8 Must-Watch Thriller Shows Even the Biggest Fans Haven’t Seen

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Patricia Arquette sits in a chair talking on the phone with a dog on her lap in Escape at Dannemora.

Published Jan 29, 2026, 5:30 PM EST

Remus is a writer, editor, journalist, and author with an eye for detail and an extremely active imagination. He is an enthusiast of everything to do with the graphic medium, whether it's Western comics and their adaptations or manga and anime. Remus is also the author of the sci-fantasy novel Once Upon a Time in Hyperspace and several works of short fiction in the mystery, comedy, and horror genres.

Since the days of the early suspense shows of the 1940s and '50s, thrillers have been a popular mainstay of television that has evolved to encompass a vast range of perspectives and subgenres. Entertaining global audiences with their pulse-pounding stories, fascinating characters, and shocking twists, the greats of the genre have left an indelible mark on popular culture, earning critical acclaim and building massive fan followings. However, there are also far too many great thriller series that haven’t received the attention they deserve.

Even though many of these shows have been well-received in their time, these days, they’re mostly confined to obscurity, and only truly dedicated genre fans are likely to have heard of some of them. So, to shine a new light on these forgotten treasures, here’s our selection of some of the best thriller shows that even diehards haven’t seen.

8 ‘The Consultant’ (2023)

Based on the novel by Bentley Little, The Consultant is a thriller series created by Tony Basgallop that stars Christoph Waltz in the title role. The show follows the employees at a gaming company whose lives take a turn when the CEO is mysteriously murdered, but not before hiring an even more mysterious consultant (Waltz) to use ruthless tactics to reshape the company. The series also stars Nat Wolff, Brittany O'Grady, Aimee Carrero, and more in significant roles.

Released on Prime Video in 2023, The Consultant is an enthralling mystery series full of unexpected twists, anchored by Waltz’s intensely creepy performance. The show was quite favorably received by critics at the time of its premiere, but it isn’t as widely recognized as it deserves to be. However, though it may be underrated, The Consultant is a polished and intriguing thriller with exceptional performances (particularly by O’Grady) and an enigmatic storyline that keeps you guessing long after the credits roll.

7 ‘Escape at Dannemora’ (2018)

Patricia Arquette wearing clear glasses and looking to the side in Escape from Dannemora.

Created and written by Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin, and directed by Ben Stiller, Escape at Dannemora is a crime drama limited series inspired by true events surrounding the real-life 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape. Patricia Arquette stars as Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell, a married prison employee who becomes involved with two convicted murderers (Benicio del Toro and Paul Dano) and helps them escape. The series also features Bonnie Hunt, Eric Lange, and David Morse in lead roles.

While it might not be the most true of true crime dramas, Escape at Dannemora was very warmly received by critics when it first premiered on Showtime in 2018. It’s not as talked-about these days, but it’s an entertaining miniseries with a slow-burning story and some excellent performances, particularly by Patricia Arquette, who received a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Critics’ Choice Award for her work on the series. Escape at Dannemora also received nominations for 12 Emmy Awards, though it didn’t ultimately win any.

6 ‘Bad Sisters’ (2022–Present)

Sharon Horgan as Eva with Eve Hewson, Sarah Greene and Eva Birthistle in Halloween costumes in Bad Sisters

Developed by Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, and Brett Baer, Bad Sisters is an Irish black comedy thriller series inspired by the Belgian show Clan. Horgan also stars in the show, playing Eva, the eldest of the five Garvey sisters, with Anna-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson as her sisters Grace, Ursula, Bibi, and Becka, respectively. The story kicks off after Grace’s manipulative and controlling husband, John Paul (Claes Bang), unexpectedly dies, causing two relentless insurance investigators to suspect the sisters of foul play. The series also stars Daryl McCormack, Brian Gleeson, Fiona Shaw, and more in supporting roles.

A deliciously dark comedy thriller, Bad Sisters is as gripping as it is poignant, balancing its exploration of familial bonds and sisterhood with a downright addictive crime story. The series premiered in 2022 to critical and audience acclaim, earning a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating and receiving praise for its compelling performances, sardonic sense of humor, and layered narrative. A second season, which picks up two years after the first one, was released in 2024, which wasn’t quite as well-received but is still very entertaining.

5 ‘11.22.63’ (2016)

James Franco as Jake Epping in a suit and tie and hat staring ahead into the distance in 11.22.63.

Based on the 2011 novel by Stephen King, 11.22.63 is a science fiction thriller miniseries that follows a divorced English teacher who time-travels to the 1960s to stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Developed by Bridget Carpenter and executive produced by Carpenter, King, J. J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk, the show stars James Franco as the lead character, Jake Epping, who finds his seemingly simple mission complicated by mysterious phenomena and an unexpected romantic connection. Chris Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Lucy Fry, George MacKay, and Daniel Webber star in other lead roles, with Cherry Jones, T. R. Knight, Josh Duhamel, and more in recurring and guest roles.

Released on Hulu in 2016, 11.22.63 was quite positively received by critics, with its slow-burning story and compelling performances earning it a lot of praise. The series also won a Saturn Award for Best Television Presentation, but in the years since, it has been largely forgotten. This has partly been attributed to the show’s contained, stand-alone story, and partly to the casting of James Franco, but those reasons notwithstanding, 11.22.63 is a pretty thrilling watch and easily one of King’s most underrated TV adaptations.

4 ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’ (2016–2017)

Todd (Elijah Wood) and Dirk (Samuel Barnett) both look surprised at something in the distance. They are surrounded by bright lights.

Inspired by the novel series by Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is a darkly comedic sci-fi thriller show created by Max Landis. Essentially a soft sequel to the books, the series follows down-on-his-luck doorman Todd (Elijah Wood), who finds his mundane life unexpectedly transformed when he meets the titular “holistic detective” (Samuel Barnett) and finds himself pulled into a mindbending conspiracy involving a missing girl, a dead millionaire, an eccentric cult, a corgi, and a chaotic assassin. Besides Wood and Barnett, the show also features Hannah Marks, Jade Eshete, Fiona Dourif, Mpho Koaho, and more in key roles.

Both Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and the novels that inspired it are quite niche, but their lack of broad appeal does not mean they’re anything less than masterpieces. A quirky mystery series with solid worldbuilding and a compelling story, the show was quite well-received during its two-season run on BBC America, but it was sadly canceled before it could really build itself into something spectacular. However, lost potential aside, the series does end on a pretty good note, and it’s a wildly entertaining story that lends itself to multiple rewatches.

3 ‘Three Pines’ (2022)

Alfred Molina wearing glasses outside looking over his shoulder in Three Pines.

Created by Emilia di Girolamo, Three Pines is a mystery procedural series adapted from Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache novel series. Starring Alfred Molina as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Quebec police force, the show follows the detective’s investigations into surprisingly complex murders that take place in the outwardly peaceful village of Three Pines, while struggling with the ghosts of his own troubled past. The show also features Rossif Sutherland, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Tantoo Cardinal, Clare Coulter, Sarah Booth, and Anna Tierney in key supporting roles.

A melancholic and atmospheric mystery series that feels reminiscent of popular British crime shows like Broadchurch, Three Pines was quite favorably received by both critics and audiences when it first premiered in 2022, but negotiations for a second season fell apart, and so the show was cut down to miniseries status. While its short life has made it difficult for the series to reach a sufficiently wide audience, Three Pines is a genuinely enjoyable procedural thriller elevated by its strong performances and intelligent storytelling.

2 ‘Top of the Lake’ (2013–2017)

Elizabeth Moss looking to the side, sitting with her back against an interior brick wall in Top of the Lake.

Created and written by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee, Top of the Lake is an Australian mystery drama series that stars Elisabeth Moss as Sydney Detective Robin Griffin. The first season follows Detective Griffin as she investigates the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old in New Zealand, and the second sees her attempts to solve the mysterious case of an unidentified Asian girl found dead at Bondi Beach. The show’s ensemble cast also includes Lucy Lawless, Nicole Kidman, Gwendoline Christie, Holly Hunter, and more in important roles.

While Jane Campion is best known these days for her film work, Top of the Lake is a lesser-known but no less great show that marked Campion’s first foray into television. Featuring a powerful story, a deeply layered lead character, and stunning visuals of Australia and New Zealand, the series is an immersive and engaging mystery thriller. Though largely forgotten now, Top of the Lake was quite acclaimed at the time of its original broadcast, winning Moss a Golden Globe for her central performance and receiving eight Emmy nominations.

1 ‘Counterpart’ (2017–2019)

JK Simmons as Howard Silk in Counterpart

Created by Justin Marks, Counterpart is a sci-fi spy thriller series starring J. K. Simmons as a low-level bureaucrat working for a UN agency in Berlin. What he doesn’t know is that the agency’s real job is to monitor and oversee a portal to a parallel Earth, and his life is upended when he finally learns this fact and meets his counterpart, a ruthless intelligence officer. Besides Simmons, the show also stars Olivia Williams, Harry Lloyd, Nazanin Boniadi, Sara Serraiocco, and more in lead roles.

Counterpart is an example of a show that starts with a fairly simple premise and builds into a complex, gripping thriller with massive stakes. Masterfully performed and sharply written, the series was universally acclaimed during its two-season run on Starz, receiving the highly coveted 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating for both its seasons. Despite the strong reviews, the show was sadly canceled after the second season. Though it never got to develop the sort of broad audience it deserves, Counterpart is still arguably one of the best sci-fi thriller shows of the 2010s, and it’s a must-watch for genre fans.

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