Thriller movies are always popular on Netflix, and of the various forms of thrillers available to watch on the streaming service, the crime thriller subgenre is among the most well-stocked. If you’re craving a compelling crime thriller on Netflix, you’ve got plenty of choices.
The options on Netflix currently range from movies that delve into the darkest corners of seedy criminal empires to shocking flicks that explore real-life crimes. If you’re in the mood for an engaging crime thriller movie, then the only question is which one to watch first?
To help answer that query, I’ve combed through the Netflix movie library and picked out five crime thrillers currently streaming on the popular platform that you won’t want to miss. Here are my top selections.
‘The Good Nurse’ (2022)
“The Good Nurse” teams up Oscar-winners Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain for a stomach-turning look at a real-life medical murder spree. The subject is Charles Cullen, a nurse who was convicted of the murder of 29 patients in his care, and Redmayne brings this deplorable figure to life in an appropriately chilling way.
“The Good Nurse” is a crime thriller that keeps you hooked, but it’s also one that will have you quietly furious at how long Cullen was able to slip through the net, avoiding detection to continue committing more crimes.
Amy Loughren (Chastain) is a night-shift nurse at Parkfield Memorial Hospital in New Jersey. When an experienced colleague, Charles Cullen (Redmayne), is hired to work alongside her, they quickly become friends. However, after several patients pass away in suspicious circumstances, Amy is forced to question Charles's part in these unexplained deaths. “The Good Nurse” is on the slower-paced side compared to many thrillers, but its two lead performances are reason enough to give it a watch.
Watch "The Good Nurse" on Netflix now
‘Woman of the Hour’ (2023)
Another crime thriller based on a real-life serial killer, “Woman of the Hour” marks the directorial debut of Anna Kendrick, and the true story that forms the core of this Netflix original is so outlandish that you might think it’s the stuff of fiction.
Most intriguingly, while “Woman of the Hour” features several scenes of shocking violence against women, Kendrick makes the surprising choice to sprinkle in just a dash of dark comedy, which oddly works very well.
Set in 1970s Los Angeles, Cheryl Bradshaw (Kendrick) is an aspiring actress who reluctantly agrees to go on the matchmaking show "The Dating Game" at the behest of her agent. The plan is to raise her profile and maybe score a date with a cute guy in the process. But during the episode taping, she comes face-to-face with a psychopathic killer, Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), who has murdered multiple women already. Rodney’s decision to appear on live television during his spree earned him the name “The Dating Game Killer” when he was eventually caught.
Watch "Woman of the Hour" on Netflix now
‘The Departed’ (2006)
“The Departed” should need no introduction. This Martin Scorsese movie is the perfect crime thriller pick if you’re looking for a really dense watch. It might clock in at around two and a half hours, but there are so many twists and turns that it almost feels like binge-watching a complete TV show in a single satisfying experience. And if that elevator pitch doesn’t sell you, it also won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
“The Departed” is a cop-and-robbers tale, focused on the conflict between the South Boston police and an Irish-American crime syndicate. To get the upper hand, rookie cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes undercover to get closer to gang leader Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson).
At the same time, a young criminal (Matt Damon) has infiltrated the police unit and is passing information over to Costello. To protect their true allegiance, these two men must discover the other’s identity before they can be unmasked themselves. With one of the most memorable endings in cinema, “The Departed” is a crime thriller masterwork.
Watch "The Departed" on Netflix now
‘Wind River’ (2017)
A year before creating the enduringly popular “Yellowstone" and its numerous ongoing spin-offs, Taylor Sheridan helmed a taunt and tense crime thriller with a neo-Western spin. Exploring the modern American West and shedding light on the plight of Indigenous women, “Wind River” brings together Marvel veterans Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen for a film rich in mystery and murder. It’s not only a gripping watch but also boasts some stunning shots of Wyoming.
Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) is a Wildlife Service agent who discovers the frozen body of an 18-year-old on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Leading the investigation is the FBI’s Jane Banner (Olsen), with Lambert acting as a guide. However, as the duo start poking around and asking questions of the locals, it becomes clear that their own lives are in danger as somebody doesn’t want the mystery of the teen’s death to be solved.
Watch "Wind River" on Netflix now
‘The Guilty’ (2021)
“The Guilty” is a great Netflix pick when you need a lean but compelling crime thriller. Clocking in at just 90 minutes, it doesn’t stick around longer than necessary and boasts one of Jake Gyllenhaal’s most underrated performances.
It’s actually a remake of a Danish movie of the same name, but this is no lazy rehash and packs the same strengths as its inspiration. “The Guilty” comes from director Antoine Fuqua, the filmmaker behind “Training Day” and “The Equalizer” trilogy, so you know it’s got plenty of pedigree in the thriller genre.
Joe Baylor (Gyllenhaal) is a 911 dispatcher awaiting a court hearing following an on-duty incident several months prior. Picking up a call from a woman named Emily (Riley Keough), he finds himself thrown into a dangerous situation with multiple lives at stake. This tense situation forces Joe to face his fears and the consequences of his actions.
Watch "The Gulity" on Netflix now
More from Tom's Guide
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- The best Netflix original movies you (probably) haven't seen
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