Summary
- 2024 brings a wave of thrilling TV shows with plot twists, surprising reveals, and thought-provoking responses.
- Manhunt, Dark Matter, and Tokyo Vice are among the top thriller TV shows anticipated for their gripping plots and stellar performances.
- Shows like Constellation, Under the Bridge, and 3 Body Problem offer captivating narratives with eerie tones and compelling character developments.
2024 is rife with amazing thriller TV shows for everyone to enjoy. Like any TV and film category, the thriller genre has a back catalog of incredible titles that shock and surprise audiences, and in 2024, several more are due to join. Some of the best thriller movies of all time, for example, are so successful because they use plot twists and unexpected reveals to create thought-provoking responses.
The best thriller miniseries ever made are also known for their soaring popularity on streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video for the same reasons. In 2024, thriller TV shows are more anticipated than ever, especially as the genre’s increasing popularity rapidly grows. Many incredible titles are due for release throughout 2024, and all have the potential to become one of the best thriller TV shows of the year.
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8 Manhunt
Original Release Date: March 15, 2024
Manhunt (2024)
- Cast
- Tobias Menzies , Anthony Boyle , Lovie Simone , Matt Walsh , Brandon Flynn , Betty Gabriel , Will Harrison , Hamish Linklater , Damian O’Hare , Patton Oswalt , Lili Taylor
- Release Date
- March 15, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- John Dahl , Carl Franklin
Manhunt is a historical drama TV show set during the fallout of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and an adaptation of James L. Swanson’s book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer. Manhunt is the first solo project of Monica Beletsky, whose past credits include Fargo, Friday Night Lights, and Peabody Award winner The Leftovers. Manhunt primarily follows Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies), the former secretary of war and close confidant of Abraham Lincoln (Hamish Linklater), in the search for the President’s killer. The show brilliantly dramatizes an already sensational story, which combines historically accurate events with a deeply tense narrative.
The show makes up for it with its endearing cast performances and compelling plot.
The conspiracy thriller jumps between Stanton trying to balance the political impact Lincoln’s death has and the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle). The theme of democracy’s importance is prominent throughout all seven engrossing episodes of the TV miniseries, shedding light on one of the biggest but relatively unknown events in American history. However, not every element of Manhunt is historically accurate, but the show makes up for it with its endearing cast performances and compelling plot.
7 Dark Matter
Original Release Date: May 8, 2024
Dark Matter (2024)
- Cast
- Joel Edgerton , Jennifer Connelly , Alice Braga , Jimmi Simpson , Oakes Fegley , Dayo Okeniyi
- Release Date
- May 8, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- Jakob Verbruggen
The ambitious sci-fi TV showDark Matter, created by Blake Crouch, is an adaptation of his novel of the same name. Dark Matter follows physicist Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), who is thrust into alternate versions of his life after being kidnapped by an enigmatic version of himself. The show explores the concept of multiverses, raising fascinating philosophical questions about identity and the importance of choosing the right path in life. Jason’s journey across the various realities as he reflects on his choices over the years is nothing short of stellar, and Edgerton is repeatedly praised for his performance.
Dark Matter is an enjoyable watch for even those who aren’t excited by science fiction, especially as Jason’s storyline is so easy to invest in. The entirety of Dark Matter’s cast offers notably powerful performances, too, especially Jennifer Connelly as Jason’s wife, Daniela. Their on-screen chemistry is immediately apparent, and in moments when Dark Matter’s storyline starts to slow down, the pair keep things interesting. Between its gripping plot and amazing character development, reviews of Dark Matter agree that the show is taking the TV industry by storm.
6 Tokyo Vice
Season 2 Release Date: February 8, 2024
Tokyo Vice
- Cast
- Ansel Elgort , Rachel Keller
- Release Date
- April 17, 2022
- Seasons
- 2
- Directors
- Josef Kubota Wladyka , Michael Mann , Alan Poul , Hikari
2024 will air the highly anticipated release of Tokyo Vice season 2. The second installment of the thrilling crime drama TV show immediately delves into the aftermath of Tokyo Vice season 1’s shocking ending through the eyes of journalist Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort) and detective Hiroto Katagiri (Ken Watanabe). Ken Watanabe’s portrayal of Katagiri continues to be one of the best performances in the show, and the depth he brings to the character as he navigates the perilous world of the Yakuza is particularly notable. Tokyo Vice’s character-driven plot focuses on Jake and Hiroto’s murder investigations in the titular city.
However, the contrast between the two characters is also fascinating. American Jake and Japanese Hiroto come from two very different worlds, but they work together in the name of justice. Tokyo Vice receives significant praise for its detailed depiction of Japanese culture and for creating an immersive world to sink into. The tone of Tokyo Vice is fast and exciting, but the show perfectly balances its pacing with a mix of action-packed sequences and profound, emotional moments. Tokyo Vice is such a popular title it has the potential to become one of the most popular HBO TV shows ever.
5 Constellation
Original Release Date: February 21, 2024
Constellation
- Cast
- Noomi Rapace , Jonathan Banks , James D’Arcy , Lenn Kudrjawizki , William Catlett , barbara sukowa , Carole Weyers
- Release Date
- February 21, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- michelle maclaren
Constellation, one of Apple TV’s most recent releases, beautifully melds the sci-fi and psychological thriller genres in a story about the deep, dark dangers of space. Astronaut Jo Ericsson’s (Noomi Rapace) catastrophic journey aboard the International Space Station and her return to Earth haunt her, especially after the sudden death of a colleague leaves her fighting for her life in an escape vessel with little oxygen. Reviews of Constellation offer praise to Rapace for her performance as Jo, whose character development grows increasingly erratic as her self-doubt and paranoia set in.
Constellation
’s nerve-wracking atmosphere adds an eerie tone to an already unsettling premise, as Jo’s mental state rapidly declines and she tries to hold onto her limited sanity.
However, Constellation’s subplot is just as endearing as the main storyline. The mystery of Henry Caldera’s (Jonathan Banks) past is even more enthralling than Jo’s story, although these scenes tend to veer into horror movie territory at points. Constellation’s nerve-wracking atmosphere adds an eerie tone to an already unsettling premise, as Jo’s mental state rapidly declines and she tries to hold onto her limited sanity. Unfortunately, Constellation has now been canceled. Constellation’s season 1 ending has somewhat of a cliffhanger, but if anything, this makes the final note of it more impactful, and Constellation still works as a standalone show.
4 Under The Bridge
Original Release Date: April 17, 2024
Under the Bridge (2024)
- Cast
- Riley Keough , Izzy G , Chloe Guidry , Ezra Faroque Khan , Archie Panjabi , Vritika Gupta , Javon Walton , Aiyana Goodfellow , Lily Gladstone , Anoop Desai
- Release Date
- April 17, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Showrunner
- Samir Mehta , Liz Tigelaar
Hulu’s Under the Bridge uses powerful storytelling techniques to push a captivating narrative about the death of 14-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta). Under the Bridge is based on a true story and recounts the gruesome demise of Reena in 1997’s Canada. The adaptation of Rebecca Godfrey’s book of the same name alternates between multiple timelines, all of which delve into the series of events leading up to and after the horrific tragedy. The use of different timelines adds to the emotional impact of Under the Bridge, which highlights the harsh realities of bullying and the volatile relationships between teenagers.
Under the Bridge makes Reena’s story entertaining and easy to invest in while also ensuring that her death is at the forefront of audiences’ minds. The show includes plenty of dramatic twists and turns throughout, all of which make the murder mystery even more complex. All of the Under the Bridge cast contribute compelling performances, but Vritika Gupta is notably impressive, and her portrayal captures her character’s vulnerable and resilient sides. Although Under the Bridge mainly focuses on Reena, it also explores themes of gender, race, and privilege, all of which play into her backstory.
3 3 Body Problem
Original Release Date: March 21, 2024
3 Body Problem
- Cast
- Saamer Usmani with Shailene Woodley , Jess Hong , Jovan Adepo , Benedict Wong , John Bradley , Eiza González , Liam Cunningham , Sea Shimooka , Tsai Chin
- Release Date
- March 21, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- Minkie Spiro , Derek Tsang
The Netflix adaptation of Liu Cixin’s book, 3 Body Problem, uses elements of crime procedural TV shows and hard science fiction to tell a tale about humanity’s first contact with aliens during the Cold War. Like the original novel, 3 Body Problem explores the ethical dilemmas of communicating with extraterrestrials and the fallout of doing so. The show’s plot is led by Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao), an astrophysicist who gets caught up with the authorities after witnessing her father’s brutal killing. However, this triggers a series of events that result in the San-Ti species’ trek to Earth.
Throughout the season, the lives of the Oxford Five scientists interweave more and more as humanity struggles to survive. 3 Body Problem’s pacing is a little slow in the first half of the season, primarily because of the focus on character development, but it eventually picks up and truly embraces its scientific and dramatic factors. As of May 2024, it has been confirmed that 3 Body Problem season 2 is on the way, with season 3 due to follow.
2 Ripley
Original Release Date: April 4, 2024
Ripley
- Cast
- Andrew Scott , Johnny Flynn , Dakota Fanning , Maurizio Lombardi , Pasquale Esposito
- Release Date
- April 4, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- Steven Zaillian
While there are plenty of adaptations of Patricia Highsmith’s book The Talented Mr. Ripley, Netflix’s 2024 Ripley is easily the best. Ripley follows con artist Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) and his mission to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn) from Italy. But as the two men bond, Tom’s increasing obsession with Dickie results in plenty of lies, deception, and even murder. Ripley’s bold cinematography makes it stand out, with every episode shot with a black-and-white filter. The breathtaking noir styling emphasizes the underlying tension between Ripley’s characters, improving upon the show’s spine-chilling atmosphere.
Another member of Ripley’s cast who receives notable applause is Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood.
The show also offers a darker, more psychologically complex take on Highsmith’s novel, distinguishing itself from other adaptations. Andrew Scott’s take on the titular character is fantastic, as is his on-screen chemistry with Johnny Flynn. Another member of Ripley’s cast who receives notable applause is Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood. Marge provides a moral compass amidst the devastation Tom causes, which makes his most deceitful moments even more impactful. Between its artistic direction, sinister storyline, and cast performances, Ripley is a stand-out in the thriller genre.
1 True Detective: Night Country
True Detective Season 4 Release Date: January 14, 2024
True Detective
- Cast
- Matthew McConaughey , Woody Harrelson , Colin Farrell , Rachel McAdams , Taylor Kitsch , Mahershala Ali , Carmen Ejogo , Michelle Monaghan , Michael Potts , Ray Fisher , Jodie Foster
- Release Date
- January 12, 2014
- Seasons
- 4
- Directors
- Cary Fukunaga
True Detective season 4, subtitled Night Country, is an acclaimed anthology TV show that is popular for its atmospheric storytelling. Night Country is set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, and follows Chief Liz Danvers’ (Jodie Foster) investigation into the disappearance of eight scientists from a research station. This chilling mystery in an Alaskan backdrop makes the overall tone of Night Country even more haunting, and although Night Country still feels like an installment of True Detective, it also offers a unique angle that allows it to work by itself.
Foster’s portrayal of Danvers captures the character’s better qualities, most importantly, her determination and intensity. Danvers tries to be hopeful, but she doesn’t allow her optimism to distract her from the harsh realities of life, which makes her quite cynical about getting justice for the Night Country researchers. However, it is a perfect quality for a True Detective character to have. Her backstory is a refreshing subplot to delve into as well, and Danvers’ character development throughout the season paints an interesting but ever-changing picture of the detective.
