Netflix has revolutionized the best way we watch films. For higher or worse, the streaming large ushered within the age of digital streaming, handing us nearly limitless choices to look at from the consolation of our properties. Though dozens of copycat platforms have emerged through the years, Netflix continues to reign supreme as essentially the most dominant streaming service. The technological titan reportedly closed out 2024 with roughly 300 million subscribers throughout the globe. Netflix provides numerous classes that subscribers can peruse to search out the proper film for that evening.
Horror, comedy, drama, biopics, award-winners, blockbusters — Netflix has all of them. However in the event you’re searching for a choice of intense movies — effectively, that is technically not a class on Netflix. However don’t fret, Movieweb’s received you coated. Are you within the temper for one thing that’ll get your coronary heart racing and your blood pumping? Then try these 10 intense movies presently accessible on Netflix.
10
‘Dunkirk’ (2017)

Dunkirk
- Launch Date
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July 21, 2017
- Runtime
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106 minutes
Christopher Nolan has directed many nice films. Dunkirk is the acclaimed filmmaker’s World Struggle II epic, capturing the historic rescue of over 300,000 Allied troopers trapped within the north of France. Dunkirk is stuffed with action-packed battle sequences and harrowing moments that underscore the extreme nature of warfare.
In typical Nolan trend, the film unfolds in a non-linear format. We comply with a number of completely different timelines and characters that each one dramatically converge within the film’s epic finale. A essential and field workplace success, Dunkirk is thought to be the most effective warfare films of the 2000s.

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The underappreciated thriller will hold you extraordinarily tense for lower than 90 minutes.
9
‘Depart the World Behind’ (2023)
From the visionary creator of Mr. Robotic comes the Netflix authentic movie and sci-fi thriller, Depart the World Behind. Right here, a household’s getaway to an opulent rental residence takes a darkish flip when the owners unexpectedly seem at their doorstep.
Not like different sci-fi movies, Depart the World Behind captures the start phases of an apocalypse. We be a part of the principle characters of their confusion and terror because the apocalypse slowly takes maintain of the world. Cyberattacks step by step take out their expertise, leaving them in a darkish and unsure place that is horrifying to behold.
8
‘Boy Erased’ (2018)

Boy Erased
- Launch Date
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November 2, 2018
- Runtime
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114 minutes
Boy Erased is a biographical drama that captures a closeted younger man’s expertise at a conversion remedy program, designed to show him from a gay right into a heterosexual. It is based mostly on the experiences of Garrard Conley and is customized from his memoir of the identical identify.
Boy Erased is not intense in the identical manner as different entries on our checklist; there are not any heart-pounding motion scenes or startling bounce scares. Somewhat, the movie’s depth stems from its controversial subject material and from its characters’ prejudiced views of homosexuality. Between unaccepting mother and father and merciless facility administrators, Boy Erased highlights the bodily, psychological, and emotional abuse endured by closeted teenagers, making this doubtlessly a tough look ahead to any trendy viewers.
7
‘Chicken Field’ (2018)

Chicken Field
- Launch Date
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December 13, 2018
- Runtime
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124 minutes
Chicken Field is the Netflix authentic movie that had everybody speaking again in 2018. Based mostly on the 2014 novel by Josh Malerman, it captures a post-apocalyptic world that is been ravaged by mysterious creatures. One have a look at these lethal entities, and the viewer both descends into insanity or is pressured to commit suicide.
It is a heart-pounding journey as you comply with Malorie (Sandra Bullock) and her two unnamed kids, blindfolded, by means of the vacant world, attempting to outlive the creatures and discover a neighborhood of survivors. The flashback sequence the place the monsters first seem is especially jarring, as chaos unfolds round our characters and folks spontaneously commit suicide. Each time the monsters seem, you end up on the sting of your seat, completely terrified– and also you by no means even see what the creatures appear to be.
6
‘Godzilla Minus One’ (2023)

Godzilla Minus One
- Launch Date
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November 3, 2023
- Runtime
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124 minutes
- Director
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Takashi Yamazaki
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Ryunosuke Kamiki
Koichi Shikishima
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Minami Hamabe
Noriko Oishi
Godzilla Minus One is the newest installment in Toho’s long-running Godzilla franchise. This Japanese epic brings the enduring monster again to its early roots. It isn’t an antihero who takes on different creatures and aids humanity. Somewhat, Godzilla is a vicious monster who wreaks havoc and causes mass destruction in post-World Struggle II Japan. Godzilla is really terrifying on this movie — accurately.
The scene the place Godzilla chases a number of Japanese ships throughout the ocean may have your coronary heart pounding in opposition to your chest. It is so intense that you’re going to virtually really feel such as you’re on board with the passengers, working in your life. Godzilla Minus One was an enormous business and demanding success. A sequel is reportedly in growth.

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Listed below are our most intense films of all time ranked, so contemplate avoiding them in case you are attempting to have a pleasant enjoyable day.
5
‘Smile’ (2022)

Smile
- Launch Date
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September 30, 2022
- Runtime
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115 minutes
- Director
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Parker Finn
After witnessing a affected person commit suicide in an uncommon method, a therapist turns into affected by harrowing visions and strangers with eerie, nonsensical grins. Smile is likely one of the finest horror movies of the 2020s. This film is pure nightmare gas, filled with bounce scares, graphic violence, and disturbing suicides.
Simply whenever you assume what’s taking place, Smile takes an sudden flip that makes your jaw drop to the ground. It additionally options one of the crucial alluring and haunting antagonists in current reminiscence, in addition to a finale that is removed from a contented ending. Viewer beware — chances are you’ll wish to go away the lights on at evening after watching this one.
4
‘Psycho’ (1960)

Psycho
- Launch Date
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September 8, 1960
- Runtime
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109 minutes
Based mostly on the eponymous novel by Robert Bloch, Psycho captures the aftermath of a homicide on the iconic Bates Motel, which is owned by a wierd, reclusive man and his overbearing mom.
Trendy viewers may not discover this 1960 traditional that intense, particularly when in comparison with modern slasher movies. However on the time of its launch, Psycho was essentially the most horrifying film to ever grace the silver display. Its iconic bathe scene reportedly made movie-goers faint or go away the theater attributable to its surprising violence. Psycho is now referred to as Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece and is likely one of the most influential horror movies ever made.
3
‘American Sniper’ (2014)
American Sniper is a biographical warfare movie about US Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) and his function within the Iraqi Struggle. Directed by Clint Eastwood, American Sniper is stuffed with intense, nail-biting battle sequences. We frequently discover ourselves on rooftops, ready with bated breath as Chris targets and shoots down his opponents from afar.
The depth of this movie does not finish on the battlefield. It additionally follows Chris again residence, the place he should now take care of the psychological results of warfare. From starting to finish, American Sniper underscores the brutal nature of warfare, in addition to its traumatic aftermath for any troopers who’re lucky sufficient to return residence.
2
‘Parasite’ (2019)

Parasite
- Launch Date
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Could 30, 2019
- Runtime
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133 minutes
- Director
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Bong Joon Ho
-
-
Lee Solar-kyun
Park Dong-ik
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-
Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning movie Parasite is continually taking you in sudden instructions. What begins off as a black comedy quickly morphs into one thing else solely.
Parasite follows the impoverished Kim household, who pose as unrelated staff and trick the rich Park household into hiring them as home servants. The Kims make the most of the Parks’ luxurious way of life — however because it seems, they don’t seem to be the one ones. The drama will get turned up actual quick from there, leading to a surprising, bloody climax and an intense, heart-pounding finale that you simply will not quickly neglect.
1
‘The Ardour of the Christ’ (2004)
Few movies are as intense as Mel Gibson’s 2004 movie, The Ardour of the Christ. This biblical epic captures the arrest, torture, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Jim Caviezel) in shockingly ugly element. It showcases the horrors that Jesus endured in a manner that no non secular movie had ever carried out earlier than.
The Ardour of the Christ attracted controversy for its graphic content material. It is violent, it is bloody, it is brutal. The movie’s depth will make you wish to cowl your eyes, whereas its magnificence urges you to maintain watching by means of the cracks between your fingers. Mel Gibson is reportedly engaged on a sequel, The Resurrection of the Christ, although there isn’t any launch date presently.