Roger Ebertonce said, “Moviesare like a machine that generates empathy," and that idea is never felt more than when you’re watching a film so intense and captivating that your heart starts beating out of your chest as you anxiously watch the story unfold. That intensity connects you to the characters and makes you worry about their well-being while imagining how you would handle the situation if placed in their shoes. These films remind us why the medium has captured the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide for over a century. Lucky for all of us, Netflix has no shortage of movies that will make you feel alive, and we’ve collected the best ones.
For more recommendations, check out our lists ofMost Intense Anime ShowsandMost Intense War Movies of All Time.
Disclaimer: These titles are available in the US.
‘1917’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 8.2/10
Visionary directorSam Mendesplaces the audience side-by-side with two soldierstraversing the trenches of World War Iin a real-time journey to save the lives of over a thousand soldiers.1917followsGeorge MacKayandDean-Charles Chapmanas British lance corporals delivering a message on foot across enemy territory to alert a battalion of a devastating German ambush.Mendes creates a film-length onerthat never lets up from the moment the soldiers set out across no man’s land —a marvel of filmmaking, shot choreography, and production planningthat not only deserves endless amounts of film awards but also keeps viewers in the mud as they dodge gunfire, explosions, and enemy combatants.
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‘GoodFellas’ (1990)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 8.7/10
Goodfellas
Martin Scorseseis known for directing dynamic gangster films, andGoodfellasis one of his best. Scorsese adapts the story of American mobster Henry Hill, which was chronicled by crime reporter and authorNicholas Pileggi, who also wrote the screenplay. Ray Liotta takes on the role of Hill to recount his journey from idolizing the gangster life as a teen to the dark reality that comes with living a life of violence. Liotta, along with co-starsRobert De NiroandJoe Pesci,gives viewers a peek into the drug-fueled, bullet-ridden world of the mob, where death is hiding around every corner if you make the wrong move.
‘Rebel Ridge’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 6.8/10
Rebel Ridge
Rising starAaron Pierreshows off his star power as the lead of this gritty action thriller about a former Marine trying to free his cousin from prison while being harassed by corrupt small-town cops.Rebel Ridgeimmediately grabs your attention with spectacular cinematography and direction, courtesy of writer and directorJeremy Saulnier. But the thing that keeps your butt glued to the seat is Pierre’s level-headed yet intensely competent screen presence, combined with the escalating tit-for-tat between him and the cops hell-bent on keeping their ill-gotten confiscated funds while trying to drive him out of town. Every interaction between Pierre and the chief of police, played byDon Johnson, feels like a powderkeg on the verge of exploding until it eventually crescendos into a bloodbath that you won’t be able to take your eyes off of.
‘Woman of the Hour’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 6.6/10
Woman of the Hour
Stepping behind the camera to make her feature film directorial debut,Anna Kendrickmakes a huge splash with this tense crime thriller based on the serial killer that would come to be known as “The Dating Game Killer” due to his appearance on the national television game show in the midst of evading the authorities. The film takes us back to the ’70s to show parallel journeys between the aspiring actress looking to get her name out there as a contestant onThe Dating Game, played by Kendrick, and the dangerous murderer, brought to life byDaniel Zovatto, sitting across the stage.Woman of the Houris a fantastic showcase of dramatic irony thathighlights how tumultuous the world of dating can be for women. Just an FYI, there are realistic depictions of violence against women that can be tough to watch, so this is your trigger warning.
‘Parasite’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 8.5/10
Anyone who follows my articles knowsBong Joon Homakes fantastic, socially conscious films that are not just visually compelling but also filled with anxiety-ridden sequences that will have your heart thumping out of your chest.Parasite, starring frequent Bong collaboratorSong Kang-ho, isa South Korean taleof two families: the wealthy Park family and the multi-generational low-income Kim family, who infiltrate their lives by forging documents to get jobs around the Park mansion. The push and pull between sympathizing with the Kim family’s plight as they suffer through the dregs of poverty while dealing with the looming threat of getting caught bumping up against the dark things they are willing to do to get a taste of the good life is what makes this film so exquisite and profound.
‘Psycho’ (1960)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.5/10
Alfred Hitchcock’siconic horror film, based on the novel byRobert Bloch, is a staple of cinema that is frequently referenced in film and television. However, despite the ubiquity of the infamous shower-stabbing scene inPsycho, I would highly recommend going in with no other information if you haven’t seen it yet because there is so much more to the story that gets left out of the zeitgeist. For those who have watched, you already know thatAnthony Perkinsgives a phenomenal performance as Norman Bates that is worth a hundred revisits. My one caveat for this film is that viewers should go in with the understanding that it’s a product of its time, so when you get tothatscene at the end, just know it was pretty controversial even then.
‘Sicario’ (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 7.7/10
FromArrivaltoDune, it’s clear that directorDenis Villeneuvecan deliver breathtaking visuals while bringing forth dynamic performances from his actors, andSicariois no exception. Before being known as the creative force behind some of the best sci-fi films of the 21st century, Villeneuve created this morally gray crime thriller starringEmily Blunt,Josh Brolin,andBenicio del Toro. The film follows the three on a joint mission between the FBI, CIA, and a Mexican assassin to cripple a drug cartel operation, but their tenuous alliance starts to crack and wane as the true goal of their mission comes into question. Beyond the oppressive weight of secrecy hanging over the characters’ heads at all times, there is a palpable tension throughout the film as Villeneuve useshandheld camera techniques and even night vision sequencesto put the audience right in the middle of the action.
‘Bone Tomahawk’ (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 7.1/10
Bone Tomahawk
A rare combination ofWestern and horror,Bone Tomahawkis a slow-burn ensemble film that eventually becomes an inferno of gore. This film, starringKurt Russell,Patrick Wilson, andDavid Arquette, lulls viewers into thinking it is a typical Old West tale where a posse sets out to retrieve some settlers from a group of natives. As they journey through the night, however, their paranoia and mistrust make them turn on one another — but their interpersonal issues are the least of their worries as cannibals stalk them along the plains. As I do every time I write about this film, which is great for what it is, I must state that it does rely on the outdated “savage natives trope” that should have died when Westerns fell out of favor, but if you can get past that, it’s a wild movie for horror fans.
