There’s no denying that HBO knows what audiences want when it comes to psychological thrillers. Over the years, I have spent many hours sinking my teeth into binge-worthy HBO TV shows, and I’ve noticed that with some of the very best, there’s something new to discover with each rewatch. However, I do have a preference for miniseries, especially ones that I can get through in one day or over a weekend.
Eight episodes is generally the sweet spot I’ve found, and for this list, I’ve picked out some of the greatest examples from recent years. Although there are some older titles that could make the cut, the way streaming has changed TV in recent years means that standards have been upped, too. You’ll be able to binge these HBO titles in one night or at your own pace, and if you ask me, they’re well worth a watch.
Why You Should Trust Me: I have been writing for MovieWeb and ScreenRant for the last three years and have written multiple articles about psychological thrillers and HBO titles. While I cover an array of topics, psychological thrillers have been a particular interest of mine since I started my education in creative writing over 10 years ago.
Honorable Mentions
- The Outsider (2020) – While HBO has plenty of good psychological thrillers with eight episodes or less, only a selection can be considered the greatest. Stephen King’s The Outsider is a near-perfect psychological thriller binge, but it has a total of 10 episodes, which is why it hasn’t made this list.
- Mare of Easttown (2021-) – Although Kate Winslet’s Mare of Easttown is a great watch, it’s more of a crime drama and lacks a little on the psychological thriller side of things. Plus, despite initially airing as a limited series, recent developments have revealed that Mare of Easttown Season 2 seems to be on its way, but it’s currently unknown when it will be released.
‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)
Like ‘Gone Girl,’ but Even Better
Watch This If: You’re an avid reader of Gillian Flynn’s body of work. Adapted from the Gone Girl author’s 2006 debut novel, HBO’s Sharp Objects follows Amy Adams as crime reporter Camille Preaker, who, after being discharged from a psychiatric hospital following years of struggles with alcohol, winds back up in her hometown in Missouri to delve into the mysterious murders of two local girls. Sharp Objects is a gritty watch that will keep you on the edge of your seat and features compelling performances from all involved, but especially Adams, whose rapport with Patricia Clarkson as Camille’s mother, Adora, is particularly strong.
Skip This If: You believe there is such a thing as too slow a burn. While Sharp Object‘s pacing is one of its most notable qualities, the show’s dark atmosphere and tone at times can make it feel like it’s dragging on for too long.
‘The Third Day’ (2020)
A Gripping Watch Set on a Mysterious Island
Watch This If: You enjoy psychological thrillers that don’t make the “psychological” side of things too obvious from the start. Sky Atlantic and HBO’s The Third Day follows the journeys of Jude Law as Sam and Naomie Harris as Helen, two strangers who arrive on a strange island off the British coast at different points in time. The Third Day is a great recommendation for those who love Lost or even classic folk horror movies because of the fear of the unknown it instills in you. You never know what will happen to Helen or Sam next, and that’s what keeps you hitting play on the next episode every time the credits roll.
Skip This If: You don’t enjoy a change in lead character. While Sam leads the first half of The Third Day, subtitled Part 1: Summer (three episodes) and Part 2: Autumn (one-off special), the last three installments, subtitled Part 3: Winter (final three episodes), instead shifts its focus to Helen. Plus, Autumn was originally broadcast as a 12-hour livestream event, which you might not be keen on committing to.
‘Half Man’ (2026)
There’s a Lot More to Brotherhood Than Meets the Eye
Watch This If: You enjoyed Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer. Although it was only released recently, the BBC and HBO’s collaboration on Half Man has quickly proven itself a huge success. This six-part series introduces Ruben (Gadd/Stuart Campbell) and Mitchell Robertson/Jamie Bell as Niall, two brothers with no blood relation, and follows them through different stages of their lives, from their teen years all the way through to Niall’s wedding day. Across the six episodes, Half Man delves into some incredibly important themes and topics, including toxic masculinity, sexuality, and chosen family, and because of the flashbacks, you know what their end fate is. Except, you don’t really know, not until the very end.
Skip This If: You’re not in the mood for something overly depressing, or you’re not a fan of time jumps and flashbacks. Half Man is an unbelievably powerful story, but it’s also got some very heavy subject matter, and the constant back and forth can make the sense of dread even worse.
‘The Undoing’ (2020)
A Murderous Affair
Watch This If: You like a bit of mystery in your psychological thrillers. The Undoing stars legendary actors Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman as Jonathan and Grace Fraser, whose lives are thrown into chaos when Jonathan is accused of murder, leaving the picturesque life Grace has built for them in tatters. The Undoing is so much more than a murder mystery, though; it delves into the secrets of marriage, how appearances can fool others, and how easily everything can fall apart. Grant and Kidman’s performances are also stellar, and the Golden Globe nominations they received for The Undoing are very much deserved.
Skip This If: You get easily frustrated with characters making poor decisions. While The Undoing has received more praise as time has gone on, one thing the six-part psychological thriller was criticized for upon its release was characterization, with some characters making such nonsensical choices that it made some viewers want to quit watching the show altogether.
‘Full Circle’ (2023)
The Fatal Fallout of a Plan Gone Wrong
Watch This If: You want a psychological thriller with a bit more action. While technically a mystery drama, Full Circle can also be considered a psychological thriller because of the kidnapping aspect. Full Circle is a gripping story about a kidnapping gone wrong, and how this one mistake unexpectedly reveals a long string of secrets connecting multiple characters together, including Claire Danes as celebrity chef Sam and Timothy Olyphant as her husband, Derek. What’s interesting about Full Circle is that it looks at the aftereffects of a failed crime, rather than a successful one.
Skip This If: You don’t want to watch anything too overly complicated. While Full Circle is an enthralling watch, there is a lot of detail you need to pay attention to, as well as a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments. If you want something that’s more of a casual watch, Full Circle might not be for you right now.
‘The Girl Before’ (2021)
Buying a House Has Never Been So Terrifying
Watch This If: You’re looking for an underrated hidden gem. The Girl Before is another collaboration from the BBC and HBO that follows Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Jane Cavendish, a woman who falls in love with an incredible house that has its architect’s painful secrets hidden in its walls. Despite receiving a rather mixed response upon its release, The Girl Before is well worth a watch, and the four-part series is one that more and more viewers are slowly discovering. The tension between Cavendish and David Oyelowo as architect Edward is incredible, and it’ll leave you screaming at the TV screen every time.
Skip This If: You’re hoping The Girl Before will be completely unpredictable. While there are some moments you won’t see coming, the ways that some of the subplots in The Girl Before are resolved are a little cliché. This miniseries is definitely a psychological thriller, but it could be a bit better in terms of its mystery aspects.
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
A Fascinating Yet Heartbreaking Reflection of Modern Times
Watch This If: You’re looking for a slightly older HBO thriller that still holds up years later. The Night Of stars Riz Ahmed as Nasir “Naz” Khan, a Pakistani-American student whose life is thrown into turmoil after he’s accused of murdering a woman. The Night Of not only delves into the mystery surrounding the woman’s death, but also the treatment of immigrants in America and their mental health. What works so well about this eight-part series is that, for most of it, you have no idea whether Naz is actually innocent or not, which makes the ways that prison changes him even more intriguing to watch.
Skip This If: You’re looking for something simple and easy to binge your way through. The Night Of is a compelling tale and one worth listening to, but the subject matter is rather emotionally exhausting. It’s great to binge in one day, but by the end of it, you might be more drained than you’d expect.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
