40 Best Thriller Movies on Netflix UK

40 Best Thriller Movies on Netflix UK

November 22, 2024

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From the country that gave us classic characters like Sherlock Holmes and James Bond also comes a tradition of noir, crime films, and suspense movies that are frequently referred to collectively as thrillers. In the UK—and on Netflix UK, in particular, these films have taken on every form, from hardboiled police procedurals to spy movies and working class social thrillers. But common to most, if not all, of them is a sense of danger or dread, and a certain level of deception or craftiness so the heroes can get what they need. These lesser-known but highly rated thrillers available on Netflix UK should give you that and more.

31. Emilia Pérez (2024)

7.5

Country

Belgium, France, United States of America

Director

Jacques Audiard

Actors

Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez, Karla Sofía Gascón, Mark Ivanir

Moods

A-list actors, Action-packed, Dramatic

The journey of transitioning can be tough, but it’s not likely to be as wild as the journey undertaken by the titular rich mob boss of the crime thriller romance musical Emilia Pérez. It’s pretty surprising, with the incredibly stylish and totally unpredictable ways the plot unfolds, all made possible by the ridiculous all-or-nothing methods and means of a Mexican mob, and it’s a delight to see Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez feel at home in their respective Spanish-speaking roles. There are certain moments where the film bites off more than it can chew, but the visuals are stunning, the story is daring, and there’s really nothing like Emilia Pérez right now.

32. Eye in the Sky (2015)

7.4

Country

d, UK, United Kingdom

Director

Gavin Hood

Actors

Aaron Paul, Aisha Takow, Alan Rickman, Armaan Haggio

Moods

A-list actors, Thought-provoking, Well-acted

Is an innocent child’s life worth millions of other civilian casualties? In a modern-day drone warfare led by Colonel Katherine Powell, played by the very versatile Helen Mirren, she is conflicted to order the target of the Somali terrorist organization when she spots Alia, a young girl who just happens to be selling bread within the premises of the Kill Zone. Her icy exterior, however, is a far cry from Lieutenant General Frank Benson’s profound sympathy, the portrayal of the late Alan Rickman in his last onscreen role being one of his most remarkable ones to date. Eye in the Sky is a thriller that will have you questioning your morals while gripping your seats in what appears to be a battle of the best choice and the only one. Do the ends always justify the means?

33. Hereditary (2018)

7.4

Country

United States of America

Director

Ari Aster

Actors

Alex Wolff, Alexis Long, Ann Dowd, Ari Aster

Moods

Intense, Thrilling

A chilling and dark movie to be especially appreciated by true suspense lovers. At the funeral of the family’s matriarch, no one is emotional except the granddaughter, whose grieving is disturbing, to say the least. When both grieving and not grieving are unsettling, you can tell what kind of family (and movie) this will be.

34. Talk to Me (2023)

7.4

Country

Australia, United Kingdom

Director

Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou

Actors

Alexandra Jensen, Alexandria Steffensen, Ari McCarthy, Cass Cumerford

Moods

Dark, Gripping, Original

The directorial debut of Australian twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou—more popularly known together as the YouTube creators RackaRacka—Talk to Me finds a surprisingly unique way of exploring themes that contemporary horror films have made commonplace. At its heart this is still a movie about one’s inability to come to terms with loss, but the emotions that come with this experience are filtered through suburban ennui and the numbing effect that social media has on depictions of tragedy. It’s in this specific milieu where Mia (a terrific Sophie Wilde) feels compelled to act irresponsibly and continue inviting a malevolent presence into her life. Her feelings are real, but because her peers and the adults around her aren’t the best at being vulnerable, Mia begins to underestimate how destructive her grief really is.

Talk to Me only grows more despairing the longer it goes. But impressively, the film doesn’t rely on the usual jump scares and excesses that would normally make a YouTube horror short go viral. The situations escalate organically (if you can suspend a little disbelief for the moments when the characters simply watch terrible things happen) and as the supernatural forces haunting these teenagers get stronger, so do Mia’s isolation and her desperation to make up for her mistakes. It’s bleak stuff, but sharp direction and great performances (especially from Wilde and young Joe Bird) make this a particularly exciting vision of horror.

35. The Bank Job (2008)

7.3

Country

Australia, UK, United Kingdom

Director

Roger Donaldson

Actors

Alistair Petrie, Alki David, Andrew Brooke, Angus Wright

Moods

Suspenseful, Well-acted

A thrilling and fun film about a British working class bunch who find themselves in confrontation with the rich and powerful. This happens when their once-in -a-lifetime job lands them not on ly the expected money and jewelry, but documents with big secrets. The phrase “the good version of Jason Statham” applies not only to the actor but to the whole film – as it is enjoyable like all similar heist movies but adds that sadly forgotten thing called character. If you liked The Italian Job, The Town, or even films like Argo; you will love The Bank Job.

36. Kilo Two Bravo (2014)

7.3

Country

UK, United Kingdom

Director

Paul Katis

Actors

Ali Cook, Andy Gibbins, Benjamin O'Mahony, Bryan Parry

Moods

Raw, Suspenseful, Thrilling

Kilo Two Bravo (Originally named Kajaki) is a must-watch for anyone who likes war dramas. It tells the true story of British soldiers in the Afghanistan war who find themselves trapped in a minefield during a mission, with their rescue team coming in a helicopter that might set off mines if it lands. It’s a slow, dialogue driven film that is interested in taking you to the war zone more than it cares about entertaining you. Ultimately, it becomes an essay on the horrors of war, and an anti-war war film. Because of this and given the blood and gore, this movie is definitely not for those who would feel nauseated at sight of blood. Great setting, good cinematography, realistic acting and script all do justice to the true story. It’s a film that will grip your senses and keep you at the edge of the seat throughout.

37. The Endless Trench (2019)

7.3

Country

Canada, France, Spain

Director

Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño

Actors

Aitor Arregi, Antonio de la Torre, Antonio Romero, Belén Cuesta

Moods

Challenging, Character-driven

This historical drama opens with one of the most thrilling chase scenes in recent memory, as Higinio Blanco, the man at the center of the story, escapes government forces during the Spanish Civil War.

He goes into hiding that, without him realizing, would last 33 years. He would only emerge in a government amnesty in 1969, as would many like him across Spain.

Themes of love (Higinio was confined with his newlywed wife), solitude and fear are at the center of a story that remains thrilling even when it goes through the isolation years.

38. The Conference (2023)

7.3

Country

Sweden

Director

Patrik Eklund

Actors

Adam Lundgren, Amed Bozan, Bahar Pars, Cecilia Nilsson

Moods

Action-packed, Easy, Funny

Familiarity breeds contempt, and Swedish Netflix’s new horror-comedy takes this idea to the extreme. Based on the novel by Mats Strandberg, who’s known as the Swedish Stephen King, The Conference is centered around a group of employees on their company retreat. With its ensemble, the film crafts a relatable dynamic, with the exact petty back-and-forth and the same exact corporate politics many adults have to deal with. It’s no wonder one of them snaps, and takes them out one by one. The film isn’t exactly new, with the decades’ collection of slashers all over the world, but this Swedish thriller is a fun take on it, with match cut transitions, quick paced sequences, and the gruesome murders of the group most adults spend time with – their colleagues. It’s an interesting watch as the world gets back to the office.

39. Fan Girl (2020)

7.3

Country

Philippines, United States of America

Director

Antoinette Jadaone, Female director

Actors

Bea Alonzo, Camille Penaverde, Charlie Dizon, Gie Onida

Moods

A-list actors, Challenging, Dark

In the years since Fan Girl’s original release in the Philippines, its ultimate message and execution has become polarizing: is it enough that the film shows the corruption of a parasocial relationship into an abusive one, without offering much hope? Is its vision of justice actually constructive or disappointingly limited? No matter where you fall, it’s exciting that a movie can stir up these kinds of questions through a bizarre dynamic between characters, in a place that’s clearly set somewhere between reality and delusion. The narrative is circular and frustrating for a reason—a constant push and pull as the titular fan girl keeps getting drawn back into the celebrity’s orbit—and the film only grows more disturbing with each repetition.

40. It’s What’s Inside (2024)

7.3

Country

United States of America

Director

Greg Jardin

Actors

Alycia Debnam-Carey, Brittany O'Grady, Dana Millican, David Thompson

It’s What Inside can seem like another obnoxious movie about adults acting like teens, edited with enough neon glare and social media cuts to make it palatable to a younger crowd. But the horror comedy is more than just streaming fodder; it’s fun, funny, and clever, unfolding like a game night gone terribly wrong. There are romantic entanglements, identity crises, steamy role play, and welcome jabs at our generation’s increasing tendency to replace personality with social media presence. Its critique may not be as sharp as other horror comedies that have come before it (most recently, Bodies Bodies Bodies and The Blackening), so it can feel a bit dated. But it’s still an enjoyable watch, one best seen with friends who you haven’t seen in a long while and who have maybe, once or twice, made you feel painfully, irrationally, (murderously?) jealous.

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