It’s official: thrillers are having a moment again.
While big-budget blockbusters continue to dominate the headlines, 2025 is quietly shaping up as a breakout year for sharp, stylish thrillers — the kind of films that sneak onto your radar after a festival buzz, a killer word-of-mouth campaign, or a late-night Netflix discovery.
There’s a reason for the comeback. After years of franchise fatigue and superhero saturation, audiences are craving tight, suspenseful stories — films with twists, character-driven tension, and smart direction. And as streaming platforms and studios look to diversify their slates, a new wave of underrated thrillers 2025 is emerging, offering hidden gems for fans hungry for something beyond the formula.
In this feature, we highlight the Best Underrated Hollywood Thrillers to Watch in 2025 — upcoming films flying a bit under the radar but absolutely worth seeking out. From indie festival finds to overlooked studio releases, these are the thrillers you’ll want to add to your queue.
The 2025 Thriller Comeback: Why Hidden Gems Are Thriving
One of the most exciting trends of Hollywood thrillers to watch 2025 is the return of mid-budget, adult-driven films. With audiences shifting between theaters and streaming, there’s new demand for movies that deliver intelligent suspense without relying on massive CGI or brand IP.
And because these films often come from emerging voices or veteran directors working at smaller scales, they’re producing some of the most creative work in the genre.
Here’s a look at the hidden gem thrillers 2025 that are building buzz — and why you should keep them on your watchlist:
“The Passenger’s List”
Release: February 2025
Adapted from the cult podcast, The Passenger’s List is a slow-burn mystery about a journalist uncovering the truth behind a disappeared transatlantic flight. Starring Claire Foy and directed by Bart Layton (American Animals), this one’s been picking up serious early buzz at European festivals — expect layered storytelling and Hitchcockian tension.
“Shutter”
Release: March 2025
Directed by Karyn Kusama, Shutter is a gritty Los Angeles-set noir about a photographer who accidentally captures a murder — and finds herself pulled into a dangerous criminal conspiracy. With Jessica Chastain in the lead, it’s poised to be one of the best thriller movies 2025 for fans of neo-noir and psychological suspense.
“The Last Witness”
Release: April 2025
This Cold War espionage thriller from Anton Corbijn (Control, A Most Wanted Man) stars Ralph Fiennes as an aging journalist drawn into a decades-old assassination plot. Understated, cerebral, and beautifully shot, The Last Witness is the kind of film that will quietly become a critic’s favorite — definitely one of the underrated thrillers 2025 to watch for.
“Mind’s Eye”
Release: May 2025
A high-concept psychological thriller with sci-fi undertones, Mind’s Eye stars Tessa Thompson as a neuroscientist testing a controversial device that allows users to view repressed memories — with dangerous consequences. Directed by Mike Flanagan (Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep), it’s already drawing comparisons to Minority Report and Inception in early screenings.
“No Good Deed”
Release: June 2025 (limited theatrical, streaming TBD)
An indie thriller out of Sundance, No Good Deed follows a divorced dad (played by John Bernthal) whose chance act of kindness triggers a violent spiral involving a local drug gang. Taut, grounded, and anchored by Bernthal’s best performance in years, this is a true hidden gem thriller 2025.
“Killbox”
Release: July 2025
A stripped-down cat-and-mouse thriller set in a single location, Killbox stars Elizabeth Debicki as an intelligence operative trapped inside an abandoned military bunker with an unknown assailant. With real-time pacing and minimalist direction from Jeremy Saulnier (Green Room), this is pure suspense, perfect for fans of contained thrillers.
“Fade Out”
Release: September 2025
A twisty thriller about a once-famous screenwriter who begins receiving anonymous script pages that eerily predict real-life murders, Fade Out stars Oscar Isaac and is directed by Gavin O’Connor. Stylish, self-aware, and loaded with Hollywood satire, this is one of the Hollywood thrillers to watch 2025 for movie buffs and thriller fans alike.
“The Disappeared”
Release: October 2025 (Netflix)
Netflix’s sleeper thriller for the year, The Disappeared follows a woman searching for her missing sister in a corrupt small town, uncovering a tangled web of secrets. With a sharp script by Jane Goldman (The Woman in Black), and a star turn from Riley Keough, this one could be a word-of-mouth breakout.
“Breathless”
Release: November 2025
Not to be confused with the Godard classic, this new American thriller centers on an undercover DEA agent (Pedro Pascal) who must survive a multi-front ambush in a single night in Miami. Directed by Stefano Sollima (Sicario: Day of the Soldado), it’s a gritty, muscular thriller that’s likely to find a cult audience.
“Second Skin”
Release: December 2025
A twisty identity thriller, Second Skin stars Anya Taylor-Joy as a woman who assumes a dead stranger’s identity — only to discover that someone else is hunting her. With sleek direction from Denis Villeneuve’s longtime DP Bradford Young, this is the type of best thriller movie 2025 you’ll discover late in the year and tell all your friends about.
So if you’re looking for something off the beaten path — the Best Underrated Hollywood Thrillers to Watch in 2025 — these films should be at the top of your list.
Bookmark this page. You’ll want to come back to it as the year unfolds.