Sometimes, movies are a relaxing escape from reality. Other times, they’re a harrowing rollercoaster from hell. Ranging from cerebral dramas to terrifying horror films, the thriller is one of cinema’s most varied and popular genres, and thanks to streaming services, audiences these days have access to the best ones made around the world. It’s no surprise that Netflix is home to such a massive number of thriller movies, some that are so amazing they’ve earned the coveted 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Rotten Tomatoes score (aka Tomatometer ranking) of a movie or show is a number representing the average percentage of positive reviews it has received from recognized critics. The system is not without flaws, but it is a fairly reliable yardstick of quality, and a 100% score, indicating universal critical acclaim, is an honor equal to any major award nowadays. Read on to discover our selection of the best thriller movies with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score that you can watch now on Netflix.
For more recommendations, be sure to check out our lists of the best movies and shows on Netflix, as well as the best thriller shows on Netflix and our guide to the best shows on Netflix with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
‘Awe’ (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.6/10
Awe
- Language
-
Telugu
- Run Time
-
1 hr 50 min
- Director
-
Prasanth Varma
- Release Date
-
February 16, 2018
- Actors
-
Kajal Aggarwal, Nithya Menen, Regina Cassandra, Eesha Rebba, Priyadarshi Pullikonda, Srinivas Avasarala, Murali Sharma
Written and directed by Prasanth Varma in his feature film debut, Awe is a genre-bending Telugu-language psychological drama. The film follows the interconnected stories of a group of people who all happen to be in the same restaurant. As we explore the unique personalities and lives of these characters, it becomes clear that there’s something far more complicated going on in the background that connects them all. The movie boasts an ensemble cast that includes Kajal Aggarwal, Nithya Menen, Regina Cassandra, Eesha Rebba, and more.
Awe premiered in 2018 to highly positive reviews, with critics praising the film’s innovative narrative and production value. The movie also received National Film Awards for Best Special Effects and Best Make-up. Its genre shifts can be a bit jarring at times, and the plot may seem a little disjointed at first glance, but all those disparate threads come together in a satisfying climax that turns the whole film on its head. Along the way, the movie explores themes of child abuse, drug addiction, sexual identity, gender, time travel, and more.
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‘Calibre’ (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Calibre
- Release Date
-
June 29, 2018
- Runtime
-
101 Minutes
- Director
-
Matt Palmer
- Writers
-
Matt Palmer
Written and directed by Matt Palmer, Calibre is a British psychological thriller starring Jack Lowden and Martin McCann as two childhood friends on a hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands. When one of them accidentally kills a child, the two friends find themselves desperately trying to cover up the crime and get away before the local villagers discover what they’ve done. Besides Lowden and McCann, the film also stars Tony Curran, Ian Pirie, Kate Bracken, Kitty Lovett, and more.
Calibre premiered at the 2018 Edinburgh International Film Festival to positive reviews, winning the Best British Film award. Driven by some excellent performances, the movie is a riveting thriller with a realistic yet suspenseful narrative that makes full use of its isolated setting. While the premise may be a familiar one, the film’s grounded execution still keeps you on the edge of your seat by drawing you into the traumatized minds of its protagonists. The movie earned Jack Lowden a British Academy Scotland Award for Best Actor in Film, and Tony Curran and Martin McCann also received nominations in the same category.
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‘Creep 2’ (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 6.4/10

Creep 2
- Release Date
-
October 14, 2017
- Runtime
-
80 minutes
- Director
-
Patrick Brice
Directed by Patrick Brice and starring Mark Duplass, Creep 2 is a found-footage horror film co-written by Brice and Duplass that serves as a sequel to their 2014 movie Creep. Continuing the story from the previous film, Creep 2 sees Duplass reprise his serial killer character from the first movie, who now calls himself Aaron and continues to lure in videographers to kill using a Craigslist ad. Undergoing a bit of a midlife crisis, “Aaron” decides to try something new with his latest victim, a YouTuber (Desiree Akhavan) who is looking for shocking true stories. Creep 2 premiered at the 2017 Sitges Film Festival to universal acclaim, with critics hailing it as a successful follow-up to its acclaimed predecessor. The movie has been praised by fans and reviewers for its captivating atmosphere, subtle dark humor, and brilliant performances. It’s an unsettling and hypnotic thriller that’s arguably even more suspenseful than the franchise’s first installment. A third film, Creep 3, is in development, and a spin-off anthology series, The Creep Tales, premiered in 2024.
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‘His House’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 6.4/10

His House
- Release Date
-
January 27, 2020
- Runtime
-
93 minutes
Written and directed by Remi Weekes in his feature directorial debut, His House is a horror-thriller film that revolves around a refugee couple from South Sudan who escape their war-torn homeland to build a new life in England. Once there, they face racism and hardship, but things become significantly worse when they find themselves targeted by a malevolent supernatural force. The movie stars Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu, with Matt Smith, Emily Taaffe, and Dominic Coleman in supporting roles.
His House premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, earning critical acclaim for its unique premise and compelling narrative. Combining the haunting experiences of refugees with elements of folk horror, the film is a suspenseful and socially conscious psychological drama. It’s also genuinely terrifying. The movie received several accolades, winning four British Independent Film Awards out of 15 nominations and earning Remi Weekes a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.
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‘Nayattu’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Nayattu
- Language
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Malayalam
- Run Time
-
2 hr 2 min
- Director
-
Martin Prakkat
- Release Date
-
April 8, 2021
- Actors
-
Kunchako Boban, Joju George, Nimisha Sajayan
Directed by Martin Prakkat and written by Shahi Kabir, Nayattu (English: Hunt) is an Indian Malayalam-language drama thriller that revolves around a complicated manhunt. Kunchako Boban, Joju George, and Nimisha Sajayan star as three police officers who are forced to go on the run after accidentally killing a man with powerful political connections. Jaffar Idukki, Anil Nedumangad, Yama Gilgamesh, and Hakkim Shajahan appear in supporting roles.
Nayattu premiered in 2021 to near-universal critical and audience acclaim, receiving praise for its direction, writing, and performances. It’s a tense thriller that explores the complex (and corrupt) power dynamics between the police and political groups, which endangers the lives of ordinary people. The film received several accolades, including three Kerala State Awards, and was shortlisted for India’s entry for the Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, though it was not ultimately selected for submission. A Telugu-language remake, Kota Bommali PS, was released in 2023.
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‘The Call’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.1/10

The Call
- Release Date
-
November 27, 2020
- Runtime
-
112 Minutes
- Director
-
Chung-Hyun Lee
- Writers
-
Sergio Casci, Chung-Hyun Lee
Directed by Lee Chung-hyun, The Call is a South Korean sci-fi psychological thriller based on the 2011 film The Caller. The movie stars Park Shin-hye and Jeon Jong-seo as two women from different times, one in 2019 and the other in 1999, who find themselves connected by a mysterious phone. Though they initially find comfort in each other, even making meaningful changes to the timeline through their connection, things take a turn for the worse as their true fates are revealed.
The Call premiered on Netflix in November 2020 to critical and audience acclaim. A suspenseful work of horror with effective sci-fi elements, the film has been praised for its excellent performances and smart writing. The movie juggles multiple timelines and shifting realities with ease while presenting a gripping character-driven thriller that’s practically flawless in execution. Appropriately, the film earned several accolades, winning Jeon Jong-seo the Baeksang Arts Award, Buil Film Award, and Director’s Cut Award for Best Actress.
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‘Raat Akeli Hai’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.2/10

Raat Akeli Hai
- Language
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Hindi
- Run Time
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2 hr 29 min
- Director
-
Honey Trehan
- Release Date
-
July 31, 2020
- Actors
-
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi, Aditya Srivastava, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Shivani Raghuvanshi
Directed by Honey Trehan, Raat Akeli Hai (English: The Night is Lonely) is an Indian Hindi-language mystery thriller that follows a small-town cop summoned to investigate the death of a local aristocrat. As the case progresses, he finds himself drawn to the hidden secrets of the victim’s family, especially his mysterious new bride. The film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Gangs of Wasseypur) as the central detective, Inspector Jatil Yadav, with Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Khalid Tyabji, and more.
Released on Netflix in July 2020, Raat Akeli Hai received highly positive reviews at the time of its premiere, with critics praising the film’s tone, narrative, direction, and performances. A well-acted and well-written whodunit, the movie presents an intriguing cast of suspects with complex secrets that gradually reveal themselves through a grounded yet thrilling sequence of events. The movie received several accolades, including the Filmfare OTT Awards for Best Film and Best Actor (Siddiqui).
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‘Visaranai’ (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.4/10

Visaranai
- Language
-
Tamil
- Run Time
-
1 hr 58 min
- Director
-
Vetrimaaran
- Release Date
-
February 15, 2016
- Actors
-
Dinesh, Anandhi, Samuthirakani, Murugadoss, S Rathnasamy, Kishore, Pradheesh Raj
Written and directed by Vetrimaaran, Visaranai (English: Interrogation) is an Indian Tamil-language crime drama inspired by M. Chandrakumar’s semi-autobiographical 2006 novel Lock Up. The film follows a group of Tamil labourers who find themselves framed for a crime they didn’t commit. A police officer helps clear them of the false charges, but they are soon drawn into far greater nightmares orchestrated by powerful and corrupt officials. The movie stars Dinesh, Anandhi, Samuthirakani, Aadukalam Murugadoss, Kishore, Pradheesh Raj, and Silambarasan Rathnasamy.
Visaranai premiered at the 2015 Venice Film Festival in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section, receiving critical acclaim and winning the Amnesty International Italia Award. The film received numerous accolades and was selected as India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. The movie is also quite controversial because of certain sequences in which the actors were subjected to actual physical torture. Questionable production ethics aside, the film is a harrowing story about systemic corruption, and the fact that it’s inspired by real-life cases makes it all the more hard-hitting. It’s not an easy watch, but it is a necessary one.
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