Best Hulu Thrillers to Binge

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Over the past ten years, it’s become commonplace for people to consume television shows by binge-watching them instead of waiting for weekly episodes. Shows that used to air on cable or network television are now often found on streaming services. While some shows still follow a weekly release format like Apple TV’s popular series, Severance, the majority are made available all at once so viewers can watch them in one sitting. When shows are structured this way, they need to be engaging and hold our interest right from the start, which is why suspenseful or thrilling shows tend to be the most addictive to watch.

If you’re seeking something captivating that keeps you engaged and excited, thriller TV series might be your perfect match. These shows can make you sit glued to the couch, eagerly watching one episode after another. They often leave you craving more, and thankfully, the binge-watching format ensures you don’t have to wait to discover what happens next. Fortunately, Hulu offers a wide variety of top-notch thriller shows across various subgenres. Here’s our selection of the most compelling TV thrillers available for streaming on Hulu:

10
‘Criminal Minds’ (2005 – Present)

2005 stood out as an exceptional year for television, with several iconic series debuting including Grey’s Anatomy, Supernatural, and Criminal Minds. While Criminal Minds initially aired in 2005, it remains popular and culturally relevant to this day. The show focuses on the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), an elite FBI team of profilers who specialize in studying the psychology behind the country’s most dangerous and complex serial killers, aiming to comprehend their motivations and anticipate their future actions.

Finding Humanity in Disturbing Criminal Cases

One reason why “Criminal Minds” continues to captivate fans for over two decades is the relatable characters we’ve grown attached to. Despite dealing with grim cases investigated by the Behavioral Analysis Unit, a sense of compassion is present in each character. These profilers demonstrate genuine concern for those they strive to protect and for one another. Moreover, they are exceptionally skilled at their work. Regardless of the gravity or complexity of the case, the BAU swiftly collects evidence and solves cases that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

9
‘How to Get Away With Murder’ (2014 – 2020)

Originating from the mind of Shonda Rhimes, who also steers Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away With Murder stands as an intriguing crime drama series brimming with suspense in each episode. Viola Davis portrays the role of law professor Annalise Keating, while a team of her selected law students find themselves embroiled in a complex murder investigation. The show is rife with secrets and deception, as one murder seemingly begets another, creating an enigma that keeps viewers hooked.

Smart, Sexy, and Shocking

Viola Davis, an exceptional actress, never lets the viewers get bored on HTGAWM. Her presence on screen is commanding in every scene, making even the most detestable Annalise character hard to look away from due to Davis’ compelling portrayal. This series is known for being provocative, intelligent, and full of unexpected twists and turns that keep viewers hooked. It could very well be Shonda Rhimes’ finest creation. The legal aspects of the show add depth to the crime elements since lawyers and law students employ their legal expertise to conceal heinous crimes.

8
‘The Act’ (2019)

The series titled “The Act” portrays the life story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard (played by Joey King), starting from her sheltered upbringing and culminating on the day she took the dramatic step of killing her mother. Gypsy’s mother, DeeDee Blanchard (portrayed by Patricia Arquette), was overly protective towards her daughter, controlling every aspect of Gypsy’s life. However, DeeDee’s behavior extended beyond typical overprotectiveness as she had Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, a condition where an individual fabricates or amplifies health problems in someone under their care to garner sympathy from others.

Disturbing Real-Life Events

For much of Gypsy Rose’s existence, DeeDee persistently portrayed her as suffering from numerous physical and cognitive impairments to those around them. In fact, DeeDee managed to persuade medical professionals that her daughter was afflicted with Leukemia. This deception was sustained for such a lengthy period that Gypsy was inappropriately wheelchair-bound, compelled to use a feeding tube, had her teeth extracted, and her head shaved to maintain the illusion of cancer treatment.

The performance portrays numerous distressing actions inflicted by DeeDee upon Gypsy, yet it’s even more troubling to discover that Gypsy was aware of much of what her mother said was falsehood. Despite knowing she could walk and eat normally, Gypsy also understood the need to conform to the act and avoid provoking her mother for safety reasons.

7
‘Cruel Summer’ (2021 – 2023)

Cruel Summer” is an anthology series that explores various groups of teenagers facing traumatic incidents across multiple timelines in each season. Each season illustrates how these traumatic events shape their lives differently in each timeline. The first season focuses on a popular high school student named Kate (Olivia Holt), who vanishes mysteriously in the mid-90s in Texas. Following her disappearance, Jeanette rises to popularity but soon becomes America’s most despised figure. Season two is set in the ’90s as well and centers around Megan, a gifted computer whiz whose life takes an unexpected turn when she befriends a foreign exchange student within a year.

An Explosive Narrative Told Through Several Timelines

The series opens powerfully with an engaging pilot episode that maintains your interest for its full 45 minutes. A chilling soundtrack and disorienting flashbacks draw you in right away. Despite featuring teenage protagonists, it doesn’t have the feel of a typical “teen” show. Instead, it tackles mature subjects and places its young characters in circumstances that are unusual for their age group. The interwoven flashbacks and flashforwards between the three timelines in season one not only contribute to the storyline effectively, but they also add depth to the characters as well.

6
‘Castle Rock’ (2018 – 2019)

Drawing inspiration from the chilling tales of horror mastermind Stephen King, I find myself captivated by the intriguing anthology series, Castle Rock. This town in Maine, aptly named as our title, serves as the backdrop for a variety of supernatural yarns that unfold. In essence, it’s like stepping into a Stephen King multiverse, where the epic scope of his works intertwines with the heartfelt character narratives of his most beloved stories. It’s an entirely unique production, reimagining King’s literary gems and seamlessly integrating them into a single, cohesive narrative universe.

Reimagining An Icon’s Beloved Works

I’m a big fan who can’t get enough of Stephen King’s works, and many of them, like “Cujo,” “The Dark Half,” and “Needful Things,” are set in or connected to the fictional town of Castle Rock. You might recognize it from movies like “Stand By Me” (based on “The Body”) and “The Shawshank Redemption.” Nestled deep within Maine’s forested countryside, this small town serves as the perfect backdrop for King’s signature blend of horror and suspense. The thrill isn’t just in the chilling plotlines, but also in reuniting with beloved characters such as Annie Wilkes, and it adds layers to the intricate lore that King weaves so skillfully. For any King enthusiast like myself, this is an exciting journey into the rich world he has created.

5
‘True Blood’ (2008 – 2014)

HBO often excels at producing exceptional TV shows that continue to be celebrated for many years. While True Blood may not have been their most cerebral series, it undeniably left an indelible mark on pop culture, with references still being made over a decade since its conclusion. Adapted from the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, True Blood premiered during the height of vampire mania. The story revolves around a young telepathic waitress named Sookie (played by Anna Paquin), who resides in a fictional Louisiana town and inhabits a world where not only do vampires exist, but they also coexist with humans thanks to a synthetic blood substitute called “True Blood”.

A Fantastical Horror-Thriller

The series offers an exhilarating journey through its seven seasons, blending elements of horror, fantasy, and suspense. Beyond the presence of vampires, it showcases a diverse cast of characters that include shapeshifters, werewolves, fairies, witches, goddesses, and even werepanthers.

Vampires self-rule by designating a monarch for each region or territory, as well as sheriffs to manage smaller areas within those regions. While many vampires aim for peaceful coexistence with humans, some harbor the desire to eliminate them entirely, which often leads to conflicts and complications involving supernatural entities. Additionally, there is a significant group of people who view vampires as abominable and believe they should be wiped out according to their religious beliefs. The popular TV series, True Blood, presents one of the most intense love triangles on screen, featuring Sookie, Bill Compton (portrayed by Steven Moyer), and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård).

4
‘The Americans’ (2013 – 2018)

In the tense atmosphere of the 1980s Cold War, The Americans offers a captivating political drama that takes you back to when an ordinary U.S. citizen might have been a KGB spy. The narrative centers around Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys), who seem to be enjoying the American dream in a spacious suburban home with their two teenage kids. However, this idyllic life is just a facade, concealing the truth that Elizabeth and Philip are Soviet agents, operating covertly for the KGB.

An Old-School Political Thriller

It’s worth mentioning that the Jennings family reside in close proximity to Stan Beeman (played by Noah Emmerich), who is an FBI agent specialized in hunting down Soviet spies. Given that KGB agents are their neighbors, the intensity of the series is established from the get-go as the stakes are significantly high. Elizabeth and Philip, however, aren’t merely pretending to be the Jennings family; they each have various aliases to navigate through for gathering information from specific individuals and sending it back to Moscow. They must maintain clandestine relationships under these pseudonyms, sometimes even creating fictional families. All this is done while keeping their true identities hidden not only from Stan but also their own children.

3
‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ (2022)

Under the Banner of Heaven” is an emotionally intense true-crime drama revolving around Mormon fundamentalism. Starring Andrew Garfield in a remarkable role, this limited series takes place in Utah during the ’80s and centers on Detective Jeb Pyre (Garfield), a dedicated member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). The story unfolds as Jeb investigates a tragic double homicide of a young mother and her infant, which reveals striking connections to Mormon fundamentalism. Together with his partner, Salt Lake City detective Bob Taba (Gil Birmingham), Jeb is compelled to delve into the hidden secrets and disturbing realities lurking within the religion he was raised in.

An Unflinching Depiction of Religious Extremism

If you have a deep interest in religion and are appalled by certain religious groups promoting extreme ideologies, “Under the Banner of Heaven” will undoubtedly captivate you. The series doesn’t mince words when portraying the unsettling aspects of Mormon fundamentalism, yet it maintains respect for those who truly adhere to the faith. During the course of the investigation into these murders, we witness Jeb’s personal conflict as he grapples with the facts before him and his own religious convictions.

The program offers a comprehensive examination of the LDS history, helping viewers identify potential flaws within the religion that could have facilitated extremism. Mormon fundamentalism promotes male authority over families and female submission to their husbands, which unfortunately created an environment conducive for such heinous acts. This gripping crime drama not only keeps you on the edge of your seat but also tugs at your emotions, leaving a profound impact.

2
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (2017)

The television show “The Handmaid’s Tale,” inspired by Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel of the same name, presents a chilling resemblance to contemporary society. This series is set in the fictional state of Gilead, which was once the United States, where fertility rates have drastically declined, leading to a theocratic regime taking over the government. In this world, women are not considered as citizens but merely as baby-making machines. Fertile women are compelled to live as concubines with high-ranking male officials (referred to as Commanders), whose infertile wives cannot conceive. The children born from these unions are then taken away and given to the Commander’s families, while the handmaids are stripped of their identities and forced to bear these children.

Disturbing Yet Realistic Themes

In the transformation of the U.S. into the nation of Gilead, women were forcibly separated from their loved ones and taught to serve as handmaids. If a woman bore children, those offspring were then transferred to households led by Commanders. Handmaids who attempted to escape from Gilead were apprehended and sent to the Colonies, harsh labor camps where they ultimately perished. In this dystopian society, women are both revered as crucial figures and heavily oppressed simultaneously.

In this series, the central figure, June (played by Elisabeth Moss), spearheads the rebellion of Handmaids yearning to escape from Gilead and dismantle their oppressive system. The program can be quite unsettling and disturbing for many viewers, particularly women, as its exploration of suppression and control resonates eerily with current realities. Yet, it is undeniably compelling and leaves a strong impression of empowerment in its female audience.

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1
‘The X-Files’ (1993 – 2018)

The X-Files, a sci-fi police procedural from the ’90s, is a highly influential show. It centers around FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who investigate bizarre and unexplained cases that often involve paranormal activity. They approach their investigations using both scientific reasoning and knowledge of the supernatural.

Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Genre Blend

The X-Files revolutionized the science fiction genre. Its unique approach to the paranormal, which took it seriously instead of dismissing it, opened the door for other similar shows. It served as a blueprint for all subsequent sci-fi investigative series. The writing was sharp and thoughtful, ensuring the show didn’t devolve into a mindless exploration of the unknown.

The intricate characters and storylines added richness to the narrative, making even the unrealistic parts feel authentic. It pushed boundaries with innovative ideas, setting it apart as one of the most uniquely crafted series ever produced. The fusion of science fiction, police investigation, dark humor, and horror created a captivating mix of themes and storylines that remain endlessly engaging.

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2025-03-02 19:36