Detective and mystery fiction has been a popular pastime among readers and moviegoers for generations, with some of the best stories stemming from the genre. Whether spotlighting private detectives who bend the rules to find justice or hard-boiled police investigators, cinema has plenty of great detective stories under its belt. The 2010s are home to some of the best modern investigation stories in film.

Detective movies of the 2010s took on a notably grittier and more realistic tone than films from years before, shaking off Hollywood logic for more nuanced stories. While that doesn't hold true of every detective movie of its decade, with plenty of more comedy-oriented mysteries, it has made for some of the genre's best films. However, tales of cunning detectives aren't restricted to ideas set in the regular world, and everything from science fiction to psychological drama can form the backdrop for a good mystery movie.'

10 Shaft Got a Fun 2019 Reboot

Beginning as the face of Blaxploitation crime movies, Shaft has been one of Hollywood's best detectives for decades, revolving around a charismatic private eye from Harlem. After Samuel L. Jackson played the character's son in the 2000 reboot, three generations of Shaft united in the 2019 movie, which follows JJ Shaft as he investigates the suspicious death of his childhood friend, Kareem. Turning to his father for help navigating the Harlem crime scene, JJ's investigation leads to a variety of twists and turns that lead the duo to an unlikely set of suspects.

Shaft was a great continuation of the classic franchise, bringing back Richard Roundtree as the original, joining his son and grandson for one last job. The movie explores topics like masculinity, drug addiction and relationships as Shaft II tries to mold his millennial son into the kind of man a Harlem private eye should be.

9 Murder on the Orient Express Received a Well-Deserved Remake

Murder on the Orient Express follows the private detective, Hercule Poirot, as he boards the eponymous train with an ensemble of unique characters. When one of the passengers is found murdered, Poirot opens a case, with everyone aboard a suspect and nowhere for anyone to go. As he assesses the situation, he realizes everyone has a motive, and things only get more complicated as the passengers' stories conflict.

Murder On the Orient Express made for a great, intriguing adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic — one that delivers a great twist for those unfamiliar with the story. Kenneth Branagh proved himself a brilliant choice for the role of Hercule Poirot, and did Christie's story justice, working as a great period drama as well as a murder mystery.

8 Knives Out Is a Modern Take on the Whodunit

Netflix's Knives Out begins with the reunion of a large, affluent and dysfunctional family, the Thrombeys, who have gathered for the birthday of their patriarch, Harlan. However, when the man's body is found dead, and it's revealed his estate has been left to his nurse, Marta, suspicion naturally falls on her. With the assistance of a private detective, Benoit Blanc, she attempts to figure out who wanted to kill Harlan and who is trying to frame her.

Knives Out is a clear love letter to Agatha Christie's whodunit formula of mysteries, culminating in a brilliant twist. In Benoit Blanc, audiences were given one of the best new detectives in fiction, while the star-studded Thrombey family provides the story with a combination of drama, satire and socio-political commentary.

7 21 Bridges Revolves Around an Epic Manhunt

21 Bridges begins when two friends, both army veterans, attempt to steal a supply of cocaine from a wine shop. However, when they realize the amount is considerably more than they expected, they're locked in a shootout with local cops, which ends with several officers dead and thieves on the run. Andre Davis, an NYPD detective with a specialty for finding cop killers, is brought in and orders a lockdown of Manhattan so the cops can close in on the gunmen. However, when he realizes there may be more to the case than appears, he tries to de-escalate the situation before the men are killed.

21 Bridges is a brilliant crime story that follows Davis as he's caught between a rock and a hard place: as evidence begins to mount of police corruption, he finds a target on his own back. With Chadwick Boseman in the leading role as Davis, the movie is a must-watch for fans of tense thrillers, following one of cinema's most epic manhunts.

6 The Nice Guys Is a Fun '70s Throwback

The Nice Guys tells the story of two mismatched detectives brought together over the death of a Los Angeles adult film star. On one side, the easygoing single father Holland March, on the other, the rough and tumble tough cop, Jackson Healy, providing a classic good cop/bad cop dynamic. With March's daughter tagging along on the case, the investigators look into the seedy side of LA, with their case soon attracting unwanted attention.

The Nice Guys is a fun, comedic throwback to '70s buddy cop stories, honoring the likes of Starsky and Hutch in its delivery of a bumbling detective tale. Never taking itself too seriously, the movie follows the cops and March's daughter as they tackle the adult film industry and stumble upon a conspiracy that goes to the top of city politics. The film has a lot going for it, but it's the chemistry between Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling that makes it entertaining.