The only way out is through. The characters featured in these thrillers dance, fight, run, and drive their way through life’s challenges.

Plot twist! The 12 best thriller movies on Hulu

The only way out is through. The characters featured in these thrillers dance, fight, run, and drive their way through life's challenges.

By Ilana Gordon,

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

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Kevin Jacobsen,

on March 1, 2026 11:00 a.m. ET

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Sebastian Stan as Steve in 'Fresh'; Amber Midthunder as Naru in 'Prey'; Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers in 'Black Swan'. Credit:

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures; David Bukach; Niko Tavernise/Fox Searchlight

Someone is following you. You sense them behind you as you walk. Your pulse races, the hair on your arms stands up. You can feel the fear rippling through your gut, hollowing out your insides. You can taste it in the metallic drip of your saliva. And then, just like that, the feeling is gone. Maybe it was all in your head. Or maybe you’re just watching a really good thriller.

If you enjoy your cinema served with a side of high stakes, misdirection, and psychological warfare, then the thriller genre is for you. Read on for Hulu’s 12 best options to stream right now.**

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

Ethan Hawke as Hank Hanson and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Andy Hanson in 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead'. Everett Collection

Money is the root of all evil, and in Sidney Lumet's 2007 crime thriller, *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead*, money rots the Hanson family from the inside out. After finance executive Andy Hanson (Philip Seymour Hoffman) realizes his embezzling activities are on the cusp of being discovered, he convinces his similarly cash-strapped younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke), to rob their parents' jewelry store.

The siblings' "victimless" crime does not work out as hoped, and as their father seeks revenge on the mysterious perpetrators, his two sons struggle to clean up the mess they left behind. The last film Lumet made before his death in 2011, *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead* is arguably his best. EW's critic at the time writes, "Lumet's camera has become an invisible cage, inviting us to study the behavior of the human animals trapped inside." *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Sidney Lumet

**Cast:** Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris, Marisa Tomei

Black Swan (2010)

Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers in 'Black Swan'. Niko Tavernise/Fox Searchlight

A psychological thriller like no other, *Black Swan* is so twisted that the viewer becomes almost as mentally confused as Nina (Natalie Portman), a ballerina at war with the dark and light sides of herself. Since it's a Darren Aronofsky film, we know it's not destined to be feel-good; instead, *Black Swan* is a fascinating exploration of personality under pressure. Portman gives an Oscar-winning performance, juxtaposing Nina's innocent exterior with her ambitious attempts to channel her internal darkness to play the Black Swan in *Swan Lake*. These efforts put Nina's mental state in great peril, and Aronofsky manages to craft a gorgeous, horrific, psychological descent against the regimented, sublime backdrop of ballet. —*Gwen Ihnat*

Where to watch *Black Swan*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Darren Aronofsky

**Cast:** Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey

Decision to Leave (2022)

Park Hae-il as Det. Jang Hae-jun and Tang Wei as Song Seo-rae in 'Decision to Leave'. Mubi

What happens when a detective and a murder suspect find themselves inexorably drawn to each other? Auteur director Park Chan-wook makes a meal of this concept in *Decision to Leave*, a romantic thriller in which a detective (Park Hae-il) develops an obsession with an enigmatic widow (Tang Wei) whose husband recently fell to his death, severely complicating the investigation. EW's critic praises *Decision to Leave* for its "surreal cinematic flourishes and breezy dollops of dark humor," trademarks of director Park's filmography that nonetheless feel fresh due to his restrained yet evocative approach. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Decision to Leave*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Park Chan-wook

**Cast:** Tang Wei, Park Hae-il

Eileen (2023)

Thomasin McKenzie as Eileen Dunlop and Anne Hathaway as Rebecca Saint John in 'Eileen'.

This spellbinding psychological thriller unfolds like a pulpy mystery novel, where the dynamic between the characters is even more intriguing than the mystery. Thomasin McKenzie plays the title character, a meek secretary at a prison who finds herself bewitched by the arrival of Rebecca (Anne Hathaway), a glamorous psychologist (think Cate Blanchett in *Carol*) who interviews a troubled inmate. The two women develop a connection, and, after Rebecca gets Eileen involved in the case she's working on, we see just how far the latter is willing to go to help the former. EW's critic calls *Eileen* "a marvelously uneasy thriller soaked in simmering eroticism, Hitchcockian swivels, and wintry." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Eileen*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** William Oldroyd

**Cast:** Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Shea Whigham, Marin Ireland, Owen Teague

Fresh (2022)

Sebastian Stan as Steve in 'Fresh'. Searchlight Pictures

Given that the title sequence doesn't begin until 30 minutes into the film, *Fresh* may start out like a rom-com, right down to the meet-cute in a grocery store. But by the time you're actually invested in the apparently burgeoning romance between the equally excellent Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan as Noa and Steve, things take a turn for the markedly sinister as Noa's dream guy transforms into something quite different. EW's critic deems *Fresh *"a clever, gory metaphor for the seemingly endless horrors of modern romance rooted in a plot twist just outrageous enough to plausibly be true." To say anything else would spoil the fun, so we'll just say that the film's title is more than apt. *—G.I.*

Where to watch *Fresh*: Hulu

**Director: **Mimi Cave

**Cast: **Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jonica T. Gibbs, Charlotte Le Bon, Andrea Bang

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How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022)

Marcus Scribner as Shawn, Jake Weary as Dwayne, and Ariela Barer as Xochitl in 'How to Blow Up a Pipeline'.

Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection

Based on Andreas Malm's controversial book of the same name, *How to Blow Up a Pipeline* follows a group of young climate activists who plan to destroy an oil pipeline in West Texas to prompt more immediate action in addressing the climate crisis. One wrong step could risk being caught by authorities, or even putting themselves in harm's way. Unfolding with the tension of a heist movie, the film doesn't just entertain as an action thriller but also gives valid reasons as to what led each activist to take such drastic measures in the hope of saving the planet. The film also raises questions about whether such actions are effective in prompting change, while presenting its characters as complex humans. *—K.J.*

Where to watch *How to Blow Up a Pipeline*: Hulu

**Director:** Daniel Goldhaber

**Cast: **Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane

Longlegs (2024)

Nicolas Cage as Longlegs in 'Longlegs'.

Nicolas Cage takes a big swing (arguably bigger than usual) in this quietly haunting horror-thriller from Osgood Perkins (son of *Psycho* star Anthony Perkins). The go-for-broke actor plays a mysterious serial killer known only as "Longlegs," who is involved in a string of murder-suicides dating back decades. FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) investigates and eventually discovers a disturbing secret about her own connection to the case. "Perkins collects his simple component parts and somehow transforms this into such an unnerving film," writes EW's critic. "*Longlegs *is definitely a step above the others." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Longlegs*: Hulu

**Director:** Osgood Perkins

**Cast:** Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt

The Nightingale (2018)

Aisling Franciosi as Clare Carroll in 'The Nightingale'. IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

An affecting revenge thriller set in 1825 in the Tasmanian outback, *The Nightingale* is brutal, but not gratuitous. While the film does feature a hefty amount of sexual and run-of-the-mill violence, the moments of tenderness between the film’s leads — an Irish convict named Clare (Aisling Franciosi) who is seeking revenge on a British officer for wrongs committed against her family, and an Aboriginal tracker nicknamed Billy (Baykali Ganambarr) who is traumatized by the way the British have treated his people — are well-earned and beautifully acted.

Chilling and horrifying, the plot is propelled by moments of sadism, many of them committed by a lieutenant named Hawkins (Sam Claflin, whose psychopathic behavior will quickly erase any memories you have of him in *The Hunger Games* or *Daisy Jones & the Six*). It’s a difficult watch, but that’s also the point. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Nightingale*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Director: **Jennifer Kent

**Cast: **Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Baykali Ganambarr, Damon Herriman, Harry Greenwood

Prey (2022)

Amber Midthunder as Naru in 'Prey'. David Bukach/Hulu

The *Predator* monster has terrified audiences for more than 35 years, but in the story's prequel and fifth installment, the tables turn and the monster becomes the prey. The film follows Naru (Amber Midthunder), a Comanche warrior with the heart of a hunter, who seeks to prove her skills and protect her tribe by catching a predator. Professional basketball player-turned-horror star Dane DiLiegro plays the film's eponymous villain and says the story is strong enough to win viewers over, even without its affiliation to the beloved horror franchise.

In an interview, he tells EW, "There just happens to be a Predator involved. Honestly, you could have shot this movie with a different monster and it still probably would have worked." If you're in the market for a solid thriller that still makes time to flesh out its main characters, sink your teeth into *Prey*. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Prey*: Hulu

**Director: **Dan Trachtenberg

**Cast: **Amber Midthunder, Dane DiLiegro, Dakota Beavers, Michelle Thrush, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat

Run (2020)

Kiera Allen as Chloe Sherman and Sarah Paulson as Diane Sherman in 'Run'. Everett Collection

On the surface, Diane (Sarah Paulson) seems like the perfect mother: Her 17-year-old daughter, Chloe (Kiera Allen), was born with health issues, and Diane has devoted her life to homeschooling and taking care of her. But now that Chloe is applying to colleges and on the brink of setting off into the real world, she begins to notice that Diane's love may be masking secrets that Chloe could never dream of. And the more Chloe learns about herself and her mother, the more danger she finds herself in.

A suspenseful psychological horror thriller that deals in themes of parental love, control, and what happens when the umbilical cord is cut too late, *Run *owes its success to the commitment of its stars. Newcomer Allen is a joy to watch, but it's Paulson who, as EW's critic writes, puts a "sweeter face" on depravity. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Run*: Hulu

**Director:** Aneesh Chaganty

**Cast: **Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen

Sanctuary (2023)

Margaret Qualley as Rebecca Marin and Christopher Abbott as Hal Porterfield in 'Sanctuary'.

Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection

Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott are the only stars of this taut psychological thriller. Qualley plays Rebecca, a woman interviewing Abbott's Hal at a hotel for a CEO position; as the film soon reveals, however, Rebecca is actually Hal's dominatrix, and this was all part of a carefully planned script. Hal breaks the news to Rebecca that because he's about to inherit his father's company, they have to end their arrangement. This enrages Rebecca, who demands half his new salary, and the pair engage in a battle for control. Unfolding with simmering suspense, *Sanctuary* is a scintillating thriller about sex and power, evoking Steven Soderbergh's *Sex, Lies, and Videotape* (1989), ironically starring Qualley's mother, Andie MacDowell. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Sanctuary*: Hulu

**Director:** Zachary Wigon

**Cast:** Margaret Qualley, Christopher Abbott

Speed (1994)

Keanu Reeves as Jack Traven and Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter in 'Speed'.

One of the ultimate ‘90s action movies, *Speed* is the story of the maniac who rigs a bus to explode if it goes too slow, and the Los Angeles cop who is determined to foil him. LAPD Officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) works on the city’s SWAT team and has had run-ins with the psychopathic Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) before. When he gets word of Howard’s bus plot, he manages to board the armed vehicle, where he assigns one of the passengers, Annie (Sandra Bullock), to keep the bus in motion while he de-escalates the situation. EW’s critic writes that Hitchcock “would be proud” of the movie “in which a zooming bus becomes a pop metaphor for a world speeding chaotically out of control.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Speed*: Hulu

**Director:** Jan de Bont

**Cast:** Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels

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Source: “EW Movie”