I’m always on the hunt for thriller movies to watch on Netflix, and I don’t think I’m the only subscriber who loves twisting, suspenseful, packed flicks either. I track the most popular Netflix movies every day, and the thriller genre pretty often seems to come out on top.
So, if you’re also looking for some new to Netflix thriller movies for your watchlist this week, I’ve combed through the platform’s slate for December 2025 and found the latest arrivals. These picks range from the newest installment in the fan-favorite “Knives Out” franchise to a ‘90s thriller that offers a cast of talented A-listers and plenty of unexpected twists and turns. These are the three Netflix thriller movies most worth streaming over the coming days.
Best Netflix thriller movies to watch this week
‘Brightburn’ (2019)
Falling into the dark thriller, if not outright horror, category, “Brightburn” asks a relatively simple, yet very intriguing, question: What if Superman had been evil? While not an official DC project, “Brightburn” makes no attempts to hide its clear inspiration, and this chilling spin on the Man of Steel origin story has earned quite a cult following over the years. While it doesn’t take full advantage of its excellent setup, the “what if?” scenario is still very novel.
“Brightburn” opens with a spaceship carrying a small child crash-landing in Kansas. The extraterrestrial arrival is found by the Breyers (Elizabeth Banks and David Denman), who adopt the alien child as their son, naming him Brandon. As Brandon grows up, he starts to develop superhuman powers, like impossible strength and the ability to fly, but rather than use these new powers for good, Brandon opts to follow a darker, much more twisted path.
Watch “Brightburn” on Netflix now
‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2025)
The latest chapter in the “Knives Out” franchise arrives on Netflix this week, and having been fortunate enough to watch it already in theatres, I’m pleased to report that it’s sure to thrill and entertain you in equal measures. But more impressively than offering up another knotty murder mystery to solve, “Wake Up Dead Man” also packs some genuinely thoughtful reflections on the nature of faith, and all without getting preachy.
When renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is called to upstate New York to investigate the death of a local priest (Josh Brolin), he finds himself attempting to solve yet another seemingly impossible murder mystery. Offering assistance is Rev. Jud (Josh O’Connor), a former boxer turned man of faith, and the movie’s standout new character. Also featuring an ensemble cast including Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner and Andrew Scott, “Wake Up Dead Man” certainly maintains the “Knives Out” series truly impressive streak of quality.
Watch “Wake Up Dead Man” on Netflix from December 12
‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ (1999)
A true classic of late 1990s cinema, “The Talented Mr. Ripley” pulls together a star-studded cast list including Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Even better, the movie doesn’t waste all those A-list actors, as the material is worthy of them. Based on the Patricia Highsmith novel of the same name, “The Talented Mr. Ripley” is a supremely engaging thriller that explores duplicity, obsession, manipulation, and murder.
Matt Damon plays the eponymous Tom Ripley, a lowly con artist, who is hired by a shipping magnate to travel to Europe and bring home his wayward son, Dickie (Jude Law). Upon arriving in Italy and staging a chance encounter with Dickie and his girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow), Ripley quickly becomes infatuated with their luxurious lifestyle and plots a way to turn the tables in his favor permanently.
Watch “The Talented Mr. Ripley” on Netflix from December 13
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