Netflix subscribers love thriller movies. Almost every time the streaming service adds a thriller to its library, it’s only a matter of time before the newcomer finds its way into the platform’s top 10 most-watched list. It doesn’t even seem to matter if the thriller movie in question is brand new or an older favorite that is enjoying a second turn in the spotlight.
Naturally, Netflix is always keen to satisfy its subscriber base’s hunger for thrillers, so it drops a steady stream of them regularly, and this month is proving no exception. In October 2025, a strong stable of new thrillers has arrived on the world’s biggest streaming service, and I’ve combed through the new additions to bring you a trio of must-watch thrillers on Netflix now.
These range from a brutal revenge story that sees an everyday citizen taking justice into his own hands to a fantasy-enfused tale that explores twisting family dynamics. If you’re looking to add some excitement to your Netflix watchlist this week, here are three thriller movies worth watching now.
Netflix thriller movies worth watching this week
‘Law Abiding Citizen’ (2009)
To this day, I can’t quite understand how “Law Abiding Citizen” only managed a poor 26% on Rotten Tomatoes. This gripping revenge thriller deserves a much higher score, and clearly, I’m not alone in this opinion, as its viewers’ rating is much higher at 75% (which feels about right, in my opinion). I guess the movie’s nihilistic streak didn’t sit well with some critics. This Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler thriller is driven by intense violence and vigilantism, but even after multiple rewatches, I still find myself drawn into its tragic tale.
Clyde Shelton (Butler) is an everyday man whose happy home life is shattered when his wife and young daughter are murdered in a brutal home invasion. When one of the immoral criminals responsible for these unthinkable murders is given a lesser jail sentence as part of a plea deal, Clyde takes justice into his own hands. Determined to bring down what he sees as a corrupt system, he targets not just the criminals but the authorities involved in botched prosecution, including ambitious attorney Nick Rice (Foxx). “Law Abiding Citizen” is extremely bleak but very watchable.
Watch "Law Abiding Citizen" on Netflix now
‘Red Dragon’ (2002)
Following up a masterpiece like “The Silence of the Lambs” proved too great a task for the stodgy “Hannibal” in 2002, but just a year later, viewers were treated to a much-improved prequel. Based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, “Red Dragon” jumps back in the timeline to explore the infamous serial killer Hannibal Lecter’s capture and his first time working with the FBI in a “quid pro quo” agreement.
Yes, its narrative beats are very similar to “Lambs” but with Anthony Hopkins in the role as Lecter, and Edward Norton as the lead FBI agent, it’s far from a tacky retread.
After a traumatizing encounter with the brilliant but psychotic Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins), FBI agent Will Graham (Norton) retires from active duty. However, when a new killer, nicknamed the Tooth Fairy, begins a reign of terror, picking victims seemingly at random, Graham is drawn back into a dark world of murder. To catch this ruthless killer, he’s forced to seek help from a now-incarcerated Lecter, but getting his assistance means opening up to this genius cannibal. “Red Dragon” may not quite reach the same level as “The Silence of the Lambs,” but it’s the closest this franchise has ever come to recapturing the magic of the original.
Watch "Red Dragon" on Netflix now
‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ (2018)
Based on the final novel by American author Shirley Jackson, the novelist behind “The Haunting of Hill House” (itself turned into an acclaimed Netflix series), “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” is a gothic descent into nightmare that fuses classic thriller tropes with surreal fantasy. It’s a surprisingly effective mixture. This 2018 adaptation of the celebrated novel is one of the most overlooked thrillers on Netflix right now. Plus, it’s got some star power, featuring Alexandra Daddario, Crispin Glover and Sebastian Stan.
Sisters Merricat (Taissa Farmiga) and Constance (Daddario) live in isolation on their family estate with only each other and their ailing uncle Julian (Glover) for company. Reviled by the local villagers following a family tragedy six years earlier, the sister’s reclusive existence is threatened when cousin Charles (Stan) arrives on the scene, with eyes on the family’s hidden fortune. His arrival creates near-instant chaos and sheds light on dark secrets. "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" is a particularly well-timed arrival as it makes for a great Halloween watch, even if it's not a full-blown horror; it's still spooky.
Watch "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" on Netflix now
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