Thrillers are such a great compromise genre, a good option to watch when one person doesn't want sappy and another doesn’t want horror. The genre sits right in the middle, usually with lots of action and intrigue, scary moments, and maybe even a bit of romance thrown in to lighten the mood. That's certainly the case with some of the best thriller shows introduced over the last decade-and-a-half.

Editor’s note: Deadline’s It Starts on the Page (Drama) features standout drama series scripts in 2026 Emmy contention. After scoring four Emmy nominations last year, including Outstanding Drama Series, Dan Fogelman’s Paradise returned for Season 2 with new cast additions, greater mysteries and a finale cliffhanger to rival its first season. In its sophomore year, the popular post-apocalyptic thriller […]