5 Must-Watch Thriller Masterpieces: Inside Man and Beyond

While February is often linked to romance, a gripping thriller movie is always in season.

This month, Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Peacock, and Paramount+ have rolled out an exciting lineup of films.

From this selection, Watch With Us has curated five must-see thriller masterpieces that you should check out right now.

This month’s picks are heavily skewed toward crime thrillers, though we’ve included some horror and survival thrillers for variety.

‘Influencer’ (2023)

Influencer explores the theme of identity theft through a chilling lens. Madison (Emily Tennant), a social media influencer, becomes embroiled in a treacherous plot during her solo trip to Thailand. Another woman, CW (Cassandra Naud), exploits Madison’s vulnerability to gain her trust, ultimately seizing her life and leaving her for dead.

As CW crafts an elaborate web of deceit, she takes control of Madison’s social media presence. However, she underestimates Madison’s boyfriend, Ryan Evans (Rory J. Saper), who may be her undoing. If CW wants to preserve her stolen lifestyle, she’ll need to resort to desperate measures.

Influencer is available for streaming on Netflix.

‘Cop Land’ (1997)

Nearly thirty years ago, Sylvester Stallone had high hopes for an Oscar with Cop Land. Though the nomination for Best Actor eluded him, his portrayal of Sheriff Freddy Heflin stands as one of his finest performances. Injured years before, Freddy never joined the NYPD but serves as sheriff in Garrison, a small town populated by NYPD members, including Lieutenant Ray Donlan (Harvey Keitel).

Blinded by loyalty, Freddy overlooks the corruption surrounding Donlan and his officers. However, the actions of Officer Murray Babitch (Michael Rapaport) and Officer Gary Figgis (Ray Liotta) inadvertently reveal the dark underbelly of their corruption. As Freddy uncovers the truth, he must choose between supporting Donlan or standing up against him.

Cop Land is streaming on Paramount+.

‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead’ (2007)

Before his passing in 2011, director Sidney Lumet crafted an excellent crime thriller with Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead. This film unfolds in a non-linear format, demanding close attention to catch all the plot twists. The cast is led by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke, who play brothers Andy and Hank Hanson.

At critical points in their lives, Andy and Hank, one of whom has already betrayed the other, devise a perilous plan to rob their family-owned jewelry shop, overseen by their parents, Charles (Albert Finney) and Nanette Hanson (Rosemary Harris). The brothers naively believe that their scheme will go smoothly, unaware that their family’s wellbeing hangs in the balance.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead can be streamed on Hulu.

‘Open Water’ (2003)

If you’ve ever taken a scuba trip, then Open Water might strike you as more of a horror story than a thriller. It’s based on the tragic real-life events of Tom and Eileen Lonergan, a couple mistakenly left behind by their tour boat.

In the film, the couple is renamed Daniel Kintner (Daniel Travis) and Susan Watkins (Blanchard Ryan). While it does take liberties with the true events, it closely follows the harrowing premise of the couple’s struggle for survival while surrounded by the ocean’s deadly inhabitants.

Open Water is available to stream on HBO Max.

‘Inside Man’ (2006)

Director Spike Lee delivers a masterful performance in Inside Man, a sharp crime thriller that stands out as one of his finest works. A team of robbers led by Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) devises a clever plan to rob the Manhattan Trust bank right under the noses of law enforcement.

Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) tries to negotiate a hostage situation that ensues, but Dalton’s crew always seems to be one step ahead. Meanwhile, Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), the bank’s chairman, realizes that the robbers might be after his closely guarded secrets. Even his personal fixer, Madeline White (Jodie Foster), may be unable to thwart their plans.

Inside Man is streaming on Peacock.