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It’s hard to believe, but we’re almost in the final month of the year. 2023 has been another great one for new movies and shows, which saw the pop culture phenomenon “Barbenheimer” unfold, along with the return of some of our favorite series such as Outer Banks and You on Netflix. Critically acclaimed movies surrounded by awards buzz are now being released on the streaming service as we inch closer to the end of the year, including The Killer, which came out on Nov. 10, making it a great way to say goodbye to 2023.
Looking for thrillers to watch this holiday weekend? We’re breaking down the best thriller movies and shows to come to Netflix in 2023. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a particularly great year for horror on the platform, but the good news is we still have a good list of solid thrillers! Close enough, I guess.
From the recently-released David Fincher movie The Killer to Mike Flanagan’s latest Netflix show The Fall of the House of Usher, here are the six best in the genre released on the streamer in 2023.
The Killer
Academy Award nominee David Fincher is back with a new movie in 2023, and though it’s hardly close to one of his strongest, it’s still an entertaining, well-made watch. The film stars Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender as a hitman who must navigate his next steps after a job goes wrong. Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, The Killer is visually stunning and features strong performances. Along with Fassbender, the cast includes Oscar winner Tilda Swinton and Charles Parnell.
The Killer doesn’t have the same impact as some of Fincher’s most notable work like Fight Club, Seven, or Gone Girl, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching. With the filmmaker’s signature style, the movie engages right from the start with its dialogue, suspense, and cinematography. And while the storyline might be a bit basic, its minimalistic style will keep you hooked. Escapism at its finest.
Fair Play
Starring the very talented Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) and Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story), Fair Play was released on Netflix in October and didn’t take long to catch users’ attention. The movie follows a newly engaged couple working at a competitive and stressful hedge fund in New York City, who must keep their relationship a secret while a work. But when Emily gets a promotion over Luke, their romance goes from hot and heavy to tension-filled and awkward as Emily thrives in her new role and Luke isn’t able to handle it.
Fair Play follows Emily and Luke’s new dynamic as their power struggle becomes too much for their relationship to bear. And eventually Luke has no problem asserting his dominance over his fiancé, even if it means seriously embarrassing himself in the process. The movie does a great job of exploring gender roles, as well as exposing what men in power can get away with.
The movie marks director Chloe Domont’s first feature film and I look forward to seeing what she does next!
Extraction 2
Chris Hemsworth reprised his role as Tyler Rake in Extraction 2, which hit Netflix in June of this year. The highly anticipated action/thriller sequel continues the character’s journey after he retires as a mercenary following his near-death mission in Bangladesh. But his retirement doesn’t last long as he’s recruited to rescue his ex-wife’s family and cannot say no.
Like the first movie, Extraction 2 features awesome action sequences and will keep you engaged from start to finish. But where the first movie lacks, the sequel makes up for. The stakes are higher this time around and the pacing is better, too.
Sam Hargrave returned to the director chair for the sequel, and he’ll helm the third movie as well, which is currently in the works.
Reptile
Another highly anticipated movie in 2023 was Reptile, which hit Netflix in September. The film stars Benicio del Toro as a detective named Tom Nichols who investigates the murder of a real estate agent. A tense crime thriller from start to finish, the storyline is entertaining enough, but the performances are what make this one worth the watch. Alongside del Toro, Reptile stars Alicia Silverstone, Justin Timberlake, Michael Carmen Pitt, Karl Glusman, Owen Teague, and other familiar faces.
Though the plot points might not all add up by the end, Reptile is still engaging enough to keep the viewer interested in solving the mystery, making for a pretty solid Netflix movie.
Lupin
French mystery-thriller Lupin returned in 2023 with its third part, and it did not disappoint. Inspired by gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, the Netflix show follows the character Assane Diop (Omar Sy) who pulls off elaborate heists looking to avenge his father’s death. Each season sees the protagonist go after a new adventure, attempting to expose a powerful and rich family. The latest batch of episodes which came out in October was easily the best yet, seeing Assane go to greater heights to conceal his identity and continue on with his life.
The ending of part 3 is absolutely explosive, making us wonder where the show will go from here… if it gets renewed. At this time, Lupin has not been renewed or canceled, but no matter its fate, it’s a great show everyone should check out.
The Fall of the House of Usher
Horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan returned to Netflix this year with a new horror miniseries, this time based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. The Fall of the House of Usher follows a wealthy and powerful family who start dying off one by one amid a major trial against them unfolding. The patriarch, Roderick Usher, is the CEO of an immoral pharmaceutical company whose past catches up with him in a way he could never imagine.
Similar to other Flanagan projects, The Fall of the House of Usher features a talented cast of frequent collaborators, including Kate Siegel, Henry Thomas, Carla Gugino, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan, T’Nia Miller, and others. The show was a perfect watch for Halloween when it debuted this October, but if you missed it then, there’s no time like the present to binge all eight episodes!
Stream The Fall of the House of Usher