It sometimes seems like true cinematic thrillers have gone out of fashion lately. Perhaps the genre has been taken over by television and true-crime documentaries. Those are great, but sometimes you want a suspenseful, fictional story in two hours or less. Luckily, Max has a ton of thrilling movies for you to watch or rewatch as many times as you want. The following entries represent just a small sampling of thrillers the streaming service currently has to offer.

Don't see what you're looking for? Check out our list of the best horror films or dramas on the platform or the best movies across all genres on Max.

Editor's note: This article was updated in May 2024 to include The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Black Swan, and The Assistant.

'The Assistant' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 6.4/10

Award-winning filmmaker Kitty Green (Ukraine Is Not a Brothel) takes a step out of the world of documentaries to present a scathing look at the life of executive assistants in this scripted drama that she wrote, directed, and edited. The Assistant follows a young executive assistant played by Julia Garner (Ozark) through a single day of her life where she has to navigate harassment, sexual impropriety in the workplace, and discrimination while trying to walk the fine line of professionalism that could mean the difference between keeping her job and not being able to pay her bills. Green perfectly captures the struggles of a low-status worker trying to survive in a cut-throat corporate environment.

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'Black Swan' (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan is a psychological horror film starring Natalie Portman as a ballerina who finds herself spiraling into madness as she competes for the coveted lead in a production of Swan Lake. The film’s screenplay was written by Andres Heinz, Mark Heyman, and John McLaughlin. Besides Portman in the lead role, the movie also stars Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder. Black Swan premiered at the 2010 Venice International Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim for its direction and performances. Shortly after, the film arrived in theaters and became a major global success as well, bringing in over $300 million on a budget of just $13 million. Natalie Portman delivers an Oscar-winning performance as a troubled artist on the brink of insanity — arguably one of the best of her career. Aronofsky’s masterful direction blends reality and illusion into a heady, surreal mix, which further highlights Portman’s performance and takes the viewer on a troubling, enthralling journey to the darkest corners of the human mind.

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'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes: 63% | IMDb: 7.0/10

Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a psychological horror film that follows a surgeon who takes a young boy under his wing — only to find that he has a hidden agenda. The movie stars Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan, with Nicole Kidman, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic, and Alicia Silverstone. The Killing of a Sacred Deer premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay award and competed for the Palme d’Or. The film has received critical acclaim and is regarded as a prime example of Lanthimos’ particularly idiosyncratic style, presenting an absurdist take on a simple enough premise. It’s very much a horror-thriller story, but it’s that off-beat sensibility that sets The Killing of a Sacred Deer apart from the herd. With brilliant performances by its ensemble cast, a surprising sense of humor, and a script that keeps you guessing, The Killing of a Sacred Deer isn’t just a great thriller — it’s great cinema.

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'Don’t Worry Darling' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 74% | IMDb: 6.3/10

One of the most dramatic films of the year, both on and off screen, director Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling is a suspense-filled mystery about a utopian town that, in actuality, is anything but. Florence Pugh (Black Widow) continues her charm, captivating audiences as the perfect loving and doting housewife, Alice, who begins to unravel as she suspects that her world is not what it seems. Paired with Harry Styles (My Policeman), Pugh is exceptional as she holds the movie together – even in formidable scenes against Chris Pine (Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves). Don’t Worry Darling introduces a mountain of intrigue while offering an onslaught of thought-provoking questions. – Yael TygielWatch on Max

'Meg 2: The Trench' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 73% | IMDb: 5.0/10

A sequel to the hit sharksploitation movie The Meg, Meg 2: The Trench follows Jason Statham’s Jonas and Jing Wu’s Jiuming Zhang as they lead a research team down into the dark depths of the unexplored ocean, only to be met by fears bigger than they ever could have imagined and a battle for survival just as great. With the original throwing almighty action-sequences and terrifying visuals in abundance, Meg 2: The Trench turns the dial up even more, with impressive cinematography from Haris Zambarloukos that manages to capture the sheer terror of the ocean. A wild ride from start to finish, Meg 2: The Trench is the perfect indulgence movie for those who want thrills and spills without necessarily any nuance. A fact fans of the series relish, Meg 2: The Trench is unapologetically in-your-face. - Jake HodgesWatch on Max

'Reality' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 67% | IMDb: 6.7/10

Director and playwright Tina Satter adapts her stage play Is This a Room, based on the real transcripts of an FBI investigation into leaked classified documents. At the center of the investigation is a young US Air Force member and NSA translator named Reality Winner, whose tense encounter with the FBI is masterfully captured by up-and-coming talent Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria). This docudrama is a wonderful showcase for Satter as her film directorial debut, and she couldn’t have picked a better lead in Sweeney, who is so real and grounded in this role it makes your heart race with every question she has to field, knowing a single misplaced word could mean the end for her.Watch on Max

'Under the Skin' (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes: 55% | IMDb: 6.3/10

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, who co-wrote the script with Walter Campbell, Under the Skin is an enticing science-fiction thriller with a music video aesthetic that feels natural to the director’s previous experiences. The film stars Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) as an unknown entity who takes the form of a stunning young woman in order to lure isolated males into her web, trapping their lost souls in an otherworldly dimension. Blossoming from a mind-bending premise, Under the Skin is set against the backdrop of Scotland, revealing an unnerving exploration of humanity through a strangely sensual and undeniably suspenseful film. – Yael TygielWatch on Max

'Pulp Fiction' (1994)

Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 8.9/10

But of course. Pulp Fiction, the film that simultaneously shot Tarantino into “superstardom” status and spawned a slew of imitators that would be churned out of Hollywood for the next decade. To find the extent of Tarantino’s influence, look no further than the fact that non-linear storytelling is now not only common, it’s become a staple of high-end television. Tarantino found himself in a neck-and-neck battle with Forrest Gump all throughout awards season, and while he lost out on Best Director and Best Picture to Robert Zemeckis’ fable, he at least took home Best Original Screenplay. Oscars aside, though, Pulp Fiction is an enduring classic that has solidified its place in film history as an incredibly influential—and just cool—piece of work. – Adam ChitwoodWatch on Max

'Ex Machina' (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Written and directed by Alex Garland (Annihilation), Ex Machina is a fascinating and dark science-fiction thriller covering the intersection of isolation, obsession, and technology. Domhnall Gleeson (The Rise of Skywalker) plays Caleb, an engineer invited to partake in an exclusive opportunity to work with synthetic intelligence, where it turns out that nothing is as it seems. While the film features stellar performances from the incomparable Oscar Isaac (Moon Knight) and underrated Gleeson, the true breakout of Ex Machina is Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider), who embodies an android named Ava. Vikander is hypnotic in the role, solidifying the intrigue for audiences and allowing this fascinating film about intelligent people reflecting on the nature of humanity to flourish. – Yael TygielWatch on Max

'A Most Violent Year' (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: 69% | IMDb: 7.0/10

A Most Violent Year stars Oscar Isaac (X-Men: Apocalypse) and Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) as a loving couple driven by their ambitions to protect their family and business during a tumultuous and dangerous time in New York City history. Writer/director J.C. Chandor brings an incredible story to life, earning A Most Violent Year an abundance of award nominations for the actors involved. Isaac and Chastain steer the suspenseful crime drama with heart and determination through their riveting performances. – Yael TygielWatch on Max

'Kimi' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 60% | IMDb: 6.3/10

Another film that proves Steven Soderbergh is one of the best to ever do it, Kimi is a masterful modern thriller set in Seattle that authentically captures the city as it follows Zoë Kravitz as a tech worker named Angela. In the course of her work, Angela discovers that there is a coverup that she will have to leave the safety of her apartment in order to uncover. What follows is a thoroughly tense experience that sees her having to flee through the nooks and crannies of the city while avoiding a whole host of pursuers who would want nothing more than to make sure she stays silent. Not only is Kravitz pitch-perfect in the role, but she also really embraces the kinetic energy of the film that keeps everything moving along smoothly. It all builds to one of the most satisfying and cathartic conclusions, making for one of the most thoroughly enjoyable cinematic rides you’ll find out there. — Chase HutchinsonWatch on Max

'Blood Simple' (1984)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Blood Simple was the world’s introduction to the Coen Brothers, and they come out the gate swinging. The film has all their hallmarks, already formed. Its characters are dumb, but likable folks who get in over their heads and run directly into disaster. Even this early on, the Coens display a great eye for detail and ear for dialog. The film is a pleasure just to listen to. And also, there is all that crazy Coen violence, which can be funny and horrifying at the same time. On top of all that, the film boasts a super early Frances McDormand performance as well.Watch on Max

'The Lady Vanishes' (1938)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Max has a lot of older Alfred Hitchcock films from his black and white, pre-Hollywood, spy era. They are all pretty good, but among them, The Lady Vanishes is extra special. The film focuses on a train ride during which one passenger, a nice old lady, has seemingly ceased to exist. It’s up to a duo of travelers to solve the mystery. Face it, there’s nothing better than watching people solve a seemingly impossible puzzle while onboard a train. It also helps that the conclusion ends up being worth the wait conceptually and super fun as well.Watch on Max

'The Wages of Fear' (1953)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 8.2/10

One of the classic thrillers, The Wages of Fear offers a very simple premise. For desperate men must drive highly sensitive truckloads of nitroglycerine 300 miles over treacherous terrain. The trip is worth too much money to refuse, but just a couple good bumps will cause their payload to explode, killing them in a ball of fire. To call the film tense does it a disservice. Every mile these guys drive could be their last, and if you think an uneven dirt road filled with potholes is the worst they come up against, you haven’t seen enough movies. This was later remade by the great William Friedkin as Sorcerer in the 1970s. Together they make for a truly white-knuckled double feature.Watch on Max