Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 28 best thriller series on Netflix as of October 2026, from House of Cards to Squid Game, with release dates for new seasons.
Entertainment Weekly’s list as of October 2026 puts the number of best thriller series on Netflix at 28. The list includes both older and newer shows, and all of them can be streamed on the platform.
Netflix began producing original content in 2013 with House of Cards, a political thriller starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. The series won Emmy Awards and changed the standard for on-demand television. Since then, Netflix has regularly released thrillers from many countries.
The catalog is varied, ranging from political drama and crime stories to time-travel mysteries. Several series are adapted from novels by Stephen King, Philip K. Dick, William Golding, Patricia Highsmith, and Holly Jackson. Three series earned an A- from critics: Black Doves, Dept. Q, and Homeland.
Politics, Intelligence, and Organized Crime
House of Cards (2013–2018) follows Frank Underwood and his wife, Claire, as they ruthlessly seize political power in America. Homeland (2011–2020) features Carrie Mathison, a CIA officer with bipolar disorder who investigates terrorist threats. Scandal (2012–2018) tells the story of Olivia Pope, a crisis manager with a complicated relationship with the president.
The Diplomat (2023–present) mixes geopolitics with the marital troubles of U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler. Black Doves (2024–present) brings action, humor, and betrayal to the inner circles of government. Entertainment Weekly called it fresh and funny. The Night Agent (2023–present) is about a low-level FBI agent who gets pulled into a conspiracy after answering a secret emergency hotline.
On the crime side, Breaking Bad (2008–2013) and Ozark (2017–2022) show ordinary men turning into major criminals. Money Heist (2017–2021) tells the story of a carefully planned heist in Spain led by a figure known as the Professor. The Blacklist (2013–2023) ran for 10 seasons, with the criminal mastermind Raymond Reddington surrendering himself to the FBI. Dept. Q (2025–present) and Black Rabbit (2025) take on criminal cases tied to past trauma and family.
Psychological Thrillers, Survival, and Time Travel
You (2018–2025) satirizes love stories through Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager whose obsession leads him to hold people captive and kill. Penn Badgley has asked viewers to stop romanticizing the character. Killing Eve (2018–2022) plays out as a cat-and-mouse chase between MI5 agent Eve Polastri and the assassin Villanelle. The Beast in Me (2025–present) pairs a grieving writer with her neighbor, who is suspected of murder.
Ripley (2024) adapts Patricia Highsmith’s novel with a film noir feel, set in Italy. Mindhunter (2017–2019) follows an FBI agent in the late 1970s who interviews serial killers to build criminal profiles. The Sinner (2017–2021) digs into why the culprit committed the crime rather than who did it. Squid Game (2021–2025) broke Netflix viewership records and is one of the best thriller series on Netflix for its critique of economic inequality.
Yellowjackets (2021–present) and Lord of the Flies (2026) depict stranded teenagers who lose their moral bearings. The Man in the High Castle (2015–2019) imagines a world in which the Axis powers won World War II. Dark (2017–2020) and 11.22.63 (2016) deal with time travel, one through the paradoxes of a German family and the other through a mission to prevent the assassination of JFK. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2024–present) and Wayward (2025) uncover small-town secrets from a teenager’s point of view.
Bodyguard (2018) is the most-watched British drama. Richard Madden won a Golden Globe for playing a bodyguard with PTSD. The Tourist (2022–2024) follows a man who wakes up with amnesia in the Australian outback and is hunted by a dangerous figure.
New Season Schedule
The Diplomat Season 4 premiered on October 15, 2026. Black Doves Season 2 follows on November 5, 2026. Both series are on Entertainment Weekly’s list.
The Night Agent Season 4 is scheduled for 2027 and has been confirmed as the final season. The series ranks as the sixth most popular show on Netflix. Viewers who haven’t started it still have time to catch up on the three previous seasons.
New viewers can start with the highest-rated series, such as Black Doves, Dept. Q, or Homeland. Crime fans can pick Breaking Bad and Ozark. This list of the best thriller series on Netflix has something for every taste.