There is nothing more satisfying than getting engrossed in a thrilling mystery and watching a clever detective piecing together obscure clues. Netflix offers a great selection of detective movies full of secretive crimes, complex investigations, plot twists and shocking reveals. Whether tales of cunning serial killers, missing persons and conundrums to unravel, these films will appeal to your inner sleuth.
This list covers a range of subgenres from psychological thrillers to murder mysteries, showcasing some of the best detective-centric stories found on Netflix. The streaming giant hosts gripping classics as well new original movies perfect for at-home detective work. So grab your metaphorical magnifying glass and dive into these compelling, puzzle-filled films. The game is afoot!
Top Best Detective Movies On Netflix
Before going into details of each movie separately, we have compiled a list of top detective movies on Netflix in the following table. These are either Netflix Originals or theatrical release movies available on Netflix to watch. You can jump to any movie details by clicking its name from the following table.
| Sr. No. | Movie Name (Release Year) | IMDb Rating |
| 1 | 7.8 | |
| 2 | 6.0 | |
| 3 | 7.0 | |
| 4 | 7.4 | |
| 5 | 5.4 | |
| 6 | 5.7 | |
| 7 | 5.5 | |
| 8 | 6.6 | |
| 9 | 7.6 | |
| 10 | 7.8 | |
| 11 | 7.7 | |
| 12 | 8.6 | |
| 13 | 7.9 | |
| 14 | 8.1 | |
| 15 | 6.5 | |
| 16 | 7.0 | |
| 17 | 8.1 | |
| 18 | 6.1 | |
| 19 | 6.7 | |
| 20 | 6.2 | |
| 21 | 6.5 | |
| 22 | 6.7 | |
| 23 | 6.6 | |
| 24 | 6.2 | |
| 25 | 5.4 | |
| 26 | 6.5 | |
| 27 | 6.1 | |
| 28 | 5.3 | |
| 29 | 6.5 |
| Also Read: best romantic movies anime
1 - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
- Cast: Daniel Craig (Benoit Blanc), Edward Norton (Miles Bron), Janelle Monáe (Andi Brand), Kathryn Hahn (Claire Debella), Leslie Odom Jr. (Lionel Toussaint), Jessica Henwick (Peg), Madelyn Cline (Whiskey), Kate Hudson (Birdie Jay), Dave Bautista (Duke Cody)
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Network: Netflix
- Premiere date: November 23, 2022
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Country: United States
- Audience: PG-13
- Run Time: 139 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a 2022 American mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson, acting as a sequel to Knives Out (2019). Daniel Craig returns as enigmatic sleuth Benoit Blanc, invited to billionaire Miles Bron's private island for a murder mystery party. When someone ends up dead for real, Blanc must peel back the layers of lies and deception to find the truth.
This twisty whodunit features an all-star ensemble cast including Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn and Kate Hudson. With lavish cinematography and costumes, Johnson crafts another intricately plotted mystery full of red herrings and sharp twists. Craig is in top form as eccentric investigator Benoit Blanc, using his rapier wit and powers of observation to uncover clues and motives. Stylish and satirical, Glass Onion offers a classic murder mansion mystery updated for the modern age.
2 - Murder Mystery (2019)
- Cast: Adam Sandler (Nick Spitz), Jennifer Aniston (Audrey Spitz), Luke Evans (Charles Cavendish), Terence Stamp (Malcolm Quince), Gemma Arterton (Grace Ballard), Luis Gerardo Méndez (Juan Carlos Rivera), Dany Boon (Sergei), John Kani (Colonel Ulenga), Shioli Kutsuna (Suzi Nakamura), Adeel Akhtar (Inspector de la Croix)
- Director: Kyle Newacheck
- Network: Netflix
- Premiere date: June 14, 2019
- IMDB Rating: 6.0/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: 13+
- Run Time: 97 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Murder Mystery is an American comedy mystery film directed by Kyle Newacheck and starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston as husband and wife duo Nick and Audrey Spitz. While vacationing in Europe, they get framed for the murder of an elderly billionaire. Evading the authorities, the Spitzes set out to solve the murder themselves and clear their names.
This action-packed whodunit takes the couple on a madcap race around glamorous European locales as more suspects and motives emerge. With grand yachts, glitzy parties and intrigue amongst the wealthy, it's a light murder mystery romp ensconced in a lavish setting. Though not particularly profound, Sandler and Aniston's comedic chemistry carries this fun, escapist detective story.
| Also Read: best motivational movies for students
3 - The Pink Panther 2 (2006)
- Cast: Steve Martin (Inspector Jacques Clouseau), Kevin Kline (Chief Inspector Dreyfus), Jean Reno (Gendarme Gilbert Ponton), Emily Mortimer (Nicole Durant), Henry Czerny (Yuri), Kristin Chenoweth (Cherie), Roger Rees (Laroque), William Abadie (Pepi), Beyoncé Knowles (Xania)
- Director: Shawn Levy
- Network: Columbia Pictures, MGM
- Premiere date: February 10, 2006
- IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
- Country: USA, Czech Republic
- Audience: PG
- Budget: $80 million
- Revenue: $158.9 million
- Run Time: 93 minutes
- Languages: English, French
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
The Pink Panther 2 is a 2006 American detective comedy film directed by Shawn Levy. It stars Steve Martin as Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the bumbling French detective created by Peter Sellers. When a star soccer coach is murdered, Clouseau competes with a rival inspector (Kevin Kline) to solve the case and locate the missing Pink Panther diamond.
Martin steps into the role of the famed goofy, incompetent investigator armed with slapstick physical comedy and a terribly exaggerated French accent. Though lacking the flair of Sellers, he captures Clouseau's preposterous personality in this updating of the classic comedy capers. With European locations and an all-star cast, The Pink Panther 2 offers lighthearted ridiculous fun for easygoing mystery lovers.
4 - The Nice Guys (2016)
- Cast: Russell Crowe (Jackson Healy), Ryan Gosling (Holland March), Angourie Rice (Holly March), Matt Bomer (John Boy), Margaret Qualley (Amelia Kuttner), Keith David (Older Guy), Beau Knapp (Blueface), Lois Smith (Mrs. Glenn), Murielle Telio (Misty Mountains), Gil Gerard (Thomas)
- Director: Shane Black
- Network: Warner Bros. Pictures
- Premiere date: May 15, 2016
- IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $50 million
- Revenue: $62.8 million
- Run Time: 116 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
The Nice Guys is a 2016 American neo-noir mystery buddy comedy film directed by Shane Black and starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, it follows a downbeat private eye (Gosling) and hired enforcer (Crowe) who team up to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl.
With plenty of fight scenes, adult humor and offbeat buddy chemistry between Crowe and Gosling, The Nice Guys offers a stylish throwback to the private eye films of yesteryear.
However, Black injects plenty of subversiveness and winking commentary into this pulpy LA noire. The all-star leads' mismatch makes for enjoyable odd couple antics as they contend with dueling mobsters, porn producers and activists.
5 - 7 Women and a Murder (2018)
- Cast: Kira Reed Lorsch (Alex), Lauren Rose Lewis (Kate), Mike Gaglio (Leo), Anna Zielinski (Jordan), David Michael Ford (David), Kirsten Roeters (Sarah), Daniel Quinn (Benjamin), Katie O'Grady (Tanya), Regina Ayvas (Olga), Chelsea Gilson (Nikki)
- Director: Michael James Rizza
- Network: Uncork'd Entertainment
- Premiere date: October 16, 2018
- IMDB Rating: 5.4/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: TV-14
- Run Time: 95 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
7 Women and a Murder is a 2018 American drama film directed by Michael James Rizza. When a murderer claims another victim, seven women decide to plot the perfect murder, investigating deadly tactics to get away with the crime.
The film follows a support group of women who become fascinated with homicide after a friend is killed. Led by a true crime podcaster, they use their collective knowledge to hypothetically plan the perfect murder against fictional targets. However, their morbid thought exercise takes a real turn when one of them is suddenly murdered in the exact way they devised.
More character study than mystery thriller, 7 Women and a Murder explores the psyches of women grieving and obsessed with revenge. Darkly humorous with surprising reveals, it offers an intriguing female-driven take on the alluring violence within true crime narratives.
6 - The Sleepover (2020)
- Cast: Malin Åkerman (Margot), Joe Manganiello (Ron), Sadie Stanley (Clancy), Maxwell Simkins (Kevin), Cree Cicchino (Mimi), Ken Marino (Scott), Lucas Jaye (Finley), Carly Nakles (Mom), Carly Mary Coone (Tess)
- Director: Trish Sie
- Network: Netflix
- Premiere date: August 21, 2020
- IMDB Rating: 5.7/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: TV-PG
- Run Time: 103 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
The Sleepover is a 2020 American family comedy mystery film directed by Trish Sie. Clancy (Sadie Stanley) and her brother Kevin (Maxwell Simkins) discover their seemingly ordinary suburban parents (Malin Akerman, Joe Manganiello) are actually former thieves in witness protection. When their mom's ex-partner kidnaps them, the kids must save their parents.
This family-friendly caper takes the kids from the mundane to a world of secret identities and high-stakes heists. Tracking down hidden treasure and evading bumbling agents, Clancy and Kevin's sibling detective skills get put to the test. The film offers a kid-centric twist on the classic spy vs. spy trope.
With clever kids, obscure clues and chases galore, The Sleepover brings youthful mischief and hijinks to the mystery genre in a story suitable for all-ages adventuring.
7 - In for a Murder (2021)
- Cast: Magdalena Różczka (Magda) andrzej Grabowski (Wilk), BronisÅ‚aw WrocÅ‚awski (Szuster), Robert Wabich (Tadek), Zofia WichÅ‚acz (Julia), Adam WietrzyÅ„ski (Franz Maurer), Julia Kijowska (Hanna Maurer),Sonia Bohosiewicz (Krystyna), Åukasz Simlat (Artur)
- Director: Jacek Lusinski
- Network: Netflix
- Premiere date: September 1, 2021
- IMDB Rating: 5.5/10
- Country: Poland
- Audience: 16+
- Run Time: 104 minutes
- Languages: Polish
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
In For a Murder is a 2021 Polish crime drama directed by Jacek Lusinski. Set in the aftermath of WWII, Magda (Magdalena Różczka), the wife of a prosecutor, investigates a string of murders in her small town. Convinced her husband has been framed for the killings, Magda turns detective to uncover the real culprit.
Atmospheric cinematography establishes the dark underbelly of the remote locale rife with secrets. Driven by paranoia and mystery, Magda pieces together obscure clues about the motives and identity of the elusive murderer terrorizing the community. Violent flashbacks provide visceral glimpses into the killings.
This moody foreign-language thriller combines murder, marital drama and psychological tension into an enthralling whodunit. With an intoxicating femme fatale vibe, it brings film noir style to the chilling portrayal of good versus evil.
8 - 8mm (1999)
- Cast: Nicolas Cage (Tom Welles), Joaquin Phoenix (Max California), James Gandolfini (Eddie Poole), Peter Stormare (Dino Velvet), Anthony Heald (Daniel Longdale), Catherine Keener (Amy Welles), Myra Carter (Janet Mathews), Brendan Fletcher (Tyler Montpellier), Chris Bauer (Machine), Don Bex (Earl Montpellier)
- Director: Joel Schumacher
- Network: Columbia Pictures
- Premiere date: February 26, 1999
- IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $40 million
- Revenue: $96.1 million
- Run Time: 123 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
8mm is a 1999 American neo-noir crime mystery film directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. Nicolas Cage stars as a private investigator hired to determine the authenticity of a snuff film. His descent into the grimy underground porn industry reveals exploitation and culpability.
When a wealthy widow discovers her recently deceased husband owned a disturbing 8mm stag film, she hires surveillance expert Tom Welles (Cage) to investigate its origins. Obsessed in confirming whether the snuff film was real, Tom is drawn into the dark world of underground pornography. He soon learns others were involved in producing and funding the exploitation depicted.
Brutal yet contemplative, 8mm explores the ethics of viewership and accountability through Cage's gripping portrait of a man whose perceptions of morality become blurred.
9 - Searching (2018)
- Cast: John Cho (David Kim), Debra Messing (Detective Rosemary Vick), Joseph Lee (Margot Kim), Michelle La (Olivia Kim), Sara Sohn (Vicky Kim), Megan Liu (Emma Kim), Daniel Henney (Peter Kim), KiKim (Abby Ahn), Siya Chen (Christine Jang), Ruper Chung (Ryan Ahn)
- Director: Aneesh Chaganty
- Network: Screen Gems, Stage 6 Films, Bazelevs Company
- Premiere date: January 21, 2018 (Sundance)
- IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: PG-13
- Budget: $880,000
- Revenue: $75.5 million
- Run Time: 102 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Searching is a 2018 American mystery thriller film directed by Aneesh Chaganty in his feature debut. The inventive screenlife thriller stars John Cho as David Kim, a father desperately searching for his missing 16-year-old daughter Margot using her laptop and online activity. His digital manhunt provides clues to Margot's disappearance after a late night study group.
Told entirely through computer and smartphone screens, security footage, news reports and video calls, the film innovatively unfolds David's investigation completely through tech interfaces. As David interacts with Margot's contacts and peers through texts, social media and emails, he slowly unravels a complex puzzle revealing her secrets.
Suspenseful and timely, Searching subverts the traditional thriller format by conveying the story uniquely through device screens. It remains an influential experiment in crafting mysteries for the digital age.
10 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
- Cast: Daniel Craig (Mikael Blomkvist), Rooney Mara (Lisbeth Salander), Christopher Plummer (Henrik Vanger), Stellan Skarsgård (Martin Vanger), Steven Berkoff (Dirch Frode), Robin Wright (Erika Berger), Yorick van Wageningen (Bjurman), Joely Richardson (Anita Vanger), Geraldine James (Cecilia Vanger), Goran Visnjic (Armansky), Donald Sumpter (Detective Morell)
- Director: David Fincher
- Network: Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Scott Rudin Productions
- Premiere date: December 14, 2011
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Country: USA, Sweden
- Audience: R
- Budget: $90 million
- Revenue: $232.6 million
- Run Time: 158 minutes
- Languages: English, Swedish
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a 2011 neo-noir psychological thriller film based on the 2005 novel by Stieg Larsson. It is the second film adaptation of the Millennium series after the Swedish-produced version. Directed by David Fincher, it follows disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) who investigates the decades-old disappearance of a woman from a wealthy family, aided by mysterious computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara).
Through Lisbeth's expert hacking skills, the two uncover dark secrets about murder and abuse hidden within the family's history. Filmed with a cold muted palette, Fincher brings strong cinematic style to the twisted mystery rife with Nazis, serial killers and corrupt men. Mara earned acclaim for her fierce performance as reclusive outsider Lisbeth, delivering nuance and vulnerability beneath her punk hacker persona.
11 - Zodiac (2007)
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal (Robert Graysmith), Mark Ruffalo (David Toschi), Robert Downey Jr. (Paul Avery), Anthony Edwards (William Armstrong), Brian Cox (Melvin Belli), John Carroll Lynch (Arthur Leigh Allen), Richmond Arquette (Zodiac Killer), Bob Stephenson (Gil Carrero), John Lacy (Zodiac Killer), John Getz (Templeton Peck)
- Director: David Fincher
- Network: Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Phoenix Pictures
- Premiere date: March 2, 2007
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $65 million
- Revenue: $84.8 million
- Run Time: 157 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Zodiac is a 2007 American mystery thriller film directed by David Fincher and based on the novel of the same name by Robert Graysmith. The film chronicles the investigation into the notorious Zodiac Killer who terrified San Francisco Bay Area residents during the 1960s and 1970s. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as political cartoonist Robert Graysmith who becomes obsessed with cracking the case years after the trail goes cold.
Detailing the intricate investigations by detectives and journalists to identify the hooded serial killer, Zodiac examines the frictions between developing personal fixations and moving on. Stylishly crafted, the film remains faithful to the facts of the infamous unsolved crimes. An ensemble cast including Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. brings the exhaustive hunt for the killer to life through gripping dramatic performances.
12 - The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- Cast: Jodie Foster (Clarice Starling), Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter), Scott Glenn (Jack Crawford), Ted Levine (Jame Buffalo Bill Gumb), Anthony Heald (Frederick Chilton), Brooke Smith (Catherine Martin), Diane Baker (Alana Stevens), Roger Corman (FBI Director Hayden Burke), Frankie Faison (Barney Matthews), Paul Lazar (Pilot)
- Director: Jonathan Demme
- Network: Orion Pictures
- Premiere date: January 30, 1991
- IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $19 million
- Revenue: $272.7 million
- Run Time: 118 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American psychological horror film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. Adapted from the novel by Thomas Harris, it follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she interviews incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter seeking clues on another killer known as Buffalo Bill.
Hopkins delivers an iconic, bone-chilling performance as the brilliant but deranged Lecter, toying with Agent Starling in twisted mind games from his prison cell. Foster equally shines as the determined, perceptive investigator trying to establish a rapport with the manipulative psychopath to solve the case. Suspenseful and disturbing, the film examines dark human impulses through gripping cat-and-mouse exchanges. It swept the major categories at the Academy Awards, becoming only the third film to win Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Adapted Screenplay.
13 - Knives Out (2019)
- Cast: Daniel Craig (Benoit Blanc), Ana de Armas (Marta Cabrera), Chris Evans (Hugh Ransom Drysdale), Jamie Lee Curtis (Linda Drysdale), Michael Shannon (Walt Thrombey), Don Johnson (Richard Drysdale), Toni Collette (Joni Thrombey), Lakeith Stanfield (Detective Lt. Elliott), Katherine Langford (Meg Thrombey), Jaeden Martell (Jacob Thrombey)
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Network: Lionsgate, Media Rights Capital, T-Street
- Premiere date: September 7, 2019 (TIFF)
- IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: PG-13
- Budget: $40 million
- Revenue: $311.4 million
- Run Time: 130 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Knives Out is a 2019 American murder mystery film written, directed and produced by Rian Johnson. It follows a family gathering gone awry, after the sudden death of their wealthy patriarch Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). Enter quirky private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) who investigates Harlan's dysfunctional kin for clues.
With an all-star ensemble cast, Knives Out evokes old-fashioned whodunits with contemporary flair thanks to Johnson's imaginative, twisty screenplay. Tongue-in-cheek humor and social commentary add dimension while Craig shines as an eccentric sleuth channeling Agatha Christie's Poirot. The lavish set design and lush score complement the strong writing and performances.
14 - Gone Girl (2014)
- Cast: Ben Affleck (Nick Dunne), Rosamund Pike (Amy Dunne), Neil Patrick Harris (Desi Collings), Tyler Perry (Tanner Bolt), Carrie Coon (Margo Dunne), Kim Dickens (Detective Rhonda Boney), Patrick Fugit (Officer James Gilpin), Lisa Banes (Marybeth Elliott), Missi Pyle (Ellen Abbott), Emily Ratajkowski (Andie)
- Director: David Fincher
- Network: Regency Enterprises, TSG Entertainment
- Premiere date: September 26, 2014 (NYFF)
- IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $61 million
- Revenue: $369.3 million
- Run Time: 149 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Hulu
Gone Girl is a 2014 American psychological thriller directed by David Fincher, based on Gillian Flynn's 2012 novel. On his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) discovers his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) is mysteriously missing. As suspicions grow and secrets about their troubled marriage emerge, the ensuing investigation twists into a complex web of lies and deceit.
With a serpentine narrative full of cunning reversals, Gone Girl deconstructs the truth behind disappearance and domestic turmoil through wildly unreliable narrators. Dark humor surfaces amid the suburban façade, fame mongering media and haunting missed connections. As the vengeful Amy emerges as an iconic antiheroine, Fincher crafts a cynical modern mystery drama that leaves you questioning everything.
15 - The Girl on the Train (2016)
- Cast: Emily Blunt (Rachel Watson), Haley Bennett (Megan Hipwell), Rebecca Ferguson (Anna Watson), Justin Theroux (Tom Watson), Luke Evans (Scott Hipwell), Édgar Ramírez (Dr. Kamal Abdic), Laura Prepon (Cathy), Allison Janney (Detective Sgt. Riley), Lisa Kudrow (Martha), Lana Young (Elizabeth Watson/Lizzie)
- Director: Tate Taylor
- Network: DreamWorks Pictures, Reliance Entertainment
- Premiere date: October 4, 2016 (NYFF)
- IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $45 million
- Revenue: $173.2 million
- Run Time: 112 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
The Girl on the Train is a 2016 American mystery thriller film directed by Tate Taylor, adapted from the 2015 novel by Paula Hawkins. Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) is an alcoholic and divorcee who fixates on a seemingly perfect couple she observes from her commuter train. When the woman, Megan, goes missing, Rachel pretends to know more about the case to gain attention amid her own troubled life.
Though sloppily executed compared to the smash hit novel, Blunt's compelling performance elevates this pulpy Hitchcockian thriller exploring voyeurism and female rage churning beneath suburban ennui. Flashes of graphic violence and eroticism try to shock amid the convoluted plot twists. However, the film fails to capture the book's propulsive, sinister energy.
16 - The Gift (2015)
- Cast: Jason Bateman (Simon Callem), Rebecca Hall (Robyn Callem), Joel Edgerton (Gordo Moseley), Allison Tolman (Lucy), Busy Philipps (Duffy), Adam Lazarre-White (Greg), Beau Knapp (Detective Walker), Wendell Pierce (Shreve), Mirrah Foulkes (Woman), David Denman (Billy)
- Director: Joel Edgerton
- Network: Blue-Tongue Films, Blumhouse Productions, STX Entertainment
- Premiere date: August 7, 2015
- IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
- Country: USA, Australia
- Audience: R
- Budget: $5 million
- Revenue: $59 million
- Run Time: 108 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
The Gift is a 2015 American psychological thriller written, co-produced and directed by Joel Edgerton in his feature directorial debut. It stars Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall as a married couple who encounter an acquaintance from Simon's past named Gordo (Edgerton) who begins gifting the couple with increasingly disturbing presents.
Slow-burning dread sets in as the mysterious Gordo infiltrates the couple's social circle and intimacies, unraveling Simon's troubling secrets. Stylishly directed and filled with subtle tension, The Gift simmers with paranoia and moral ambiguity. Edgerton wrote the screenplay specifically to subvert expectations and challenge the typical heroic roles played by Bateman.
17 - The Invisible Guest (2016)
- Cast: Mario Casas (Adrián Doria), Ana Wagener (Virginia Goodman), Bárbara Lennie (Daniela), Francesc Orella (Félix Leiva), Josep Maria Riera (Manuel Leiva), San Yélamos (Inspector Laura Santos), Manel Dueso (Inspector Mario Conde), Paco Tous (Inspector Flores), David Selvas (Iago Hervás), Iván Massagué (Gabriel Sala)
- Director: Oriol Paulo
- Network: Nostromo Pictures, Atresmedia Cine
- Premiere date: 6 October 2016
- IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
- Country: Spain
- Audience: TV-MA
- Budget: $10 million
- Revenue: $25.6 million
- Run Time: 106 minutes
- Languages: Spanish
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
The Invisible Guest (Contratiempo) is a 2016 Spanish mystery thriller directed by Oriol Paulo. The complex plot follows a successful businessman Adrian (Mario Casas) who hires renowned defense attorney Virginia Goodman (Ana Wagener) to represent him for the murder of his lover, just one day before his trial. Through elaborate flashbacks and twists, Adrian recounts what happened the night in question.
This riveting Spanish-language thriller unfolds like an intricate game of cat-and-mouse, challenging viewers to outsmart the puzzle as new suspects and possibilities emerge. Tightly directed and anchored by an emotional performance by Casas, The Invisible Guest keeps the audience guessing right until the final moments with its ever-shifting narrative.
18 - Buster's Mal Heart (2016)
- Cast: Rami Malek (Jonah/Buster), DJ Qualls (Beaver), Kate Lyn Sheil (Marty), Sukha Belle Potter (Sarah), Toby Huss (Dave), Lin Shaye (Evelyn), Teresa Yenque (Rosa), Mark Kelly (Father), Jared Larson (Deputy Denton)
- Director: Sarah Adina Smith
- Network: Compound Eye Films
- Premiere date: September 9, 2016 (TIFF)
- IMDB Rating: 6.1/10
- Country: USA
- Run Time: 96 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Buster's Mal Heart is an American psychological thriller film written and directed by Sarah Adina Smith and starring Rami Malek, DJ Qualls, Kate Lyn Sheil and Toby Huss. Malek plays Jonah, a drifter pursued by authorities who begins suffering surreal visions and paranoia, adopting the identity of Buster.
Through disjointed timelines and bursts of strange imagery, the mystery unfolds around Jonah's past life as a family man and hotel night clerk. Trauma surrounding his former job triggered his withdrawal from society and mental break. Now living alone in mountain caves, haunted by conspiracy theories, Jonah awaits a reckoning he believes is imminent.
Darkly enigmatic and dreamlike, Buster's Mal Heart explores mental illness and identity through a fractured narrative and vulnerable performance by Malek.
19 - The Call (2013)
- Cast: Halle Berry (Jordan Turner), Abigail Breslin (Casey Welson), Morris Chestnut (Officer Paul Phillips), Michael Eklund (Michael Foster), David Otunga (Officer Jake Devans), Justina Machado (Rachel), José Zúñiga (Marco Romero), Michael Imperioli (Alan Denado), Ella Rae Peck (Autumn), Evie Thompson (Leah Templeton)
- Director: Brad Anderson
- Network: WWE Studios, Troika Pictures, TriStar Pictures
- Premiere date: March 15, 2013
- IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $13 million
- Revenue: $68.6 million
- Run Time: 94 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Netflix
The Call is a 2013 American psychological crime thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and starring Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin. Berry plays Jordan, a 911 operator who tries to save Casey (Breslin) after the teen is abducted and locked in a trunk. Flashbacks reveal how Jordan failed to protect a previous victim.
Interspersed with Jordan's frantic coordinating of the police search, The Call interweaves the two unfolding crimes for nail-biting suspense. As Jordan guides Casey through escape tactics, they form a fraught connection. Though somewhat implausible, the relentless peril showcases Berry's emotional performance as a resilient dispatcher haunted by past trauma.
20 - Fear Street: Part One - 1994 (2021)
- Cast: Kiana Madeira (Deena Johnson), Olivia Welch (Sam Fraser), Benjamin Flores Jr. (Josh Johnson), Ashley Zukerman (Sheriff Nick Goode), Fred Hechinger (Simon), Julia Rehwald (Kate), Jeremy Ford (Jordana), Darrell Britt-Gibson (Martin), Emily Brobst (Riley Flynn), Tia Dionne Hodge (Ziggy Johnson)
- Director: Leigh Janiak
- Network: 20th Century Studios, Chernin Entertainment
- Premiere date: July 2, 2021
- IMDB Rating: 6.2/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: TV-MA
- Run Time: 107 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Fear Street Part One: 1994 is a 2021 American teen slasher film directed by Leigh Janiak and based on the Fear Street books by R.L. Stine. Set in the town of Shadyside, a group of teens tries to solve the terrifying murder mystery and witch's curse that has plagued their town for centuries.
The first installment of a horror trilogy, Fear Street 1994 delivers bloody sequences of gore paying homage to the niche heyday of 90s teen slashers. Though predictable, it weaves humor and romance through the requisite violence and jump scares for an enjoyable slice of horror nostalgia. With youthful characters and a spooky small town backdrop, the film hooks viewers for the mystery looming in the next two parts.
21 - His House (2020)
- Cast: á¹¢á»páº¹Ì Dìrísù (Bol Majur), Wunmi Mosaku (Rial Majur), Matt Smith (Mark), Javier Botet (Apetayo), Emily Taaffe (Kelly), Cornell John (Baba), Aoife McArdle (Ellen), Dapo Adeola (Jaa), Billy Postlethwaite (Alex)
- Director: Remi Weekes
- Network: New Regency Pictures
- Premiere date: January 27, 2020 (Sundance)
- IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
- Country: UK
- Audience: TV-MA
- Run Time: 93 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
His House is a 2020 British horror film written and directed by Remi Weekes, starring á¹¢á»páº¹Ì Dìrísù, Wunmi Mosaku and Matt Smith in his first horror role. It follows a Sudanese couple who flee war to the UK but face paranormal horrors lurking in their new home.
Trauma, grief and survivor's guilt manifest as sinister apparitions in dilapidated house granted to the refugees. Drawing on real accounts from asylum seekers, His House explores the specters of the past haunting migrants struggling to assimilate in a new country. Bol and Rial's painful memories and reactions to bigotry become interwoven with supernatural forces neither can escape.
22 - I Am Mother (2019)
- Cast: Clara Rugaard (Daughter), Rose Byrne (Woman), Luke Hawker (Teenage Boy), Tahlia Sturzaker (Young Daughter), Leah de Niese (Young Woman), Essie Davis (Jane Crouch)
- Director: Grant Sputore
- Network: Penguin Empire, RAAF
- Premiere date: March 9, 2019 (SXSW)
- IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
- Country: Australia
- Audience: TV-MA
- Run Time: 114 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
I Am Mother is a 2019 Australian science fiction thriller film directed by Grant Sputore. In a post-apocalyptic bunker, a teenage girl (Clara Rugaard) has only ever known her protective robot Mother (Rose Byrne). Her existence is upended by the arrival of an injured woman (Hilary Swank) who reveals information that challenges everything the girl has been told.
The tightly contained dynamic between Mother, Daughter and Woman keeps tension simmering as their suspicions of each other grow. With dystopian dread and provocative themes on manufacturing life, I Am Mother asks thought-provoking questions through its restrained sci-fi premise. Carried by Clara Rugaard's breakout performance, it's an unnerving, philosophical robot parable exploring the complexities of maternal bonds.
23 - I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
- Cast: Jessie Buckley (Young Woman), Jesse Plemons (Jake), Toni Collette (Mother), David Thewlis (Janitor), Guy Boyd (Father), Hadley Robinson (Teenage Girl), Colby Minifie (Old Woman)
- Director: Charlie Kaufman
- Network: Netflix
- Premiere date: August 28, 2020 (Venice)
- IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Run Time: 134 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a 2020 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman. The film follows a young woman (Jessie Buckley) having second thoughts about her relationship with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons) as they take a surreal road trip to meet his parents on a secluded farm. Strange, paranoid encounters ensue that blur the lines between fantasy and reality.
Based on Iain Reid's novel, Kaufman's adaptation descends into an opaque, dreamlike portrait of a dissolving psyche by utilizing disjointed timelines, jarring visuals and dialogue. Buckley's trepidatious narration and vulnerability anchors the esoteric tone. Certain to confound, the film's ambitious themes on relationships, aging and identity behold a melancholic poignancy beneath the abstractions.
24 - Lost Girls (2020)
- Cast: Amy Ryan (Mari Gilbert), Thomasin McKenzie (Sherre Gilbert), Lola Kirke (Sarra Gilbert), Oona Laurence (Sherre Gilbert at 13), Dean Winters (Detective Bunch), Gabriel Byrne (Dr. Peter Hackett), Lori Tan Chinn (Eve), Mercedes Ruehl (Vivian), Kevin Corrigan (Stringer), Reed Birney (Commissioner Ellman)
- Director: Liz Garbus
- Network: Netflix
- Premiere date: January 25, 2020 (Sundance)
- IMDB Rating: 6.2/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Run Time: 95 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Lost Girls is a 2020 American mystery drama film directed by Liz Garbus, based on the book Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker. Amy Ryan stars as Mari Gilbert, a mother investigating the disappearance of her daughter Shannan in a case connected to the Long Island serial killer.
Determined to find answers when the police dismiss concerns, Mari's search for Shannan unravels a string of unsolved murders and exposes law enforcement neglect. Though an emotionally difficult TRUE story, Ryan's fierce performance captures one mother's unwavering crusade for justice and tragedy that could have been prevented. Lost Girls puts unimaginable anguish into perspective by highlighting the real people affected by crime.
25 - No One Gets Out Alive (2021)
- Cast: Cristina Rodlo (Ambar), Marc Menchaca (Red), David Figlioli (Alejandro), David Barrera (Vicente), Sandra Mae Frank (Ama), Roberto Montesinos (Father Quiñones), Sylvia Grace Crim (Mamá Delfina), Lorraine Toussaint (Señora Torres)
- Director: Santiago Menghini
- Network: New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Entertainment
- Premiere date: September 29, 2021 (Beyond Fest)
- IMDB Rating: 5.4/10
- Country: USA
- Run Time: 81 minutes
- Languages: English, Spanish
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
No One Gets Out Alive is a 2021 American supernatural horror film directed by Santiago Menghini, based on the novel by Adam Nevill. Ambar (Cristina Rodlo) is a young Mexican immigrant who takes room lodging in Cleveland but finds the house plagued by sinister forces.
Though predictable, the film delivers creepy paranormal scares surrounding the vulnerable heroine. Ambar struggles for survival when the doors refuse to open and she's increasingly haunted by a shape-shifting ghost with a tragic history of his own. Weaving immigration experiences and socioeconomic strife with menacing ghost story tropes, it succeeds most as a blunt horror about the dangers facing undocumented people.
26 - Oxygen (2021)
- Cast: Mélanie Laurent (Elizabeth Hansen), Mathieu Amalric (Leo Dickinson), Malik Zidi (Miloš)
- Director: Alexandre Aja
- Network: Netflix
- Premiere date: May 12, 2021
- IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
- Country: France, USA
- Audience: TV-MA
- Run Time: 101 minutes
- Languages: English, French
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Oxygen is a 2021 French science fiction thriller film directed by Alexandre Aja and starring Mélanie Laurent. It follows a woman (Laurent) who wakes up trapped inside a cryogenic pod with no memory and only 90 minutes of oxygen left. Fighting to remember her identity and figure out how to escape, clues about her fate ominously appear on screens inside her chamber.
Carried almost solo by Laurent, the minimalist premise remains taut and gripping as her panic rises along with the countdown clock. Though mainly confined to one set, stylish direction and coding details keep the mystery engrossing even as the plot convolutions multiply. Claustrophobic with an existential dread atmosphere, Oxygen is an inventive sci-fi whodunit and race against time.
27 - The Perfection (2018)
- Cast: Allison Williams (Charlotte Willmore), Logan Browning (Lizzie), Steven Weber (Anton), Alaina Huffman (Paloma), Milah Thompson (Young Charlotte), Molly Grace (Young Lizzie), Greta Titelman (Mama Willmore), Mark Kandborg (Papa Willmore)
- Director: Richard Shepard
- Network: Miramax, Blumhouse Productions
- Premiere date: August 24, 2018 (Fantastic Fest)
- IMDB Rating: 6.1/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: TV-MA
- Run Time: 90 minutes
- Languages: English, Mandarin
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
The Perfection is an American psychological horror thriller film directed by Richard Shepard, starring Allison Williams and Logan Browning. A former elite music student (Williams) reconnects with her former mentors, only to exact disturbing vengeance with the help of a younger star pupil (Browning).
As the intricate plot unfolds, nothing is as it seems between the two gifted musicians. Full of shocking twists and gory surprises, the eccentric story subverts expectations at every turn. Loaded with excess and camp, The Perfection takes audiences on a depraved rollercoaster through its twisted commentary on trauma.
28 - Things Heard and Seen (2021)
- Cast: Amanda Seyfried (Catherine Claire), James Norton (George Claire), Natalia Dyer (Willis Aitken), Alex Neustaedter (Eddie), Jack Gore (Cole Claire), F. Murray Abraham (Floyd DeBeers), Ana Sophia Heger (Young Catherine), Rhea Seehorn (Justine Sokol), Karen Allen (Delia)
- Director: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
- Network: Netflix
- Premiere date: April 29, 2021
- IMDB Rating: 5.3/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Run Time: 121 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Things Heard and Seen is an American supernatural horror film directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, based on the novel All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage. A Manhattan couple (Seyfried and Norton) moves to an isolated estate in Hudson Valley where sinister secrets about its history and supernatural forces threaten their marriage.
Though failing to fully deliver on the eerie Gothic novel premise, strong lead performances make the inconsistencies forgivable. Seyfried conveys emotion and unease as the young wife trapped in a web of spirits, madness and infidelity. Some cliched jump scares aside, an intriguing period atmosphere with modern relationship dynamics add nuance. However, the storytelling can't quite maintain the intrigue summoned early on.
29 - What Did Jack Do? (2017)
- Cast: David Lynch (Detective), Jack Cruz (Jack)
- Director: David Lynch
- Network: Netflix
- Premiere date: January 20, 2017 (Fondation Cartier)
- IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
- Country: USA
- Audience: TV-MA
- Run Time: 17 minutes
- Languages: English
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
What Did Jack Do? is a 2017 experimental short film written, directed by and starring David Lynch - his first project since the revival of Twin Peaks in 2017. The nonlinear story depicts a noir-style interrogation in which a detective (Lynch) tries to coerce a talking capuchin monkey named Jack Cruz into confessing to a murder.
Surreal and absurd, the cryptic mini film unravels through ominous exchanges and dreamlike visuals. Though elliptical in narrative, it contains Lynch's signature motifs of primal fears, dark humor and neo-noir camp. The absurd premise serves as a vehicle for the acclaimed director to further blur boundaries between reality and imagination through avant-garde techniques. Definitely non-commercial, What Did Jack Do? exemplifies Lynch's one-of-a-kind surrealist sensibilities distilled into a strange vignette.
DPM Top Picks
If we have to choose only three favorites, our top recommendations would be:
- Knives Out (2019) - A sharp, cleverly written murder mystery elevated by great performances from its star-studded cast. Its old-fashioned whodunit vibes with contemporary wit make it irresistibly entertaining.
- Zodiac (2007) - David Fincher's gripping dramatization of the infamous unsolved Zodiac Killer case features stunning visuals and acting that capture the obsessive, maddening hunt for the murderer's identity.
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - This iconic psychological thriller remains terrifying thanks to masterful suspense, two unforgettable lead performances and chilling dissection of evil. It raised both the horror and crime genres to new heights.
Final Verdict
The endless allure of detective stories stems from the exhilaration of following clues and trying to outpace fictional sleuths in solving puzzles. Netflix offers a strong selection of mystery films from nail-biting thrillers to lighter, madcap cases tailor-made for at-home detection.
Spanning eras and subgenres, the streaming service hosts engrossing tales of crimes and their aftermath from all over the world. Complex villains, dynamic investigators, red herrings, plot twists and more await viewers who love staying one step ahead of the shocking reveals.
Whether classic whodunits, bleak noir, clever comedies and innovative dramas, the catalog has engrossing stories to match your mystery preferences. So sharpen your deductive eye, get lost in the enigmas and clues and keep guessing until the end. The game's afoot!
FAQs
Q: Does Netflix have mystery series?
Yes, Netflix has many high-quality mystery TV series in addition to its selection of mystery movies. Some notable mystery series on Netflix include Sherlock, Dark, The Sinner, Mindhunter, Midnight Mass, Lost in Space, Ratched and Russian Doll among others.
Q: What is True Detective on Netflix?
True Detective is an acclaimed HBO anthology crime series created by Nic Pizzolatto. Each season features a new story and cast playing detectives trying to solve an intricate, unsettling crime. The first two seasons starring Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and Colin Farrell are currently available to stream on Netflix.
Q: What should I watch on Netflix for detective movies?
Some great detective movies to watch on Netflix include Knives Out, The Departed, Zodiac, Shutter Island, Murder Mystery, The Invisible Guest, The Call, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and many more in an extensive catalog.
Q: What is the most popular detective series on Netflix?
Currently one of Netflix's most popular detective series is the South Korean show Signal which follows detectives communicating via a mysterious radio across time to solve cold cases. Fans have praised its tight plotting and emotional storytelling.
Q: Are there any good detective comedy movies on Netflix?
Yes, Netflix has funny mystery-comedies like Murder Mystery starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, The Nice Guys with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe and The Pink Panther and The Pink Panther 2 featuring Steve Martin's Inspector Clouseau.