12 Movies Like Seven You Need to Watch
Craving grim thrillers and dark mysteries? Explore 12 picks, from Seven and The Usual Suspects to Longlegs, Diabolique, and Fallen.
If you’re searching for movies like Seven, you probably want tense crime stories with a dark mood, smart twists, and a sense that something terrible is always just out of frame. This list brings together eight featured picks, including The Usual Suspects, Diabolique, Thesis, Nightwatch, Fallen, Slasher, and Longlegs, each with its own blend of mystery, suspense, and menace. Some lean harder into crime drama, while others push deeper into horror, but they all reward viewers who like their thrillers sharp and unsettling. Whether you’re after a clever puzzle, a grim investigation, or a nightmare that slowly tightens its grip, these films hit the same nerve in different ways.
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01
Slasher
crime · drama · horror · mystery · thriller
Thirty years ago, in the sleepy community of Waterbury, a killer known as “The Executioner” murdered Sarah Bennett's parents. Now Sarah and her husband Dylan have returned to town, only to find herself the centerpiece in a series of horrifying murders centered around the seven deadly sins.
Directed by Adam MacDonald, Craig Wallace, Felipe RodriguezCast Christopher Jacot, Paula Brancati, Jo Vannicola, Sabrina Grdevich, Jefferson BrownNetflixAMC+ -
02
Longlegs
crime · horror · mystery · thriller
FBI Agent Lee Harker is a gifted new recruit assigned to the unsolved case of an elusive serial killer. As the case takes complex turns, unearthing evidence of the occult, Harker discovers a personal connection to the merciless killer and must race against time to stop him before he claims the lives of another innocent family.
Directed by Osgood PerkinsCast Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Michelle Choi-LeeHulu -
03
The Usual Suspects
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that a mythic crime lord, Keyser Soze, not only exists, but was also responsible for drawing him and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro harbor – leaving few survivors. Verbal lures his interrogators with an incredible story of the crime lord's almost supernatural prowess.
Directed by Bryan SingerCast Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Kevin SpaceyAmazon Prime VideoMax -
04
Diabolique
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
The wife and mistress of a cruel school master collaborate in a carefully planned and executed scheme to murder him. The plan goes well until the body, which has been strategically dumped, disappears. The psychological strain starts to weigh on the two women when a retired police investigator begins looking into the man's disappearance on a whim.
Directed by Jeremiah S. ChechikCast Sharon Stone, Isabelle Adjani, Chazz Palminteri, Kathy Bates, Spalding GrayAmazon Prime Video -
05
Thesis
crime · horror · mystery · thriller
While doing a thesis about violence, Ángela finds a snuff video where a girl is tortured to death. Soon she discovers that the girl was a former student at her college...
Directed by Alejandro AmenábarCast Ana Torrent, Fele Martínez, Eduardo Noriega, Xabier Elorriaga, Miguel PicazoAMC+ -
06
Nightwatch
drama · horror · thriller
A law student takes a job as a night watchman at a morgue and begins to discover clues that implicate him as the suspect in a series of murders.
Directed by Ole BornedalCast Anais Evans, Ewan McGregor, Nick Nolte, Erich Anderson, Josh BrolinParamount Plus -
07
Fallen
action · crime · drama · fantasy · mystery · thriller
Homicide detective John Hobbes witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese. Soon after the execution the killings start again, and they are very similar to Reese's style.
Directed by Gregory HoblitCast Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James GandolfiniNetflix -
08
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 -
09
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 -
10
Kiss the Girls
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Forensic psychologist and detective Alex Cross travels to North Carolina and teams with escaped kidnap victim Kate McTiernan to hunt down "Casanova," a serial killer who abducts strong-willed women and forces them to submit to his demands. The trail leads to Los Angeles, where the duo discovers that the psychopath may not be working alone.
Directed by Gary FlederCast Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Cary Elwes, Alex McArthur, Tony GoldwynParamount Plus -
11
Surveillance
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
An FBI agent tracks a serial killer with the help of three of his would-be victims - all of whom have wildly different stories to tell.
Directed by Jennifer LynchCast Caroline Aaron, Hugh Dillon, David Gane, Gill Gayle, Kent HarperAmazon Prime Video -
12
Choose
crime · drama · horror · mystery · thriller
Fiona Wagner, a journalism student, tracks a cold-blooded killer with the help of her detective father and a therapist.
Directed by Marcus GravesCast Katheryn Winnick, Kevin Pollak, Nicholas Tucci, Bruce Dern, Richard ShortAMC+
Wrapping Up
The best part of this lineup is how varied it feels without losing that cold, uneasy energy fans of Seven usually want. From the twisty confidence of The Usual Suspects to the bleak atmosphere of Longlegs, there’s plenty here for anyone who enjoys crime, mystery, thriller, horror, or drama with a darker edge. Keep this page bookmarked if you like revisiting tense, atmospheric cinema, because it’s updated regularly with fresh recommendations. Come back whenever you want another film that scratches the same unsettling itch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Seven?
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 8, 2026