20 Best Thriller Movies on Starz 2026
Browse tense crime, horror, and action picks like The Talented Mr. Ripley, Speak No Evil, and Underworld in this guide to Starz thrillers.
If you’re hunting for the best thriller movies on Starz, this list makes it easy to narrow things down by mood. You’ll find crime-heavy picks like The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Italian Job, and The Devil You Know alongside darker choices such as Speak No Evil, Pet, and Night of the Living Dead. There’s also a strong action edge here with Underworld, Underworld: Evolution, Cradle 2 the Grave, and Stuber. For viewers who like psychological tension or mystery, titles like Afterwards, The Raven, and Dreams add another layer of suspense. Whether you want a tense heist, a revenge story, or a creepy slow burn, these selections cover a lot of ground.
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01
In the Grey
action · crime · drama · thriller
A covert team of elite operatives are living in the shadows. When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, they're sent to take it back—an impossible heist that erupts into a deadly game of strategy, deception and survival.
Why watch: If you enjoy covert-ops stories with crime and survival stakes, this one fits that lane. The heist premise and thriller focus should appeal to viewers who like strategic tension.
Directed by Guy RitchieCast Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza González, Carlos Bardem, Michael VuStarzMore details on IMDb → -
02
The Furious
action · crime · thriller
After a criminal network kidnaps Wang Wei's daughter and the corrupt police refuse to assist him, Wei sets out on his own to locate her. Navin, a tenacious journalist whose wife has mysteriously vanished, is his only ally. In this explosive martial arts showdown, the unlikely duo fights the kidnappers ruthlessly driven by a furious vengeance.
Why watch: If you want an action-forward thriller with a revenge drive, this is a strong match. Its crime-thriller setup and martial arts energy make it a good pick for viewers who like fast-paced conflict.
Directed by Kenji TanigakiCast Miao Xie, Joe Taslim, Enyou Yang, Brian Le, Yayan RuhianStarzMore details on IMDb → -
03
Underworld
action · fantasy · thriller
Vampires and werewolves have waged a nocturnal war against each other for centuries. But all bets are off when a female vampire warrior named Selene, who's famous for her strength and werewolf-hunting prowess, becomes smitten with a peace-loving male werewolf, Michael, who wants to end the war.
Why watch: If you like action with a supernatural angle, this title stands out. The fantasy-thriller blend and long-running vampire-versus-werewolf conflict give it a distinct edge.
Directed by Len WisemanCast Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Bill NighyStarzMore details on IMDb → -
04
Night of the Living Dead
horror · thriller
A ragtag group barricade themselves in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls ravaging the Northeast.
Why watch: If you want a classic horror-thriller with survival pressure, this is an easy one to try. Its trapped-house setup and undead threat make it ideal for fans of tense, claustrophobic stories.
Directed by George A. RomeroCast Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith WayneStarzTubiPeacock PremiumFreeveeMaxMore details on IMDb → -
05
Shelter
action · thriller
Michael Mason is a recluse on a remote Scottish island who rescues a girl from the sea, unleashing a perilous sequence of events that culminate in an attack on his home, compelling him to face his turbulent history.
Why watch: If you prefer isolated, high-stakes thrillers, this could be a good fit. The remote-island setting and action-thriller genre point to a story built around danger and personal history.
Directed by Ric Roman WaughCast Jason Statham, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Michael Shaeffer, Anna Crilly, Bill NighyStarzMore details on IMDb →
Not quite it? Ask WattaWatch for thriller on Starz →
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06
Stuber
action · comedy · crime · mystery · thriller
After crashing his car, a cop who's recovering from eye surgery recruits an Uber driver to help him catch a heroin dealer. The mismatched pair soon find themselves in for a wild day of stakeouts and shootouts as they encounter the city's seedy side.
Why watch: If you like thrillers with crime and comedy mixed in, this one may suit you well. Its mismatched-pair setup suggests a lighter tone without losing the chase-and-shootout tension.
Directed by Michael DowseCast Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Mira Sorvino, Natalie Morales, Iko UwaisStarzMore details on IMDb → -
07
Pet
crime · horror · thriller
A man bumps into an old crush and becomes obsessed. After several failed attempts at winning her over, he kidnaps her and holds her captive underneath the animal shelter where he works.
Why watch: If you’re drawn to darker crime thrillers, this is an intense option. The horror element and obsession-driven premise make it best for viewers comfortable with unsettling stories.
Directed by Carles TorrensCast Dominic Monaghan, Ksenia Solo, Jennette McCurdy, Da'Vone McDonald, Nathan ParsonsAmazon Prime VideoStarzTubiMore details on IMDb → -
08
The Devil You Know
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Once-incarcerated Marcus Cowans is trying to turn over a new leaf with the support of his loving family. Upon discovering that one of his brothers may have been involved in a horrific crime, Marcus grapples with the limits of brotherhood and loyalty. He and his family, increasingly weary of the justice system’s failings, end up in the crosshairs of a seasoned but jaded detective.
Why watch: If you like family-centered crime drama with moral tension, this title may appeal to you. Its mystery and thriller elements suggest a story focused on loyalty, suspicion, and pressure from the justice system.
Directed by Charles MurrayCast Omar Epps, William Catlett, Glynn Turman, Curtiss Cook, Vanessa Bell CallowayStarzMore details on IMDb → -
09
Dreams
drama · romance · thriller
A powerful socialite and a promising ballet dancer begin a dangerous affair. When he secretly crosses the US-Mexico border, she takes desperate measures to protect their future together.
Why watch: If you prefer character-driven thrillers with romance mixed in, this is worth a look. The drama-romance-thriller combination suggests personal stakes are a big part of the tension.
Directed by Michel FrancoCast Isaac Hernández, Eduardo Gonzalez, Hugo Costa Ramos, Julio Bernal, René MartínezStarzMore details on IMDb → -
10
Tales from the Hood
crime · drama · horror · thriller
A strange mortician tells four horrific tales to three drug dealers that he traps in a local funeral parlor.
Why watch: If you enjoy anthology-style horror with a thriller edge, this is a good choice. Its crime and drama elements also make it a fit for viewers who like stories framed by tension and consequence.
Directed by Rusty CundieffCast Clarence Williams III, Joe Torry, De'aundre Bonds, Samuel Monroe Jr., Wings HauserStarzMore details on IMDb → -
11
Curve
horror · thriller
A soon-to-be bride on her way to a wedding rehearsal is having second thoughts and decides to take a detour. Her car breaks down and a hitch-hiker offers help. Could it be fate?
Why watch: If you like isolated setups and uneasy encounters, this one should work for you. The horror-thriller label and roadside situation point to a compact, suspenseful watch.
Directed by Iain SoftleyCast Julianne Hough, Teddy Sears, Penelope Mitchell, Madalyn Horcher, Drew RauschStarzMore details on IMDb → -
12
Speak No Evil
drama · horror · thriller
When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.
Why watch: If psychological unease is your thing, this movie is likely to grab you. The family-vacation premise turning into a nightmare makes it a strong pick for fans of tense domestic horror-thrillers.
Directed by James WatkinsCast James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West LeflerStarzMore details on IMDb → -
13
Jungle
adventure · biography · drama · thriller
In 1981, an enthusiastic young adventurer follows his dreams into the Bolivian Amazon jungle with two friends and a guide with a mysterious past. Their journey quickly turns into a terrifying ordeal as the darkest elements of human nature and the deadliest threats of the wilderness lead to an all-out fight for survival.
Why watch: If you enjoy survival stories with a real-world edge, this is a strong match. Its adventure, biography, drama, and thriller mix should suit viewers who like danger and human conflict together.
Directed by Greg McLeanCast Daniel Radcliffe, Thomas Kretschmann, Alex Russell, Joel Jackson, Yasmin KassimStarzTubiMore details on IMDb → -
14
The Talented Mr. Ripley
5 Oscar nominations Best Supporting Actor (2000)
crime · drama · thriller
Tom Ripley is a calculating young man who believes it's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody. Opportunity knocks in the form of a wealthy U.S. shipbuilder who hires Tom to travel to Italy to bring back his playboy son, Dickie. Ripley worms his way into the idyllic lives of Dickie and his girlfriend, plunging into a daring scheme of duplicity, lies and murder.
Why watch: If you like stylish crime thrillers built around deception and manipulation, this is a great fit. The drama and thriller blend suggests slow-burn tension with serious consequences.
Directed by Anthony MinghellaCast Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour HoffmanStarzParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
15
The Raven
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A fictionalized account of the last days of Edgar Allan Poe's life, in which the poet is in pursuit of a serial killer whose murders mirror those in the writer's stories.
Why watch: If you’re interested in mystery-driven thrillers tied to a historical figure, this one stands out. The serial-killer pursuit and crime elements make it a solid choice for viewers who like a darker puzzle.
Directed by James McTeigueCast John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin McNallyAmazon Prime VideoStarzMore details on IMDb → -
16
The Italian Job
action · crime · thriller
Charlie Croker pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that he didn't plan on was being double-crossed. Along with a drop-dead gorgeous safecracker, Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase that careens up, down, above and below the streets of Los Angeles.
Why watch: If you want a crime thriller with a strong action payoff, this is a natural pick. The heist-and-chase setup should appeal to anyone who likes momentum and high stakes.
Directed by F. Gary GrayCast Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Jason Statham, Seth GreenStarzMore details on IMDb → -
17
Underworld: Evolution
action · fantasy · thriller
As the war between the vampires and the Lycans rages on, Selene, a former member of the Death Dealers (an elite vampire special forces unit that hunts werewolves), and Michael, the werewolf hybrid, work together in an effort to unlock the secrets of their respective bloodlines.
Why watch: If you enjoy fantasy thrillers with ongoing conflict, this sequel fits well. It builds on the vampire-versus-Lycan war while keeping the action and suspense front and center.
Directed by Len WisemanCast Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran, Derek Jacobi, Bill NighyStarzMore details on IMDb → -
18
Afterwards
drama · mystery · thriller
Newly divorced lawyer Nathan Del Amico is shaken up after he meets a doctor who claims that he can sense when select people are about to die. Though he doesn't believe the doctor, events in Nathan's life slowly make him think he's not long for this world.
Why watch: If you like mystery thrillers with a supernatural suggestion at their core, this may be a good pick. It leans into suspense and uncertainty rather than straightforward action.
Directed by Gilles BourdosCast Romain Duris, John Malkovich, Evangeline Lilly, Pascale Bussières, Sara WaisglassStarzMore details on IMDb → -
19
Cradle 2 the Grave
action · crime · drama · thriller
Gang leader Tony pulls off a major diamond heist with his crew, but cop-turned-criminal Ling knows who has the loot and responds by kidnapping Tony's daughter and holding her for ransom. Unfortunately, Tony's lost the diamonds as well. As he frantically searches for his daughter and the jewels, Tony pairs with a high-kicking government agent who once worked with Ling and seeks revenge on him.
Why watch: If you want an action-packed crime thriller with kidnapping and revenge in the mix, this one is a fit. The genre blend suggests a plot that keeps moving while staying tense.
Directed by Andrzej BartkowiakCast Jet Li, DMX, Anthony Anderson, Kelly Hu, Tom ArnoldStarzMore details on IMDb → -
20
Dead Birds
horror · mystery & thriller · western
Towards the end of the Civil War, a group of Confederate soldiers hole up on an abandoned plantation after robbing a bank, and find themselves at the mercy of supernatural forces.
Why watch: If you like period-set horror with a thriller edge, this title is worth considering. Its supernatural western setup gives it a different feel from the usual modern suspense pick.
Directed by Alex TurnerCast Henry Thomas, Patrick Fugit, Nicki Aycox, Michael Shannon, Muse WatsonStarzMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This roundup brings together action, crime, drama, fantasy, horror, and suspense-driven stories so it’s easier to find a movie that fits your mood. From classics like Night of the Living Dead to newer picks such as Speak No Evil and The Furious, there’s a wide range of styles to explore. Bookmark this page and come back when you want another tense watch, since the list is updated regularly. It’s a simple way to keep track of the strongest options without sorting through everything yourself.
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 Starz subscription to watch these?
Yes. Every title on this list is currently available on Starz. 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.