Netflix has confirmed its slate for May 2026, and as per usual, the streaming service is dropping a wave of library titles on the first of the month. To save you the trouble of having to comb through the list and find the thrillers in the mix, I’ve put in the legwork for you.
Over the next few days, a couple of thrillers will arrive on the platform, and there’s still a popular Netflix original movie hanging around. If you’re in the mood for an exciting and intense watch this week, you’ve got a strong handful of options. Plus, these movies have some real star power with Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson, Gerard Butler and more. These are the latest thriller movies on Netflix this week.
Best Netflix thriller movies to watch this week
‘Apex’ (2026)
Netflix’s latest original thriller refuses to budge from its position as the platform’s No. 1 movie. Released last week (on Friday, April 24), “Apex” rocketed up the most-watched charts in just a matter of hours, and it’s held onto the top spot ever since. It’s easy to see why subscribers are drawn to this movie; it’s got an appealing premise for a survival thriller, and pairs recognizable faces in Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton.
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Set in the Australian outback, Theron plays a grieving woman who finds herself battling for survival when she becomes the prey of a ruthless hunter. It’s a twisted cat-and-mouse game that’s intense and exciting, but not especially original. Even when the narrative leans heavily on genre tropes, Egerton will keep you invested with a fully committed, psychopathic performance. If you haven’t seen it yet, “Apex” is worth a watch, just make sure to keep your expectations in check.
Watch “Apex” on Netflix now
‘Den of Thieves’ (2018)
“Den of Thieves” is an action-thriller built around a classic idea: cops vs. robbers. It stars Gerard Butler (fun fact: the Scottish actor had to gain 25 pounds for the role), Pablo Schreiber, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
It was no critical darling but “Den of Thieves” found success with viewers and did well enough to get a sequel, “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” which is also currently on Netflix. With the original now joining its follow-up on the red streaming service, they make for a perfect double bill.
Butler plays Detective Nick O’Brien, an LA County sheriff, who leads an elite group of deputies in a mission to stop a notorious crew of expert thieves. The robbers’ target is the Federal Reserve Bank, and the cops will stop at nothing to prevent their planned heist. This crime thriller feels a little old school in its construction and is, for the most part, good fun.
Watch “Den of Thieves” on Netflix starting May 1
‘Under the Skin’ (2013)
“Under the Skin” definitely isn’t a perfect pick if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller stuffed with action, excitement and twists. Still, if you’re willing to engage with a more meditative sci-fi movie that does have its share of intense intrigue, you’ll find plenty to unravel here. Directed by Jonathan Glazer (filmmaker behind the Oscar-nominated “The Zone of Interest”), and starring Scarlett Johansson, it’s a dark fable that really leaves a mark.
The movie centers on an unnamed woman (Johansson), who travels across the secluded Scottish highlands, seducing various men. But what these men don’t know is that the woman is actually an extraterrestrial in disguise, with a more sinister purpose. Packed with disturbing visuals and plenty of moral ambiguity, “Under the Skin” isn’t a movie that will appeal to all viewers. However, if you can appreciate its bold ambition, you’ll find it haunting.
Watch “Under the Skin” on Netflix starting May 1
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