Every week, I comb through the recent additions to Netflix’s movie library to find the latest (and greatest) thriller flicks added to the streaming service. Subscribers are in luck this week because Netflix just added a trio of truly fantastic thrillers that any dedicated genre fan really must watch.
That’s no hyperbole. As part of its August 2026 slate, Netflix is adding two 2010s thrillers that I rank among the best of the decade, packing career-highlight performances from Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain. And that’s before turning attention to a 1994 classic starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock about a Los Angeles bus rigged to explode if it slows down.
If you want to add some thrills to your Netflix watchlist this week, you’re spoilt for choice. Here are the best thriller movies just added to Netflix.
3 new to Netflix thrillers to watch this week
'Nightcrawler' (2014)
![Nightcrawler | Official Trailer [HD] | Open Road Films - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VPDErRzsl-0/maxresdefault.jpg)
“Nightcrawler” manages to be both thrilling and thought-provoking. It explores our society's desire for salacious coverage of grisly events in a way that is clever and chilling. It works largely because of a personal best performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, and the strong writing and direction from Dan Gilroy further elevate this neo-noir thriller to modern great status. It’s very dark with a dislikeable lead character, but it’s enthralling.
Lou Bloom (Gyllenhaal) is a petty thief who turns to freelance photojournalism to make money. His method is simple, but extremely morally questionable. He arrives on the scene of recent violent crimes or tragic accidents, records footage of the aftermath, and then sells it to a local news network. The more disturbing the footage, the higher the price paid. As Lou strives for increasingly macabre videos, he crosses ethical lines, but he sees it as simply fulfilling consumer demand.
Stream "Nightcrawler" on Netflix now
'Speed' (1994)
“Speed” is a hugely entertaining action-thriller that lives up to its name. This fast-paced watch keeps the momentum high, rarely pausing for breath or giving viewers any time to reflect on the ludicrous nature of its central premise. And how’s this for a fantastic very '90s pairing: it stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, with Dennis Hopper in support as a sinister villain. Just ignore the sequel; “Speed 2: Cruise Control” is garbage.
Jack Traven (Reeves) is an LA cop who successfully prevents a criminal from bombing an elevator, saving the lives of 13 people. However, the bomber isn’t finished with his reign of terror. He switches targets to an innercity bus. Planting a new explosive device, he informs Jack that if the bus drops below 50 mph, it will detonate. Now Jack has to defuse the situation with the help of a plucky passenger, Annie Porter (Bullock).
Stream "Speed" on Netflix now
'Zero Dark Thirty' (2012)
Kathryn Bigelow is one of the best filmmakers working in Hollywood at capturing the intensity and political turmoil of modern conflict. From 2008’s Best Picture-winning “The Hurt Locker” to last year’s Netflix original “A House of Dynamite,” Bigelow knows her stuff. If any more proof was needed, in steps “Zero Dark Thirty,” a knotty action-thriller that is more about deep-rooted obsession than it is about exploring the experience of the boots-on-the-ground soldiers.
Jessica Chastain gives a top-tier performance as Maya, a CIA intelligence analyst who is consumed by a singular goal: Finding Osama bin Laden. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the U.S. military forces are determined to capture (and eliminate) the terrorist leader, and Maya leads the charge, regardless of the personal cost; her drive is unwavering. It all culminates in a tense SEAL operation on bin Laden’s secret compound.
Stream "Zero Dark Thirty" on Netflix now
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