If you’re looking for thrillers to watch in May, the most exciting options aren’t streaming in the same place.
It may not seem very enticing to subscribe to so many streamers, but there’s almost always a better chance of finding something you’ll love if you do.
Watch With Us has narrowed down this month’s choices to the four best thrillers on Netflix, Prime Video and Apple TV, as ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
Our picks include a survival thriller and three crime thrillers that gradually get more and more serious about their subject matter.
4. ‘Beast’ (2022)
There’s nothing quite like a family trip to bring people together, at least that’s what Dr. Nate Samuels (Idris Elba) was hoping for when he dragged his daughters, Meredith (Iyana Halley) and Norah (Leah Sava Jeffries), to Africa to reconnect with the roots of their late mother and catch up with a family friend, Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley).
In a colossal case of bad timing, Nate and his daughters arrive when there’s a man-killing lion on the loose in Martin’s animal preserve. This creature is vicious and cunning, and Nate has to find some way to overcome it, or else there won’t be anyone left to bury him or his family when the lion comes for them.
Beast is streaming on Netflix.
3. ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ (2025)
Director Spike Lee and Denzel Washington reunited for the crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest, which had a brief theatrical release last year. Washington plays David King, one of the founders of Stackin’ Hits Records and an icon in the industry. King sold his majority share years ago, but he liquidates most of his assets in the present to get it back. Yet on the day he’s set to go through with the deal, kidnappers target his son, Trey (Aubrey Joseph). and demand a ransom that may scuttle King’s dream of reclaiming his company.
The good news is that the kidnappers made a mistake. Instead of Trey, they took his best friend, Kyle Christopher (Elijah Wright), who also happens to be the son of King’s longtime driver and friend, Paul Christopher (Jeffrey Wright). The thieves still want their multi-million ransom, but suddenly King doesn’t feel as obligated to pay. That hesitation may cost King more than just money.
Highest 2 Lowest is streaming on Apple TV.
2. ‘Caught Stealing’ (2025)
Darren Aronofsky‘s latest film, Caught Stealing, doubles as a dark comedy and a crime thriller. But Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) isn’t laughing at all of the misery that comes into his life because of his neighbor, Russ Miner (Matt Smith). The only thing Hank agreed to do was to look after Russ’ cat while he was out of town. Unfortunately for Hank, that made him a target for mobsters who came looking for Russ.
Hank and his girlfriend, Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz), don’t realize the world of hurt that they’re in for, or the high price they’ll pay as it becomes apparent why everyone in the criminal underworld is looking for Russ. There’s a lot of money at stake, and Hank may not have anyone left he can trust, especially when even a corrupt cop, Detective Elise Roman (Regina King), is also looking for Russ’ stash.
Caught Stealing is streaming on Netflix.
1. ‘Crime 101’ (2026)
Crime 101 features Chris Hemsworth as Mike, an exceptional jewel thief who meticulously plans his crimes to ensure that no one gets hurt while also giving himself a clean getaway. However, Mike’s latest theft went so badly that he’s shaken and unwilling to commit to any further heists. That leads his fence, Money (Nick Nolte), to go behind Mike’s back and hire a psychopath, Ormon (Barry Keoghan), to finish Mike’s job.
As Mike tries to form a romantic bond with a woman named Maya (Monica Barbaro), a relentless cop, Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo), is closing in on him. Meanwhile, an insurance broker, Sharon Combs (Halle Berry), is drawn into Mike’s orbit because he needs her help. But there’s no guarantee they can trust each other.
Crime 101 is streaming on Prime Video.
