Be thankful that your life isn’t as “exciting” as a thriller movie. It may look fun, but this kind of excitement is probably better enjoyed when it is vicarious. So if you’re looking for a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, Hulu has some fantastic examples of the genre in its lineup. There are so many options that you may find it difficult to narrow down your choices. But that’s why we’re here, and we’ve already picked the best thrillers on Hulu right now.
And while you’re here, be sure to give the Disney Bundle a look — it’ll get you Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ for just $14 a month. That’s a great way to get even more thrillers, all for the price of just two of those services together. And that’s tough to beat.
Hulu isn’t the only streaming platform around. Thankfully, we’ve also put together guides to the best thrillers on Netflix, the best thrillers on Amazon Prime Video, and the best horror movies on Netflix if you want to crank up the terror!
Recently added to Hulu
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Secret Window2004
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The Good Shepherd2006
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Dark Water2005
158m
Genre
Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Stars
Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer
Directed by
David Fincher
Who is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? Her name is Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), and she’s one of the most atypical heroines to emerge in the last two decades. When disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) needs a hacker who can cross moral lines, he recruits Lisbeth to help him solve the disappearance of Harriet Vanger decades earlier. What they discover is a trail of murders that leads directly back to the wealthy Vanger family. At the same time, Lisbeth ruthlessly strikes anyone in her way, both on the case and in her personal life. She is a force of nature and a wonder to behold.
96m
Genre
Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello
Directed by
David Koepp
The adaptation of Stephen King’s Secret Window takes a different approach to horror by leaving the supernatural behind. Instead, the threat comes from John Shooter (John Turturro), a very intimidating man who threatens a writer, Morton “Mort” Rainey (Johnny Depp), over allegations that Mort stole a short story from Shooter decades ago. Much to Mort’s dismay, there is some evidence that Shooter is right. But when Shooter escalates his campaign of terror against him, Mort realizes that he may be in serious danger from this unhinged lunatic. And soon after, the bodies start piling up.
167m
Genre
Drama, Thriller, History
Stars
Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin
Directed by
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro directed and co-starred in The Good Shepherd, a movie inspired by the true story behind the formation of the CIA. The film begins in 1939, as college student Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) is recruited into a secret society at Yale. Edward’s ability to keep a secret attracts the attention of FBI Agent Sam Murach (Alec Baldwin), who recruits him to spy on one of his professors. But General Bill Sullivan (De Niro) has bigger plans for Edward as the CIA starts to come together. Yet Edward has plenty of intrigue in his personal life, especially when dealing with his wife, Margaret “Clover” Russell (Angelina Jolie).
105m
Genre
Horror, Mystery
Stars
Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, Tim Roth
Directed by
Walter Salles
Dark Water doesn’t start out as a supernatural thriller, but that’s what it becomes when Dahlia Williams (Jennifer Connelly) and her daughter, Ceci (Ariel Gade), move into a rundown apartment. Despite fighting her ex-husband, Kyle Williams (Dougray Scott), for custody of Ceci, the real danger may be within their new home. As the apartment faucets are overrun by literal dark water, Ceci is befriended by what may be a vengeful ghost.
93m
Genre
Thriller, Horror, Comedy
Stars
Joe Keery, Sasheer Zamata, David Arquette
Directed by
Eugene Kotlyarenko
Stranger Things’ Joe Keery sheds his good-guy image in Spree when he takes on the role of Kurt Kunkle. Kurt is a rideshare driver who desperately wants to be internet famous and a social media superstar. But even the kid he once babysat for, Bobby BaseCamp (Josh Ovalle), has a bigger following than Kurt. So clearly the only solution for Kurt is to begin killing people, including Bobby, and livestream his crime spree as it happens. The one who got away is Jessie Adams (Sasheer Zamata), a comedian who is disgusted by Kurt’s social media ambitions. But with the cops on his trail, Kurt wants to ensure that Jessie will be among his victims.
127m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer
Directed by
Kenneth Branagh
Thanks to a certain cast member facing serious and disturbing accusations, Death on the Nile was severely under-promoted during its brief theatrical run earlier this year. Fortunately, this Agatha Christie adaptation is on Hulu and still well-worth watching even if the origin story of Poirot’s mustache plays a bit funnier than intended. Kenneth Branagh once again reprises his role as Hercule Poirot, a detective on vacation who is unwillingly drawn into the orbit of the heiress Linnet “Linny” Ridgeway-Doyle (Gal Gadot). Weeks ago, Linny was engaged to Linus Windlesham (Russell Brand), but now she’s married to Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer). Not only are all three on the same awkward journey in Egypt, but they’re also pursued by Simon’s vengeful ex-lover, Jacqueline “Jackie” de Bellefort (Emma Mackey). Despite Poirot’s best efforts, the bodies soon begin to drop.
104m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars
George Clooney, Violante Placido, Thekla Reuten
Directed by
Anton Corbijn
The American doesn’t shy away from giving the audience a chance to detest its leading man, George Clooney, when his character, Jack, murders his lover, Ingrid (Irina Björklund), very early in the film. You see, Jack is a contract killer, and Ingrid could have given up his identity during an attempt on his life. Growing ever more cautious, Jack retreats to a small town in Italy where he fashions a weapon for a fellow assassin named Mathilde (Thekla Reuten). Jack also feels regret for killing Ingrid and opens his heart to Clara, a woman who is blissfully unaware of his lethal calling. However, Jack’s enemies soon catch up with him, and his dream of creating a future with Clara is jeopardized.
102m
Genre
Drama, History, Thriller
Stars
Daniel Radcliffe, Daniel Webber, Ian Hart
Directed by
Francis Annan
Escape From Pretoria is based upon the true story of Tim Jenkin (Daniel Radcliffe) and Stephen Lee (Daniel Webber), two anti-apartheid activists who worked to bring down the racist South African regime. In 1979, Jenkin and Lee were captured and sentenced to Pretoria Prison, which made their escape very unlikely. The duo also met another political prisoner, Denis Goldberg (Ian Hart), who had already resigned himself to his fate. Regardless of the consequences, Jenkin and Lee decide to break out, and the film has some extremely gripping sequences as they try to put their plan into action.
98m
Genre
Thriller, Horror
Stars
Jules Willcox, Marc Menchaca, Anthony Heald
Directed by
John Hyams
There aren’t many characters in Alone, as it’s largely a contest of will and wits between Jessica Swanson (Jules Willcox) and The Man (Marc Menchaca), an enigmatic maniac who kidnaps her while she is mourning her husband. Jessica discovers that she has been taken to the wilderness and makes a daring escape. Whoever The Man is, he demands answers from Jessica about her husband’s death, and he relentlessly pursues her. Ultimately, Jessica must determine if she has the fortitude to save herself from his wrath.
82m
Genre
Horror, Science Fiction, Drama
Stars
Natalie Martinez, Matt Lauria, Christina Leone
Directed by
Daniel Stamm
Spending Valentine’s Day stuck on an elevator isn’t anybody’s idea of a good time. However, it seems to work out for Guy (Matt Lauria) and Jennifer (Natalie Martinez) in Down, a Hulu original movie. Both Guy and Jennifer are workers in a high rise who inadvertently become trapped over a long holiday weekend. At first, it seems like love is in the air and they appear to be natural romantic partners for each other. But all is not what it appears to be, and when the truth comes out, Guy and Jennifer will be at each other’s throats.
150m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Directed by
Guillermo del Toro
Moviegoers weren’t quite ready to return to theaters to see director Guillermo del Toro’s remake of Nightmare Alley. But streaming fans can catch it on Hulu and watch Bradley Cooper’s sublime performance as Stanton “Stan” Carlisle. After joining a carnival, Stan discovers that he is very talented at pretending to be a mind reader. And he’s an excellent con man. However, Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) is a con woman who makes Stan look like an amateur by comparison. She has very dangerous plans for Stan, and the stakes only get higher as they go after a powerful target.
91m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin
Directed by
Michael Sarnoski
Pig is collecting a ton of attention lately, by way of both bountiful media mentions and general word-of-mouth exchanges — and for plenty of good reasons. The film follows Rob (Nicholas Cage), a reclusive ex-chef living in the woods of Oregon. Now a truffle hunter, Rob scours the wilderness with his prized foraging pig. After a run-in with a gang of assailants, Rob’s pig is stolen. Connecting with a local contact (Alex Wolff), Rob follows the single lead he has to his swine’s whereabouts, plunging the self-proclaimed hermit into the seedy underbelly of Portland. An astonishing feature debut from writer-director Michael Sarnoski, Pig is a poignant film with an equally-poignant lead performance from Nicholas Cage, reminding us that the actor is capable of much more than camp.
117m
Genre
Drama, Crime, Documentary
Stars
Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner
Directed by
Bart Layton
American Animals is a crime docudrama that playfully bends the boundaries of the crime-thriller and documentary, delivering a memorable mashup of interwoven tropes and structure-styles. After Spencer Reinhard (Barry Keoghan) is given a tour of the Transylvania University library, the young man, with the assistance of three other friends, concocts a scheme to make out with some of the library’s most treasured and valuable art-prints. American Animals doesn’t spend its time trying to get us to root for the main ensemble or the heist they carry out. Instead, we’re treated to a nail-biter that merely wishes to remind us that not every planned-to-a-T endeavor can or should be carried out without myriad consequences.
103m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Owen Campbell, Charlie Tahan, Elizabeth Cappuccino
Directed by
Kevin Phillips
Zach (Owen Campbell) and Josh (Charlie Tahan) are teens and lifelong best friends that spend their days mulling around the open-air environs of upstate New York. One day, the duo joins up with a schoolmate named Daryl (Max Talisman) and his pal Charlie (Sawyer Barth). What begins as a seemingly innocent outing quickly turns tragic, leading Zach and Josh on a downward spiral, one buttressed by paranoia, distrust, and pain. Kevin Phillips brings auteur lensing to this independent feature debut, tackling a small story with big visuals.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
109m
Genre
Thriller, Horror, Drama
Stars
Katherine Heigl, Harry Connick Jr., Madison Iseman
Directed by
Castille Landon
One of the best types of thriller films is one where you can’t even trust the main character. Such is the case with writer-director Castille Landon’s Fear of Rain. Starring Madison Iseman as Rain Burroughs, a teenage girl diagnosed with schizophrenia, Rain begins experiencing a series of disturbing, so-called hallucinations. Fearing something is awry at her neighbor’s house, Rain’s parents don’t believe her. Recruiting the awkward new kid at school (Israel Broussard) to help her investigate, we soon discover that Rain’s horrific visions may be all too real. Fear of Rain is a stone’s throw away from movies like Disturbia and Rear Window, but strong performances and an intriguing narrative keep you invested throughout.
116m
Genre
Crime, Thriller, Drama
Stars
Jason Clarke, Nick Robinson, Daniel David Stewart
Directed by
Tiller Russell
Silk Road is based on all-too-disturbing true-life events. Ross Ulbricht (Nick Robinson) creates Silk Road, a Dark Web site that was the first of its kind. But when the hub becomes an illegal trading space for drug traffickers, DEA agent Rick Bowden (Jason Clarke) enters the fold. Bringing the powers of the DEA and U.S. Secret Service down on the platform, Bowden and his cohorts will do everything in their power to put an end to Ulbricht’s unforeseen empire. A sleek cyber-thriller, Silk Road combines great performances with a true-crime narrative that takes a few of its own liberties (some not so great) — but we still dig the end result.
97m
Genre
Thriller, History
Stars
Noomi Rapace, Joel Kinnaman, Chris Messina
Directed by
Yuval Adler
In the post-World War II suburbs of America, Romanian immigrant Maja (Noomi Rapace) lives with her husband and young son. Still plagued by visions of horrific war crimes committed against her, Maja’s seemingly tranquil surface level is deeply disturbed when she encounters a man walking her streets, a gentleman she recognizes as an ex-SS officer who attacked her years before. What follows is a spiraling story of despair, regret, and past lives resurfacing. While not reinventing the genre, The Secrets We Keep leans successfully on its central talents, particularly Rapace. A Hitchcock-inspired thriller for modern-day audiences, we found it more than fitting for inclusion.
98m
Genre
Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Stars
Noomi Rapace, Yvonne Strahovski, Luke Evans
Directed by
Kim Farrant
A remake of the 2008 French film Mark of an Angel, Angel of Mine stars Noomi Rapace as Lizzie, a grieving mother who lost her infant daughter in a tragic hospital fire … supposedly. Years later, Lizzie is raising her second child, Thomas (Finn Little), with her ex-husband, Mike (Luke Evans). When a chance encounter with a young girl at a birthday party leads Lizzie to believe the youth is actually her daughter, the distraught parent goes to extreme lengths to form a bond with the child — truly believing her to be the daughter she lost almost a decade before. A gripping domestic thriller from start to finish, Angel of Mine hits all the right dramatic beats, making for a satisfying (albeit slightly predictable) film.
88m
Genre
Thriller, Horror, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Angela Bettis, David Arquette, Chloe Farnworth
Directed by
Brea Grant
In 12 Hour Shift, Angela Bettis stars as Mandy, a nurse with a drug problem. To fuel her fixes, she and her co-worker, Karen (Nikea Gamby-Turner), have set up an operation to transport patient organs into the hands of black-market men. After bringing her cousin, Regina (Chloe Farnworth), onboard, a mixup with a kidney unfurls a chain of horrific events as Nicholas (Mick Foley), Mandy’s trafficker, demands the organs. Mandy and her team must turn to a deeper kind of diabolical deed to pay up, or risk their very lives if they fail. A powerful siege thriller with an incredible female ensemble, 12 Hour Shift will make you wonder exactly what’s going on behind the scenes at your local hospital or doctor’s office. Hopefully not anything on display in this film.
108m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Brian Landis Folkins, Wil Wheaton, Kathleen Brady
Directed by
Jon Stevenson
Rent-A-Pal stars Brian Landis Folkins as David, an ill-dressed loner looking for a companion of any kind. When the recluse comes into possession of a mysterious VHS tape “Rent-A-Pal,” the man takes to the charismatic host on the TV screen, a man named Andy (Wil Wheaton). As David takes to Andy’s onscreen company, the vicarious friendship quickly devolves into something more sinister. Led by incredible performances and an imaginative and poignant story, Rent-A-Pal shows no mercy, neither to its characters or its audience.
85m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Kate Lyn Sheil, Jane Adams, Kentucker Audley
Directed by
Amy Seimetz
Remember that party you went to where everyone thought they were going to die? Neither do we, but if Amy (Kate Lyn Sheil) from She Dies Tomorrow mentions her own impending death to you, you too will be consumed by her existential doom. Writer/director Amy Seimetz is back with this bizarre and heady feature in which an entire town comes to believe that each denizen will walk the plank to their grave … tomorrow. Funny, moody, and filled with homages to the dark world of David Lynch, She Dies Tomorrow gets a double thumbs-up from us.
107m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Elisabeth Moss, Odessa Young, Michael Stuhlbarg
Directed by
Josephine Decker
Free room and board is never a bad deal, that is unless your proprietors are a psychologically disturbed horror novelist and her domineering college professor husband. In Josephine Decker’s Shirley (an adaptation of the Susan Scarf Merrell novel of the same name) Elisabeth Moss plays the title role of Shirley Jackson, delivering a subtle but deeply disturbing portrait of the challenged author. Rose and Fred Nemser, the young couple that takes up residence at the Jackson home, are soon engulfed in a world of nightmarish proportions and strange sexual undertones. A mind-trip for sure, Shirley is all about the slow descent of all characters into Shirley’s personal hell. Misery loves company, they say.
90m
Genre
Thriller, Horror, Drama
Stars
Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen, Pat Healy
Directed by
Aneesh Chaganty
Sarah Paulson is having a moment — well, she’s always having a moment. The star actress is capping off the year with Run, an intense thriller originally set for theatrical release on Mother’s Day 2020, instead now exclusive to Hulu. Paulson stars as a mother who seems to be harboring a deep secret, as her isolated daughter Chloe is slowly discovering. Kiera Allen, who plays Chloe, matches Paulson scene for scene and advances the conversation about representation in film, as Allen is a wheelchair-bound actress. Run is the highlight of original movies that arrived to the streaming service in November.
133m
Genre
Comedy, Thriller, Drama
Stars
Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Lee Jung-eun, Jang Hye-jin
Directed by
Bong Joon-ho
Arguably the most talked-about movie of 2019, director Bong Joon-ho hit it out of the park with this black comedy thriller about a poor family in South Korea who, in an attempt to improve their dire straits, hatch a seemingly clever plan. They each recommend one another for a job working for a wealthy family when, in reality, not a single one of them is qualified to fill the position they get. Sweeping the Academy Awards with four Oscars, including two of the most coveted ones, Best Picture and Best Director, the film transcends language and culture and gets right to the heart of issues like social inequality and wealth disparity.
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