10 "Gripping" Thrillers That Will Keep You Totally Glued To The Screen

1. Gone Girl (2014)

This one redefined the modern thriller. Marriage gets weaponized when Amy Dunne vanishes, and her husband becomes suspect #1.

Originally a book by Gillian Flynn, the psychologically gripping movie grapples with themes of infidelity, deceit, and murder. Twisty, toxic, and totally iconic.

2. Fair Play (2023)

A steamy promotion war turns into a power trip from hell. Set in the high-stakes world of hedge funds, Fair Play is a Netflix thriller that dives deep into gender dynamics, ambition, and betrayal, with knives out.

3. The Call (2020)

One phone call, two timelines, and a whole lot of chaos. This Korean thriller flips the time-travel trope on its head—and turns it into a psychological battle you won’t see coming.

4. Hush (2016)

A deaf writer alone in the woods. A masked killer was watching her. That’s it—that’s the setup. With a plot kept relatively Hush, it’s easy to raise concerns over how much tension can truly build without dialogue.

But this thriller will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. And somehow, it’s more terrifying than any scream-filled slasher you’ve ever seen.

5. The Strangers (2008)

Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman just wanted a peaceful weekend away. Instead, they get terrorized by masked intruders just because. A quiet, brutal reminder that horror doesn’t need a reason.

6. Bird Box (2018)

Look, whether you loved or hated the memes, there’s no denying this was the viral thriller of its time. Sandra Bullock is navigating a post-apocalyptic world blindfolded. Peak anxiety viewing.

7. Gerald’s Game (2017)

One bed. One handcuff situation gone wrong. And one woman forced to outlast her demons, both literal and psychological. Mike Flanagan turns this Stephen King story into a slow-burn nightmare.

8. The Girl on the Train (2016)

Emily Blunt plays an alcoholic with a blurry memory and a front-row seat to a missing person case. Her foggy recollection serves as a key obstacle in determining whether the crime she believes she witnessed actually occurred.

As the film develops, secrets are revealed, and it seems Blunt’s character may know more than she realizes. Not as sharp as Gone Girl, but it hits similar beats—and it’s addictively messy.

9. Run (2020)

If you liked Searching, then good news: Run has the same director, same sense of dread. This time, it’s a daughter realizing her whole life has been a lie. Sarah Paulson plays the ultimate overbearing mom…from hell.

10. Panic Room (2002)

In Panic Room, Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart (baby Twilight!) get locked in a high-tech safe room when burglars break in. It’s claustrophobic, calculated, and way too real for comfort.