Here, there are thrills, chills, and movies set in automobiles.

Plot twist! The 18 best thriller movies on Hulu

Here, there are thrills, chills, and movies set in automobiles.

By Ilana Gordon,

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

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Kevin Jacobsen,

on May 8, 2026 8:11 a.m. ET

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Kirsten Dunst as Lee Smith in 'Civil War'; Wagner Moura as Armando in 'The Secret Agent'; Jacob Tremblay as Jack and Brie Larson as Joy in 'Room'. Credit:

A24; Neon; George Kraychyk/A24

This month, three of the five nominees for the 2026 Oscar for Best International Feature make an appearance in the guide. Representing Brazil (*The Secret Agent*), France (*It Was Just an Accident*), and Spain (*Sirāt*), these films explore and deconstruct politics, authoritarianism, and violence, but their narrative and stylistic choices couldn't be more different. All from 2025, *The Secret Agent *and* It Was Just an Accident *find comedy amidst chaos*; Sirāt *is dreamy, but emotionally devastating*.*

If you enjoy your thrillers served raw with a side of high stakes, then these flicks are for you. Read on for **'s 18 favorites in the genre to stream on Hulu right now.**

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

Ethan Hawke as Hank Hanson and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Andy Hanson in 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead'. Everett Collection

Money is the root of all evil, and in Sidney Lumet's 2007 crime thriller, *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead*, money rots the Hanson family from the inside out. After finance executive Andy Hanson (Philip Seymour Hoffman) realizes his embezzling activities are on the cusp of being discovered, he convinces his similarly cash-strapped younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke), to rob their parents' jewelry store.

The siblings' "victimless" crime does not work out as hoped, and as their father seeks revenge on the mysterious perpetrators, his two sons struggle to clean up the mess they left behind. The last film Lumet made before his death in 2011, *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead* is arguably his best. EW's critic writes, "Lumet's camera has become an invisible cage, inviting us to study the behavior of the human animals trapped inside." *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Sidney Lumet

**Cast:** Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris, Marisa Tomei

Civil War (2024)

Kirsten Dunst as Lee Smith in 'Civil War'.

A24/Courtesy Everett Collection

*Civil War*, Alex Garland’s dystopian action thriller, debuted before the 2024 election, but the film predicted how far the country could fracture. The story follows a group of American war journalists (led by Kirsten Dunst as Lee, a battle-weary photojournalist) as they trek from New York City to Washington D.C., at the height of the civil unrest, in order to interview the authoritarian, three-term president (Nick Offerman).

The film is unflinching in its depiction of how brutal revolution can be, and is an uncomfortable watch, but it’s also an important one. *Civil War* is a visceral thriller that demands viewers engage in the thought exercise of what life in the United States might look like if democracy fell and the people fought back. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Civil War*: Hulu

**Director:** Alex Garland

**Cast:** Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sonoya Mizuno

The Departed (2006)

Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello and Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan in 'The Departed'.

Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett

Loosely based on the exploits of real-life Irish gangster Whitey Bulger, *The Departed* is a twisted, violent descent into a criminal underworld that few emerge from. A film by Martin Scorsese, the crime thriller follows the parallel paths of two separate informants: Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), an undercover officer feeding information to the police from inside Boston Mob boss Frank Costello’s (Jack Nicholson) inner circle; and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a compromised sergeant on the Boston police force who is funneling information right back to Frank. Also featuring the most diverse array of Boston accents you’ve ever heard, *The Departed* is, as EW's critic writes, “Scorsesean, and he’s in full bloom.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Departed*: Hulu

**Director:** Martin Scorsese

**Cast:** Leonard DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen

Fresh (2022)

Sebastian Stan as Steve in 'Fresh'. Searchlight Pictures

Given that the title sequence doesn't begin until 30 minutes into the film, *Fresh* may start out like a rom-com, right down to the meet-cute in a grocery store. But by the time you're actually invested in the apparently burgeoning romance between the equally excellent Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan as Noa and Steve, things take a turn for the markedly sinister as Noa's dream guy transforms into something quite different. EW's critic deems *Fresh *"a clever, gory metaphor for the seemingly endless horrors of modern romance rooted in a plot twist just outrageous enough to plausibly be true." To say anything else would spoil the fun, so we'll just say that the film's title is more than apt. *—Gwen Ihnat*

Where to watch *Fresh*: Hulu

**Director: **Mimi Cave

**Cast: **Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jonica T. Gibbs, Charlotte Le Bon, Andrea Bang

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How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022)

Marcus Scribner as Shawn, Jake Weary as Dwayne, and Ariela Barer as Xochitl in 'How to Blow Up a Pipeline'.

Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection

Based on Andreas Malm's controversial book of the same name, *How to Blow Up a Pipeline* follows a group of young climate activists who plan to destroy an oil pipeline in West Texas to prompt more immediate action in addressing the climate crisis. One wrong step could risk being caught by authorities, or even putting themselves in harm's way. Unfolding with the tension of a heist movie, the film doesn't just entertain as an action thriller but also gives valid reasons as to what led each activist to take such drastic measures in the hope of saving the planet. The film also raises questions about whether such actions are effective in prompting change, while presenting its characters as complex humans. *—Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *How to Blow Up a Pipeline*: Hulu

**Director:** Daniel Goldhaber

**Cast: **Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane

The Infiltrator (2016)

Bryan Cranston as Robert Mazur in 'The Infiltrator'.

Liam Daniel/Broad Green Pictures

Behind the scenes, the biographical crime drama thriller *The Infiltrator* is actually a family affair. Written by Ellen Brown Furman and directed by her son, Brad Furman, the movie is set in the 1980s and follows the infiltration and dissolution of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar’s money laundering business. Three years after *Breaking Bad* went off the air, Bryan Cranston switches sides from meth maker to cartel breaker, starring as real-life U.S. Customs Special Agent Robert Mazur, whose undercover work was crucial in exposing Escobar’s far-reaching financial misdeeds.

Pivoting effortlessly from family man to ruthless felon, Cranston once again puts his acting range on full display, with a nuanced performance that is underscored by the knowledge that the slightest misstep could cost him — and his family — their lives. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Infiltrator*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+

**Director: **Brad Furman

**Cast: **Bryan Cranston, Diane Kruger, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Yul Vazquez

It Was Just an Accident (2025)

Majid Panahi as Ali, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr as Hamid, and Hadis Pakbaten as Goli in 'It Was Just an Accident'.

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi used run-and-gun shooting techniques to create *It Was Just an Accident*, a political thriller that was made without the approval of the country’s government. Pahani was arrested in 2010 on charges of creating propaganda against the Islamic Republic, and in this film, he leans heavily on the experiences of his fellow inmates to tell the story of three survivors of the Iranian prison system, who kidnap a man they believe was their torturer, and try to decide what to do with him.

Nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay, *It Was Just an Accident *is Pahani’s bravest work yet: a condemnation of the regime’s practices, while still sending the audience on a gripping — and often funny — journey. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *It Was Just an Accident*: Hulu

**Director:** Jafar Panahi

**Cast: **Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi

Longlegs (2024)

Nicolas Cage as Longlegs in 'Longlegs'.

Nicolas Cage takes a big swing (arguably bigger than usual) in this quietly haunting horror-thriller from Osgood Perkins (son of *Psycho* star Anthony Perkins). The go-for-broke actor plays a mysterious serial killer known only as "Longlegs," who is involved in a string of murder-suicides dating back decades. FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) investigates and eventually discovers a disturbing secret about her own connection to the case. "Perkins collects his simple component parts and somehow transforms this into such an unnerving film," writes EW's critic. "*Longlegs *is definitely a step above the others." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Longlegs*: Hulu

**Director:** Osgood Perkins

**Cast:** Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt

The Nightingale (2018)

Aisling Franciosi as Clare Carroll in 'The Nightingale'. IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

An affecting revenge thriller set in 1825 in the Tasmanian outback, *The Nightingale* is brutal, but not gratuitous. While the film does feature a hefty amount of sexual and run-of-the-mill violence, the moments of tenderness between the film’s leads — an Irish convict named Clare (Aisling Franciosi) who is seeking revenge on a British officer for wrongs committed against her family, and an Aboriginal tracker nicknamed Billy (Baykali Ganambarr) who is traumatized by the way the British have treated his people — are well-earned and beautifully acted.

Chilling and horrifying, the plot is propelled by moments of sadism, many of them committed by a lieutenant named Hawkins (Sam Claflin, whose psychopathic behavior will quickly erase any memories you have of him in *The Hunger Games* or *Daisy Jones & the Six*). It’s a difficult watch, but that’s also the point. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Nightingale*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Director: **Jennifer Kent

**Cast: **Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Baykali Ganambarr, Damon Herriman, Harry Greenwood

The Prestige (2006)

Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier and Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe in 'The Prestige'.

Touchstone Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Christopher Nolan shifts away from movie magic and into practical magic with his psychological thriller, *The Prestige*. A period piece set in late 19th-century London, the film follows rival magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) as they battle over a teleportation trick that eventually makes their careers and love lives disappear.

The only film to attempt the brave move of casting David Bowie as Nikola Tesla, *The Prestige* also showcases the talents of Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Andy Serkis, and Piper Perabo in supporting roles. Filled with magical one-upmanship, class issues, and dangerous technology, *The Prestige* covers a lot of ground, but the chemistry between Jackman and Bale is the film’s most impressive trick. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Prestige*: Hulu

**Director: **Christopher Nolan

**Cast:** Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo

Prey (2022)

Amber Midthunder as Naru in 'Prey'. David Bukach/Hulu

The *Predator* monster has terrified audiences for more than 35 years, but in the story's prequel and fifth installment, the tables turn and the monster becomes the prey. The film follows Naru (Amber Midthunder), a Comanche warrior with the heart of a hunter, who seeks to prove her skills and protect her tribe by catching a predator. Professional basketball player–turned–horror star Dane DiLiegro plays the film's eponymous villain and says the story is strong enough to win viewers over, even without its affiliation to the beloved horror franchise.

In an interview, he tells EW, "There just happens to be a Predator involved. Honestly, you could have shot this movie with a different monster and it still probably would have worked." If you're in the market for a solid thriller that still makes time to flesh out its main characters, sink your teeth into *Prey*. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Prey*: Hulu

**Director: **Dan Trachtenberg

**Cast: **Amber Midthunder, Dane DiLiegro, Dakota Beavers, Michelle Thrush, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat

Room (2015)

Jacob Tremblay as Jack and Brie Larson as Joy in 'Room'. George Kraychyk/A24

In 2010, Irish Canadian writer Emma Donoghue broke the literary world’s heart with *Room*, a novel told from the perspective of a 5-year-old boy born to an abducted mother, who didn't know a world existed outside the tiny shed they've been kept in. As Jack (Jacob Tremblay) first experiences life beyond the four walls of Room, and his mother (Brie Larson) unpacks years of trauma from their captivity, the pair finally has enough emotional and physical space to truly escape their imprisonment. Larson swept the awards circuit that year, winning a Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG award, and Oscar for Best Actress for her heart-wrenching portrayal of a survivor who chose to protect her son in the best way she knew how. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Room*: Hulu

**Director: **Lenny Abrahamson

**Cast: **Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, Sean Bridgers, William H. Macy**

Run (2020)

Kiera Allen as Chloe Sherman and Sarah Paulson as Diane Sherman in 'Run'. Everett Collection

On the surface, Diane (Sarah Paulson) seems like the perfect mother: Her 17-year-old daughter, Chloe (Kiera Allen), was born with health issues, and Diane has devoted her life to homeschooling and taking care of her. But now that Chloe is applying to colleges and on the brink of setting off into the real world, she begins to notice that Diane's love may be masking secrets that Chloe could never dream of. And the more Chloe learns about herself and her mother, the more danger she finds herself in.

A suspenseful psychological horror thriller that deals in themes of parental love, control, and what happens when the umbilical cord is cut too late, *Run *owes its success to the commitment of its stars. Newcomer Allen is a joy to watch, but it's Paulson who, as EW's critic writes, puts a "sweeter face" on depravity. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Run*: Hulu

**Director:** Aneesh Chaganty

**Cast: **Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen

Sanctuary (2023)

Margaret Qualley as Rebecca Marin and Christopher Abbott as Hal Porterfield in 'Sanctuary'.

Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection

Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott are the only stars of this taut psychological thriller. Qualley plays Rebecca, a woman interviewing Abbott's Hal at a hotel for a CEO position; as the film soon reveals, however, Rebecca is actually Hal's dominatrix, and this was all part of a carefully planned script. Hal breaks the news to Rebecca that because he's about to inherit his father's company, they have to end their arrangement. This enrages Rebecca, who demands half his new salary, and the pair engage in a battle for control. Unfolding with simmering suspense, *Sanctuary* is a scintillating thriller about sex and power, evoking Steven Soderbergh's *Sex, Lies, and Videotape* (1989), ironically starring Qualley's mother, Andie MacDowell. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Sanctuary*: Hulu

**Director:** Zachary Wigon

**Cast:** Margaret Qualley, Christopher Abbott

The Secret Agent (2025)

Wagner Moura as Armando in 'The Secret Agent'.

For 21 years, Brazil existed under the thumb of a military dictatorship. Set in 1977, in the midst of the repressive regime, *The Secret Agent *is a thriller starring *Civil War’s *Wagner Moura as Armando, an academic living under an assumed identity as he attempts to flee from his political enemies.

Shot on location in the coastal city of Recife, *The Secret Agent *is an homage to ‘70s cinema. The film combines grindhouse violence, gritty politics, real-life history, surreal comedy, and sharks — in an obvious nod to *Jaws** *(1975) — to create something new with an old soul. *The Secret Agent* was the most celebrated movie at Cannes 2025, and earned Moura an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Secret Agent*: Hulu

**Director: **Kleber Mendonça Filho

**Cast:** Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Alice Carvalho

Sirāt (2026)

Sergi López as Luis in 'Sirāt'.

A road movie that elicits comparisons to William Friedkin’s *Sorcerer* (1977) or George Miller’s *Mad Max *(1979), *Sirāt *is a Spanish thriller about Luis (Sergi López), a father looking for his missing daughter, accompanied by his young son and dog. The pursuit leads the family into a rave in the Moroccan desert — until a violent conflict breaks out, transforming the search into a quest for survival.

Director Óliver Laxe fills his movie with mostly non-actors, and the expansive North African desert is as desolate as the film’s worldview. Ear-shattering EDM and bone-chilling tension make for a full-body sensory experience, but it’s *Sirāt*’s most emotional scene — omitted here to maintain the purity of the viewing experience — that makes this a thriller you won’t soon forget. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Sirāt*: Hulu

**Director:** Óliver Laxe

**Cast:** Sergi López, Bruno Núñez Arjona, Richard Bellamy, Stefania Gadda, Joshua Liam Henderson

Speed (1994)

Keanu Reeves as Jack Traven and Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter in 'Speed'.

One of the ultimate ‘90s action movies, *Speed* is the story of the maniac who rigs a bus to explode if it goes too slow, and the Los Angeles cop who is determined to foil him. LAPD Officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) works on the city’s SWAT team and has had run-ins with the psychopathic Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) before. When he gets word of Howard’s bus plot, he manages to board the armed vehicle, where he assigns one of the passengers, Annie (Sandra Bullock), to keep the bus in motion while he de-escalates the situation. EW’s critic writes that Hitchcock “would be proud” of the movie “in which a zooming bus becomes a pop metaphor for a world speeding chaotically out of control.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Speed*: Hulu

**Director:** Jan de Bont

**Cast:** Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels

Uncut Gems (2019)

Adam Sandler as Howard Ratner in 'Uncut Gems'. A24

The silly Adam Sandler who ruled in the ‘90s has more range than you know. In *Uncut Gems*, he spends more than two hours driving audiences — and himself — to the brink of a panic attack. A crime thriller set in New York City, Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a fast-talking diamond salesman who is trying to hold onto his wife, his family, and his mistress, while also trying to ward off the creditors intent on collecting on his many debts.

Featuring a stacked cast (including Kevin Garnett playing himself), and directed by the Safdie brothers, *Uncut Gems* is less of a film and more of a race against self-combustion. EW’s reviewer writes that “Sandler’s never been better, really, balancing speedwalking desperation and fast-talking salesmanship with sorrow and glee.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Uncut Gems*: Hulu

**EW grade: **A–

**Directors: **Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie

**Cast: **Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel

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