6 Best Thriller Shows for Binge-Watching Over a Weekend: If you want a great series to finish from Friday to Sunday evening, these thriller TV shows will captivate you. Since these kinds of stories rely so much on tropes and familiar storylines, it can be tricky to pick out a higher-quality series. 2025 saw plenty of thrillers that fall into the guilty pleasure category, including The Hunting Wives, the juicy murder mystery starring Brittany Snow and Malin Akerman and based on the novel by May Cobb. Other series that dive into more serious subjects, like Netflix’s Wayward about the troubled teen industry, are arguably weighed down by uneven plotlines and some thin character development.
While it’s always fun to tune into a corny thriller, it’s even better to find a compelling, fast-paced show with strong characters, impressive acting, and great writing. Some of the best thrillers are several seasons long, like You which charts Joe Goldberg’s (Penn Badgley) serial killer journey over five seasons. But there are a few stand-out thrillers that can be watched in two days, and once the end credits roll, it’ll be hard not to recommend them to everyone you know.
‘Mare of Easttown’
7 Episodes
HBO shows have memorable opening sequences, star-studded casts, clever writing, and premises that make you stop and think. The impressive network/streaming service has also released several high-quality binge-worthy thriller miniseries, and it doesn’t get much more engaging than Mare of Easttown. While Kate Winslet lent her impressive talent to classic movies ranging from the romantic tearjerker Titanic to the fan-favorite The Holiday, she gave one of her best performances as Detective Mare Sheehan.
Mare of Easttown premiered on HBO in April 2021, and the weekend is the perfect time to sit down and appreciate this intense, beautifully crafted, and tragic story. The series traces Mare’s family trauma along with her hope to find Erin McMenamin’s (Cailee Spaeny) killer, but Mare is so much more than yet another detective burying themselves in work because of their personal pain. Winslet’s Delaware County, Pennsylvania accent adds to the authentic nature of the show.
‘The Beast in Me’
8 Episodes
The Netflix thriller The Beast in Me began streaming in November 2025 and lends itself perfectly to a weekend binge thanks to a gripping question: did Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys) murder his wife, Madison (Leila George)? Nile’s author neighbor Aggie Wiggs (Claire Danes) isn’t so sure, and as they become friendlier, she goes on an unsettling journey to find out what actually happened.
The most engaging thriller series either focus on a smart detective putting the puzzle pieces together of a complex case or chart the strange dynamic between a likable and a not-so-likable character. The Beast in Me fits into the latter category. It helps that Aggie is equally as interesting as real estate developer Nile. You want her to solve Madison’s murder case as much as you hope she’ll find a way to move forward after her son Cooper’s devastating death.
‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’
6 Episodes
Season 1 of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder arrived on Netflix in August 2024, and the BBC Three series is a fun star vehicle for Emma Myers, who also plays Wednesday Addams’s (Jenna Ortega) light-hearted werewolf roommate Enid Sinclair on Wednesday. Pip Fitz-Amobi (Myers) is a classic rebellious teen character who ignores the wishes of everyone around her and attempts to find her late classmate Andie Bell’s (India Lillie Davies) killer.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder was renewed for Season 2, and since it’s based on the popular young adult book series by Holly Jackson and has such an intriguing Season 1 finale, it’s possible to assume that the second season will be just as fun. Pip will hook you right away, thanks to her endearing desire to follow her instincts and heart even when adults tell her that she’s wrong.
‘A Murder at the End of the World’
7 Episodes
Brit Marling, known for her intense and creative Netflix sci-fi series The OA, also co-created the FX on Hulu series A Murder at the End of the World, which aired in November and December 2023. Although the seven-episode thriller series is definitely entertaining, it didn’t make that much of a mark when it came out, and hasn’t been mentioned much since.
A Murder at the End of the World has a fun premise that, admittedly, isn’t as singular as it could be, as several characters gather at a retreat held by wealthy tech businessman Andy Ronson (Clive Owen). However, while stories about rich characters and their strange gatherings are nothing new, the show sets itself apart thanks to the quirkiness and intelligence of main character Darby Hart (Emma Corrin), a writer and hacker who is one of the attendees. The thriller wastes no time, and it’ll be easy to watch all seven episodes in just a few days.
‘Sharp Objects’
7 Episodes
HBO’s prestige drama reputation marches on with smart thriller miniseries like Sharp Objects, which features an epic and intense performance from beloved actress Amy Adams in the role of journalist Camille Preaker. It’s another solid weekend watch and sets itself apart from other HBO thrillers thanks to Jean-Marc Vallée’s beautiful direction.
Sure, most thrillers or horror stories feature main characters heading back to their hometown to face personal demons and investigate a murder or disappearance, and Sharp Objects tells that tale, too. However, the first episode’s dream-like sequences make it stand out. Viewers see Camille in the present day and as a teenager struggling with her harsh mom, Adora Crellin (Patricia Clarkson). After watching Sophia Lillis play high school-aged Camille with complexity, it’ll be impossible not to turn to the next episode and the next one, too. The big twist at the end will also be worth it.
‘All Her Fault’
8 Episodes
Adapted from Andrea Mara’s book, All Her Fault began streaming on Peacock in November 2025. It quickly captivated viewers with its story about motherhood, murder, and whether it’s possible to trust anyone. The premise is impossible to resist, even though it’s more than a little bit horrifying: Marissa Irvine (Sarah Snook) has to search for her son Milo (Duke McCloud) when she tries to take him home after a playdate, and he isn’t at the home of his classmate.
Sarah Snook is the number one reason to watch All Her Fault. The Succession star carries the whole show, and viewers feel Marissa’s pain and fear in every scene. Marissa is an empathetic character, but thankfully, she’s complex, too. If you want a thriller series to binge on Saturday and Sunday that answers every question you have by the finale and leaves room for several surprises, this is it.
Source: movieweb
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