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Paramount+ may not be the first streaming service that comes to mind when compared with Netflix or Prime Video, yet it actually offers a surprisingly strong selection of thriller shows.
For fans of suspense and mystery, the platform is worth exploring, with everything from gripping apocalyptic tales to psychological thrillers packed with shocking twists.
Article continues below‘Yellowjackets’ (2021)
I’ll admit I was slow to jump on the “Yellowjackets” bandwagon, and I didn’t expect to get hooked the way I did. After powering through the seasons in just a few days, it quickly claimed a spot in my top five favorite thriller shows. Beyond that, it’s simply fantastic TV with an incredible ensemble cast, intense drama, and darkly funny moments. As a mystery, I won’t spoil any of the twists in either timeline, but I can easily see why newcomers might find this a truly killer show.
“Yellowjackets” follows a high school girls’ soccer team whose plane crashes deep in the Canadian wilderness while traveling to a national tournament in 1996. Stranded far from help, the survivors must endure brutal conditions for months as they struggle to stay alive. Decades later, the women who made it back are now adults dealing with the long‑shadowed repercussions of what happened during their time in the wild. Through interwoven past and present timelines, the series reveals how their lives were shaped by the choices they made in those wilderness months.
Stream on Paramount+
‘Dexter’ (2006)
Even though “Dexter” premiered in 2006, the early seasons still feel just as compelling. From the unexpected twists to the morally complex main character, there’s plenty to sink into as the story unfolds. The show also includes elements of crime drama, psychological thriller, dark comedy, mystery, and horror elements, all fitting the protagonist’s mindset. Over its run, “Dexter” earned four Emmy Awards, alongside 24 Primetime Emmy nominations and 10 Golden Globe nods, and was also recognized multiple times at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
“Dexter” centers on Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a forensic blood‑spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who secretly leads a hidden life as a serial killer targeting other murderers who have avoided justice. By day, he assists homicide investigations; by night, he plans and executes killings, covering his tracks to avoid detection. As he balances these two lives, Dexter manages relationships with colleagues and loved ones while grappling with the consequences of his secret actions.
Stream on Paramount+
‘Evil’ (2019)
If you like your dark thrillers tinged with horror, “Evil” should be on your watchlist. This series offers plenty of dark humor, but it never loses sight of how thrilling it is to be scared and how ridiculous our fears can get. At times, it’s genuinely unsettling since the show’s visuals of alleged possessions, fevered hallucinations, and possibly demonic events are intense and not for the faint-hearted. But if you had to sum it up in one line, it’s like “The Exorcist” meets an “X-Files”-style procedural.
“Evil” follows Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers), a skeptical forensic psychologist who is recruited by the Catholic Church to assess a backlog of unexplained cases. She teams up with David Acosta (Mike Colter), a seminarian in training, and Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi), a technology contractor, to look into alleged miracles, supposed demonic possessions, hauntings, and other extraordinary events. Together, they investigate whether there’s a scientific explanation for these incidents or something truly mysterious at play.
Stream on Paramount+
‘Coldwater’ (2025)
“The Walking Dead” star Andrew Lincoln makes his return to British TV after many years focusing on U.S. projects. He stars in and produces “Coldwater,” an intense psychological thriller that’s easy to binge in a single sitting. This is a gripping, cleverly crafted thriller that keeps delivering unexpected turns in its deadly storyline. With its compelling characters and tense story, it’s easy to get caught up in the chilling swirl of murder and chaos.
“Coldwater” follows John (Lincoln), a stay‑at‑home dad who, after freezing during a violent incident in London, moves his wife and children to the remote Scottish village of Coldwater seeking a fresh start. Soon after arriving, he befriends his confident, charismatic neighbor Tommy, despite his wife Fiona’s immediate mistrust. As odd and unsettling events begin to unfold around them, John starts to question who Tommy really is and what secrets the quiet community may be hiding.
Stream on Paramount+
‘The Stand’ (2020)
It only feels fitting to round out this list with a Stephen King adaptation, and one that is surprisingly underrated. “The Stand” is a post‑apocalyptic TV miniseries that unfolds in a gripping style, preserving the vivid, quintessentially King feel of the characters while ramping up tension whenever it chooses. The source material itself has its limitations, but it still manages to hold your attention. It’s fundamentally a story about humanity, with a pandemic woven through it, and as with real life, it’s the small flaws and imperfections that make the characters so relatable.
“The Stand” follows the aftermath of a catastrophic global pandemic caused by a lethal strain of influenza accidentally released from a military research facility. The virus wipes out most of the world’s population, leaving a small group of survivors who begin to regroup and search for others. Among them are a diverse set of characters, including Stu Redman (James Marsden), Frannie Goldsmith (Odessa Young), and Harold Lauder (Owen Teague). As they travel through a devastated landscape, they encounter both hope and danger.
Stream on Paramount+
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