Most Underrated Thriller Shows (Ranked 25 to 1)

25. Eric

‘Eric’ is one of Netflix’s most haunting limited series, blending psychological drama with mystery in 1980s New York. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Vincent Anderson, a puppeteer spiraling into addiction after his young son Edgar vanishes on his way to school. Convinced that bringing Edgar’s sketch of a monstrous puppet named “Eric” to life on TV will somehow bring him home, Vincent descends into obsession, alienating his wife and reality in the process. ‘Eric’ is both a portrait of grief and a slow-burn thriller about the destructive power of denial.

24. Behind Her Eyes

What starts as a love triangle quickly becomes a mind-bending psychological thriller in ‘Behind Her Eyes.’ The Netflix miniseries follows Louise, a single mother who begins a secret affair with her psychiatrist boss, David. And, she also befriends his enigmatic wife, Adele. What seems like a typical story of forbidden romance soon transforms into a twisting, genre-defying ride, as Louise gets pulled deeper into the couple’s dark, manipulative world.

23. Collateral

Sleek and socially conscious while critiquing modern Britain, ‘Collateral’ is a four-part British miniseries that combines classic crime drama with political commentary. Carey Mulligan shines as Detective Kip Glaspie, who investigates the seemingly random shooting of a pizza delivery driver in London. But what starts as a single act of violence unravels into a far-reaching conspiracy involving organized crime, immigration, and corruption in high places.

22. Clickbait

Few shows capture the dark side of the internet like ‘Clickbait.' When family man Nick Brewer (Adrian Grenier) suddenly disappears, a disturbing viral video emerges of him bloodied and holding signs confessing to horrific crimes. There’s also the chilling threat that he will die once the video hits 5 million views. His sister and wife desperately race to uncover the truth, but with each twist, it becomes clear that nothing and no one online can be trusted. The story is an essential cautionary tale wrapped in nail-biting suspense.

21. The Stranger

Secrets unravel at lightning speed in ‘The Stranger’ based on Harlan Coben’s novel. A happily married man’s life is thrown into chaos when a mysterious woman approaches him with a devastating revelation about his wife. What follows is a chain reaction of lies, betrayals, and shocking discoveries that ripple through his entire community. You will keep second-guessing everyone’s motives till the end.

20. Marcella

‘Marcella’ is a British noir with a Nordic edge, centering on Anna Friel’s Marcella Backland, a former detective pulled back into the force to investigate a string of murders. As the case unfolds, Marcella struggles with blackouts and personal demons, blurring the line between the her and the suspect. Dark, unpredictable, and unsettling, this is one of those thrillers that’s as much about the detective’s mind as it is about the crimes themselves.

19. The Following

If cults and serial killers fascinate you, ‘The Following’ doubles down on both. Kevin Bacon stars as former FBI agent Ryan Hardy, who comes out of retirement when charismatic serial killer Joe Carroll escapes prison. The twist? Carroll has built an entire cult of killers devoted to his cause, unleashing chaos on an unimaginable scale. Gruesome, relentless, and often shocking, the show pushes psychological horror to the edge while exploring the terrifying pull of manipulation and devotion. It’s messy, it’s violent, and it’s unforgettable.

18. Shining Girls

‘Shining Girls’ is a bold Apple TV+ thriller that bends time to tell its chilling story. Elisabeth Moss stars as Kirby, a Chicago newspaper archivist haunted by a brutal attack years earlier. When she discovers a pattern linking her trauma to other women, Kirby is pulled into a dangerous pursuit of her attacker—an elusive figure seemingly able to manipulate time itself. The show deftly mixes crime investigation with sci-fi elements, sometimes challenging viewers to keep up. Yet Moss’s fierce performance grounds it, making this an overlooked gem worth revisiting.

17. Vigil

Claustrophobia and conspiracy collide in ‘Vigil,’ a British thriller set almost entirely aboard a nuclear submarine. Suranne Jones commands the screen as DCI Amy Silva, a detective sent to investigate a suspicious death among the crew. Trapped deep undersea with no naval experience and a gnawing fear of confined spaces, Silva must navigate secrecy, mistrust, and political intrigue while working with DS Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) onshore. Expect slow-building paranoia and lots of suspense.

16. Chance

In ‘Chance,’ Hugh Laurie trades the hospital scrubs of ‘House’ for the gritty world of noir. He plays Dr. Eldon Chance, a San Francisco neuropsychiatrist who finds himself entangled in a dangerous web after one of his patients draws him into a world of corruption, abuse, and violent crime. To protect her and himself, Chance is forced into morally murky alliances that test his limits. Darkly addictive, this show is one of TV’s most underrated thrillers.

15. The Kettering Incident

Set against the misty forests of Tasmania, ‘The Kettering Incident’ is a slow-burn mystery that rewards patient viewers. Elizabeth Debicki plays Anna Macy, a doctor who returns to her hometown years after her best friend vanished without a trace. When another girl goes missing under eerily similar circumstances, Anna becomes determined to unravel the truth. The show masterfully mixes small-town secrets, environmental conflicts, and eerie supernatural undertones.

14. Safe

‘Safe’ is a tightly-wound British thriller from crime writer Harlan Coben, with Michael C. Hall delivering a gripping performance as grieving father Tom Delaney. Still reeling from his wife’s death, Tom’s life takes another devastating turn when his teenage daughter Jenny vanishes without warning. As he searches for her, he discovers that the seemingly idyllic gated community he calls home is filled with dark secrets, lies, and betrayals. With each episode, new revelations push Tom closer to a truth he may not be ready to face. It’s binge-worthy, for sure.

13. Messiah

‘Messiah’ dares to ask a provocative question: what if a modern-day figure emerged, performing miracles and drawing a devoted following—would he be hailed as a prophet or exposed as a fraud? When a mysterious man appears in the Middle East, sparking global chaos with his so-called divine powers, a determined CIA officer (Michelle Monaghan) begins to investigate. The show cleverly blurs the line between faith and manipulation, pulling viewers into a cat-and-mouse game of truth versus belief.

12. The Capture

In a world where surveillance cameras catch everything, ‘The Capture’ flips the script: what happens when the evidence itself can’t be trusted? This BBC thriller begins with a British soldier accused of a serious crime, caught on camera in an act he swears he didn’t commit. Enter detective Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger), who soon realizes the case runs far deeper than a single crime—it’s a conspiracy involving manipulated video footage and high-level cover-ups. With sharp writing, ethical dilemmas, and plenty of twists, ‘The Capture’ is a chilling reminder of how fragile truth has become in the digital age.

11. Hijack

‘Hijack’ is a thriller that unfolds in real time, keeping us glued from takeoff to landing. Idris Elba stars as Sam Nelson, a corporate negotiator whose skills are put to the ultimate test when terrorists seize control of his flight from Dubai to London. Sam must balance strategy and survival while 200 lives hang in the balance. The claustrophobic setting, combined with escalating passenger drama, makes for edge-of-your-seat storytelling.

10. Sharp Objects

Based on Gillian Flynn’s bestselling novel, ‘Sharp Objects’ is one of Amy Adams’ finest performances. She plays Camille Preaker, a troubled journalist returning to her hometown to cover the murder of two young girls. What starts as an investigation quickly turns into a deeply personal reckoning with buried trauma, toxic family ties, and dark secrets lurking beneath the town’s southern charm. The story is less about jump scares and more about peeling back the layers of human darkness.

9. The Day of the Jackal

This reimagining of ‘The Day of the Jackal’ is a stylish, razor-sharp thriller anchored by Eddie Redmayne in a chilling turn as the Jackal, a master assassin and shape-shifter. Known for his lethal precision and uncanny ability to vanish into new identities, the Jackal becomes the target when a high-profile mission catches the eye of determined British intelligence officer Bianca (Lashana Lynch). What follows is a deadly game of pursuit across international borders, where hunter and hunted constantly trade places. It’s a modern update of a classic that’s pure cat-and-mouse perfection.

8. The Valhalla Murders

‘The Valhalla Murders’ takes the best elements of Nordic noir—brooding landscapes, morally complex detectives, and chilling crimes—and wraps them into a taut thriller. The story begins when a profiler from Oslo returns to Iceland to investigate the country’s first suspected serial killer case. Teaming up with the sharp but weary local detective Kata, the duo uncovers a string of murders that lead back to a sinister boys’ home from decades earlier. With its slow-burn pace, atmospheric tension, and icy cinematography, the series is as haunting as it is gripping.

7. Dirty John

Based on the infamous true-crime podcast, ‘Dirty’ John is a harrowing exploration of love, deception, and obsession. The first season follows Debra Newell (Connie Britton), a successful businesswoman who falls for the charming but dangerously manipulative John Meehan (Eric Bana). What begins as a whirlwind romance soon spirals into a nightmare as John’s dark past and violent tendencies come to light. Each season of this anthology tackles a different real-life case where relationships turn toxic and deadly. ‘Dirty John’ terrifyingly forces viewers to question just how well we truly know the people we love.

6. Escape at Dannemora

Directed by Ben Stiller and based on a shocking true story, ‘Escape at Dannemora’ is a prison-break thriller with more depth than you’d anticipate. Patricia Arquette delivers a transformative performance as Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell, a prison employee who becomes entangled in a dangerous affair with two convicted murderers, Richard Matt (Benicio del Toro) and David Sweat (Paul Dano). Together, they orchestrate an audacious escape that keeps the entire town on edge. The series also digs into the psychology of manipulation, desperation, and loneliness, making it one of the most overlooked true-crime dramas in recent years.

5. And Then There Were None

Agatha Christie’s most famous mystery comes alive in this brilliantly tense miniseries. ‘And Then There Were None’ follows ten strangers invited to a remote island under mysterious pretenses, only to be killed off one by one in terrifyingly clever fashion. The 2015 adaptation boasts a stellar cast—including Aidan Turner, Charles Dance, and Sam Neill—and perfectly captures the claustrophobic paranoia of the novel. Every moment tightens the noose as suspicion spreads and trust evaporates. This adaptation proves why Christie’s story remains one of the greatest thrillers of all time.

4. Top of the Lake

‘Top of the Lake’ is a haunting and cerebral crime drama that digs deep into both mystery and human psychology. Elisabeth Moss stars as Detective Robin Griffin, who investigates disturbing cases against stunning but unforgiving backdrops—first in New Zealand, then later in Sydney. The series isn’t afraid to confront heavy themes such as abuse, corruption, and gender violence, while blending them into tightly crafted mysteries. Supported by powerhouse performances from Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, and Gwendoline Christie, ‘Top of the Lake’ offers both chilling suspense and poignant social commentary.

3. The Killing

Few shows capture the suffocating tension of a drawn-out murder investigation quite like ‘The Killing.’ Set in rain-soaked Seattle, the series follows detectives Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman), whose partnership and personal lives are tested by the cases they pursue. Each season unravels one complex murder mystery, making for an immersive and slow-burn experience. It shows the ripple effects of tragedy on families, politicians, and investigators alike. Overlooked in its time, ‘The Killing’ is now recognized as a modern noir classic.

2. Dept. Q

Adapted from Jussi Adler-Olsen’s bestselling novels, Dept. Q introduces us to Detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), a brilliant but abrasive cop who’s banished to a cold case unit after a traumatic incident. Alongside his determined partner Assad, he tackles long-forgotten mysteries that reveal chilling truths. The opening case involves the disappearance of a female prosecutor, but soon spirals into something far darker. With its moody Scandinavian setting, morally grey characters, and sharp plotting, ‘Dept. Q’ stands out as a hidden gem among international thrillers.

1. Counterpart

‘Counterpart’ is a genre-bending masterpiece that blends espionage thrills with sci-fi intrigue. J.K. Simmons gives a career-best performance as Howard Silk, a mild-mannered bureaucrat who discovers that his workplace, the mysterious Office of Interchange, conceals a portal to a parallel Earth. What follows is a high-stakes story of spy craft, identity, and betrayal, as Howard encounters his far more ruthless counterpart from the other side. Criminally underrated, ‘Counterpart’ is a must-watch for fans who love their thrillers with a world-building twist.