thrillers

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on thrillers:

Argylle reaches No. 1 most popular movie on streaming

By

Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa and John Cena in Argylle, now streaming on Apple TV+.
Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa and John Cena are among the many stars of Argylle, now streaming on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

The action-comedy romance film Argylle shot to the top of a streaming popularity chart as soon as it reached Apple TV+. It’s spy-vs-spy excitement chock full of celebrities.

Plus, the series Sugar and Franklin drew big audiences on Apple’s streaming service last week, too. These also feature big-name stars in the lead roles.

Slow Horses author brings new thriller to Apple TV+

By

Down Cemetary Road on Apple TV+
Emma Thompson, left, and Ruth Wilson will star in Down Cemetery Road.
Photo: Apple TV+

Fans of darkly comedic spy thriller series Slow Horses rejoice! Another of Mick Herron’s acerbic novels, Down Cemetery Road, is coming to Apple TV+. The show will star Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, the streaming service said Tuesday.

“‘Down Cemetery Road’ has all the hallmarks of Mick Herron’s funny and acerbic writing, and I’m delighted we will be bringing it to life for Apple TV+ with such a stellar cast,” said Jay Hunt, creative director, Europe, Apple TV+. “Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson will make it an unmissable companion piece for ‘Slow Horses’ on our service.”

Apple TV+ commits to Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 with Godzilla and Kong

By

'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' episode 10 -- Kong
Kong is likely be a star of "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" season two.
Photo: Apple

The hit series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is officially getting a season two. In addition, Apple TV+ struck a deal with Legendary Entertainment that will result in multiple spinoff series based on the franchise.

“We couldn’t be more excited for viewers to not only have the chance to experience even more thrills in season two, but to embark on epic, new journeys in the franchise as we expand Legendary’s Monsterverse,” said Morgan Wandell, head of international development for Apple TV+.

Dark Matter trailer unveils a multiverse mystery

By

'Dark Matter' is a multiverse mystery on Apple TV+
Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly star in Dark Matter, a new sci-fi thriller series coming to Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Dark Matter, one of the best sci-fi novels of the decade, is about to become an Apple TV+ series. It’s a thriller about a man lost in the multiverse trying to find his original universe, and stars Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly.

The trailer released Thursday asks the question “What if the person who abducted me is me?”

Can dimension-shifting Constellation nail its season finale? [Updated]

By

'Constellation' space-thriller becomes latest hit for Apple TV+
Audiences are thrilled by Constellation on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ pumped up its reputation as a hub for thought-provoking and visually stunning science fiction with Constellation, a series that’s part sci-fi, part horror and part family drama. The intricately plotted space thriller’s season finale airs Wednesday. And, as the season concludes, the show must clear a high bar to make the ending ring true.

After all, hit TV mysteries like Lost disappointed lots fans with their finales. And those same sci-fi fans (and their kids) are sick of being disappointed.

UPDATE: The show’s season finale is satisfying but does not “solve” the mysteries of space travelers’ fractured realities as much as it deepens them while inviting viewers, along with characters, to accept them. In some ways the show seems like a metaphor for mental illness as an unavoidable part of the human condition. The victim and their loved ones must accept what they cannot change so they can move on. And my Lysenko theory, below, turned out to be correct.

Manhunt trailer shows heart-pounding search for assassin John Wilkes Booth

By

The true-crime limited series Manhunt debuts on Apple TV+ March 15.
Photo: Apple TV+

Stage actor John Wilkes Booth went on the run for 12 days after he shot President Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head at Ford’s Theatre in 1865. And the new trailer for Apple TV+ true-crimes series Manhunt brings to light this little-known historical fact.

Based on the bestselling nonfiction book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, the seven-part series premieres March 15.

Severance season 2 on Apple TV+ just got a little closer

By

Adam Scott in Severance on Apple TV+
Adam Scott plays Mark S. in Severance on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

One of the most popular, critically acclaimed and flat-out weird shows on Apple TV+ — the darkly comedic workplace thriller Severance — has resumed production on season two after pausing for the recent writers strike.

Apple posted on X (formerly Twitter) about it Monday. Take a look below.

Conspiracy thriller Manhunt stalks Lincoln’s assassin

By

Brandon Flynn and Tobias Menzies in Manhunt on Apple TV+
Bryan Flynn, left, and Tobias Menzies star in Manhunt.
Photo: Apple TV+

Did you know it took authorities 12 days to hunt down John Wilkes Booth after he shot President Abraham Lincoln in the head at Washington D.C.’s Ford’s Theatre in 1865? Apple TV+ gave a first look Thursday at Manhunt, the new conspiracy-thriller series depicting the frantic chase.

The seven-part series premieres March 15 with its first two episodes. A new episode follows on Fridays through April 19.

Final Killers of the Flower Moon trailer packs a powerful punch

By

Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone star in the epic historical tale.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone star in the epic historical tale.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ dropped the final trailer and some fine move-poster images Wednesday for Martin Scorcese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone. And if the powerful video, below, doesn’t make you want to see the film, nothing will.

The streaming service often calls upcoming movies and shows “highly anticipated,” and it’s no exaggeration in this case. The epic historical drama premieres October 20 in theaters, including IMAX screens, and afterward on Apple TV+.

Brace yourself for Hijack’s fiery finale [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

By

Idris Elba in ★★★★☆
Can Sam Nelson (played by Idris Elba) figure out a way to save Flight KA29?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review Apple TV+’s high-altitude thriller Hijack finally hits the runway in this week’s series finale. Our hero Sam Nelson has a new problem on his hand — and an hour in which to solve it as the rest of the passengers panic anew.

On the ground, Sam’s family is in danger. And in the air, Sam’s running out of options. The episode, entitled “Brace Brace Brace,” serves up as good a conclusion as Hijack fans could hope for.

Sam stokes an in-flight rebellion this week on Hijack [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

By

Idris Elba in ★★★
Sam (played by Idris Elba) rallies his fellow passengers to fight back in the penultimate episode of Hijack.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewHit Apple TV+ thriller Hijack nears its final destination this week. Sam Nelson’s family is in danger and he can’t do much to stop the potential devastation.

What he can do is take control of the hijacked airplane. But will the rest of the passengers help him? And will the kidnappers let down their guard long enough to allow him to do so? The episode, entitled “Comply Slowly,” is a white-knuckler.

Things heat up on the ground in Hijack [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

By

Kaisa Hammarlund in ★★★
Co-pilot Anna (played by Kaisa Hammarlund) wants to help foil the hijackers.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewSam runs out of options, and Stuart runs out of patience, in this week’s tense installment of Apple TV+ hostage thriller Hijack.

Stuart’s secrets start to spill out as a desperate move to save someone close to him brings the whole operation dangerously close to failure. While Sam tries to stay a step ahead of everyone, there are just some things he can’t know or understand until it’s too late.

The terrorists start to get nervous this week on Hijack [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

By

Sam (played by Idris Elba in ★★★☆☆
Sam (played by Idris Elba) cooks up a new plan this week on Hijack. The terrorists probably should be fretting.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewHigh-flying Apple TV+ thriller Hijack deals with a new threat this week even as the last one is still being mopped up in the airplane’s aisles.

As Sam finds himself in bondage, he devises a clever new avenue of contacting the ground and gaining the upper hand without seeming to. There’s panic in Bucharest, Marsha gets a message, and the hijackers are getting jumpy on a perfectly decent installment of the new hit series.

The Crowded Room goes from arthouse to madhouse [Apple TV+ recap] ☆☆☆☆

By

Tom Holland in ☆☆☆☆
We finally get inside the head of Danny (played by Tom Holland). It's not pretty.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ limited series The Crowded Room plays its final hand this week, and the show finally broke me the way it reportedly “broke” its lead actor, Tom Holland. Danny finally gets to know all of his personalities at Rya’s behest, though he may have blown his chances at a fair trial already.

The show’s prior attempts at sensitively depicting Danny’s mental illness take a turn for the deeply unserious this week. And for this recapper, there is just no sane way to move forward.

Hijack hits cruising altitude by focusing on suspense [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

By

Idris Elba in ★★★
Airplane passenger Sam Nelson (played by Idris Elba) takes action against terrorists this week on Hijack.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ terrorist thriller Hijack finally takes off this week, introducing real challenges and intense, investigative set pieces as the people on the ground try to figure out if the plane has been taken over, and if so, why — and what can be done about it.

The calm, cool and collected interloper played by Idris Elba takes action as the plane he’s on descends further and further into chaos. The episode, entitled “Draw a Blank,” is the best this show has yet been.

Rya is ready for her close-up in The Crowded Room [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

By

Amanda Seyfried in ★★★☆☆
This week's episode of The Crowded Room finally focuses on criminologist Rya (played by Amanda Seyfried).
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewCriminologist Rya Goodwin takes center stage in this week’s episode of Apple TV+ drama The Crowded Room. She discovers that the way around the many dead-ends in her life is to crack the case of Danny Sullivan, the man who opened fire in a crowded Manhattan street, and the many personalities living in his head who drove him to murder and mayhem.

Entitled “Rya,” it’s an above-average outing of this oft-frustrating show.

Idris Elba plays it unnervingly cool in new thriller Hijack [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

By

Episode 1. Idris Elba in ★★★☆☆
Seemingly nothing can rattle negotiator Sam Nelson (played by Idris Elba) in Hijack.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewNew Apple TV+ limited series Hijack stars Idris Elba as a man caught in an explosive hostage situation in the sky. Elba plays a corporate negotiator on one of the worst days of his life, as armed terrorists seize the airplane he’s flying on from Dubai to London.

He has six hours to foil their plan — and possibly save his marriage. Can he pull off one or the other, or both? And more importantly, will it be thrilling? Time will tell…

The Crowded Room flashes back to Danny’s disturbing childhood [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆

By

Emmy Rossum in ★★☆☆
Emmy Rossum gets to shine this week on The Crowded Room.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ psychodrama The Crowded Room takes a look back at Danny’s childhood this week to examine the start of his troubles and trauma.

Danny’s issues began when he was young, in the presence of a mysterious twin brother, an absent father, a new stepdad and a mom tired of being defeated by life. Add to that a sexual abuse case and Danny’s mental illness, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster — and a show that keeps running right up to the line of greatness before retreating.

The Crowded Room takes a quick, pointless trip to London [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

By

Tom Holland in ★★☆☆☆
Danny (played by Tom Holland) takes a diversionary trip overseas this week on The Crowded Room.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review New Apple TV+ drama The Crowded Room, about a man arrested for crimes he doesn’t have a real understanding of having committed, takes a trip overseas this week. Danny, fleeing from his past and his crimes, heads to London to look for his dad. But he finds another shady father figure waiting for him instead.

A few botched crimes and some bonding lead Danny down more dead ends as Rya interrogates him and hopes he finally sees the light. The episode, entitled “London,” offers a maddening glimpse at the show The Crowded Room could have been.

The Crowded Room tries to get inside a killer’s head [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆

By

Episode 1. Tom Holland in ★★☆☆
Despite starring Tom Holland, this is definitely not a Spider-Man movie.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review New Apple TV+ thriller The Crowded Room delves into a crime committed in New York at the end of the 1970s. Spider-Man star Tom Holland plays a troubled teen whose life in a halfway house leads to murder.

The miniseries stumbles a fair bit, but when it gets the steps right it proves quite compelling. Its depiction of lowlife decadence and debauchery almost hits the mark, but Holland can’t quite live up to the task of carrying all 10 episodes.

Idris Elba’s Hijack thriller series flies onto Apple TV+ in June

By

Idris Elba in 'Hijack,' premiering globally June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+.
Idris Elba in Hijack, premiering globally June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ revealed the launch date for Hijack, a seven-part thriller starring Idris Elba. When it debuts June 28, the series will follow a hijacked plane in “real time,” with Elba playing a passenger trying to negotiate with terrorists.

The first images from the show were also released on Friday.

Big Apple secrets ignite in City on Fire trailer

By

Want to watch New York City burn?
Want to watch New York City burn? "City on Fire" debuts May 12 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ lit the fuse on upcoming mystery-thiller City on Fire, releasing its first trailer Tuesday. The eight-episode series takes its tale of murder, arson and family drama from the acclaimed novel of the same name by Garth Risk Hallberg.

City on Fire debuts with three episodes on Friday, May 12, on Apple TV+.

How Jennifer Garner found her ‘dream role’ in The Last Thing He Told Me

By

Garner plays a new wife and unwanted mom to a teen in the thriller, out Friday on Apple TV+.
Garner plays a new wife and unwanted mom to a teen in the thriller, out Friday on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

At a screening for the Apple TV+ limited series The Last Thing He Told Me in New York City Tuesday, actress Jennifer Garner revealed why playing Hannah Hill is her “dream role.”

The thriller, based on the same-titled book by Laura Dave that spent 65 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, comes out Friday with its first two episodes on Apple TV+.