Another week has passed, and Apex is still the top thriller on Netflix and the No. 1 movie in the streamer’s current top 10. Audiences are loving the cat-and-mouse battle between Charlize Theron’s rock climber and Taron Egerton’s serial killer. It will be interesting to see what movie inevitably knocks it down to second place.
If you’re searching for more thrillers, then you’ve come to the right place. Our top recommendation is the fifth entry into one of Hollywood’s iconic horror series. The other movies on this list include a little-seen survival thriller with an A-plus cast and a feature film adaptation of a post-apocalyptic novel. Stream all three of these movies on Netflix in the U.S.
3
Eden
Survival on the island
What the heck happened to Eden? The survival thriller premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and entered limbo immediately after due to its lack of distribution. Nearly a year passed before Vertical finally released Eden in theaters on August 22, 2025. You would think that this movie had an easy sell—recognizable actors stuck on an island, with chaos ensuing. I’m still baffled as to why a major studio didn’t pick it up in the United States.
Eden is inspired by true events surrounding the residents of Floreana Island in the 1930s. Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) leaves Germany and moves to Floreana Island with Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby). They are eventually joined by Margret Wittmer (Sydney Sweeny), Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Brühl), and Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas). Tensions rise as the competing families vie for control of the island, resulting in fatal decisions that lead to multiple tragedies. Eden certainly has some Lord of the Flies elements in its story.
Quiz
Blockbuster movies on Netflix
Trivia challenge
From indie romance to post-apocalyptic horror and rock ‘n’ roll history — how well do you know these Netflix hits?
DramaHorrorMusicDirectorsCasting
Which director is behind the quirky 2012 coming-of-age film Moonrise Kingdom?
Correct! Wes Anderson directed Moonrise Kingdom, bringing his signature symmetrical framing and deadpan humor to a story of young love set in 1965 New England. The film was his seventh feature and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Not quite — Moonrise Kingdom was directed by Wes Anderson, the auteur known for his meticulously composed visual style. While Sofia Coppola, Spike Jonze, and Michel Gondry are all acclaimed indie filmmakers, this whimsical tale of runaway children belongs to Anderson’s distinctly quirky cinematic universe.
Which veteran actor plays the eccentric Scout Master Ward in Moonrise Kingdom?
Correct! Edward Norton plays the well-meaning but hapless Scout Master Ward, delivering a wonderfully earnest performance. Norton was part of an ensemble that also included Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, and Frances McDormand, making Moonrise Kingdom one of the most star-studded indie films of its era.
Not quite — Scout Master Ward was played by Edward Norton, who gave the role a wonderfully sincere, slightly bumbling quality. Bill Murray and Bruce Willis were also in the film but in different roles, and Jeff Goldblum, while a Wes Anderson regular, did not appear in this particular picture.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a sequel in a long-running horror franchise. What infected the population in the original 28 Days Later?
Correct! The original 28 Days Later introduced the terrifying Rage virus, which was accidentally released when animal rights activists broke into a research lab and freed infected chimpanzees. Unlike traditional zombie lore, the infected in this franchise are alive and driven by uncontrollable aggression.
Not quite — the culprit in the original 28 Days Later was a virus called Rage, unleashed after activists freed infected chimpanzees from a laboratory. The franchise is notably distinct from zombie films because its victims are not undead; they are living humans overwhelmed by violent, uncontrollable rage.
Who directed 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, continuing the franchise Danny Boyle originally launched?
Correct! Nia DaCosta, known for her acclaimed work on Candyman (2021), directed The Bone Temple. Her involvement brought fresh creative energy to the long-dormant franchise, with Danny Boyle returning to direct the first film in the trilogy and handing off the second chapter to DaCosta.
Not quite — The Bone Temple was directed by Nia DaCosta, who previously helmed the 2021 Candyman. Alex Garland wrote the screenplay for the original 28 Days Later, while Juan Carlos Fresnadillo directed the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, making all the wrong options plausible names attached to this franchise’s history.
In Moonrise Kingdom, what is the name of the young girl who runs away with Sam Shakusky?
Correct! Suzy Bishop, played by Kara Hayward in her feature film debut, runs away with fellow misfit Sam Shakusky across the fictional New England island of New Penzance. The name Margot is a nod to Wes Anderson’s earlier film The Royal Tenenbaums, making it a clever red herring.
Not quite — the young heroine is Suzy Bishop, brought to life by first-time actress Kara Hayward. Margot is actually the name of a character from Anderson’s earlier film The Royal Tenenbaums, while Clementine and Agatha appear in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Grand Budapest Hotel respectively.
The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel focuses on a founding member of the band. What instrument did Hillel Slovak play?
Correct! Hillel Slovak was the original lead guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and his soulful, eclectic playing style helped define the band’s early sound. His tragic death from a heroin overdose in 1988 profoundly impacted his bandmates, particularly Anthony Kiedis, and shaped much of the band’s later music.
Not quite — Hillel Slovak was the lead guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, not the bassist or drummer. Flea held down the bass, while Chad Smith would later take over on drums. Slovak’s distinctive guitar work was central to the band’s identity in their formative years before his untimely death in 1988.
Which Red Hot Chili Peppers member is most prominently featured alongside Hillel Slovak in the documentary Our Brother, Hillel, given their lifelong friendship?
Correct! Anthony Kiedis and Hillel Slovak were childhood best friends long before forming the Red Hot Chili Peppers, making their bond central to the documentary’s emotional core. Kiedis wrote extensively about Slovak’s death in his memoir Scar Tissue, describing it as one of the most devastating moments of his life.
Not quite — Anthony Kiedis is the central figure in exploring Hillel Slovak’s legacy, as the two were childhood friends who grew up together in Los Angeles before co-founding the band. While Flea was also a close friend, it is the Kiedis-Slovak relationship that forms the emotional backbone of the documentary.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the second film in a planned trilogy. Who wrote the screenplay for the project, as they did for the original 28 Days Later?
Correct! Alex Garland, who wrote the screenplay for the original 28 Days Later, returned to pen the scripts for the new trilogy. Garland has since become a celebrated director in his own right with films like Ex Machina and 28 Days Later spiritual successor Men, cementing his place as one of modern horror and sci-fi’s most important voices.
Not quite — Alex Garland is the screenwriter behind the 28 Days Later franchise, including the new trilogy. Danny Boyle directed the original film rather than writing it, Cillian Murphy was its star, and Andrew Macdonald served as producer. Garland’s return to this world was a major draw for fans of the original film.
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Again, I’m shocked this movie was dumped in August instead of receiving a traditional rollout from a popular studio. Admittedly, Eden has its flaws and heavily leans into melodrama much to its detriment. Still, it’s an entertaining thriller supported by a stacked cast that is much better than it’s given credit for.
Eden
- Release Date
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August 22, 2025
- Runtime
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120 minutes
- Director
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Ron Howard
2
Leave the World Behind
Technology becomes the villain
What would happen if the collapse of technology led to the end of the world? That’s part of the premise of Leave the World Behind, Sam Esmail’s 2023 psychological thriller for Netflix. The movie is based on Rumaan Alam’s novel of the same name. Right when an oil tanker crashes on the shore, something is not right in Leave the World Behind.
Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) is on vacation with her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) and two children when inexplicable occurrences, like the oil tanker crash, begin happening. The root of the issue is a nationwide blackout that has caused widespread panic. Amanda and Clay are forced to grapple with their trust issues after the arrival of the vacation home’s owner, George H. “G.H.” Scott (Mahershala Ali), and his daughter, Ruth (Myha’la).
- Connectivity
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Wi-Fi 5
- Weight
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2.91 pounds
Some may view Leave the World Behind as a warning to humanity, which feels ill-equipped to handle a devastating cyberattack. Others might watch strictly for its entertainment purposes. I fell somewhere in the middle. There are some relevant messages about the apocalypse, social inequality, and societal standards. It’s also a great cast of talented performers who elevate the source material. I don’t think the film depicts what actually would happen in a disaster, but it’s certainly fun (and scary) to predict the future.
1
Scream
I would like to play another game
To clarify, I’m referring to 2022’s Scream, informally known as Scream V. It’s a nightmare scenario for anyone like myself, who has to write an article about the fifth Scream installment. For bookkeeping purposes, I’m calling it Scream V. Part of the reason for the similar title to the first movie is because Scream V restarted the franchise after an 11-year hiatus. It’s not a reboot or a remake, but a continuation of the series.
The film opens with a similar sequence to 1996’s Scream, where an unsuspecting high school student, Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega), is attacked by a new Ghostface killer in Woodsboro. Tara’s half-sister, Sam (Melissa Barrera), returns to town and learns that Tara’s friend group is now being targeted by Ghostface. If you’re dealing with Ghostface, there’s only one person to call for help: Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who has survived the killer’s multiple attempts at her life.
I was surprisingly impressed with Radio Silence’s take on Scream. These reboots are typically cash grabs and a way for studios to exploit the IP of a popular entity. Scream V plays the hits—close calls, gory kills, and a propensity for dark humor. For me, it works as one of the franchise’s best entries. I thought Scream was done following Scream 4. Now, you’re probably going to get Scream VIII in a few years.
Scream
- Release Date
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January 14, 2022
- Runtime
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114 minutes
- Director
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Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
More Netflix movies to watch
Two new Netflix movies, My Dearest Assassin and Remarkably Bright Creatures, arrive at week’s end just in time for the weekend. You can also stream classic Oscar-winning movies, including Roma and Glory. No matter what you choose, chances are you’ll be occupied for the foreseeable future with Netflix content.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
