Fancy a movie that puts you on the edge of your seat? These are the best psychological thriller movies on Netflix according to IMDB.
There’s a unique thrill in watching a film that plays with your perception, a film that makes you question everything you see and hear. Psychological thriller movies tap into our deepest fears and anxieties, exploring the hidden complexities of the human mind. And Netflix offers a treasure trove of these mind-bending movies — all with impressive IMDb ratings above 6.5. They promise unforgettable journeys into obsession, madness and the chilling power of manipulation.
What is a psychological thriller?
It is a genre of thriller that focuses on the inner turmoil, twisted motivations and fragile mental states of its characters. Unlike traditional thrillers that rely heavily on external dangers and action, psychological thrillers build suspense and terror by exploring the complexities of the human mind.
These movies on Netflix often feature unreliable narrators. The protagonist’s own perception is induced by mental illness, trauma, deliberate deception or even substance abuse, making it unreliable as well. This creates a sense of unease and doubt for the audience.
For instance, The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) tells a chilling story of identity theft and sinister ambition. Whereas viewers witness a terrifying battle against an unknown danger in Run (2020). The haunting thriller Calibre (2018) takes audiences into the darkness of a spiralling nightmare.
The masterfully crafted 2014 mystery film Gone Girl depicts a story of obsession and dysfunctional relationships and the Spanish masterpiece of deception in God’s Crooked Lines (2022) features a private investigator who infiltrates a psychiatric hospital, only to have her own sanity thrown into question. Those who like thrillers with a futuristic twist can explore the desperate attempts to decipher a mysterious blackout and its effect on a family in Leave the World Behind (2023).
So let yourself be consumed by the suspense of the best psychological thrillers on Netflix and unravel their mysteries. You will remember these stories long after the credits roll.
Best psychological thrillers on Netflix that will have you questioning reality
Jump To / Table of Contents
- Oxygen (2021)
- Gerald's Game (2017)
- Leave the World Behind (2023)
- The Wonder (2022)
- Bird Box (2018)
- I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
- Run (2020)
- Calibre (2018)
- The Platform (2019)
- God's Crooked Lines (2022)
- The Call (2020)
- Missing (2023)
- The Devil All The Time (2020)
- Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
- Mirage (2018)
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
- Badla (2019)
- Gone Girl (2014)
1 /18
IMDb rating: 6.5
Directed by: Alexandre Aja
Cast: Mélanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi
Synopsis: Trapped in a cryogenic pod with no memory, a woman (Laurent) awakens to a dwindling oxygen supply. She must piece together her identity and the reasons behind her confinement to find a way to escape.
About the film: This French science-fiction psychological thriller focuses on themes of claustrophobia, memory loss and fighting for survival against all odds.
2 /18
IMDb rating: 6.5
Directed by: Mike Flanagan
Cast: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Chiara Aurelia
Synopsis: A couple’s attempt to rekindle their marriage at a secluded lake house takes a dark turn when Jessie (Gugino) is left handcuffed to the bed after her husband Gerald (Greenwood) dies suddenly. Trapped and alone in a remote cabin, Jessie must battle her physical restraints and the demons of her past.
About the film: This Netflix original movie was adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name.
IMDb rating: 6.5
Directed by: Sam Esmail
Cast: Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Kevin Bacon
Synopsis: A family retreats to a luxurious rental home, only to have their vacation thrown into disarray by a mysterious blackout and strange events. Fear and paranoia engulf them as they struggle to understand the escalating sense of dread.
About the film: This movie was adapted from the Rumaan Alam novel and focuses on psychological suspense within an apocalyptic setting.
4 /18
IMDb rating: 6.6
Directed by: Sebastián Lelio
Cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Kíla Lord Cassidy
Synopsis: In 1862 Ireland, an English nurse (Pugh) is summoned to a remote village to observe an 11-year-old girl (Cassidy) who claims to have survived months without food. As she confronts the community’s fervent religious beliefs, she becomes determined to uncover the truth and potentially save the child’s life.
About the film: The historical psychological thriller adapted from the Emma Donoghue novel of the same name.
5 /18
IMDb rating: 6.6
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson
Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic world, Malorie (Sandra) and her two children must navigate a treacherous journey blindfolded to avoid mysterious creatures that cause those who see them to take their own lives.
About the film: This movie was adapted from the novel of the same name by Josh Malerman.
IMDb rating: 6.6
Directed by: Charlie Kaufman
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, David Thewlis
Synopsis: A young woman (Buckley) accompanies her boyfriend (Jesse Plemons) on a trip to his parents’ secluded farm. Reality unravels in this surreal tale exploring loneliness, relationships, and the nature of memory.
About the film: Adapted from the Iain Reid novel of the same name, this mind-bending psychological thriller is known for its unsettling atmosphere, unpredictable story and open-ended interpretation.
7 /18
IMDb rating: 6.7
Directed by: Aneesh Chaganty
Cast: Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen, Pat Healy, Sara Sohn
Synopsis: Chloe (Allen), a wheelchair-bound teen raised in isolation by her mother Diane (Paulson), starts to uncover disturbing secrets. She suspects her mother’s devotion may be concealing a sinister truth.
About the film: A suspenseful, twisted psychological thriller explores themes of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy and overprotective parenting.
8 /18
IMDb Rating: 6.8
Directed by: Matt Palmer
Cast: Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran
Synopsis: On a hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands, two old friends Vaughn (Lowden) and Marcus (McCann) are party to a horrific accident. Driven by desperation and guilt, they become tangled in a web of lies and manipulation, struggling to conceal the truth from suspicious villagers.
9 /18
IMDb rating: 7
Directed by: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
Cast: Ivan Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan
Synopsis: In a vertical prison called The Hole, inmates like Goreng (Massagué) and Trimagasi (Eguileor) contend with a brutal system where food descends on a platform, sparking a tense struggle for survival and power.
About the film: The Spanish science-fiction horror offers a harsh commentary on societal extremes and the dangers of complacency.
10 /18
IMDb rating: 7.1
Directed by: Oriol Paulo
Cast: Bárbara Lennie, Eduard Fernández
Synopsis: Alice Gould (Lennie), a private investigator, enters a psychiatric hospital under false pretences to gather evidence. When her true identity is threatened, she must prove her sanity in a place where madness and manipulation blur reality.
About the film: It is a suspenseful Spanish adaptation of the Torcuato Luca de Tena novel of the same name (original Spanish title: Los renglones torcidos de Dios).
11 /18
IMDb Rating: 7.1
Directed by: Lee Chung-hyun
Cast: Park Shin-hye, Jeon Jong-seo
Synopsis: Connected through a mysterious phone call, two women, Kim Seo-yeon (Shin-hye) and Oh Young-sook (Jong-seo), living in different timelines find their lives intertwined. When one alters the past, it unleashes a dangerous chain of events, leading to a battle against time for their survival.
About the film: The South Korean thriller blends time travel and suspense.
12 /18
IMDb Rating: 7.1
Directed by: Nicholas D. Johnson, Will Merrick
Cast: Storm Reid, Nia Long
Synopsis: June (Reid) investigates the disappearance of her mother Grace (Long) who was on a vacation. Using cutting-edge technology, she unravels secrets, navigating a dangerous online pursuit filled with digital deception.
About the film: A sequel to the 2018 film, Searching, is told entirely through screens and technology. It focuses on themes of online identity, parent-child relationships and the power of social media.
IMDb rating: 7.1
Directed by: Antonio Campos
Cast: Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Robert Pattinson, Sebastian Stan, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke
Synopsis: A young man named Arvin (Holland) battles corruption and malevolent figures in a rural town post-war, all in a bid to safeguard those dear to him.
About the film: This star-studded film is adapted from Donald Ray Pollock’s novel. Weaving a gothic and brutal tale, it focuses on themes of faith, trauma and generational corruption.
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Directed by: David Slade
Cast: Fionn Whitehead, Will Poulter, Craig Parkinson, Alice Lowe, Asim Chaudhry
Synopsis: A young programmer in 1984 adapts a fantasy novel into a video game, only to have the lines between reality and the game world blur disturbingly.
About the film: Part of the acclaimed Black Mirror series, it explores themes of free will, the impact of technology and the nature of reality in a unique, choose-your-own-adventure format.
Awards won: Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Television Movie and Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media Within a Scripted Program.
15 /18
IMDb Rating: 7.4
Directed by: Oriol Paulo
Cast: Adriana Ugarte, Chino Darín, Javier Gutiérrez Álvarez
Synopsis: A happily married woman, Vera (Ugarte), saves a boy’s life during a peculiar storm 25 years ago. This act triggers a chain reaction that drastically alters her present reality, forcing her to fight to recover her previous life.
About the film: The Spanish time-travel thriller blends suspense and emotional stakes while exploring themes of consequences, sacrifice and the power of choices.
IMDb rating: 7.4
Directed by: Anthony Minghella
Cast: Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Synopsis: Tom Ripley (Damon), a cunning con artist, becomes obsessed with the privileged life of Dickie Greenleaf (Law). His envy leads to identity theft and manipulation, drawing him into a deadly spiral of lies.
About the film: Adapted from the Patricia Highsmith novel of the same name, it received Oscar nominations in five categories: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Law), Best Art Direction (Roy Walker and Bruno Cesari, Best Costume Design (Ann Roth and Gary Jones), Best Original Score (Gabriel Yared) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Minghella).
17 /18
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Directed by: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu
Synopsis: Naina Sethi (Pannu), a successful businesswoman accused of murder, turns to renowned lawyer Badal Gupta (Bachchan) for help. Their unravelling of the case reveals a web of deceit and hidden truths.
About the film: It is a remake of the Spanish film The Invisible Guest.
18 /18
IMDb rating: 8.1
Directed by: David Fincher
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris
Synopsis: On his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Affleck) becomes the prime suspect in his wife Amy’s (Pike) baffling disappearance. A media frenzy exposes secrets and lies, unveiling a twisted game of manipulation and vengeance.
About the film: Adapted from the best-selling Gillian Flynn novel of the same name, Pike received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
(Hero and featured image: Courtesy of IMDb)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-What is the best psychological thriller on Netflix now?
Gone Girl, released in 2014, is arguably one of the best psychological thrillers on Netflix even today. Fractured (IMDb rating: 6.4), starring Sam Worthington and Lily Rabe, is also worth watching.
-Which suspense thriller should I watch on Netflix?
The Pale Blue Eye (IMDb rating: 6.6) is a solid suspense thriller to watch on the streaming service.
-What is a disturbing psychological thriller?
The Platform (IMDb rating: 7), a brutal allegory of social inequality and desperation, is a deeply disturbing psychological thriller. Don’t Worry Darling (IMDb rating: 6.3) treads on the same lines as that of a disturbing psychological thriller.
-What Netflix movie is trending?
Bhakshak (IMDb rating 7.3) is currently trending on Netflix.
Kshitij is a journalism graduate who did not initially intend to become a film critic, but such are the vagaries of destiny. Now, Kshitij is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of the Film Critics Guild, bringing expertise and experience in evaluating entertainment content with him. Additionally, he serves as a jury member on the Critics' Choice Awards in India. When he's not busy wielding words, catch him nose-deep in books or joyfully lost in the realms of gaming and photography.
