The best thrillers on Hulu right now

By Michael Bizzaco , Christine Persaud and Blair Marnell June 13, 2023

With so many new movies coming to Hulu all the time, you’re bound to find a worthwhile thriller or two in the mix. From horrors to psychologically twisted stories, dramas, and more, thrillers come in all types. But they all have one thing in common: they are dark, twisted, and sometimes even gravitate to disturbing.

If you’re in the mood for a good thriller, the best thrillers on Hulu right now include a diverse mix of titles. For those signing up as new customers for Hulu, be sure to give the Disney Bundle a look — it’ll get you Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ for just $14 a month. That way, you’ll get thrillers and more from Hulu plus tons of other great content.

Hulu isn’t the only streaming platform around. We’ve also put together guides to the best thrillers on Netflix, the best thrillers on Amazon Prime Video, and the best horror movies on Netflix if you want to crank up the terror!

Recently added to Hulu

One Hour Photo
2002
Girl in the Basement
2021
Clock
2023
Fresh
2022

One Hour Photo (2002)

96m

Genre

Drama, Thriller

Stars

Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan

Directed by

Mark Romanek

The late Robin Williams stars in this psychological thriller from the early 2000s. While the plotline of One Hour Photo might be dated by now (does anyone really develop film from a camera in a shop anymore?) the premise is still as topical today as it was more than two decades ago.

He is Seymour, a photo technician who works in the photo lab of a big-box store and becomes obsessed with a family whose photos he has been developing over the years. The shy, lonely, socially awkward man tries unsuccessfully to become friends with the family. When opportunity strikes, however, and Seymour learns a secret, his obsession takes a twisted, dangerous turn. Williams is brilliant in the role, which remains one of his most iconic non-comedic performances.

Girl in the Basement (2021)

Girl in the Basement

88m

Genre

Crime, Thriller, TV Movie

Stars

Judd Nelson, Stefanie Scott, Joely Fisher

Directed by

Elisabeth Röhm

This Lifetime movie is terrifyingly inspired by the real-life case of Josef Fritzl from Austria and his teenage daughter Elisabeth. In Girl in the Basement, the young girl is Sara (Stefanie Scott) a teen with so much potential who is excited for the arrival of her 18^th birthday. She’s anxious for the day to come because finally, as a legal adult, she can escape the clutches of her controlling father Don (Judd Nelson).

However, before Sara can leave, her father does the unthinkable: he kidnaps her, keeping her imprisoned in the basement over what would eventually become a period of 24 harrowing years. Through that time, he rapes and assaults her, resulting in the birth of seven children. While Girl in the Basement is a dramatization of this disturbing true story, knowing the real story behind it makes the movie even more haunting.

Clock (2023)

92m

Genre

Horror, Thriller

Stars

Dianna Agron, Melora Hardin, Jay Ali

Directed by

Alexis Jacknow

Dianna Agron (Glee) stars as Ella in this sci-fi horror thriller with a premise that’s all-too-familiar for Millennial women nowadays. Ella is a 37-year-old woman who, despite being constantly pressured by friends and family members to start a family, has no interest in having children. But her journey to living life how she wants eventually takes a twisted, horrifying turn.

When Ella secretly undergoes an experimental treatment to help speed up her biological clock, she starts seeing and doing things she can’t quite control and doesn’t quite understand.

Fresh (2022)

114m

Genre

Horror, Thriller, Comedy

Stars

Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jojo T. Gibbs

Directed by

Mimi Cave

After repeated frustration with dating apps, Noa (Where the Crawdads Sing‘s Daisy Edgar-Jones) decides to pursue things the old-fashioned way when she has a chance meeting with a striking man at the grocery store. Steve (Sebastian Stan) at first appears to be the perfect gentleman, sweeping Noa off her feet. So, she’s not hesitant at all to jump right into his invitation to spend a romantic weekend away.

But upon arrival, Noa discovers that Steve is hiding a dark, ominous secret. Her life is in serious danger and she’s in for a sick and twisted ride. Fresh is described as both upsetting and provocative but also widely praised for putting a modern spin on the traditional horror genre.

Spree (2020)

42%

5.9/10

93m

Genre

Thriller, Horror, Comedy

Stars

Joe Keery, Sasheer Zamata, David Arquette

Directed by

Eugene Kotlyarenko

Stranger Things’ Joe Keery sheds his good-guy image in Spree when he takes on the role of Kurt Kunkle. Kurt is a rideshare driver who desperately wants to be internet famous and a social media superstar. But even the kid he once babysat for, Bobby BaseCamp (Josh Ovalle), has a bigger following than Kurt. So clearly the only solution for Kurt is to begin killing people, including Bobby, and livestream his crime spree as it happens. The one who got away is Jessie Adams (Sasheer Zamata), a comedian who is disgusted by Kurt’s social media ambitions. But with the cops on his trail, Kurt wants to ensure that Jessie will be among his victims.

SPREE Official Trailer (2020) Joe Keery, Thriller Movie HD

Death on the Nile (2022)

Death on the Nile

52%

6.3/10

pg-13

127m

Genre

Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Stars

Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer

Directed by

Kenneth Branagh

Thanks to a certain cast member facing serious and disturbing accusations, Death on the Nile was severely under-promoted during its brief theatrical run earlier this year. Fortunately, this Agatha Christie adaptation is on Hulu and still well-worth watching even if the origin story of Poirot’s mustache plays a bit funnier than intended. Kenneth Branagh once again reprises his role as Hercule Poirot, a detective on vacation who is unwillingly drawn into the orbit of the heiress Linnet “Linny” Ridgeway-Doyle (Gal Gadot). Weeks ago, Linny was engaged to Linus Windlesham (Russell Brand), but now she’s married to Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer). Not only are all three on the same awkward journey in Egypt, but they’re also pursued by Simon’s vengeful ex-lover, Jacqueline “Jackie” de Bellefort (Emma Mackey). Despite Poirot’s best efforts, the bodies soon begin to drop.

Official Trailer | Death on the Nile | 20th Century Studios

Escape from Pretoria (2020)

Escape from Pretoria

56%

6.8/10

pg-13

102m

Genre

Drama, History, Thriller

Stars

Daniel Radcliffe, Daniel Webber, Ian Hart

Directed by

Francis Annan

Escape From Pretoria is based upon the true story of Tim Jenkin (Daniel Radcliffe) and Stephen Lee (Daniel Webber), two anti-apartheid activists who worked to bring down the racist South African regime. In 1979, Jenkin and Lee were captured and sentenced to Pretoria Prison, which made their escape very unlikely. The duo also met another political prisoner, Denis Goldberg (Ian Hart), who had already resigned himself to his fate. Regardless of the consequences, Jenkin and Lee decide to break out, and the film has some extremely gripping sequences as they try to put their plan into action.

ESCAPE FROM PRETORIA - Official Trailer

Alone (2020)

70%

6.2/10

r

98m

Genre

Thriller, Horror

Stars

Jules Willcox, Marc Menchaca, Anthony Heald

Directed by

John Hyams

There aren’t many characters in Alone, as it’s largely a contest of will and wits between Jessica Swanson (Jules Willcox) and The Man (Marc Menchaca), an enigmatic maniac who kidnaps her while she is mourning her husband. Jessica discovers that she has been taken to the wilderness and makes a daring escape. Whoever The Man is, he demands answers from Jessica about her husband’s death, and he relentlessly pursues her. Ultimately, Jessica must determine if she has the fortitude to save herself from his wrath.

ALONE Official Trailer (2020) Survival Horror Movie

Down (2019)

82m

Genre

Horror, Science Fiction, Drama

Stars

Natalie Martinez, Matt Lauria, Christina Leone

Directed by

Daniel Stamm

Spending Valentine’s Day stuck on an elevator isn’t anybody’s idea of a good time. However, it seems to work out for Guy (Matt Lauria) and Jennifer (Natalie Martinez) in Down, a Hulu original movie. Both Guy and Jennifer are workers in a high rise who inadvertently become trapped over a long holiday weekend. At first, it seems like love is in the air and they appear to be natural romantic partners for each other. But all is not what it appears to be, and when the truth comes out, Guy and Jennifer will be at each other’s throats.

Into the Dark: Down Trailer (Official) • A Hulu Original

Pig (2021)

82%

6.9/10

r

91m

Genre

Drama, Thriller

Stars

Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin

Directed by

Michael Sarnoski

Pig is collecting a ton of attention lately, by way of both bountiful media mentions and general word-of-mouth exchanges — and for plenty of good reasons. The film follows Rob (Nicolas Cage), a reclusive ex-chef living in the woods of Oregon. Now a truffle hunter, Rob scours the wilderness with his prized foraging pig. After a run-in with a gang of assailants, Rob’s pig is stolen. Connecting with a local contact (Alex Wolff), Rob follows the single lead he has to his swine’s whereabouts, plunging the self-proclaimed hermit into the seedy underbelly of Portland. An astonishing feature debut from writer-director Michael Sarnoski, Pig is a poignant film with an equally-poignant lead performance from Nicholas Cage, reminding us that the actor is capable of much more than camp.

Pig Trailer #1 (2021) | Movieclips Trailers

Fear of Rain (2021)

5.9/10

pg-13

109m

Genre

Thriller, Horror, Drama

Stars

Katherine Heigl, Harry Connick Jr., Madison Iseman

Directed by

Castille Landon

One of the best types of thriller films is one where you can’t even trust the main character. Such is the case with writer-director Castille Landon’s Fear of Rain. Starring Madison Iseman as Rain Burroughs, a teenage girl diagnosed with schizophrenia, Rain begins experiencing a series of disturbing, so-called hallucinations. Fearing something is awry at her neighbor’s house, Rain’s parents don’t believe her. Recruiting the awkward new kid at school (Israel Broussard) to help her investigate, we soon discover that Rain’s horrific visions may be all too real. Fear of Rain is a stone’s throw away from movies like Disturbia and Rear Window, but strong performances and an intriguing narrative keep you invested throughout.

Fear of Rain (2021 Movie) Official Trailer – Katherine Heigl, Harry Connick Jr.

Silk Road (2021)

41%

6.0/10

r

116m

Genre

Crime, Thriller, Drama

Stars

Jason Clarke, Nick Robinson, Daniel David Stewart

Directed by

Tiller Russell

Silk Road is based on all-too-disturbing true-life events. Ross Ulbricht (Nick Robinson) creates Silk Road, a Dark Web site that was the first of its kind. But when the hub becomes an illegal trading space for drug traffickers, DEA agent Rick Bowden (Jason Clarke) enters the fold. Bringing the powers of the DEA and U.S. Secret Service down on the platform, Bowden and his cohorts will do everything in their power to put an end to Ulbricht’s unforeseen empire. A sleek cyber-thriller, Silk Road combines great performances with a true-crime narrative that takes a few of its own liberties (some not so great) — but we still dig the end result.

Silk Road Trailer #1 (2021) | Movieclips Trailers

The Secrets We Keep (2020)

The Secrets We Keep

48%

5.8/10

r

97m

Genre

Thriller, History

Stars

Noomi Rapace, Joel Kinnaman, Chris Messina

Directed by

Yuval Adler

In the post-World War II suburbs of America, Romanian immigrant Maja (Noomi Rapace) lives with her husband and young son. Still plagued by visions of horrific war crimes committed against her, Maja’s seemingly tranquil surface level is deeply disturbed when she encounters a man walking her streets, a gentleman she recognizes as an ex-SS officer who attacked her years before. What follows is a spiraling story of despair, regret, and past lives resurfacing. While not reinventing the genre, The Secrets We Keep leans successfully on its central talents, particularly Rapace. A Hitchcock-inspired thriller for modern-day audiences, we found it more than fitting for inclusion.

The Secrets We Keep Trailer #1 (2020) | Movieclips Trailers

12 Hour Shift (2020)

63%

5.4/10

r

88m

Genre

Thriller, Horror, Comedy, Crime

Stars

Angela Bettis, David Arquette, Chloe Farnworth

Directed by

Brea Grant

In 12 Hour Shift, Angela Bettis stars as Mandy, a nurse with a drug problem. To fuel her fixes, she and her co-worker, Karen (Nikea Gamby-Turner), have set up an operation to transport patient organs into the hands of black-market men. After bringing her cousin, Regina (Chloe Farnworth), onboard, a mixup with a kidney unfurls a chain of horrific events as Nicholas (Mick Foley), Mandy’s trafficker, demands the organs. Mandy and her team must turn to a deeper kind of diabolical deed to pay up, or risk their very lives if they fail. A powerful siege thriller with an incredible female ensemble, 12 Hour Shift will make you wonder exactly what’s going on behind the scenes at your local hospital or doctor’s office. Hopefully not anything on display in this film.

12 Hour Shift - Official Trailer

Rent-A-Pal (2020)

61%

6.2/10

r

108m

Genre

Horror, Thriller

Stars

Brian Landis Folkins, Wil Wheaton, Kathleen Brady

Directed by

Jon Stevenson

Rent-A-Pal stars Brian Landis Folkins as David, an ill-dressed loner looking for a companion of any kind. When the recluse comes into possession of a mysterious VHS tape “Rent-A-Pal,” the man takes to the charismatic host on the TV screen, a man named Andy (Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Wil Wheaton). As David takes to Andy’s onscreen company, the vicarious friendship quickly devolves into something more sinister. Led by incredible performances and an imaginative and poignant story, Rent-A-Pal shows no mercy, neither to its characters or its audience.

Rent-A-Pal - Official Trailer | HD | IFC Midnight

She Dies Tomorrow (2020)

She Dies Tomorrow

80%

5.1/10

r

85m

Genre

Drama

Stars

Kate Lyn Sheil, Jane Adams, Kentucker Audley

Directed by

Amy Seimetz

Remember that party you went to where everyone thought they were going to die? Neither do we, but if Amy (Kate Lyn Sheil) from She Dies Tomorrow mentions her own impending death to you, you too will be consumed by her existential doom. Writer/director Amy Seimetz is back with this bizarre and heady feature in which an entire town comes to believe that each denizen will walk the plank to their grave … tomorrow. Funny, moody, and filled with homages to the dark world of David Lynch, She Dies Tomorrow gets a double thumbs-up from us.

She Dies Tomorrow Trailer #1 (2020) | Movieclips Trailers

Run (2020)

67%

6.7/10

pg-13

90m

Genre

Thriller, Horror, Drama

Stars

Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen, Pat Healy

Directed by

Aneesh Chaganty

Sarah Paulson is having a moment — well, she’s always having a moment. The star actress is capping off the year with Run, an intense thriller originally set for theatrical release on Mother’s Day 2020, instead now exclusive to Hulu. Paulson stars as a mother who seems to be harboring a deep secret, as her isolated daughter Chloe is slowly discovering. Kiera Allen, who plays Chloe, matches Paulson scene for scene and advances the conversation about representation in film, as Allen is a wheelchair-bound actress. Run is the highlight of original movies that arrived to the streaming service in November.

Run (2020 Movie) Official Trailer – Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen

Editors' Recommendations

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Michael Bizzaco

Michael Bizzaco has been writing about and working with consumer tech for well over a decade, writing about everything from A/V components and smart home devices to encryption software, cloud backup platforms, search engine tools, and more. He has written for Digital Trends for over three years, covering entertainment content, A/V, and smart home devices.

Christine Persaud

Contributor

Christine is a professional editor and writer with 18 years of experience in trade and consumer journalism. While she started her career writing exclusively about tech (before the iPod even existed!) she now writes about everything from tech to entertainment, business and lifestyle, and more. An admitted TV junkie (feel free to reach out for recommendations on what to watch!), if she's not working or hanging out with her friends and family, including her 8-year-old son, she's probably relaxing with a crisp glass of wine while binging her latest TV series obsession. Follow her on Twitter @christinetechCA.

Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek Monthly, SYFY Wire, Superhero Hype, Collider, DC Universe, and the official sites for Star Trek and Marvel. He also lends his pop culture expertise to Digital Trends on a variety of TV, movie, and streaming features.

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