What can be more exciting during weekends (in times like this), than a nail-biting thriller or mystery movie accompanied by a bowl of popcorn (or your favorite snack).Intriguing, hair-raising, mind-twisting! Thriller flick can keep you glued for hours.
When it comes to movies, nothing can beat Thriller and Mystery genre. I have a long list of favorites and this list has become longer over the months, thanks to the lockdowns.
If you too are crazy about thriller movies, Here a list of my all-time favorite thriller movies on Netflix. This is not an exhaustive list, I have many other movies favorites but they are not on Netflix currently. Probably I will share that in my next blog. Also if you are wondering about the best series, do click here to check out 15 Best Thriller/Mystery series on Netflix.
All-time best Thriller and Mystery movies on Netflix, India
- The Shinning (1980)
IMBD Rating: 8.4
Psychological horror based on Stephen King’s novel with same title ;the shinning is a story of an aspiring writer (Jack Nicholson) who takes up a job as an off-season caretaker of an isolated historic hotel. The hotel had a horrific past and is haunted with supernatural powers. Slowly Jack begins to lose his sanity posing a threat to his family. The idea of a single-family living in a humongous hotel itself gives you an eerie feeling. Shining is a chilling story with some nail-biting moments.
2. Seven (1995)
IMBD: 8.6
Directed by David Fincher, Seven stars some of the most popular stars of Hollywood including Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and Gwyneth Paltrow. A serial killer who begins murdering people according to the seven deadly sins. The two detectives (Brad Pitt & Morgan Freeman) are on the task to stop the killer. Some of the murder scenes are disturbing, but the movie keeps you intrigued until the end.
3. Primal fear (1996)
IMBD: 7.7
Like any usual thriller movie, Primal Fear is a story of a lawyer trying to save an innocent boy convicted of murder. But wait until the end to see the real twist in the story. I don’t want to kill the suspense by telling you more, so watch for yourself. The movie stars Richard Gare and Edward Nortan in the lead role. This is one of the movies I always remember for its ending.
4. The Glasshouse (2001)
IMBD: 5.8
Story of 2 siblings moving to their foster parent’s swanky house after the untimely demise of their parents only to realize they are not what they seem to be. Although the story is easily predictable without much twists and turns, still it’s a one-time watch for the thrill of how the siblings try to escape the House.
5. Fracture (2007)
IMBD: 7.2
I love movies with twists & unexpected turns. Fracture spectacularly builds upon how cold-blooded, yet clever Anthony Hopkins play mind games and frustrates (with signature smile and composure) the successful young district attorney (Ryan Gosling). Although there is no suspense element when it comes to who is the killer? But the real fun is how the rest of the movie turns out, while Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling try to beat each other. And then there is always an ending to look for.
6. A Wednesday (2008)
IMBD: 8.1
An impressive plot, strong storyline, and thought-provoking message complemented with a brilliant performance by veteran actors Nasiruddin Shah and Anupam Kher makes “A Wednesday” an attention-grabbing flick. The movie showcases a series of events taking place on a particular Wednesday where an anonymous caller demands the release of 4 terrorists. The whole drama of how Cops try to find the location of the caller while negotiating with him, keeps you glued to your seats. The ending is an absolute knockout.
7. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
IMBD: 7.6
When it comes to mystery, how can one miss out on Sherlock Holmes? Sherlock Holmes is a period mystery drama based on Conan Doyle’s classic character of the same name. Robert Downey jr. in the lead role is exceptional and adds life to the character with his wit and fun-packed performance. Jude Law makes a terrific Watson. Apart from the thrill and mystery, I loved the Victorian London settings.
8. Zombieland (2009)
IMBD: 7.6
Zombieland is more of a comedy than serious mind-twisting suspense. But watching people trying to save themselves from Zombies is thrilling. Zombieland was my first ever encounter with Zombies (I mean the screen encounter) and I enjoyed it.The movie stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin as survivors of a zombie apocalypse. Do watch it if you are looking for a lighter yet thrilling experience.
9. Shutter Island (2010)
IMBD: 8.2
One of the movies that make you wonder about possible conclusions. Shutter Island shuttles between reality and illusion, past and present which makes it a brain-twisting and intense (although not as complex as Inception) phycological thriller. Based on a 2003 novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane, the movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo as two US marshals who are sent to an asylum on a remote island to investigate the disappearance of a patient.
10. Unknown (2011)
IMBD: 6.8
In most of the Liam Neeson movies, one or the other of his family member is kidnapped, well this time his own identity is stolen from him. This action thriller revolves around a story of a high-profile biochemist who wakes up from an accident only to realize that his identity is stolen. Trying hard to recollect and make sense of the situation, he tries to unravel the mystery behind the theft.
11. Kahaani (2012)
IMBD: 8.1
One of my favorite Bollywood movies, Kahaani takes you through unexpected twists and turns. Gripping plot and suspense that continues till the last scene. Apart from a mind-boggling story, I loved the picturization of authentic Kolkata lifestyle. Brilliant performance by Vidya Balan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Parambrata Chatterjee adds to the magic.
12. Special 26 (2013)
IMBD: 8
One of the few movies I can watch again and again. Outstanding plot ! It’s fun, exciting, and intriguing all at the same time. The movie is inspired from Opera Heist in 1987 when men posing as Central Bureau of Investigation officers raided the jewellery store and walked away with millions worth of Jewellery. Akshay Kumar and Manoj Bajpai are in the lead role of the thief and the cop.
13. Side effects (2013)
IMBD: 7.1
A psychological thriller by Steven Soderbergh. A woman is prescribed with an experimental drug by psychiatrists, leading to the murder of her husband. Movie stars Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Channing Tatum in lead roles.
14. Gone Girl (2014)
IMBD: 8.1
Based on Gillian Flynn’s bestseller novel of the same title, Gone girl is a story of a girl who mysteriously disappears on the day of her anniversary. But is the movie only about finding the girl? Well, you need to watch this intense story of revenge to find that out for yourself. The movie is directed by David Fincher and the lead roles are played by Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike.
15. The imitation game (2014)
IMBD: 8
The imitation game is not a typical thriller movie. Based on the biography, Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, The Imitation Game is a must-watch, for its picturization & the screenplay. The movie showcases how a British Mathematician Alan Turing along with other mathematicians builds a machine to crack the German Enigma code during World war II.
16. Drishyam (2015)
IMBD: 8.2
Drishyam is a suspense drama with a nail-biting ending. I liked the logic and moves used in the film by Vijay (Ajay Devgan) a fourth-grade dropout, only to protect his family. The story is gripping and keeps you engrossed till the end. Indeed, movies inspire people in many ways. Sometimes even in covering up a murder.
17. The invisible guest (2016)
IMBD:8.1
The invisible guest is a Spanish murder mystery. A businessman wakes up in a locked hotel room to find the body of his lover next to him. He hires a prestigious lawyer to defend him and then comes the twist in the story. Does it sound familiar? The popular Bollywood movie, Badla is based on this movie, in fact, it’s an exact replica of “The invisible guest” only with the exchange of lead character from Male to female (played by Tapsee Pannu). An intriguing story that leaves you thinking while trying to connect the dots.
18. Ittefaq (2017)
IMBD: 7.2
Suspense and mystery at its best. 2 suspects in a double murder case, both blaming the other one. Whom should the cop trust? The movie keeps you on your toes with a twisted ending. The movie is directed by Abhay Chopra and stars Akshaye Khanna, Sidharth Malhotra, and Sonakshi Sinha.
19. Andhadhun (2018)
IMBD: 8.3
Unpredictable and engaging thriller till the end. The story is refreshing along with great performances by Ayushman Khurana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, and Anil Dhawan. I don’t want to give away more as it will spoil the fun. So, watch it for yourself and enjoy it.
20. A Quiet place (2018)
IMBD: 7.5
A post-apocalyptic thriller science fiction, makes you think what it will be like to live without any sound at all. The story depicts a family’s struggles to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where most humans have been killed by blind but noise-sensitive creatures.
I hope that these movies will give you sleepless nights over the weekends and will keep you entertained. How many movies out of this list have you already watched and which is your favourite?
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