Whether it’s a snowstorm or a heat wave, we all like to binge a Netflix thriller over the weekend. I sometimes save intriguing shows that I really want to watch for a free Friday evening, or devote a Sunday afternoon to a compelling series. Yes, I watch TV every evening, but there’s something nice about knowing you have the whole weekend to dive into a new story.
When you’re making some buttery popcorn and picking a TV show to binge this weekend, you could pick any number of recent releases. I would recommend Harlan Coben’s I Will Find You, and I don’t think it’s possible to avoid watching the whole series in a few days. But when picking the five shows for this list, I wanted to find some more hidden gems. You know that most of Coben’s shows are worth watching, but what about the other great shows that have been released on the streaming service in the past few years? I picked series that have a short episode count (eight to 10), feature character development, and offer up unique premises.
Why You Should Trust Me: As an entertainment journalist for over 10 years, I’ve written a lot of lists and features recommending the best and most compelling TV shows, whether for a weekend binge or a longer viewing experience. Now, as a writer and editor at MovieWeb, I regularly write about Netflix and other streaming releases, particularly thrillers. I know which ones are forgettable and which ones have character development, smart twists, and great endings.
‘The Society’ (2019)
Where Did All the Adults Go?!
Watch This If: You think it’s interesting to imagine what a small town would look like without any grown-ups. I was drawn in by the premise of The Society and think you might be, too, if you’re looking for a unique story. In contrast to other Netflix thrillers that tell stories about creepy suburban life or the dangers lurking in big cities, The Society focuses on teenagers. That’s why I like it so much. It explores what would happen if you were already vulnerable and then were suddenly thrown into a strange world and a fight for survival. As the young characters in West Ham, Connecticut, try to figure out the truth, we find out more about their interesting personalities and dramatic dynamics.
Skip This If: You’re not that intrigued by the main storyline or don’t want to watch a series that was clearly inspired by the plot of Lord of the Flies. You don’t want to watch characters be increasingly mean to each other, and aren’t interested in the drama of high schoolers spending time together. I’ll be honest that the ending isn’t satisfying, which might be frustrating after you get through all 10 episodes in one weekend. But that’s only because Netflix canceled the second season that it had ordered.
‘Clickbait’ (2021)
Netflix’s Forgotten Miniseries Has a Twist I Still Think About
Watch This If: You’ve seen the most popular Netflix thrillers, like His & Hers, which premiered in January 2026, and You, which was released in 2018 on Lifetime before moving to the streaming service. You want to watch a captivating story with a solid ending that answers any big questions you might have. In the first episode, we learn that Nick Brewer (Adrian Grenier) is being held hostage and told that if the video goes viral and gets five million views, that will be the end of his life. (Yeah, that got my attention.) The other seven episodes are just as fast-paced.
Skip This If: You find the premise disturbing. It definitely is, and the series doesn’t shy away from its dark tone. Like Harlan Coben’s I Will Find You and the other Netflix thrillers based on the author’s work, Clickbait can feel like a “guilty pleasure” show that is sometimes a little cheesy. However, all these shows still explore several tragedies and deep subjects like family, marriage, and betrayal, and they can be challenging to watch at times.
‘The Watcher’ (2022-)
The Ryan Murphy Series About Secrets and Creepy Letters
Watch This If: You’ve seen every other Ryan Murphy show and are always intrigued by a series based on a true story. If you want a thriller without gore and want to learn about the real events that inspired this story, then you’ll enjoy spending a weekend with The Watcher. Bobby Cannavale and Naomi Watts give impressive performances as Dean and Nora Brannock, a couple who move into a new house and find out someone is spying on them and sending them letters.
The Watcher has a particularly solid premise, and it’s arguably one of the better Murphy Netflix series. Although the Monster franchise has been seen as problematic and arguably glamorizes real killers instead of depicting these crimes respectfully, The Watcher is less harrowing. It has the same campy fun vibe as Scream Queens, the underrated two-season show about a killer on a college campus and at an old hospital. Unfortunately, while Netflix renewed The Watcher for a second season, nothing has happened yet. At the time of this writing, it’s more of a thriller miniseries with an interesting ending that makes you think and hope for more episodes that might not get made.
Skip This If: You’re not a fan of Ryan Murphy’s series that are based on true events and would rather watch his fictional series like American Horror Story and American Horror Stories.
‘The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window’ (2022)
Kristen Bell’s 8-Episode Series Is About Murder, Suburbia, and True Crime
Watch This If: You appreciated Kristen Bell’s nuanced, likable, and complex performances on the quirky sitcom The Good Place and the 2000s teen drama, Veronica Mars. You want an unexpected thriller series with a sense of humor that pokes fun at thriller and horror genre tropes. Bell plays Anna Whitaker, a woman whose marriage has changed after a tragic loss, and who becomes obsessed with a crime in her neighborhood.
I’m recommending The Woman Across the Street… despite its long (and possibly confusing) title and despite its 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Not everyone will love it. It also took me a bit of time to wrap my mind around it when I watched it upon its release in 2022. However, I think the series has a clever message about grief, parenthood, marriage, and moving on. That makes it stand out among other thrillers on the streaming service, and it makes it as interesting as Harlan Coben’s Netflix show, which also delves into the complexity of family life.
Skip This If: You want a TV show that is either funny or scary and don’t like when the horror/thriller and comedy genres collide. You don’t find it clever when a series references movies or novels in the same genre. You also don’t like cliffhanger endings, and often wish there was a second season.
‘The Midnight Club’ (2022)
Mike Flanagan’s 10-Episode Thriller Will Captivate You All Weekend Long
Watch This One If: You enjoy Mike Flanagan’s TV shows and movies but haven’t seen this one yet, and want a weekend binge that is just as focused on character growth as on scary scenes. You’re also hoping for a thriller with a philosophical tone. I think it’s one of the most underrated 2020s series because of how Flanagan talks about the fact that we all have to think about and accept: that we’ll die someday. The main characters are teenagers who all suffer from terminal illnesses and who are living at a hospice called Brightcliffe Manor. Add in some ghosts and the club they form to tell terrifying stories, and you have a 10-episode series that is gripping, fun, and emotional. This is Flanagan, after all, and the filmmaker makes us cry as much as shiver and look under the bed, right?
You’ll also be glad to know that, although Netflix canceled The Midnight Club, Flanagan shared his ideas for a second season. So, you can watch it this weekend and then find out what was supposed to happen next. (But then you’ll be as sad as I am that we never got to see this sweet and sad story continue.)
Skip This One If: The Midnight Club is more disturbing than Mike Flanagan’s other Netflix thrillers because it’s about terminally ill teenagers. Also, like The Watcher and The Woman Across the Street, it ends on a note that will definitely leave you wanting more.
Have you seen any of these Netflix thrillers? Was there another show that you enjoyed watching during a recent weekend? Let us know in the comments!
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
