12 Movies Like Orphan Black You Need to Watch
Find 12 dark, twisty picks for fans of Orphan Black, from sci-fi and thriller to horror, including Sense8, Under the Skin, and more.
If you’re searching for movies like Orphan Black, you probably want tense, character-driven stories where identity, body horror, and hidden agendas keep shifting under your feet. This list brings together 12 picks that move between drama, sci-fi, thriller, mystery, and horror, including Orphan Black (2013), The Truth About Emanuel (2013), The Surrogate (2013), Under the Skin (2013), and Sense8 (2015). You’ll also find eerie, off-kilter titles such as The Bridge (2013), Contracted (2013), and Bastards (2013), each offering a different take on paranoia, secrecy, or transformation. Some lean psychological, some get surreal, and a few go fully unsettling, but all of them reward viewers who like smart genre stories with emotional depth. If you loved the suspense and strange twists of the series, these films and shows should keep the same energy going.
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01
The Truth About Emanuel
drama · mystery · thriller
A troubled young woman becomes obsessed with her mysterious new neighbor, who bears a striking resemblance to the girl's dead mother.
Directed by Francesca GregoriniCast Kaya Scodelario, Jessica Biel, Frances O'Connor, Aneurin Barnard, Sam JaegerPeacock Premium -
02
The Surrogate
drama · mystery · thriller
A married couple, struggling to have a child, hires a young woman to be their surrogate, but soon discovers she has a bizarre and deadly agenda.
Directed by Doug CampbellCast Cameron Mathison, Annie Wersching, Amy Scott, Matthew Alan, Eve MauroAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
03
Under the Skin
drama · horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
A seductive stranger prowls the streets of Glasgow in search of prey: unsuspecting men who fall under her spell.
Directed by Jonathan GlazerCast Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay, Dougie McConnell, Kevin McAlindenNetflix -
04
Sense8
drama · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
One gunshot, one death, one moment out of time that irrevocably links eight minds in disparate parts of the world, putting them in each other's lives, each other's secrets, and in terrible danger. Ordinary people suddenly reborn as "Sensates."
Directed by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, James McTeigue, Tom Tykwer, Dan GlassCast Bae Doona, Jamie Clayton, Tina Desai, Tuppence Middleton, Max RiemeltNetflix -
05
The Bridge
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A murdered body on a bridge between El Paso and Juarez bring together El Paso detective Sonya Cross and Chihuahua State Police detective Marco Ruiz.
Directed by John Dahl, Alex Zakrzewski, Keith Gordon, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Colin BuckseyCast Diane Kruger, Demián Bichir, Thomas M. Wright, Ted Levine, Matthew LillardAmazon Prime VideoAMC+Freevee -
06
Contracted
drama · horror · thriller
A young woman contracts what she believes to be an STD—but it ends up being a far worse disease.
Directed by Eric EnglandCast Najarra Townsend, Caroline Williams, Alice Macdonald, Matt Mercer, Katie StegemanAMC+ -
07
Bastards
drama · romance
Marco returns to Paris after his brother-in-law's suicide, where he targets the man his sister believes caused the tragedy – though he is ill-prepared for her secrets as they quickly muddy the waters.
Directed by Claire DenisCast Vincent Lindon, Chiara Mastroianni, Julie Bataille, Michel Subor, Lola CrétonAMC+ -
08
Stoker
drama · mystery · thriller
After India’s father dies suddenly, her uncle Charlie, whom she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother. Soon after his arrival, she begins to suspect that this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives. But instead of feeling outrage or horror, the friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him.
Directed by Park Chan-wookCast Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, David Alford, Matthew Goode, Peg AllenMax -
09
Side Effects
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A woman turns to prescription medication as a way of handling her anxiety concerning her husband's upcoming release from prison.
Directed by Steven SoderberghCast Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Channing Tatum, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Polly DraperAmazon Prime Video -
10
The Fall
crime · drama · thriller
When the Police Service of Northern Ireland are unable to close a case after 28 days, Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson of the Metropolitan Police Service is called in to review the case. Under her new leadership, the local detectives must track down and stop a serial killer who is terrorising the city of Belfast.
Directed by Allan Cubitt, Jakob VerbruggenCast Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, John Lynch, Aisling Franciosi, Niamh McGradyAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumAMC+Freevee -
11
The Following
crime · drama · horror · mystery · thriller
A brilliant, charismatic, and psychotic serial killer communicates with other active serial killers and activates a cult of believers who follow his every command.
Directed by Marcos Siega, Nicole Kassell, Joshua Butler, Liz Friedlander, Rob SeidenglanzCast Kevin Bacon, Shawn Ashmore, James Purefoy, Sam Underwood, Jessica StroupNetflix -
12
Being Mary Jane
drama · romance · thriller
Mary Jane Paul is a one-woman-show: a successful TV news anchor, and an entirely self-sufficient powerhouse who remains devoted to a family that doesn't share her motivation. Intense drama and unforgettable moments unfold as Mary Jane juggles her life, her relationships, her work, and commitments to her family.
Directed by Salim Akil, Regina King, Adam Shankman, Neema Barnette, Mario Van PeeblesCast Gabrielle Union, Lisa Vidal, Raven Goodwin, Margaret Avery, Richard BrooksParamount Plus
Wrapping Up
These picks are a good fit if you want stories that mix mystery with mood, and they each bring something a little different to the table. From intimate drama to disturbing sci-fi and horror, the page is built to help you find the right next watch without wasting time. Bookmark it for later, because we refresh this collection regularly as new matches and better recommendations come up. Whether you want something eerie, emotional, or just plain strange, there’s plenty here to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Orphan Black?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 4, 2026