Summary
- Murder mystery movies have a rich history, with early pioneers like Sherlock Holmes and Edgar Allen Poe paving the way for the genre's enduring popularity.
- Alfred Hitchcock's influence on murder mystery movies is undeniable, but the genre has continued to thrive in every decade with evolving forms and styles.
- There is always a demand for gripping and shocking murder mystery movies, as evident by the consistent popularity of the genre and the abundance of worthwhile options available to fans.
A murder mystery movie night is perfect for cozy nights in, and it is one of Hollywood's most enduring genres. Arthur Conan Doyle with Sherlock Holmes and Edgar Allen Poe with his dark gothic fiction are considered two of the earliest titans in the mystery genre. In fact, Sherlock Holmes was one of the first literary characters adapted to the screen in the 1900 silent short, Sherlock Holmes Baffled. From that point, movies and mystery were intrinsically linked. Perry Mason, Nancy Drew, adaptations of Agatha Christie's novels, and more followed. There would be no stemming the appetite film fans would have for the genre.
Then came Alfred Hitchcock, "The Master of Suspense", where the murder mystery movie may have reached its apex, but that did not stop the proliferation of those types of movies. Every decade has multiple examples of consummate murder mystery filmmaking even if the form changes. It's no coincidence, for example, that even in the early 2010s when the genre appeared to wane, true-crime podcasts like Serial began to overtake the culture. Murder mystery has always been in demand and murder mystery movie fans do not have to look hard to find something worthwhile. Gripping, tense, surprising, and shocking, the best murder mystery movies have it all.
37 Murder Mystery (2019)
Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler team up.
As his career has developed, Adam Sandler has gone beyond baby-talk characters and focused on protagonists with a little more depth. In Netflix's Murder Mystery, Sandler delves into the comedy thriller alongside Jennifer Aniston. To rekindle their marriage, Nick and Audrey Spitz (Sandler and Aniston) go on a European vacation. Along the way, they're framed for the death of an elderly billionaire. Now on the run, the married couple must clear their name and solve the mystery behind the man's death.
36 The Mirror Crack'd (1980)
Angela Lansbury's first time as Miss Marple.
Each of the Miss Marple films has a claim to being the best adaptation, but all things considered, few can outshine The Mirror Crack'd. Starring Angela Lansbury as the definitive Miss Marple, the movie revolves around the lethal intoxication of a local English woman. Marple is summoned to investigate the death, which she quickly deduces was meant for a movie star in attendance at the house. The movie marks the first time Lansbury would play the iconic Miss Marple.
35 Death On The Nile (2022)
Branagh's second stab at Agatha Christie.
The second adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel, Death on the Nile once again sees Kenneth Branagh in the director's chair and the starring role as the heavily mustached Hercule Poirot. While the story and pacing can sometimes feel old-fashioned, the ensemble cast and excellent production design enliven the film.
34 Murder On The Orient Express (2017)
Kenneth Branagh does Agatha Christie.
Murder on the Orient Express
Cast
Michael Pena
Michelle Pfeiffer
Penelope Cruz
- Release Date
- November 10, 2017
Branagh reinvigorated Agatha Christie and the murder mystery movie genre when he adapted Murder on the Orient Express in 2017. The story generally follows the plot of the novel as Detective Poirot investigates a murder on the titular train. Respectful of the source material, well-cast, and stylish, Murder on the Orient Express is a welcome addition to Agatha Christie's list of movie adaptations even if Branagh doesn't bring anything new to the tale.
33 See How They Run (2022)
Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell co-star in this whodunnit.
Though See How They Run is not based on an Agatha Christie novel, the author and her book The Mousetrap figure heavily into the plot. When a theater troupe prepares to put on a play version of the novel, one of the leads is murdered, and Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and his assistant Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) are on the case. See How They Run is smart, original, and darkly funny with standout performances from mismatched partners Rockwell and Ronan.
32 Happy Death Day (2017)
A horror-tinged Groundhog's Day.
Happy Death Day
Cast
Jessica Rothe
Israel Broussard
Ruby Modine-
Rachel Matthews
- Release Date
- October 13, 2017
A lot goes on in Happy Death Day. First, the main character, Tree, is murdered during the first few minutes of the film. Then, in Groundhog Day fashion, she wakes up in her bed and starts the same day over again. Along the way, she gathers clues to determine who the killer is behind the babyface mask. In the end, Happy Death Day is a combination of genres including horror, slasher film, science fiction, and comedy. There's also romance and a good deal of college dorm satire. Like Groundhog Day, Tree's personality improves as she relives each horrible day.
31 Evil Under The Sun (1982)
The second Agatha Christie adaptation starring Peter Ustinov.
In Evil Under the Sun, an adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1941 novel, Peter Ustinov once again plays Detective Poirot. While working on a diamond case for an insurance company, Poirot hears that a disliked actor dies on her honeymoon in the Adriatic Sea, and he realizes his cases may be related. The film offers an escapist fantasy in the sun-drenched Mediterranean setting, and the opening and closing 15 minutes of the film are particularly entertaining.
30 A Haunting In Venice (2023)
Kenneth Branagh's original take on an Agatha Christie classic.
The third film in Branagh's series of Agatha Christie adaptations, A Haunting in Venice is his first that is not a direct adaptation and instead takes inspiration from Christie's Hallowe'en Party. This movie sees Poirot retired in the eponymous city when he reluctantly participates in a séance only to be witness to a murder that is only the start of the mystery, as many characters die in A Haunting in Venice. It's the best of Branagh's three Christie films in large part because of the sinister and supernatural elements that make this a more colorful and exciting mystery than previous outings.
29 Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
A prequel take on the Sherlock Holmes story.
Young Sherlock Holmes, as the title implies, depicts the early life of Detective Holmes (Nicholas Rowe) and John Watson (Alan Cox), tracing their first meeting to their solving of a mysterious case at their boarding school. Young Sherlock Holmes owes as much to Steven Spielberg and Indiana Jones as it does to Arthur Conan Doyle as a rollicking adventure with an intriguing mystery at the center. It's also notable for having the first completely CGI character in a movie.
28 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr.'s black buddy comedy.
Robert Downey Jr. returned to the big screen in 2005 in the postmodern noir Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Downey plays Harry Lockhart, a thief who is mistakenly recognized as an actor. As a result, he's sent to Hollywood to work on a movie mystery, and he partners with private investigator Perry (Val Kilmer) for experience. While working with him, Lockhart gets involved in a mystery involving his childhood crush, Harmony (Michelle Monaghan). When found, things quickly unwind into laughs mixed with humor and murder.
