What kinds of stories do you enjoy when you’re drawn to closed environments packed with tension and puzzling twists? If that vibe appeals, Netflix offers nine notable titles that fit the mood. These narratives often unfold in single locations and blend uncertainty, pressure, and suspense, whether inside a locked prison wing or a futuristic containment pod.
The longest night
Set on Christmas Eve, a group of armed intruders surrounds a prison, cutting it off from the outside world. Their aim is to seize Simón Lago, a dangerous killer. If the guards hand him over, the siege will end quickly. But guard Hugh refuses to capitulate and prepares to resist. This Spanish series, crafted by Xose Morais and Victor Sierra, delivers relentless adrenaline as its protagonists fight to survive a night filled with secrets begging to be uncovered, all told through a first-person sense of danger and grit. Source: Netflix.
Squid Game
Within a cloistered arena, contestants with troubled backstories are drawn into a mysterious invitation. Hundreds of players compete in a series of children’s games, each step escalating the stakes. The prize is a staggering sum of money, yet the rules turn deadly almost instantly. It is a global phenomenon that originated in South Korea, casting a sharp light on survival and morality. Who will outlast the others, and what is the real purpose behind the games? Source: Netflix.
Oxygen
Directed by the French thriller expert Alexandre Aja, this film follows Liz, a young woman who awakens inside a cryogenic capsule with no memory of who she is or how she arrived there. Oxygen runs against the clock as her oxygen supply dwindles and memories emerge in fragments. Claustrophobic and pulse-pounding, the movie keeps viewers on the edge as Liz fights to reclaim her identity and survive every breath. Source: Netflix.
Hole
In a stark dystopian future, inmates are stacked vertically, tầng by tầng, with food distributed from above while lower levels face scarcity and despair. The film, driven by a mysterious premise and loaded with interpretive potential, became an international success and sparked much debate about social disparity and human resilience. Source: Netflix.
Under the zero
Winter nights, a subzero road, and a brutal ambush on a prisoner transfer van. Martin, a cop involved in the ordeal, miraculously survives and locks himself inside the vehicle. Inside, inmates seek a way to kill him and escape. Outside, someone is plotting to capture another prisoner, and the hunt won’t stop. The confined setting—mostly within a police van—keeps the tension climbing until a shocking ending. Source: Netflix.
Woman at the window
Anna Fox, a psychologist living with agoraphobia in a New York City apartment, becomes survival collateral when a new family moves across the street. She witnesses a brutal crime she may or may not have fully seen, and her world spirals as secrets unfold both inside and outside her glass walls. The thriller delves into perception, memory, and the danger of misreading what seems obvious. Source: Netflix.
7 years
Four friends co-found a company and suddenly find themselves locked inside a room with a night-long deadline to decide who will sacrifice their freedom to save the rest. The film tracks trust, fear, and loyalty as the pressure mounts and the stakes become personal and financial. A Goya-winning director leads a combustible cast through a tightly wound narrative about friendship tested by crisis. Source: Netflix.
Blue Hell
On a seemingly open sea, a surfer gets stranded after a shark attack and must outsmart a relentless predator. The fear of the water becomes suffocating as the character fights to survive, highlighting how vast spaces can feel claustrophobic and dangerous. A taut, suspenseful ride guided by Jaume Collet-Serra. Source: Netflix.
Do not breathe
A trio of thieves targets a blind man rumored to keep a fortune of cash hidden in his home. The plan goes awry when the homeowner proves to be far more dangerous than anticipated, leading to a claustrophobic struggle for survival behind four walls thick with secrets. It’s a lean thriller about risk, cleverness, and who really controls the odds. Source: Netflix.