20 Best Murder Mystery Movies to Bring Out Your Inner Detective
These classic "whodunit" movies will keep you guessing until the very end.
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Crime, intrigue and the classic "whodunit" question ... What's not to love about murder mysteries? The murder mystery has long been one of cinema's most beloved genres, but it's recently seen an explosion in popularity thanks to hit films like Knives Out and true crime docuseries like Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries. If you're on the hunt for a murder mystery movie to watch right now, there are plenty of options, from the best psychological thriller films to horror movies, dramas and even dark comedies.
To help you awaken your own inner armchair detective, we've rounded up some of the best murder mystery movies available to stream across the internet now — including movies you can watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime and other popular streaming services. Whether you're hunting for something to watch on family movie night or or you're looking for a film to screen at your murder mystery party, these "whodunit" movies have something for everyone, including gripping storylines, suspicious characters and shocking plot twists you'll never see coming.
Clue (1985)
Inspired by the iconic board game, this is one of the most beloved murder mystery movies of all time. Clue follows a group of guests at a dinner party who band together to figure out who murdered their host. There's a total of three different endings — and you'll get to see all of them in the Prime Video version.
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Gone Girl (2014)
Though this popular psychological thriller based on the novel by Gillian Flynn may not follow the classic "whodunit" formula, there's definitely a mystery at the center of Gone Girl. A man (Ben Affleck) becomes a prime suspect for the murder of his wife (Rosamund Pike) after she goes missing, but all isn't what it seems.
Knives Out (2019)
One of the best modern murder mystery films in recent years, this recent blockbuster puts a modern-day spin on classic murder mystery movies. Featuring an all-star ensemble cast alongside a riveting plot involving an investigation of the family patriarch's suspicious death, this film is a must-see.
Murder Mystery (2019)
Prefer some light-hearted comedy mixed in with your mystery? There's plenty of laughs in this recent Netflix original, which stars Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston as a married couple who become involved in a murder investigation on a billionaire's yacht.
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L.A. Confidential (1997)
This neo-noir crime film — which snagged a total of total nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture — centers around a group of three policemen who investigate a series of murders in 1950s Los Angeles. What ensues is a story of corruption, deceit and (of course) mystery.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
In this classic adaptation of Agatha Christie's popular murder mystery novel, a detective named Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of an American business tycoon aboard the Orient Express train. The film even earned a total of six Academy Award nominations (and one win!).
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
After watching the 1974 original, check out this more recent remake of Murder on the Orient Express, too — it features a star-studded cast including Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer and Penelope Cruz, alongside director Kenneth Branagh as Detective Poirot.
Gosford Park (2001)
Set in a grand English manor in the 1930s, this murder mystery film has all the elements of a classic "whodunit": a dinner party, a group of aristocrats and a sudden murder. Fans of Downtown Abbey will love this one, as it was written by the show's creator Julian Fellowes (who originally planned Downtown Abbey as a spin-off of Gosford Park).
Scream (1996)
Yes, it's a slasher flick, but Scream has plenty of murder and mystery. You'll have to wait and see who's behind the Ghostface mask in this frightening (yet sharply clever) story about a mysterious killer who terrorizes a group of high school students.
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Memento (2000)
Can't resist a good mind-bending flick? Christopher Nolan's Memento is a must-watch, not only for its gripping mystery but for its truly innovative plot involving a man with short-term memory loss (Guy Pearce) who attempts to track down his wife's killer.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Robert Downey Jr. stars in this black comedy crime film described by the director himself as "half romantic comedy, half murder mystery." The story follows a crook named Harry Lockhart, who gets tangled up in a murderous conspiracy in Hollywood after stumbling into an audition for a mystery film.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Based on the 2005 novel of the same name, this psychological crime thriller centers around a journalist's investigation into a 40-year-old murder case of a mysterious woman from a wealthy family. (Warning: There's plenty of violence in this one, which means it definitely isn't for the faint of heart!)
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Rear Window (1954)
Often considered one of Alfred Hitchcock's best films, this classic mystery thriller follows a photographer with a broken leg who passes the time by observing his neighbors through his window and, after becoming convinced he witnessed a murder, sets out to find the killer himself.
The Nice Guys (2016)
If you loved Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys is another neo-noir comedy film by the same director (Shane Black). In this one, Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe star as two L.A. detectives in the '70s who team up to investigate a missing girl and a mysterious death.
Identity (2003)
Ten strangers arrive at an isolated motel in the middle of a violent storm ... and then are mysteriously killed off one by one. In classic "whodunit" fashion, this psychological slasher film involves the group attempting to uncover the identity of the killer before it's too late.
Death on the Nile (1978)
This British mystery film based on Agatha Christie's novel (the sequel to Murder on the Orient Express) is getting an upcoming remake — which means there's no better time to familiarize yourself with the story (this time involving a murder on a cruise ship!) than now.
Zodiac (2007)
Based on the real-life unsolved murders of the Zodiac Killer, this mystery thriller stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. as detectives and journalists who become obsessed with tracking down the serial killer's identity.
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Seven (1995)
Seven is another riveting psychological crime thriller about a serial killer, but in this one, the killer bases his murders on the Seven Deadly Sins. Two detectives (Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman) must team up to catch him before he strikes again.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Looking for a family-friendly murder mystery? Featuring a mix of live action and animation, this delightful comedy-mystery film follows the story of a private investigator who must help Roger Rabbit prove his innocence when the cartoon is unjustly framed for murder.
And Then There Were None (1945)
This classic murder mystery film, based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, is perhaps the one that influenced them all. In this early masterpiece, seven guests arrive at a mysterious island ... before they find themselves killed off one by one.
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Hannah Jeon is an Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention, where she covers expert-driven commerce content for all things health, beauty, and wellness. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Good Housekeeping, she earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not on the hunt for all the best products online, you can often find her trying out new food spots in New York City or clicking away behind a camera.
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