The 18 best thriller movies on Hulu
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Get out of your head and into the exploits of some of Hulu's best thriller movies. Those in search of stunning plot twists, relationship mind games, and films chronicling true stories of valor in the face of desperation will find them on this list. Between stolen pigs, reckless robberies, and exotic whodunnits, these movies may require a stretch session after the credits roll to release all the tension incurred while watching. That health warning aside, here are the 18 best thriller movies currently streaming on Hulu.
<i>Before the Devil Knows You're Dead</i> (2007)
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 brothers' "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 passing in 2011, Before the Devil 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." — I.G.
Where to watch Before the Devil Knows You're Dead: Hulu
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris, Marisa Tomei
Related content: Sidney Lumet on his Oscar past
<i>Death on the Nile</i> (2022)
Agatha Christie's prolific writing output included 66 published novels, and the beloved detective Hercule Poirot appeared in over half of them. In the film adaptation of Death on the Nile, Kenneth Branagh directs and stars as the mustachioed Belgian investigator, whose plans for a relaxing holiday in Egypt aboard a luxurious river steamer are thwarted by a murder.
Branagh — who previously played Poirot in 2017's Murder on the Orient Express and will reprise the role in September 2023 with A Haunting in Venice — has a number of suspects to choose from in this investigation, including jilted lovers, vengeful family members, and would-be financial beneficiaries. Despite its talented ensemble cast, stunning Egyptian backdrop, and small amount of context into Hercule's personal life, Death on the Nile doesn't quite measure up to its lively predecessor, but the story's twists and turns still make it a thriller worth watching. — I.G.
Where to watch Death on the Nile: Hulu
EW grade: B- (read the review)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Talent: Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Kenneth Branagh, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, Letitia Wright
Related reading: Kenneth Branagh wins his first Oscar for Belfast after 8 career nominations
<i>Die Hard</i> (1988)
Fans have debated whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie for over 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 in order to save his family. The world has Die Hard to thank for elevating both Willis' and Rickman's careers, and while Willis' recent retirement has 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. — I.G.
Director: John McTiernan
Talent: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia
Related reading: Find out why Arnold Schwarzenegger 'guffawed' through Die Hard in this The Last Action Heroes book excerpt
<i>Enemy of the State</i> (1998)
The internet had only been publicly available for five years when Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott released Enemy of the State, a political action thriller underscored by a growing concern that personal privacy rights were being eroded and might soon be gone forever. Will Smith stars as Robert Clayton, a lawyer whose career, family, and personal life are targeted after he unwittingly receives evidence of a Congressman's murder. Now facing off against a crooked NSA agent (Jon Voight) who is desperate to pass legislation that would expand his agency's ability to secretly surveil the public — and to cover up his role in the Congressional murder — Clayton must work with Brill (Gene Hackman), an off-the-grid former NSA agent who knows what the agency is capable of, to clear his name and reunite with his family. — I.G.
Where to watch Enemy of the State: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Will Smith, Jon Voight, Gene Hackman, Regina King, Jason Lee, Lisa Bonet, Jack Black, Jamie Kennedy, Tom Sizemore, Seth Green
Related content: Tony Scott death -- Stars remember director
<i>Fresh</i> (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. Hot off the press at Sundance, EW's own Leah Greenblatt 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. — Gwen Ihnat
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Mimi Cave
Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jonica T. Gibbs, Charlotte Le Bon, Andrea Bang
Related content: Watch Sebastian Stan dance with a VERY big knife in his Fresh audition tape
<i>Hell or High Water</i> (2016)
"The days of robbin' banks and living to spend the money's long gone," says an old-timer to Jeff Bridges' even older Texas Ranger in this modern-day Western written by Sicario's Taylor Sheridan. Still, that's the plan for brothers Chris Pine and Ben Foster who've devised a scheme to steal from branches of the same bank that drove their late mother's ranch into foreclosure. Black sheep Foster is the hotheaded ex-con, but it's the formerly-responsible Pine's scheme, as, in the face of the bank's predatory lending and merciless repossessing, he seeks to ensure his estranged sons' legacy. Jeff Bridges as a crusty and dogged lawman might be typecasting, but he's never less than brilliant here as his Ranger tries to piece together the brothers' motives and pattern in the final days before retirement. Thematically and stylistically reminiscent of No Country for Old Men, Hell or High Water stands on its own as a truly memorable portrait of a depleted America, where idled skills are repurposed into criminal plots. — Dennis Perkins
Where to watch Hell or High Water: Hulu
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: David Mackenzie
Talent: Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham
Related reading: Chris Pine says Hell or High Water is different from anything he's ever done
<i>Identity</i> (2003)
The rain comes pouring down in Identity, a stormy mystery thriller that follows 10 strangers stuck in a remote hotel during bad weather, only to find themselves systematically murdered. Struggling to identify the killer amongst them before it's too late, the group begins to turn on each other, but a parallel storyline involving a mentally ill murderer waiting to hear whether he will be executed for his crimes, plus a giant twist at the end, make Identity a thriller that's hard to predict and even harder to stop watching.
A film that requires at least two viewings to fully click, the rules of this world are purposefully obtuse, but the journey to comprehension is made enjoyable thanks to an ensemble cast that fully commits to their tropey characters. Alternating between frustrating, illuminating, and entertaining, the one constant in Identity is the rain, so grab your popcorn and prepare to cozy up. — I.G.
Director: James Mangold
Talent: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, John C. McGinley, William Lee Scott, Jake Busey, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Rebecca De Mornay
Related reading: John Cusack: Is it time for a gear change? Or is he trapped, forever, in the 1980s?
<i>Joy Ride</i> (2001)
Not to be confused with 2023's raunchy comedy Joy Ride, the eerie thriller Joy Ride of the early 2000s takes a far different approach to the traditional road trip movie. Co-written by Clay Tarver and J.J. Abrams, Joy Ride follows two brothers, Fuller and Lewis (Steve Zahn and Paul Walker), as they drive across the country to pick up Lewis' crush, Vienna (Leelee Sobieski).
During the trip, a harmless prank call made to a trucker on a CB radio turns deadly when the trucker murders an innocent stranger. Now determined to exact revenge on the brothers and anyone close to them, the trucker hunts and terrorizes them, forcing the trio to flee for their lives. A genre-crossing film that gives Zahn carte blanche to play both the goofy older brother and the terrified would-be victim, Joy Ride is a cautionary tale of the dangers of pranking the wrong person. — I.G.
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: John Dahl
Talent: Steve Zahn, Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski
Related reading: Whatever happened to Leelee Sobieski's career?
<i>One Hour Photo</i> (2002)
One of Robin Williams' finest works, One Hour Photo is a psychological thriller about parasocial relationships, years before the term ever had a name. Sy Parrish (Williams) is an employee in the photo department of SavMart. After years of developing photos of the Yorkins, Sy develops a one-sided relationship with the family, believing them to be the idyllic version of the support he never had. When Sy's view of the Yorkins as the perfect unit is shattered, he snaps, and any boundaries he might have had disappear.
Williams is haunting as the lonely and socially inept employee, and his mental deterioration as he attempts to punish and seek justice for people he only knows from pictures represents one of the scariest and most affecting performances from his storied career. As EW's critic writes, "Williams shows us Sy's misery with no funny business. In One Hour Photo, his is a snapshot of human complexity worth framing." — I.G.
Where to watch One Hour Photo: Hulu
EW grade: B- (read the review)
Director: Mark Romanek
Talent: Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan, Gary Cole, Eriq La Salle
Related reading: We talk to Robin Williams
<i>Out of the Furnace</i> (2013)
Life in the rust-belt after the recession and end of the Iraq War is desolate, but the one thing folks in Braddock, Pa., have going for them is a love of family and a thirst for justice. Such is the case for steel worker and ex-convict Russell Baze (Christian Bale) whose Iraq War vet brother Rodney goes missing after an illegal bare knuckle fight. A crime thriller that pits a sociopathic drug dealer (Woody Harrelson) against a man with nothing left to lose, Out of the Furnace is violent, vengeful, and completely intoxicating. While the film made EW critic Chris Nashawaty's list of the 10 Best Movies of 2013, Out of the Furnace slipped under the radar for most people, but remains a dominant achievement. As Nashawaty notes in his review, "All of the actors (including Zoe Saldaña as Bale's ex) are remarkable. But it's Bale, and his almost biblical quest for justice, who burns his way into your soul." — I.G.
Where to watch Out of the Furnace: Hulu
EW grade: A- (read the review)
Director: Scott Cooper
Talent: Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Forest Whitaker, Willem Dafoe, Zoe Saldaña, Sam Shepard
Related reading: Christian Bale in Out of the Furnace: See the poster and photos here
<i>Pig</i> (2021)
By his own admission, Nicolas Cage has taken a lot of roles in recent years just to cover the bills. But every once in a while, he still shows why he's an Oscar winner, like in 2021's Pig, where he delivers one of his most impressive performances in years. Cage is mesmerizing as a hermit ex-chef who actually has a heartwarming symbiotic relationship with his prize truffle-hunting pig. When that pig gets stolen, you'd expect him to go on a revenge spree not unlike that in Mandy (another stellar project of Cage's). Instead, his emotional submersion into the character (and his unabashed affection for his pig) takes the standard revenge story and turns it into a parable about life, loss, and the importance of fighting for what we love most. Also, the title character is the greatest porcine actor since Babe. — G.I.
EW grade: N/A
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin, Cassandra Violet
Related content: Nominated for Nothing: The Oscars did Nicolas Cage's Pig dirty
<i>Prey</i> (2022)
The Predator monster has terrified audiences for over 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.
EW grade: N/A
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Cast: Amber Midthunder, Dane DiLiegro, Dakota Beavers, Michelle Thrush, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat
Related content: Prey star Amber Midthunder loves proving film's haters wrong: 'People can eat their words'
<i>Run</i> (2020)
One of the more recent psychological horror thriller films on this list, Run follows the relationship between a parent and her 17-year-old daughter. On the surface, Diane (Sarah Paulson) seems like the perfect mother: Her 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 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.
Director: Aneesh Chaganty
Talent: Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen
Related reading: Sarah Paulson was advised to hide her relationship with Holland Taylor
<i>The Hunger Games</i> (2012)
Over a decade has passed since viewers were first transported to the country of Panem, a grim dystopian future divided into factions and ruled by a merciless Capital. As penance for a past rebellion, every year, the children of Panem's 12 districts are required to enter their names into the country's "Hunger Games," a televised event that is half reality competition show, half violent death match.
When Katniss Everdeen's (Jennifer Lawrence) little sister is selected as one of the tributes for District 12, she volunteers to take her place. To make it back home safe to her family, Katniss must survive her time in the arena, competing against tributes who have been training for the Games their whole lives, as well as her fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) with whom she has a complicated relationship. Based on the bestselling trilogy, which spawned four films, The Hunger Games is one of those rare franchises that succeeds in creating adaptations that are equal to their source material. — I.G.
Where to watch The Hunger Games: Hulu
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Gary Ross
Talent: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland
Related reading: Watch the first teaser for The Hunger Games prequel centered on a young Coriolanus Snow
<i>The Hunger Games: Catching Fire</i> (2013)
The second of four films that comprise The Hunger Games series, Catching Fire picks up where the first movie left off, but much has changed in the country of Panem. Inspired by Katniss' performance in the 74th Hunger Games, resentment towards and rebellion against the Capitol are fomenting within the 12 districts. And as the 75th anniversary of the Games approaches, Katniss and Peeta have no time to rest because this time, the Tributes will be selected from each district's pool of prior winners.
Eager to keep her loved ones safe, Katniss is determined not to feed into the rebellion she helped create, but as she prepares to once again fight for her life in the arena, she realizes that the discord spreading throughout the populace is beyond her control. A further step into darkness and dystopia, Catching Fire ratchets up the Capitol's ruthless desire to maintain control over the districts, while introducing new characters into this increasingly desperate and desolate world. — I.G.
Where to watch The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Francis Lawrence
Talent: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland
Related reading: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Capitol Couture: Caesar Flickerman
<i>The Infiltrator</i> (2016)
Behind the scenes, the biographical crime drama thriller The Infiltrator is actually a family affair. Written by Ellen Brown Furman and directed by her son Brad Furman, the movie is set in the 1980s and follows the infiltration and dissolution of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar's money laundering business. Three years after Breaking Bad went off the air, Bryan Cranston switches sides from meth maker to cartel breaker, starring as real-life U.S. Customs Special Agent Robert Mazur, whose undercover work was crucial in exposing Escobar's far reaching financial misdeeds. Pivoting effortlessly from family man to ruthless felon, Cranston once again puts his acting range on full display, with a nuanced performance that is underscored by the knowledge that the slightest misstep could cost him — and his family — their lives. The film may have premiered a year after Netflix released Narcos, but Cranston's efforts are enough to distinguish the project and make it a must-watch. — I.G.
Where to watch The Infiltrator: Hulu
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Brad Furman
Cast: Bryan Cranston, Diane Kruger, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Yul Vazquez, Amy Ryan
Related content: The Infiltrator: Bryan Cranston on his out on a limb acting style
<i>The Little Things</i> (2021)
The Little Things spent more than 25 years in development hell before finally making its way into production in 2019. And while the film may have cycled through several different directors in its early years (including Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood), the story never deviated from the '90s time period during which it was written and set. Genre lovers who value conclusive endings and mysteries tied up in neat little bows may find themselves disappointed by The Little Things' climax — or lack thereof. But thriller fans who can appreciate obsessive detectives, a slow burn plot, and a trio of strong actors — Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto — who know how to bounce off each other and play up the story's intensity, will find much to enjoy in this suspenseful thriller. — I.G.
Where to watch The Little Things: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: John Lee Hancock
Talent: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Natalie Morales
Related reading: The Little Things director breaks down the crime thriller's surprise ending
<i>Wild Things</i> (1998)
A late '90s mystery thriller with more twists and turns than a NASCAR racetrack, it's easy to see where Wild Things starts and much harder to predict where the film is headed. Set in an upscale, fictional South Florida town, the film focuses on two high school girls (Neve Campbell and Denise Richards) who accuse their guidance counselor (Matt Dillon) of rape. As the trial and police investigation — led by Kevin Bacon — unfold, the question of who is working together and who is sleeping together becomes much harder to answer.
Scandalous, violent, and sexually progressive for its time, Wild Things pairs all the high school drama of Beverly Hills, 90210 with the duplicitousness of Gone Girl, and comes out with a pulpy, daring thriller. Full of beautiful people, luxurious shots, and lurid, murderous moments, Wild Things is like a car crash: You might not love every moment, but you certainly can't look away. — I.G.
Where to watch Wild Things: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: John McNaughton
Talent: Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Theresa Russell, Denise Richards, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Robert Wagner, Bill Murray
Related reading: Wild Things homoerotic shower scene between Matt Dillon and Kevin Bacon was cut from movie, director says
