Thrillers are designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, but when a movie is based on a true story or inspired by real events, the experience becomes that much more intense. For me, knowing that these events actually happened makes you pay closer attention since it adds an extra layer of tension and dread that purely fictional stories just can’t replicate.
If you’re in the mood for something a little more gripping than the typical streaming thriller, you’re in luck. This list includes some twisty mysteries, action, and even a harrowing survival story (all based on true events), plus I'll tell you where you can stream them now.
‘Zodiac’ (2007)
Starting off this list is one of the best mystery thrillers ever made: David Fincher’s “Zodiac,” released in March 2007. It chronicles the desperate hunt for the infamous Zodiac Killer as they terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Anyone familiar with the real Zodiac case knows the killer was never identified; it's a disturbing mystery that remains unsolved. Rather than offering closure, Fincher’s movie focuses on the atmosphere of dread and unease that consumed San Francisco at the time.
“Zodiac” follows political cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), who becomes drawn into the hunt for the elusive Zodiac Killer. When cryptic letters and ciphers arrive at the San Francisco Chronicle, Graysmith teams up with crime reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) and clashes with seasoned police inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and his partner William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) as they try to piece together clues. Along the way, Graysmith’s obsession grows, affecting his personal life and driving him deeper into the decades‑long mystery.
Stream now on Netflix
‘Captain Phillips’ (2013)
Tom Hanks delivers one of his most compelling performances in “Captain Phillips,” an intense action-thriller directed by “Jason Bourne”’s Paul Greengrass. Intensely suspenseful from start to finish, the movie stands out for its gritty approach, avoiding typical Hollywood theatrics. It tells the true story of the 2009 hijacking of the American cargo ship Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates, focusing on the enponymous Captain’s harrowing experience as a hostage aboard a lifeboat, adapted from his own memoir.
Seasoned mariner Captain Richard Phillips (Hanks) commands the U.S.‑flagged cargo ship MV Maersk Alabama on a routine voyage near the Horn of Africa. When a group of armed Somali pirates, led by Abduwali Muse (Barkhad Abdi), attempts to seize the unarmed vessel, Phillips must respond quickly to protect his crew. As the situation worsens on the open ocean, he becomes even more entangled with the pirate leader, setting the stage for an intense and precarious confrontation far from shore.
Buy/rent on Amazon
‘Woman of the Hour’ (2024)
Netflix doesn’t often release a true crime movie that really gets under your skin, but that changed in October 2024 with the release of “Woman of the Hour,” a thriller based on the real‑life 1970s case of serial killer Rodney Alcala. Anna Kendrick makes her directorial debut with this gripping story, offering a fresh take on the true crime genre. Instead of leaning into sensationalism, it focuses on the stark reality of the events. The result is a story that etches itself in your mind.
“Woman of the Hour” follows aspiring actress Sheryl Bradshaw (Kendrick), who in 1978 accepts a spot on the television show "The Dating Game" in hopes of jump-starting her career. On the show, she’s paired with Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), one of the bachelors up for a date, unaware that he is a real‑life serial killer already in the midst of a years‑long crime spree. The movie dramatizes their encounter on the show and its aftermath as the dangerous criminal’s chilling actions unfold, drawing on the true story of Alcala’s appearance on national TV. This is a movie that still haunts me to this day.
Stream now on Netflix
‘127 Hours’ (2010)
Survival movies can be tough to watch because of their intense subject matter, and they often risk getting bogged down by predictable dramatic beats. “127 Hours,” however, delivers some of the most gripping and thrilling storytelling the genre has to offer. In lesser hands, this story could have easily felt like a forgettable miniseries mistakenly made for the big screen. Thanks to Danny Boyle’s masterful direction, the movie turns static, confined circumstances into a dynamic cinematic experience. And it tells the true story of Aron Ralston in a viscerally intense way.
Mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco) sets out on a solo canyoneering trip in Utah’s Blue John Canyon. While making his way through a narrow passage, a large boulder dislodges and pins his right arm against the canyon wall, leaving him trapped and alone. With limited supplies, Ralston struggles for survival over the next five days, documenting his ordeal and attempting various methods to free himself.
Buy/rent on Amazon
‘The Clovehitch Killer’ (2018)
“The Clovehitch Killer” catches you off guard when you least expect it, and its slow-burn pace is well worth enduring, because the second half of the movie will linger in your thoughts for some time. While undeniably creepy, the thriller feels disturbingly realistic. At its heart is a chilling concept: someone you love and trust could be hiding something truly monstrous. Inspired by real events, specifically the crimes of American serial killer Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer, this movie delivers a genuinely unsettling viewing experience.
16‑year‑old Tyler Burnside (Charlie Plummer) is a Boy Scout and dutiful son in a quiet Kentucky town still haunted by the unsolved murders of a serial killer known as the Clovehitch Killer. When Tyler finds disturbing photographs in his father Don’s (Dylan McDermott) truck, he begins to question whether the man he trusts most might be connected to the decades‑old case. With help from a classmate, Kassi (Madisen Beaty), he digs deeper into the evidence, uncovering more unsettling clues that force him to confront the possibility that the killer may be closer to home than anyone imagined.
Stream now on Hulu
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