The 12 best thriller movies on Hulu

Black Swan (2010)

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)

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

Die Hard (1988)

Fans have debated whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie for more than three decades, but it’s an agreed-upon fact that the film launched one of the most beloved action thriller franchises of all time. The first of five installments introduces audiences to the series’ hero — New York police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) — who has traveled to Los Angeles hoping to rekindle a romance with his estranged wife, Holly. After German terrorists — led by the nefarious Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) — take control of the building where Holly’s company’s Christmas party is being held, holding her and her co-workers hostage, McClane must work to take down the terrorists from the inside to save his family.

The world has Die Hard to thank for elevating both Willis’ and Rickman’s careers, and while Willis’ 2022 retirement brought an end to the franchise, Die Hard will always be remembered as the movie that helped cement Willis’ legacy as one of the foremost action stars of all time. —Ilana Gordon

Where to watch Die Hard: Hulu

Director: John McTiernan

Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia

Eileen (2023)

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

Femme (2024)

This underseen British thriller explores heavy topics like homophobia, the cost of revenge, and the complex relationship between attacker and victim. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett plays Jules, a drag performer who endures a violent assault by a stranger named Preston (George MacKay). Three months later, he encounters Preston again at a gay bathhouse — though Preston doesn’t recognize Jules out of his drag makeup and invites him back to his apartment. Thus begins a thorny relationship in which Jules plots vengeance, though their dynamic soon takes a fascinating turn. With two superbly committed performances from Stewart-Jarrett and MacKay, Femme tells a fascinatingly complicated story with surprising nuance. —K.J.

Where to watch Femme: Hulu

Directors: Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping

Cast: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, George MacKay, Aaron Heffernan, John McCrea, Asha Reid

Fresh (2022)

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

How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022)

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 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

Prey (2022)

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)

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 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

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Everyone knows the kid in The Sixth Sense can see dead people. Most know the twist at the end. And still, M. Night Shyamalan‘s horror thriller holds up as a gloriously crafted ghost story anchored by three impeccable performances. Bruce Willis stars as a child psychologist who tries to help young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), a troubled boy who sees grisly visions of the dead, with Toni Collette as his desperate mother. The film’s strengths lie in narrative momentum, doling out information at just the right pace for maximum impact. “Running the scenes over in your head afterward,” writes EW’s critic, “uncovers a construction that rewards wide-awake attention.” —K.J.

Where to watch The Sixth Sense: Hulu

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Cast: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams