20 Best Thriller Movies on Paramount Plus 2026
Discover 20 tense picks on Paramount Plus, from Clue and Shutter Island to Smile 2 and Blade Runner 2049, across crime, horror, and action.
If you’re hunting for tense, twisty, and unexpectedly fun movies to stream, this roundup of the best thriller movies on Paramount Plus has you covered. The lineup mixes sharp crime stories, eerie mysteries, and high-stakes action, so there’s something here whether you want a classic like Clue (1985) or a modern mind-bender like Shutter Island (2010). You’ll also find newer picks such as Smile 2 (2024), Passenger (2026), and The Running Man (2025), plus genre-benders like Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and Clash of the Thundermans (2026). From suspense with a sense of humor to full-on horror and pulse-pounding adventure, these titles show just how much range the service offers.
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01
Clue
comedy · crime · mystery & thriller
Clue finds six colorful dinner guests gathered at the mansion of their host, Mr. Boddy -- who turns up dead after his secret is exposed: He was blackmailing all of them. With the killer among them, the guests and Boddy's chatty butler must suss out the culprit before the body count rises.
Directed by Jonathan LynnCast Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKeanParamount Plus -
02
Passenger
horror · mystery & thriller
After a young couple witnesses a gruesome highway accident, they soon realize they did not leave the crash scene alone, as a demonic presence called the Passenger won't stop until it claims them both.
Directed by André ØvredalCast Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo, Joseph Lopez, Miles FowlerParamount Plus -
03
Scream
horror · mystery · thriller
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettCast Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Melissa Barrera, Jack QuaidNetflixParamount Plus -
04
Blade Runner 2049
action & adventure · drama · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
Directed by Denis VilleneuveCast Ryan Gosling, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Mark Arnold, Vilma SzécsiParamount Plus -
05
Shutter Island
drama · mystery · thriller
World War II soldier-turned-U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels investigates the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane, but his efforts are compromised by troubling visions and a mysterious doctor.
Directed by Martin ScorseseCast Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle WilliamsParamount Plus -
06
The Running Man
action · adventure · sci-fi · thriller
Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards is convinced by The Running Man's charming but ruthless producer to enter the deadly competition game as a last resort. But Ben's defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite — and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
Directed by Edgar WrightCast Glen Powell, Alyssa Benn, Sienna Benn, David Zayas, Greg TownleyAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus -
07
Seven
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Somerset researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer's mind, while his novice partner, Mills, scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.
Directed by David FincherCast Morgan Freeman, Andrew Kevin Walker, Daniel Zacapa, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth PaltrowParamount Plus -
08
Predators
documentary · crime · thriller
In the mid-aughts, Dateline NBC’s To Catch a Predator drew millions of weekly viewers to watch sting operations: men planning to meet minors for sex would instead be confronted by polished host Chris Hansen, then by the police — all on hidden camera.
Directed by David OsitCast Dani JaydenParamount Plus -
09
Event Horizon
horror · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
In 2047, a group of astronauts are sent to investigate and salvage the starship Event Horizon which disappeared mysteriously seven years before on its maiden voyage. However, it soon becomes evident that something sinister resides in its corridors.
Directed by Paul W.S. AndersonCast Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, Richard T. JonesParamount Plus -
10
Scream 7
horror · mystery · thriller
When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the town where Sidney Prescott has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes the next target.
Directed by Kevin WilliamsonCast Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason GoodingParamount Plus -
11
No Country for Old Men
crime · drama · thriller
Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.
Directed by Ethan Coen, Joel CoenCast Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly MacdonaldParamount Plus -
12
Smile
horror · mystery · thriller
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain.
Directed by Parker FinnCast Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, Robin Weigert, Caitlin StaseyParamount Plus -
13
Smile 2
horror · mystery · thriller
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.
Directed by Parker FinnCast Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter JacobsonNetflixAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus -
14
Zodiac
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
The Zodiac murders cause the lives of Paul Avery, David Toschi and Robert Graysmith to intersect.
Directed by David FincherCast Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Robert Downey Jr., Brian CoxParamount Plus -
15
Collateral
action · crime · drama · thriller
Cab driver Max picks up a man who offers him $600 to drive him around. But the promise of easy money sours when Max realizes his fare is an assassin.
Directed by Michael MannCast Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter BergAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus -
16
Primal Fear
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.
Directed by Gregory HoblitCast Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormandParamount Plus -
17
Minority Report
action · crime · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
John Anderton is a top 'Precrime' cop in the late-21st century, when technology can predict crimes before they're committed. But Anderton becomes the quarry when another investigator targets him for a murder charge.
Directed by Steven SpielbergCast Tom Cruise, Max von Sydow, Steve Harris, Neal McDonough, Patrick KilpatrickStarzParamount Plus -
18
Dunkirk
action · drama · history · thriller · war
The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II.
Directed by Christopher NolanCast Fionn Whitehead, Damien Bonnard, Aneurin Barnard, Lee Armstrong, James BloorParamount Plus -
19
Novocaine
action · comedy · crime · thriller
When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, everyman Nate turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.
Directed by Dan Berk, Robert OlsenCast Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty GabrielAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus -
20
Barron's Cove
crime · drama · thriller
When his young son is viciously murdered by a classmate, a grieving father with a history of violence kidnaps the child responsible, igniting a frenzied manhunt fueled by a powerful politician -- the father of the kidnapped boy.
Directed by Evan Ari KelmanCast Hamish Linklater, Tramell Tillman, Brittany Snow, Christian Convery, Garrett HedlundParamount Plus
Wrapping Up
Whether you’re in the mood for a clever whodunit, a dark psychological story, or a high-energy chase, this guide makes it easier to choose what to watch next. Titles like The Foreigner (2017), Smile 2 (2024), and Blade Runner 2049 (2017) prove the selection runs from grounded tension to bold genre spectacle. Bookmark this page so you can come back whenever you want a fresh pick without scrolling endlessly. It’s updated regularly, so the recommendations stay useful as the catalog changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Paramount Plus subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Paramount Plus. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these thriller movies ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the thriller titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 11, 2026