Thrillers can be sorted into two categories: slower burns like Silo and Severance, and fast-paced ones that are intense for virtually every season of the 30-60-minute episodes. With all the high-octane action, there’s rarely a chance to get up and refill your popcorn or take a bathroom break. If you don’t pause the show, you’ll miss something crucial. These edge-of-your-seat shows are perfect for binge-watching since each episode flows right into the next, making it easy to get caught up in the riveting plot.
Indeed, I have watched a few of these in a single sitting (okay, maybe over two nights). Some are short, and some are multiple seasons long. But if you want to take your mind off the stresses of the world with a show that won’t encourage you to doomscroll on your phone while watching, certain thrillers fit the bill.
’24’ (2001–2010, 2014)
You would think that, with a show like 24 that takes place in real-time, there would be moments of calm. But there rarely are. Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) fights bad guys as an agent with the Counter Terrorist Unit in Los Angeles and thwarts potential attacks that put American lives at risk. He famously never stops to eat or even go to the bathroom because he’s always on the move, hunting and hiding. When he takes down one threat, a phone call, another threat lurking around the corner is always waiting in the wings. (Exhausting!)
Even when the scenes cut to someone else, 24 usually showcases Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) back at the office, frantically using her computer skills to help Jack along on his missions using the famous split-screen view. Whether the characters are protecting the president against an assassination attempt or infiltrating a Mexican drug cartel, every season is heart-pounding.
‘The Night Agent’ (2023–)
The only moment of calm in The Night Agent is at the very beginning is when we see Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) as a young FBI agent tending to a secret phone in a lone room at The White House. However, from the moment the phone rings, his life is turned upside down. The series is packed with chases, gunfights, and conspiracies that seemingly don’t end.
As the show progresses through its first two seasons, with The Night Agent Season 2 arriving on February 19, 2026, Peter’s life follows the same trajectory of no sleep, always being on the run, and fighting to save innocent lives. The opening scene of The Night Agent Season 2 leans right into high action with a car chase and shoot-out that will spark your attention immediately, and it doesn’t let up throughout. Season 3 shows no signs of slowing down, either.
‘Reacher’ (2022–)
Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) in the hit Amazon Prime Video series Reacher is a man on a mission, and he won’t stop until he accomplishes it. Even when he does, he’s already onto the next mission. Based on the novel series by Lee Child, the series follows a former U.S. Army military police officer who now works on his own to take down bad guys, with the help of local police officers. His incredible strength, determination, skills, and intellect help him accomplish things others could only dream of, or don’t have the same fearlessness to handle.
Through every season, the stakes are raised even higher, with Reacher’s missions involving dangerous jobs like rescuing a DEA informant and avenging the murder of a former officer. The cases are often deeply personal to him, and the show leaves viewers no moment to breathe and take it in. There’s always something compelling going on that keeps you fully invested and glued to the screen, just like Child’s fans can never stop turning the pages of his popular novels.
‘Bodyguard’ (2018)
The political thriller Bodyguard begins on a train as PS David Budd (Richard Madden), a war veteran and now protection officer, is traveling with his kids when he notices that something is off. The second he recognizes that the train is outfitted with a bomb, he springs into action. Even the quiet, calm intensity leaves you breathing heavily, knowing he won’t die… but fearing that he might. This moment sets up the fast-paced thriller to come. From there, it’s high action as David takes on a new job protecting Julia Montague MP (Keeley Hawes), the home secretary, and uncovers conspiracies that put them both in danger.
The intensity is kicked up a few notches when David himself is accused of wrongdoing, and his fractured mental state creates a situation that, by the end, will have you holding your breath. At just six episodes long, Bodyguard is a bingeable show that is tough not to watch in a single sitting. (Go ahead, no judgment!)
‘The Blacklist’ (2013–2023)
Admittedly, The Blacklist went off the rails in its later seasons, notably when Liz Keen (Megan Boone) left the show, and it seemed like writers were scrambling to rejig the ending. But for the first at least half, The Blacklist is a network series that feels like it belongs on a streamer. James Spader plays Raymond “Red” Reddington, a career criminal known as the Concierge of Crime who, one day, turns himself in to the FBI. If he hands over some of the biggest, secret criminals, he wants to be able to do his thing.
Red has ulterior motives, including taking down these people to build his own empire. But notably, he also has a strange connection to Liz that he refuses to reveal, leaving her in a constant state of panic and confusion that you can feel through the screen. Fair warning: The Blacklist doesn’t deliver a solid payoff in the end. But the first seasons are still worth watching, thanks to the intriguing criminals and impressive police work, along with Red’s calm yet terrifying demeanor.
‘Paradise’ (2025–)
Paradise Season 2 will start streaming on Feb. 23, 2026, and the post-apocalyptic political thriller delivers so many twists and turns, it almost begs for a rewatch. The series centers around Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown), lead special agent for the president’s Secret Service detail, who becomes embroiled in controversy when President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) is found dead.
Once the shocking twist is revealed at the end of the first episode, it’s high stakes from that point on as Xavier tries to rally troops to fight back against menacing, powerful billionaire Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond (Julianne Nicholson). She’s clearly up to no good and hiding truths from the people. Season 2 marks a complete change of scenery and a fantastic new cast of characters with just as much fast-paced action amidst brief moments of calm.
‘The Following’ (2013–2015)
One of those shows that was canceled too soon, The Following is a cat and mouse game between former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) and former professor, serial killer, and cult leader Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). Ryan was integral to Joe’s capture. But he is still able to wreak havoc from jail thanks to his legion of loyal followers. Once he escapes, all bets are off, and Ryan needs to do his best to protect innocent people, his life, and the life of Joe’s ex-wife Claire (Natalie Zea), with whom Ryan also had a relationship.
The Following is an exciting network series that always gets your heart racing. Purefoy was brilliant at playing a charming yet creepy killer. Any slower moments build up to the shocking events that aren’t far behind. It’s been a decade since The Following went off the air following its three-season run, and the crime thriller is definitely worth watching again.
‘Gangs of London’ (2020–)
Not just fast-paced, but also extremely violent, Gangs of London follows rival gangs throughout London as they fight for power and dominance. When the head of the biggest crime family is killed, the situation becomes especially tense. From the Albanians to the Kurdish and Pakistani cartels, the death sends shockwaves through the criminal underworld and leads to even more devastating, bloody friction among rivals.
Although there’s no release date just yet, Gangs of London Season 4 is on its way. If you prefer something less graphic, this might not be the best choice, but the compelling storyline is worth checking out. Through the three seasons and 25 episodes to date, you’ll struggle to find a dull moment between scenes.
Was your favorite thriller series on the list? Is there one that you like to recommend? Let us know in the comments!
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
