Best Mystery Movies: 60 Essential Films for Every Detective

Looking for the ultimate mystery movie guide?

This chronological list of 60 must-watch films spans vintage noir classics to modern whodunits, showcasing the most iconic and unforgettable mysteries in cinematic history.

The detective’s magnifying glass hovers over a crucial clue as a roomful of suspects exchange nervous glances.

That heart-stopping moment when everything clicks into place—few film experiences match the satisfaction of a perfectly crafted mystery movie.

Whether you’re a fan of plot twists, gripping suspense, or intriguing characters, these films are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

What Makes a Mystery Movie Unforgettable?

Mystery films thrive on intrigue, plot twists, and captivating characters.

They immerse us in stories where every detail counts. Whether it’s a gritty noir or a laugh-out-loud whodunit, the genre keeps evolving to surprise and engage audiences.

What sets the best apart is their ability to marry suspense with emotional resonance.

Films like Rear Window and Knives Out succeed not only because of their clever plots but also because they craft characters we care about. Let’s explore the finest examples.

Early Mystery Movies: The Foundation Years (1920-1939)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

This German Expressionist mystery about suspicious events at a carnival established techniques still used today. Its visual style and narrative structure influenced the entire genre.

The Thin Man (1934)

William Powell and Myrna Loy sparkle as Nick and Nora Charles investigating a disappearance. Their witty rapport established the blueprint for married detective duos.

Best Classic Murder Mystery Movies (1940-1959)

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Humphrey Bogart defined the hardboiled detective as Sam Spade. This noir classic about hunting a priceless statue showed how to balance complex plotting with memorable characters.

Rebecca (1940)

Hitchcock’s Oscar-winning adaptation follows a young bride uncovering her new husband’s secrets at the imposing Manderley estate. The gothic atmosphere and psychological tension create a mystery that lingers long after viewing.

Laura (1944)

Gene Tierney stars in this noir masterpiece where Detective Mark McPherson investigates a murder, only to fall for the supposed victim. The film’s exploration of obsession created the template for psychological mysteries.

The Fallen Idol (1948)

Carol Reed directs this psychological mystery about a boy who believes his butler may be responsible for a death. The film masterfully explores truth through a child’s perspective.

Rear Window (1954)

Hitchcock’s masterwork remains the gold standard. James Stewart plays a photographer confined to his flat who becomes convinced he’s witnessed murder through his window. Grace Kelly brings both glamour and gumption as his investigating partner.

Vertigo (1958)

Another Hitchcock masterpiece following a detective with acrophobia hired to follow a friend’s wife. The film’s exploration of obsession and identity influenced countless later mysteries.

Detective Movies: The Golden Age (1960-1979)

Charade (1963)

Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant sparkle in this romantic mystery about a widow pursued by several men seeking her late husband’s fortune. The film perfectly balances suspense with sophisticated comedy.

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Sidney Poitier plays a Philadelphia detective who becomes involved in a murder investigation in Mississippi. The film combines mystery with powerful social commentary.

The Last of Sheila (1973)

A film producer invites friends to play an elaborate mystery game one year after his wife’s death. The script by Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim delivers ingenious puzzles.

Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, John Gielgud, Sean Connery, Jacqueline Bisset, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Balsam, Albert Finney, Richard Widmark, and Michael York in Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Albert Finney leads an all-star cast as Hercule Poirot investigating a murder on a snowbound train. The film remains the definitive Christie adaptation.

Murder by Death (1976)

This parody features send-ups of famous fictional detectives investigating an impossible crime. The all-star cast includes Peter Sellers and Maggie Smith.

Good Mystery Movies of the 1980s

Clue (1985)

This board game adaptation featuring Tim Curry perfectly balances mystery and farce. Multiple endings add replay value while honouring the source material.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Bob Hoskins plays a hard-boiled detective investigating murder in a world where humans and cartoons coexist. The film brilliantly merges noir mystery with animation.

Best Murder Mystery Movies of the 1990s

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Jodie Foster’s FBI trainee must solve a serial killer case with help from another killer. The film’s psychological mystery elements earned it major Academy Awards.

Basic Instinct (1992)

Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas star in this controversial thriller about a detective investigating a rock star’s murder. The film’s famous interrogation scene became instantly iconic.

Se7en (1995)

Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in Seven (1995)

Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman hunt a killer staging elaborate murders based on the seven deadly sins. The film’s grim atmosphere and shocking conclusion redefined thriller expectations.

Scream (1996)

Wes Craven’s meta-slasher is also a brilliant whodunit. The film’s mystery elements are as carefully constructed as its horror sequences.

Primal Fear (1996)

Richard Gere defends an altar boy (Edward Norton) accused of murder. The film’s famous twist ending redefined what audiences expect from legal thrillers.

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey navigate corruption in 1950s Los Angeles. The film’s intricate plot about police scandal delivers multiple satisfying reveals.

Mystery Movies That Defined the 2000s

Memento (2000)

Guy Pearce stars as a man with short-term memory loss trying to find his wife’s killer. Christopher Nolan’s reverse chronology adds an extra layer to the central mystery.

Gosford Park (2001)

Robert Altman directs this upstairs-downstairs murder mystery set at an English country estate. The ensemble cast brings depth to both the mystery and social commentary.

Old Boy (2003)

Park Chan-wook’s South Korean thriller follows a man seeking answers about his 15-year imprisonment. The mystery unfolds with shocking revelations.

Memories of Murder (2003)

Bong Joon-ho’s haunting thriller follows detectives investigating South Korea’s first serial killings. The film balances dark humour with genuine horror.

Brick (2005)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in this neo-noir set in a high school. The film transplants hardboiled detective tropes into an unexpected setting.

Tell No One (2006)

This French thriller follows a doctor who receives evidence his dead wife might be alive. The film’s intricate plot developments keep viewers guessing until the end.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Tom Hanks stars as Robert Langdon, investigating a murder at the Louvre that leads to a religious conspiracy. The film successfully translates intricate puzzle-solving to screen.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost investigate suspicious accidents in a seemingly idyllic village. Edgar Wright’s direction keeps both the comedy and mystery elements sharp.

Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher’s meticulous recreation of the Zodiac killer investigation features Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. The film’s commitment to procedural detail sets it apart.

Disturbia (2007)

A modern take on Rear Window starring Shia LaBeouf as a teenager under house arrest who suspects his neighbour of murder. The film updates Hitchcock’s premise for a new generation.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

The original Swedish adaptation pairs a journalist with a brilliant hacker to investigate old murders. Noomi Rapace’s Lisbeth Salander sets the standard for modern detective characters.

The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

This Argentine thriller about a cold case investigation won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. The mystery spans decades while examining memory and justice.

Best Modern Mystery Movies (2010-2019)

Shutter Island (2010)

Leonardo DiCaprio plays a U.S. Marshal investigating a disappearance at a remote asylum. Scorsese’s direction keeps viewers questioning reality until the final reveal.

Before I Go To Sleep (2014)

Nicole Kidman plays a woman with anterograde amnesia trying to uncover the truth about her past. The film keeps viewers guessing about who can be trusted.

Dark Places (2015)

Based on Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn’s novel, this atmospheric thriller stars Charlize Theron investigating a family massacre from her childhood.

The Girl on the Train (2016)

Emily Blunt plays an alcoholic woman who becomes entangled in a missing person investigation. The unreliable narrator adds extra layers to the mystery.

The Nice Guys (2016)

Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling investigate a missing person case in 1970s Los Angeles. Shane Black’s script balances noir elements with buddy comedy.

Zootopia (2016)

This Disney animation brilliantly combines mystery with social commentary. Officer Judy Hopps investigates disappearances in a city of anthropomorphic animals.

Game Night (2018)

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams lead this comedy about a game night gone wrong. The film maintains genuine suspense while delivering consistent laughs.

Searching (2018)

John Cho plays a father looking for his missing daughter entirely through computer screens. The film uses its unique format to deliver genuine surprises.

Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

Jeff Bridges features in this twisty tale of strangers at a mysterious hotel. The film’s non-linear structure adds extra layers to its central mystery.

A Simple Favor (2018)

Paul Feig directs this stylish mystery starring Anna Kendrick as a vlogger investigating her friend’s disappearance. The film balances dark comedy with genuine thrills.

Knives Out (2019)

Rian Johnson revitalised the whodunit with Daniel Craig’s drawling detective Benoit Blanc investigating a family of suspects. Sharp writing and a stellar ensemble cast breathed new life into classic mystery tropes.

Murder Mystery (2019)

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston bring surprising chemistry as a couple caught up in a yacht-based investigation. While lighter than most entries, it delivers genuine mystery alongside laughs.

Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)

Jake Gyllenhaal plays an art critic drawn into investigating deaths connected to a dead artist’s paintings. The film blends mystery with supernatural horror.

New Mystery Movies on Netflix and Beyond (2020-2024)

Lost Girls (2020)

Amy Ryan delivers a powerful performance as Mari Gilbert, pressing law enforcement to search for her missing daughter. Based on a true story.

Enola Holmes (2020)

Millie Bobby Brown charms as Sherlock’s sister in this fresh take on Victorian detection. The mystery plot provides a framework for exploring themes of independence.

The Woman in the Window (2021)

Amy Adams leads this Hitchcockian thriller about an agoraphobic psychologist who believes she’s witnessed a crime. The atmospheric tension makes it worth investigating.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

The sequel takes Blanc to a tech billionaire’s private island. Edward Norton and Janelle Monáe lead another brilliant ensemble in this clever commentary on influence culture.

The Batman (2022)

Robert Pattinson’s Dark Knight tackles Gotham’s corruption through proper detective work. The film leans heavily into noir elements, with Batman solving riddles and uncovering conspiracies.

Death on the Nile (2022)

Kenneth Branagh returns as Hercule Poirot in this adaptation of Christie’s novel. The detective investigates murder aboard a glamorous river steamer in Egypt.

Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)

Daisy Edgar-Jones plays a young woman suspected of murder in North Carolina’s marshlands. The mystery unfolds against themes of isolation and prejudice.

See How They Run (2022)

Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan investigate theatrical murders in 1950s London. The meta-mystery plays with conventions while delivering genuine surprises.

Deep Water (2022)

Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas star in this psychological mystery about a complex marriage and disappearing lovers. Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel.

Decision to Leave (2022)

Park Chan-wook directs this romantic mystery about a detective becoming obsessed with a murder suspect. The film weaves romance and investigation in unexpected ways.

The Wonder (2022)

Florence Pugh investigates a young girl in 1860s Ireland who claims to have survived without food for months. The film explores faith, science, and truth.

Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

Millie Bobby Brown returns as Sherlock’s sister in Victorian London. The sequel expands on the original’s blend of mystery and social commentary.

Murder Mystery 2 (2023)

Sandler and Aniston return as full-time private investigators tackling a case at a destination wedding. The sequel builds on the chemistry established in the first film.

It’s What’s Inside (2024)

A body-swapping mystery thriller set during a wedding weekend. The story follows old college friends whose reunion turns dark when an estranged friend arrives with a mysterious suitcase.

Why These Movies Made the Cut

This isn’t just a collection of popular titles. Each movie on this list represents a milestone in mystery filmmaking.

From pioneering cinematography to groundbreaking storytelling, these films capture something unique about the genre.

Niche Categories for Mystery Enthusiasts

For those with specific tastes, here are some quick picks:

Top Mysteries on Netflix: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Lost Girls.
Lesser-Known Gems: The Fallen Idol, Tell No One.
Psychological Thrillers: The Silence of the Lambs, Se7en.

A Chronological Journey

From The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to It’s What’s Inside, this list represents a century of brilliant storytelling.

Whether you’re exploring the genre for the first time or revisiting old favourites, these 60 films provide a roadmap for your next movie night.

Mystery movies don’t just entertain—they challenge your mind and invite you to solve their puzzles.

Dive in and discover which of these classics will become your next obsession.