Channel 4 is home to a handful of great thrillers starring huge names. Here are 32 of the best to add to your watchlist.
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Homeland (2011–2020) – [Espionage/Political Thriller]
For fans of: The Americans, Bodyguard, Fauda
Claire Danes stars as CIA officer Carrie Mathison, whose bipolar disorder complicates her pursuit of truth and national security. Damian Lewis and Mandy Patinkin round out a cast navigating terrorism, betrayal, and psychological warfare. It’s tense, layered, and Emmy-winning.
The Blacklist (2013–2023) – [Crime/Conspiracy Thriller]
For fans of: Luther, Alias, Blindspot
James Spader plays Raymond “Red” Reddington, a criminal mastermind who turns himself in to help the FBI catch others on his “blacklist.” It’s twisty, stylish, and full of moral ambiguity. Secrets are currency—and Red has plenty.
In Flight (2025) – [Psychological Thriller]
For fans of: Hijack, The Flight Attendant, Manifest
A transatlantic flight turns into a psychological pressure cooker when a passenger vanishes mid-air. With Cush Jumbo and Jack Lowden, it’s claustrophobic, cerebral, and full of shifting truths. Altitude isn’t the only thing rising.
Trust Me (2017–2019) – [Medical/Identity Thriller]
For fans of: Dr. Foster, The Replacement, The Night Manager
Jodie Whittaker and Alfred Enoch star in two standalone seasons exploring deception inside the NHS. It’s tense, character-driven, and full of ethical grey zones. Trust is fragile—and easily weaponized.
The Veil (2024) – [Espionage/Political Thriller]
For fans of: Homeland, The Honourable Woman, Tehran
Elisabeth Moss plays an MI6 agent caught between truth and manipulation in this globe-trotting thriller. It’s sleek, cerebral, and full of moral complexity. Secrets are the real currency.
The Adulterer (2013–2016) – [Crime/Drama]
For fans of: The Affair, The Bridge, The Killing
A Dutch photographer and prosecutor begin an affair that spirals into murder, corruption, and betrayal. It’s moody, morally murky, and emotionally raw. Passion and justice rarely mix cleanly.
The Gathering (2024) – [Mystery/Thriller]
For fans of: Broadchurch, The Stranger, The Pact
A teen is found unconscious after a party, and secrets ripple through a tight-knit community. With Eva Morgan and Vinette Robinson, it’s tense, timely, and full of social commentary. Truth hides in the crowd.
Classified (2024) – [Espionage/Drama]
For fans of: The Bureau, Leverage, The Americans
A French-Canadian spy suspects his wife is also a spy—and not on his side. Paranoia, betrayal, and marital tension fuel this sleek espionage drama. Love is the most dangerous cover.
Deadwater Fell (2020) – [Crime/Psychological Thriller]
For fans of: The Fall, Liar, The Cry
David Tennant stars in this chilling drama about a family tragedy that fractures a small Scottish town. It’s slow-burning, emotionally devastating, and full of unreliable memories. Grief and guilt blur the truth.
Safe Home (2023) – [Legal/Emotional Thriller]
For fans of: Unbelievable, The Twelve, The Cry
A young woman working at a domestic violence legal centre uncovers systemic failures and personal danger. It’s powerful, empathetic, and socially urgent. Safety is never guaranteed.
The Team (2015–2018) – [Crime/International Thriller]
For fans of: Crossing Lines, Trapped, The Bridge
A pan-European task force investigates cross-border crimes in this multilingual thriller. It’s procedural, political, and full of cultural tension. Justice knows no borders—but bureaucracy does.
Deutschland 83 (2015) – [Spy Thriller/Period Drama]
For fans of: The Americans, Spy City, The Game
A young East German soldier is sent undercover to West Germany during the Cold War. It’s stylish, suspenseful, and full of retro espionage. The stakes are global—but the danger is personal.
Omerta 6/12 (2021) – [Action/Political Thriller]
For fans of: Jack Ryan, Fauda, Bodyguard
Jasper Pääkkönen stars as agent Max Tanner, racing to stop a terrorist attack on Finland’s Independence Day. It’s slick, explosive, and full of geopolitical tension. National security has never looked so cinematic.
The Undeclared War (2022) – [Cyber Thriller/Political Drama]
For fans of: The Capture, Utopia, Years and Years
Simon Pegg and Hannah Khalique-Brown star in this cyber warfare thriller set in a near-future UK. It’s cerebral, chilling, and full of digital paranoia. The battlefield is online—and the stakes are real.
Deutschland 86 (2018) – [Spy Thriller/Period Drama]
For fans of: Deutschland 83, The Americans, Le Bureau
Martin Rauch returns to espionage in Africa and Latin America as East Germany teeters on collapse. It’s vibrant, morally complex, and full of Cold War intrigue. Ideology meets capitalism—and no one wins cleanly.
Monster (2017) – [Crime/Psychological Thriller]
For fans of: Mindhunter, The Fall, The Sinner
A Norwegian teen is accused of murder, and the investigation reveals buried secrets and psychological trauma. It’s bleak, atmospheric, and emotionally intense. Monsters aren’t born—they’re made.
Deutschland 89 (2020) – [Spy Thriller/Period Drama]
For fans of: Deutschland 83/86, The Americans, Spy City
As the Berlin Wall falls, Martin Rauch must navigate shifting allegiances and collapsing ideologies. It’s the final chapter in a stylish, cerebral trilogy. History is rewriting itself—and spies are scrambling.
Hostage (2025) – [Thriller/Political Drama]
For fans of: Hijack, Hostages, The Night Agent
A high-profile kidnapping triggers political fallout and personal reckoning in this tense UK thriller. With Cush Jumbo and Rory Kinnear, it’s sharp, suspenseful, and full of moral ambiguity. Power is the real hostage.
Sløborn (2020–2022) – [Apocalyptic Thriller/Drama]
For fans of: The Rain, Station Eleven, Containment
A deadly virus hits a remote island, and society begins to unravel. It’s eerie, prescient, and full of emotional depth. Isolation breeds desperation.
Outlier (2020) – [Crime/Psychological Thriller]
For fans of: The Valhalla Murders, Rebecka Martinsson, The Killing
A criminology student suspects a serial killer is hiding in plain sight in rural Norway. It’s methodical, atmospheric, and quietly terrifying. Sometimes the outsider sees what no one else will.
Presumed Guilty (2025) – [Legal Thriller/Drama]
For fans of: Anatomy of a Scandal, The Twelve, The Night Of
A respected doctor is accused of a violent crime, and the case fractures his family and community. It’s tense, character-driven, and full of courtroom twists. Innocence is a fragile defence.
The Palace (2025) – [Political Thriller/Drama]
For fans of: The Crown, The Regime, House of Cards
Kate Winslet stars as a European dictator facing internal revolt and external scrutiny. It’s lavish, biting, and full of dark satire. Power corrupts—and isolates.
Revival (2025) – [Psychological Thriller/Drama]
For fans of: The Returned, The OA, The Leftovers
A small town is shaken when a missing girl returns—unchanged, but not untouched. It’s eerie, emotional, and full of existential dread. Resurrection isn’t always a miracle.
Enemy of the People (2025) – [Political Thriller/Media]
For fans of: The Newsroom, The Undeclared War, Press
A journalist uncovers a conspiracy that threatens her life and reputation. It’s sharp, timely, and full of media critique. Truth is dangerous—and so is telling it.
Partisan (2020) – [Mystery/Thriller]
For fans of: Top of the Lake, The Returned, The Third Day
A man infiltrates a gated community with dark secrets and cult-like control. It’s surreal, slow-burning, and deeply unsettling. Utopia is a façade.
Faking Hitler (2021) – [Historical Thriller/Drama]
For fans of: The Serpent, The Dropout, Inventing Anna
Based on the true story of forged Hitler diaries that fooled the world. It’s slick, satirical, and full of media manipulation. History is a commodity—and truth is negotiable.
Dignity (2019) – [Historical Thriller/Drama]
For fans of: The Vow, The Keepers, The Secret
A Chilean journalist investigates a German cult with Nazi ties and decades of buried abuse. Based on real events, it’s haunting, morally complex, and deeply unsettling. Truth is buried deep—and digging comes at a cost.
Blackout (2022) – [Political Thriller/Drama]
For fans of: Borgen, The Undeclared War, Occupied
A power outage plunges Belgium into chaos, and a prime minister must choose between truth and stability. It’s tense, timely, and full of political intrigue. Democracy flickers in the dark.
Sword of Honour (2001) – [War/Drama]
For fans of: The Spy, The Imitation Game, A Very British Scandal
Daniel Craig stars in this Evelyn Waugh adaptation about a disillusioned officer navigating WWII bureaucracy and betrayal. It’s literary, melancholic, and quietly devastating. Honour is a moving target.
Actor (2025) – [Psychological Thriller/Drama]
For fans of: The Rehearsal, The Night Of, The Fall
An actor preparing for a role begins to lose grip on reality, blurring performance and identity. It’s eerie, introspective, and full of meta tension. The role becomes the man—and vice versa.
The Hamburg Cell (2004) – [Historical Thriller/Docudrama]
For fans of: United 93, The Looming Tower, Munich
This Channel 4 docudrama traces the radicalization of the 9/11 hijackers in Germany. It’s clinical, disturbing, and deeply researched. Terror begins in quiet rooms.
Shockers (1999–2001) – [Anthology Thriller/Drama]
For fans of: Black Mirror, Inside No. 9, Urban Myths
This anthology series delivers standalone tales of moral dilemmas, psychological twists, and social unease. Featuring early performances from Daniel Craig and Kerry Fox, it’s sharp, unsettling, and ahead of its time. Every episode is a jolt.
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