Underrated Psychological Thrillers On Netflix To Watch Right Now

If you want to get your brain properly twisted, you’ve got to ditch the usual horror tropes. What really sticks are the films that toy with your perception and leave you questioning what’s real long after the credits roll.

Netflix is full of mind-benders hiding in plain sight. These are movies that deserve more eyeballs and are definitely more than late-night conversations. Explore the  list of underrated psych thrillers that are endlessly watchable.

Here are 20 of the most underrated, high-IQ psychological thrillers on Netflix you probably haven’t seen yet but should watch immediately.

The Discovery (2017)

IMDb: 6.3

What if the afterlife was real and people started ending their own lives just to get there? Jason Segel and Robert Redford star in this quietly unsettling sci-fi thriller that asks one big question: can knowing the truth about what comes next actually help you live better? Thoughtful and surprisingly tender, The Discovery explores grief and regret in a world that suddenly has no guarantees. It’s less about spectacle and more about the emotional weight of existence.

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

IMDb: 6.6

Charlie Kaufman’s trademark mind maze wrapped in a breakup road trip. Expect fractured timelines, strange identity shifts, and an eerie snowstorm that mirrors the protagonist’s  psyche. The film challenges your sense of time and self, making you question what’s real and what’s just perception . It is a true meditation on memory and loneliness. Kaufman fans know this is less a movie and more an experience.

Gerald’s Game (2017)

IMDb: 6.6

Stephen King without the gore. A woman trapped in a remote cabin faces her darkest fears  in her memories. The slow burn tension, the psychological torment, and the sheer claustrophobia make this a quiet powerhouse. What’s remarkable is how the film uses silence and limited space to stretch the mind, turning a single setting into a universe of terror and revelation. This psychological thriller doesn’t need screams to haunt you.

The Stranger (2022)

IMDb: 6.6

This Australian thriller is built on slow-burning tension and raw emotional stakes. When undercover identities collide, friendship and trust get twisted in ways that feel all too real. Based on true events, the film delves deep into the human cost of deception and the fragility of identity under pressure. Watching it, you can’t help but wonder how well you know the people closest to you.

The Call (2020)

IMDb: 7.1

Korean thrillers often get the horror credit, but The Call is a high-concept thriller that plays with time and consequences. Two women, decades apart, connected by a mysterious phone call and the subsequent ripples that change their lives forever. It is a masterclass in suspense. If you love time travel with emotional stakes, this one’s for you.

Fractured (2019)

IMDb: 6.4

A man’s wife and daughter vanish inside a hospital that denies their existence. As reality becomes questionable and gaslighting sets in, you’re plunged into a claustrophobic spiral of doubt. What’s real, and what’s paranoia? Netflix nails the tension here, playing expertly on fears of helplessness and mistrust . The film’s strength lies in its atmosphere, forcing viewers to question the reliability of what they see.

The Guilty (2021)

IMDb: 7.5

Jake Gyllenhaal stars in a thriller that unfolds entirely over a 911 call. With zero visuals, the pressure mounts solely through sound and voice, letting your imagination do the heavy lifting. It’s a masterclass in suspense and storytelling economy. This movie proves less can absolutely be more. It keeps your nerves taut, reminding you that sometimes the mind’s creations are scarier than any monster.

Shimmer Lake (2017)

IMDb: 6.7

A crime thriller told in reverse, where each day peels back a new layer of deception. Darkly funny, tightly plotted, and wildly clever. A perfect detective fare, it toys with the idea that perspective shapes truth, challenging viewers to piece the puzzle alongside its characters. A refreshing take on the genre that rewards careful attention.

The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

IMDb: 6.5

Christian Bale stars as a detective investigating murders at West Point, with Edgar Allan Poe as an unlikely partner. Brooding and intellectual, it’s a gothic thriller layered with occult mystery and cerebral chills. The film crafts a rich atmosphere, perfectly suited for viewers who crave mood and mind games.

The Invitation (2015)

IMDb: 6.7

Dinner parties are supposed to be safe. This one isn’t. Grief, paranoia, and unspoken trauma brew beneath polite smiles and clinking glasses. The slow burn is excruciating, yet  deeply satisfying. It’s a masterclass in tension building, where every awkward silence feels loaded with menace. The invitation to watch is an invitation to slowly unravel a tightly held secret.

Secret Obsession (2019)

IMDb: 5.5

After a traumatic attack, a woman wakes up with no memory and a husband who may not be who he says he is. Twisty and relentless, it’s a cat-and-mouse game of identity and survival instincts. While it leans more toward thriller than highbrow, it’s undeniably effective at keeping you guessing.

Tau (2018)

IMDb: 5.8

Trapped in a high-tech house controlled by an AI with godlike control, a woman fights to outsmart her captor. This is less horror and more psychological chess between human intuition and cold logic. The film asks: can a machine understand what it means to control and be controlled? It’s a fresh spin on captivity thrillers that explores consciousness.

Horse Girl (2020)

IMDb: 6.0

Alison Brie gives a quietly haunting performance as a socially awkward woman whose dreams bleed into waking life. Blending reality with possible mental illness or something stranger, this film is a slow drip of unsettling. The movie is a breed of psychological drama that sticks in your mind long after viewing.

In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)

IMDb: 6.4

A cop chases a serial killer who appears every nine years without aging. This movie is a time-travel puzzle packed with sci-fi thrills and procedural grit . The plot is made for people who like their mysteries tangled in time. The film balances emotional weight with cerebral twists, making it a compelling ride for genre fans.

The Highwaymen (2019)

IMDb: 7.0

Instead of glorifying outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, this one tells the story of the lawmen hunting them down. It’s slow and psychological :  a fascinating twist on crime storytelling. The film’s strength lies in its exploration of justice and obsession, giving it a weighty, reflective tone.

Enemy (2013)

IMDb: 6.9

Jake Gyllenhaal again, this time lost in a surreal world where he meets his doppelganger. A cerebral thriller about obsession, identity, and doubles. This movie is a puzzle film that invites multiple interpretations, making it perfect for viewers who love decoding symbolism and hidden meanings.

Clinical (2017)

IMDb: 5.6

A psychiatrist’s therapy sessions spiral into paranoia when her own mind becomes suspect. It’s a sharp, intense look at trauma and mental health. Far from typical horror, this movie is psychological depth done right. The film forces viewers to question the reliability of memory and the power dynamics in therapy.

The Stepfather (2009)

IMDb: 6.1

Charm is the deadliest weapon in this study of identity theft and manipulation. A man who reinvents himself as the perfect dad hides dangerous secrets behind a smile. The movie is creepy in the smartest way possible, exploring how appearances can mask something far darker.

Forgotten (2017)

IMDb: 7.3

A Korean Hitchcockian thriller about a man whose brother disappears and returns with no memory but a chilling secret. Eerie and one of Netflix’s best-kept hidden gems. The film’s pacing and suspense make it impossible to look away, a textbook example of how psychological thrills don’t need violence to be visceral.

The Good Nurse (2022)

IMDb: 6.9

Based on a chilling true story, The Good Nurse follows a dedicated nurse who grows increasingly uneasy about the suspicious deaths occurring at her hospital. As she digs deeper, her instincts tell her that a trusted colleague might be hiding a dark secret. This gripping thriller explores themes of Deception and moral courage within the high-stakes world of healthcare, unravelling a tense psychological battle that keeps you guessing until the very end.