickey grows increasingly concerned about her missing sister.
Code of Silence
This Britbox series follows Alison Woods (Rose Ayling- Ellis), a Deaf woman recruited by the police to assist with lipreading in a criminal case. After accidentally connecting with one of the suspects, Alison finds herself going undercover for the first time, risking her safety while utilizing skills such as her ability to read both lips and body language. Co-starring You’s Charlotte Ritchie, Code of Silence has been renewed for a second season.
The Better Sister
Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks star as Chloe and Nicky, estranged sisters who are forced back together when a member of the family is murdered. Based on a book of the same name by Alafair Burke, the Prime Video thriller is adept at keeping viewers guessing right up until the very end. With both Biel and Banks delivering visceral performances, The Better Sister is a slick thriller with a meaty backstory.
The Madness
The incredible Colman Domingo leads The Madness, a twisty conspiracy theory thriller from Netflix. Media pundit Muncie Daniels accidentally gets mixed up in a murder mystery, after attempting to take some time out in the woods. Amidst an increasingly dangerous political climate and with racist fringe groups posing additional harm, Muncie is forced to solve the ever-expanding mystery he’s unwittingly become a part of.
The Last Thing He Told Me
Laura Dave’s The Last Thing He Told Me was chosen to be one of Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club picks thanks to its taut plot and enigmatic characters. Jennifer Garner stars as Hannah Hall, a woman whose husband, Owen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), disappears, leaving her to desperately try to bond with her step-daughter (Angourie Rice). As Hannah begins to learn the truth about her missing husband, she is forced to fight for her family’s future, despite not knowing the truth.
Channel Zero
If you like your television thrillers with a side of unadulterated terror, Channel Zero is essential viewing. The anthology series brings creepypastas—horrifying horror legends that have infected the internet—to life, meaning each season is infused with a chilling nightmare quality. Plus, attempting to guess the denouement of every story is basically pointless. Prepare to never sleep again.
The Hunting Wives
Based on the book of the same name by May Cobb, The Hunting Wives is the ideal soapy thriller to devour in a weekend. Brittany Snow stars as Sophie, a woman with a complicated past, whose life is uprooted when her husband takes a new job in Texas. There, she meets Margo (Malin Akerman), the leader of a group of women who all have a ton of secrets. When a murder occurs nearby, everyone’s a suspect.
Industry
A collaboration between HBO and the BBC, Industry focuses on a group of recent graduates striving to establish themselves in the world of investment banking. Exceedingly cutthroat and surprisingly shocking, Industry more than fills the Succession-sized hole in everyone’s lives, with every character compromising their integrity at some point. The killer cast includes Myha’la, Marisa Abela, Harry Lawtey, David Jonsson, and Kit Harington.
Killing Eve
Based on the series of books by Luke Jennings, Killing Eve follows British intelligence officer Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) as she hunts down Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a dangerous assassin. While Phoebe Waller-Bridge headed up the first season, The Crown‘s Emerald Fennell took on head writer duties for Season 2. A taut cat-and-mouse chase you won’t be able to stop watching.
The Watcher
Based on a terrifying true story, The Watcher follows the Brannocks (Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale) as they move into their dream house. Unfortunately, strange things start happening almost immediately, dragging the family into a creepy mystery that is still far from solved. Does a cult live across the street? Why was there a bed in the tunnel under their house? Will Jennifer Coolidge be back? Luckily, the series is returning for a second season to answer all of these questions and more.
Yellowjackets
A high school soccer team is involved in a plane crash, and they’re forced to fight for survival in the wilderness while they wait to be rescued. Two decades later, the survivors reckon with the horrifying reality they’ve lived through, and try to untangle new mysteries they find themselves at the center of. Christina Ricci, Juliette Lewis, Melanie Lynskey, and Tawny Cypress lead a wonderful cast.
Truth Be Told
The always wonderful Octavia Spencer takes the lead as Poppy Parnell, a true crime podcaster intent on discovering the truth about the most complicated cases. Based on Kathleen Barber’s novel, Are You Sleeping, Truth Be Told‘s all-star cast has included Kate Hudson, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Paul, and Lizzy Caplan.
Black Bird
Apple TV+’s twisty serial killer thriller is based on the real-life story of James Keene, a man offered a commuted sentence if he can elicit a confession from suspected murderer and rapist Larry Hall. Taron Egerton stars as Keene, while Paul Walter Hauser gives a wonderfully creepy performance as Hall. Featuring one of Ray Liotta’s final appearances, this mini-series remains one of the best offerings on Apple TV+ to date.
Homecoming
Season 1 stars Julia Roberts as Heidi Bergman, a social worker at a facility dedicated to helping soldiers return to their lives after service. However, the facility is using some experimental treatments with unexpected consequences. Season 2 further unravels the mystery with Janelle Monáe searching for the truth about her identity. Based on the Homecoming podcast.
The Diplomat
Netflix’s The Diplomat was an instant hit with viewers, and it’s easy to see why. Keri Russell stars as Kate Wyler, an American ambassador to the United Kingdom, sent to smooth over troubled relations following a presumed terrorist attack. To complicate matters, her husband is a fellow diplomat whose career is in decline.
Cruel Summer
The first season of Cruel Summer shocked viewers thanks to some unbelievable twists. Set in the ’90s, popular girl Kate (Olivia Holt) goes missing, and while everyone else is searching, Jeanette (Chiara Aurelia) seemingly does a Single White Female. Season 2 takes us forward to the ’00s when a murder investigation exposes toxic friendships.
You
You likely needs no introduction. The Penn Badgley-starrer remains one of Netflix’s biggest shows, with the Gossip Girl alum playing suave serial killer Joe Goldberg. Based on the book series by the incredible Caroline Kepnes, You recently ended with its fifth season, but fans of Joe’s antics won’t be able to resist a re-watch.
Squid Game
South Korean thriller Squid Game became a sensation following its arrival on Netflix in September 2021. The game pits 456 players against one another in a terrifying, and seriously inventive, series of quests. The winner takes home 45.6 billion won (approximately $35 million), but they also have to watch a whole lot of people die in the process.
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