Got a hankering for a great thriller? Tony Stamp has you covered, with this formidable list of the best thrillers available on NEON.
See also
* Best new movies & TV series on NEON
* All new streaming movies & series
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Watch on NEONA triple-hander starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, and John Gallagher Jr., in which the former awakes in a bunker and is told that America has been attacked, and they need to stay put. Much of the film’s tension comes from Winstead trying to figure out if this is true, or if Goodman has other motivations keeping her and Gallagher Jr. as willing guests, the movie wringing this premise for all it’s worth till its last moments.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Watch on NeonAn action-thriller helmed by John Wick co-director David Leitch, Atomic Blonde sees Charlize Theron play a spy on the hunt for a list of double agents. Set just prior to the collapse of the Berlin Wall, she proceeds to kick ass up and down the German capital, dealing with KGB officers as well as agents from MI6 and France, played by James McAvoy and Sofia Boutella.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
WATCH ON NEONAs murder mysteries (or even horror films) go, this is slight. But that matters less when you have a script laden with Gen X satire and delivered by the likes of Rachel Sennott, who gives every line reading a whip-smart frisson. Increasingly acidic up until its lacerating denouement, this is the kind of movie that’ll have you hating everyone—but that’s the point.
Body Double (1984)
Watch on NEONBrian De Palma took plotlines from some of Hitchcock’s best and dialled up the voyeurism, delivering one of the 1980s silliest, most self-reflexive erotic thrillers. Gleefully over the top, it sees Craig Wasson hopelessly outmatched against the sinister forces he stumbles across, going so far in his pursuit of the mysterious Holly Body, (Melanie Griffith), that he manages to get cast opposite her in a remarkably elaborate porn film. De Palma’s knack for this type of lunacy has yet to be matched.
Collateral (2004)
WATCH ON NEONOne of Tom Cruise’s best performances (please play a villain again Tom!), and one of Jamie Foxx’s too, not to mention a scene-stealing Jada Pinkett-Smith. That’s Michael Mann for you though, deploying typically muscular filmmaking to bolster a no-nonsense story of a hapless hero meeting a hitman, pioneering digital cinematography to showcase Los Angeles, and delivering a one-crazy-night showstopper.
Fall (2022)
WATCH ON NEONAs someone with a mild fear of heights, I found many parts of this genuinely hard to watch. Two women find themselves stranded 2000 ft in the air on a decrepit TV tower, after a chain of events that will have you yelling at your TV for them to stop. They don’t, and the movie manages to stretch out that premise to feature length while staying surprising.
Inside (2023)
Watch on NeonNot many actors can carry a movie as its (almost) sole on screen presence, but Willem Dafoe is certainly one of them. Playing an art thief who becomes trapped in a Manhattan penthouse, the veteran star is left to fend for himself as his luxurious surroundings become a brutal prison. Escape attempts, starvation and madness ensue, the results of each playing out over the well-worn canvas of Dafoe’s face.
Knock at the Cabin (2023)
WATCH ON NEONIf, like me, you’re a fan of M Night Shyamalan’s pivot toward immaculately filmed schlock, then you’ll love this apocalyptic parable, more violent that his usual outings and definitely more nihilistic. As usual there’s totally committed performances—none better than Dave Bautista, playing a soft-spoken creep.
The Lady From Shanghai (1947)
Watch on NeonOrson Welles’ 1947 noir was considered a disaster on its release, the director forgoing his credit after disagreeing with post-production choices imposed by the studio. Its reputation has increased markedly over time though: Welles’ innovative camera work still impresses, as does the iconic final scene in a hall of mirrors, and the film’s multiple plot threads cohere into a satisfyingly-resolved mystery thriller.
Missing (2023)
Watch on NEONA standalone sequel to Searching, the screenlife movie starring John Cho, this takes a similar premise (hunting for clues about a disappearance, presented on computer and phone screens), and ramps it up to absurdly enjoyable levels. This time it’s Storm Reid trying to track down her missing mom, a device-bound journey through multiple countries and government agencies, with a denouement I’ll wager you won’t predict.
A Simple Favour (2018)
Watch on NEONHelmed by Paul Feig, better known for joke-delivery vehicles like Bridesmaids, Spy, and the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, this Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively vehicle surprised with how seriously it took its twist-laden plot, courtesy of Jessica Sharzer’s taut screenplay. Double and triple crosses abound, and it’s all a bit comedic, sure, but also much more thrilling than you might expect.
Smile (2022)
WATCH ON NEONFamiliar on the surface but shot with style and unexpected depth, Smile features Sosie Bacon (Kevin’s daughter) as the unwilling recipient of a curse, the first clue to which is a certain creepy facial expression. It turns up the dread slowly and with visual flair, delivering some nerve-shredding jolts along the way.
This guide is regularly updated to reflect changes in NEON’s catalogue. For a list of capsule reviews that have been removed from this page because they are no longer available on the platform, visit here.
