30 Best Murder Mystery Movies to Stream in 2023
Put your inner Sherlock Holmes (or Nancy Drew) to the test with these classic noirs and modern thrillers!
The murder mystery genre is an absolute staple in the movie world that’s been around forever. Whodunit films always keep you on your toes, and entertained as viewers race to solve the crime before the characters (and of course their fellow movie watchers). The premise often starts the same, but these movies always keep us coming back for more because of their unexpected twists and crazy storylines. From unspeakable crimes to telling backstories and all the action in the between, there’s so much to appreciate.
If you've already Nancy Drew-ed yourself through all the classics like Clue, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Charade, don't fret, because we've got plenty of new-age murder mysteries you'll love just as much. From book adaptations like Gone Girl and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, to Netflix originals like the hilarious Murder Mystery series, there's something for everyone, even the most dedicated sleuths. Once you've cracked all of these cases, try your hand at solving real crimes with these true crime series or opt for something lighter after all that hard work like these kid-friendly comedies.
Clue
How could we not start with a classic like Clue? When six people from different walks of life are invited to an isolated mansion by a man who knows dark secrets from their past, they're each handed a weapon. When the lights are turned off then back on, it's up to the guest to uncover who responsible for the newly discovered dead body.
Knives Out
Crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is pronounced dead and the circumstances surrounding his death aren't adding up. When Detective Benoit Blanc arrives at his estate, one thing is for sure—the entire Thrombey family who want the inheritance are all suspect. Blanc must sift through a complicated web of lies to uncover the truth.
Murder on the Orient Express
Inspired by the classic Agatha Christie novel, a lavish train trip through Europe quickly turns into a race against time to solve a murder that occurred aboard. When an avalanche stops the Orient Express from moving onward, the world's greatest detective Hercule Poirot arrives just in time to investigate and solve before the killer strikes again.
Death on the Nile
Renowned detective Hercule Poirot is at it again following his sleuthing aboard the Orient Express. While aboard a glamorous river boat, a picture-perfect couple's honeymoon in Egypt is cut tragically short.
Gone Girl
Twisted is the only way we know how to describe Gone Girl. A former writer and his wife appear to be the perfect couple, but when the wife goes missing on their wedding anniversary, the husband becomes the prime suspect. Between the police pressure and media frenzy, the couple's happy image quickly crumbles with an ending that'll leave you speechless.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Iron Man Robert Downey, Jr., stars as swindler who stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from police. Surprisingly, he gets the part and when he lands in Hollywood, he's dropped in the middle of a murderous conspiracy with his childhood sweetheart and private eye Perry van Shrike.
Zodiac
Based on shockingly true events that shook northern California communities in the 60s and 70s, a serial killer called Zodiac stalks residents of San Francisco. Investigators (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey, Jr.) become obsessed with finding him, but the killer taunts them by claiming victim after victim and leaving cryptic messages along the way.
Charade
Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn) falls for a dashing man while on a skiing holiday. When she returns home to her husband in Paris, well, he's been murdered. Regina and the man she fell for chase after three of her late husband's acquaintances who are after millions of dollars that the group stole while in World War II. But, why does the man Regina fell for keep switching names?
Murder Mystery
When a classic murder mystery meets comedy, that's when you get Murder Mystery. An NYC cop (Adam Sandler) and wife (Jennifer Aniston) jet set on a long-promised European trip and while on the flight, the couple gets invited to a family gathering on an elderly billionaire's yacht. When the billionaire is found dead, the couple becomes the prime suspects, but nothing is as it seems.
Memento
Leonard is tracking down the man who sexually assaulted and murdered his wife. The chase proves difficult due to the fact that he has a rare form of memory loss where he can recall details of his life prior to the accident, but cannot remember what happened a few minutes before, where he's going, and why.
In the Heat of the Night
Sidney Poitier stars as Virgil Tibbs, a Philadelphia homicide detective who finds himself falsely arrested by a racist police chief for a murder while visiting a small Mississippi town. After proving his innocence, Virgil and the same police who arrested him join forces to find the real killer.
A Simple Favor
Mommy vlogger Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) seeks to uncover the truth when her stylish and uber-successful friend Emily (Blake Lively) suddenly goes missing. Joined by Emily's husband, Stephanie launches her own investigation by digging into her friend's past and finding some major surprises along the way.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
In a unique mix of animation and live-action, private eye Eddie Valiant investigates a murder at a corrupt cartoon studio and enlists the help of toon characters along the way. When Roger Rabbit becomes the main suspect, it's up to the detective to clear his name.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) accepts an invitation to investigate a 40-year-old murder mystery on behalf of the victim's uncle, a successful Swedish industrialist. Little does Mikael know that he's being pursued too. A tattooed hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) is hired to investigate the journalist and discover the truth behind his fall from grace. The two become an unlikely pair and together uncover a dark history of murder and sexual abuse in Sweden's industrial past.
Godsford Park
An eclectic group of pretentious rich and famous gather for the weekend at a hunting resort. The inconvenience that no one saw coming? A murder (well, two!) occurring before the weekend is even over. Although the police are baffled, the estate's all-seeing servants know that almost everyone there has a motive.
The Nice Guys
Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) become an unlikely pair after a young woman named Amelia mysteriously disappears. They soon learn the hard way that they're not the only people looking for her and their investigation takes them to some pretty dark places as anyone else who gets involved in the case ultimately ends up dead.
Se7en
Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) tackles one final case with new hire David Mills (Brad Pitt) before retiring. After discovering elaborate and grizzly murders, they soon realize what they're dealing with: a serial killer who's targeting people he thinks represent one of the seven deadly sins.
Scream
Say hello to the re-invention of the classic slasher genre. Combining modern horror and humor, Scream became a cult classic. A year after a teenage girl's mom was murdered, she's terrorized by a new killer who targets the girl and her friends as a part of a deadly game.
The Silence of the Lambs
Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is a top student at the FBI's training academy. In order to catch a serial killer, Clarice must interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and violent psychopath, who's behind bars for murder and cannibalism. She believes Lecter may provide important insight into finding a killer on the loose.
The Little Things
Deputy Sheriff Deacon (Denzel Washington) is sent to L.A. for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes tangled in the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city. As he and Sgt. Baxter join forces to get justice, the investigation uncovers some of Deacon's past that threatens more than the case.
Chaise Sanders is an Associate Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers anything from lifestyle and beauty to entertainment and style. Wanna upgrade your skincare game? She's got you covered with the best facial cleansing brushes. Or maybe you're in need of a new true crime show to binge? Got that covered too! Prior to joining the Cosmo team, Chaise was an editor at Country Living (also part of the Hearst fam) where she interviewed celebs like Dolly Parton, LeAnn Rimes and even Martha Stewart. Now, as one of the Big Apple's newest residents, there's a good chance that you can catch her checking out an Insta-worthy cafe or spending way to much $$$ in vintage stores.
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