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Netflix is constantly adding movies to its already sizeable library. For thriller fans like myself, whenever there’s a wave of new additions, the first thing I look out for is exciting, tense and gripping watches. Fortunately, new (and classic) thrillers arrive on the streaming service at a very good clip.
If you’re also eager to find the latest thriller movies on Netflix, I can help. I’ve combed through Netflix’s May 2026 slate and picked out three worthwhile picks that you can enjoy over the next week. These range from a Gerard Butler “cops vs. robbers” fan-favorite, an influential “buddy cop” movie that marked Eddie Murphy’s debut, and a particularly dark option.
Best Netflix thriller movies to watch this week
‘Den of Thieves’ (2018)
“Den of Thieves” is an action-thriller that explores a classic crime movie premise: cops vs. robbers. The 2018 movie stars Gerard Butler, Pablo Schreiber, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. It was no critical darling, but “Den of Thieves” found success with viewers and did well enough to get a sequel, “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” which is also currently on Netflix. With both now on the platform, they make for a great double bill.
Butler plays Detective Nick O’Brien, an LA County sheriff, who leads an elite group of deputies in a mission to stop a notorious crew of expert thieves. The robbers’ target is the Federal Reserve Bank, and the cops will stop at nothing to prevent their planned heist. This crime thriller feels a little old school in its construction and is, for the most part, good fun.
Watch "Den of Thieves" on Netflix now
‘48 Hrs.’ (1982)
“48 Hrs.” doesn’t have the enduring name recognition of some of its contemporaries, but it’s often credited with launching the “buddy cop” comedy. Some of the genre's biggest names, such as “Bad Boys” and “Lethal Weapon,” owe a debt to this 1980s action-comedy thriller starring Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte. And this movie also marked Murphy’s first ever film appearance, so there’s quite a bit of movie history packed into this influential blockbuster.
Jack Cates (Nolte) is a no-nonsense cop trying to track down members of the Ganz criminal gang after two of Cates’ colleagues are murdered. To assist in this effort, he enlists the help of Reggie Hammond (Murphy), a former gang member, now serving a prison sentence. Per the rules of the “buddy cop” genre, these two have wildly different personalities and start at odds before developing a strong bond. The perfect chemistry between Murphy and Nolte is the movie's biggest selling point.
Watch "48 Hrs." on Netflix now
‘Nope’ (2022)
Jordan Peele, director of “Get Out,” has a sharp eye for horror. While “Nope” is definitely not a movie for the easily frightened, it has enough exciting elements to also crossover into the dark thriller territory, so I’m considering it fair game for this roundup. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you, as there are some truly unnerving moments in this movie, including a chilling flashback that revolves around a chimpanzee going on a rampage on a family sitcom set.
Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun and Keith David, “Nope” is a sci-fi horror-thriller that centers on a brother and sister, Otis Jr. (Kaluuya) and Emerald (Palmer), who own a struggling California ranch. When they observe a strange object in the sky, they are determined to capture proof of what they think is a UFO. Meanwhile, a former child star turned theme park owner (Yeun) looks to profit from this mysterious phenomenon.
Watch "Nope" on Netflix from May 18
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