The 20 best thriller series on Netflix in November 2024

The Blacklist (2013–2023)

The Blacklist is thrilling for James Spader’s performance alone. The series begins with criminal mastermind Raymond “Red” Reddington (Spader) turning himself in to the FBI and offering information about his shady cohorts, but only if he can work with a specific profiler, Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). After 10 seasons of twists and turns, The Blacklist evolved far beyond the question of why Red is so interested in Liz and remained binge-worthy all the way through (even if the plot was a tad bit ridiculous at times).

Where to watch The Blacklist: Netflix

Cast: James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff

Related content: The Blacklist bosses and star Megan Boone look back at Elizabeth Keen’s most defining moments

Dare Me (2019–2020)

Think Bring It On meets Euphoria; part coming-of-age story, part murder mystery, Dare Me delves into the dark undercurrents of high school cheerleading (with a side of glittery face makeup). The story follows two best friends, Addy (Herizen Guardiola) and Beth (Marlo Kelly), whose close relationship starts to unravel when they become entangled with their new coach (Willa Fitzgerald).

Created by Megan Abbott, who also wrote the novel it’s based on, this twisted, addictive show does justice to the “most dangerous” sport and the complicated, messy young women who participate in it.

Where to watch Dare Me: Netflix

Cast: Willa Fitzgerald, Herizen Guardiola, Marlo Kelly

Related content: Dare Me creator and star talk revealing the darker reality of cheerleading in new USA drama

Dark (2017–2020)

This German thriller starts with the disappearance of two children from a small town, but it quickly morphs into a labyrinthine tale of time travel and interconnected families across generations.

The series’s non-linear narrative and intricate puzzles demand your full attention — this is not the kind of show you can watch while doing your laundry — but it’s worth it, as the unfolding mystery explores heady concepts like parallel worlds, timeline paradoxes, and the idea that the past, present, and future are all inextricably linked.
Where to watch Dark: Netflix

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, Karoline Eichhorn

Related content: Dark: Get an inside look at Netflix’s first German series

Dexter (2006–2013)

Infamously terrible lumberjack ending aside, Dexter is still one of the most prominent fictional serial killers in pop culture. Michael C. Hall stars as Dexter Morgan, a forensic blood-spatter analyst by day and a murderer by night, but with a strict moral code: he only targets other killers.

The first four seasons were highly acclaimed, leading up to the classic, shocking season 4 finale. And while the later seasons had a far more mixed reception, the story continued with the successful follow-up Dexter: New Blood, an upcoming prequel series starring Christian Slater as Dexter’s dad, and another sequel series, Resurrection.

Where to watch Dexter: Netflix

Cast: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Julie Benz, Erik King, John Lithgow

Related content: Dexter producers explain finale, defend final season

Fool Me Once (2024)

In this adaptation of Harlan Coben’s novel, ex-soldier Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan) makes a chilling discovery: she sees her supposedly dead husband (Richard Armitage) on a nanny cam with their daughter. As Maya digs into her late husband’s life, she unravels unsettling connections to her sister’s murder and dark secrets hidden within his wealthy family, all while devolving into paranoia and coping with her own military-related trauma.

Fool Me Once is filled with Coben’s trademark twists and turns and is compulsively watchable, becoming one of the most-viewed English-language Netflix series of all time.

Where to watch Fool Me Once: Netflix

Cast: Michelle Keegan, Richard Armitage, Adeel Akhtar, Joanna Lumley

Related content: The 25 best shows to watch on Netflix right now

House of Cards (2013–2018)

Netflix’s first critical juggernaut, House of Cards follows Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a ruthless politician who manipulates, blackmails, and betrays his way to the top with the help of his wife, the Lady Macbeth-esque Claire (Robin Wright). The first few seasons juxtapose his power struggles in government with the complex dynamics in his marriage, but after Spacey’s departure, Wright takes center stage, transforming the show into a story about her character’s ascent to power (as it should be). 

Where to watch House of Cards: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Kate Mara, Corey Stoll, Mahershala Ali

Related content: House of Cards showrunners on final season without Kevin Spacey: ‘It was a significant pivot’

Money Heist (2017–2021)

The tricky thriller Money Heist follows a group of criminals, led by the enigmatic “Professor,” as they carry out meticulously planned heists at the Royal Mint of Spain and the Bank of Spain. Initially a two-part limited series, its popularity on Netflix led to multiple renewals, ending with a fifth season in 2021 and inspiring a South Korean adaptation and a spinoff, Berlin. By the time the final season aired, Money Heist was the top streaming TV show in the world, solidifying its status as a cultural phenomenon.

Where to watch Money Heist: Netflix

Cast: Álvaro Morte, Úrsula Corberó, Itziar Ituño

Related content: Money Heist ends with the Professor’s biggest gamble to date

Prison Break (2005–2017)

In this implausible, wildly entertaining thriller, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), a structural engineer, purposely goes to jail to save his wrongly accused brother, Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), armed with intricate body tattoos of the facility’s blueprints.

Like Suits, Prison Break had a sudden renaissance when it debuted on Netflix and was introduced to a new generation of viewers. And the show will continue on in some form; after four seasons, a movie, and a 2017 revival, Hulu has announced a reboot series set in the same universe.

Where to watch Prison Break: Netflix

Cast: Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Sarah Wayne Callies

Related content: Stephen King: Why I love Prison Break

Squid Game (2021–present)

Squid Game may have only debuted in 2021, but the masked guards and giant robot doll are already pop culture iconography. The South Korean thriller series, which follows a group of desperate participants competing in deadly children’s games for a massive cash prize, combines shocking violence with poignant social commentary about wealth disparity.

The show garnered a huge following during the pandemic and broke Netflix viewership records, inspiring countless memes, Halloween costumes, and fan theories. Now season 2 is coming later this year, and it will apparently be a “game within a game.”

Where to watch Squid Game: Netflix

Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon, O Yeong-su

Related content: Squid Game director and star reveal ‘heavier, darker’ season 2 will be ‘a game-within-a-game’

The Tourist (2022–present)

In The Tourist, Jamie Dornan plays a man who wakes up with amnesia in the remote Australian outback with no idea why dangerous figures are hunting him down. This may seem like a silly premise, and it is, but the show pulls it off thanks to the sharp, self-aware writing, strong performances, and a sweet, unconventional romance between Dornan’s character and the constable-turned-aspiring-detective (Danielle Macdonald) who helps him search for the truth. The second season was equally entertaining, and while there hasn’t been any renewal announcement, never say never to a season 3.

Where to watch The Tourist: Netflix

Cast: Jamie Dornan, Danielle Macdonald, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Damon Herriman

Related content: The Tourist stars break down that shocking season 1 finale

Yellowjackets (2021–present)

If you crossed Lost with Lord of the Flies and a heavy dose of female rage, you would get Yellowjackets. The show follows a high school girls’ soccer team whose plane crashes in the wilderness, forcing them to do unspeakable things to survive. Told through two timelines, the thriller series blends ’90s nostalgia with dark, psychological drama, exploring the brutal complexities of female friendships. Christina Ricci steals the show as the unhinged Misty, while Melanie Lynskey delivers a powerhouse performance as adult Shauna. 

Where to watch Yellowjackets: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, Tawny Cypress, Ella Purnell

Related content: Yellowjackets star breaks down that major death in the season 2 finale: ‘It was really devastating’

You (2018–present)

You follows Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), a charming bookstore manager who thinks of himself as a romantic, but his obsessions spiral into stalking and violence. The first season especially satirizes toxic rom-com tropes — if it weren’t for Joe’s sinister voiceover and occasional murders, he might resemble a persistent, swoon-worthy lead. Badgley’s nuanced performance gives Joe unsettling depth, so much so that he often urges fans to stop romanticizing the character. Now, with the show set to end after season 5, we’ll see whether Joe will finally face the consequences of his actions.

Where to watch You: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti, Elizabeth Lail, Shay Mitchell, Jenna Ortega

Related content: You boss discusses that shocking Joe twist and what it means for the series