7 Great Mystery Movies Nobody Ever Talks About

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Recent movies like Wake Up Dead Man, The Housemaid, and continuing franchises such as Scream and Zootopia demonstrate that audiences still enjoy a good mystery. While some mysteries are modestly successful – think Don’t Worry Darling, The Girl on the Train, or Deep Water – or quietly excellent, truly great mystery films tend to endure. The 2000s, for example, gave us classics like Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, Memento, Identity, and Sherlock Holmes, all of which are still popular and frequently shared online today.

Films like Prisoners, Gone Girl, The Hateful Eight, and Knives Out all fit this trend. However, many other mystery films, even those that were initially popular, haven’t stood the test of time and are largely forgotten. It would be wonderful if they received renewed attention.

7) A Haunting in Venice

As a big fan of cinema, I really think Kenneth Branagh’s A Haunting in Venice didn’t get the praise it deserved. It smartly layered in a genuinely creepy, horror vibe on top of the classic mystery, which was a fun surprise. And visually, it’s stunning! Branagh used really inventive camera angles – it reminded me a bit of what he did with the first Thor movie, but in a much more subtle and effective way. It wasn’t distracting at all, just really helped to create a truly haunted atmosphere.

Kenneth Branagh’s Poirot films are more grounded and dramatic than movies like Knives Out. While they might not be quite as lighthearted and enjoyable, they’re well-made adaptations of classic stories. It’s uncertain if Branagh will continue making these films after Venice, but hopefully he’ll keep experimenting with the mystery genre if he does.

Stream A Haunting in Venice on Prime Video.

6) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo fits perfectly with his generally dark and atmospheric films, but it didn’t earn enough at the box office to launch the planned series of movies. While a follow-up, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, was eventually made, it was a weak imitation of Fincher’s style and lacked a compelling story.

The music, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – and starting with their powerful rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” – immediately pulls you into the movie’s dark, snowy setting and maintains a relentless grip. While it’s a very intense film, perhaps not ideal for the holidays, it’s arguably as overlooked as The Game, and stands as one of Fincher’s most underrated achievements.

Stream The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) on Peacock.

5) Doubt

While it might be a slow burn, Doubt is a truly compelling film. The performances are outstanding, especially considering the incredible cast – Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Meryl Streep. And Viola Davis delivers a scene that completely captivates the audience.

If you prefer mysteries with clear resolutions by the third act, this film isn’t a good fit. It deliberately leaves the central question unanswered, prompting viewers to continue thinking about it after the credits roll.

Stream Doubt on Hulu.

4) Crimson Peak

Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak is a beautiful and haunting romantic horror film with a captivating mystery. While it prioritizes atmosphere and visuals over a deeply complex plot, its stunning artistry makes it a worthwhile watch.

The story is engaging and will keep you interested. While the ending might not be a huge surprise, the film is still enjoyable because it beautifully captures the atmosphere of classic gothic horror. Plus, the movie showcases the fantastic chemistry between Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska, and really highlights Jessica Chastain’s incredible talent.

3) Side Effects

Featuring Rooney Mara for the second time on our list, Side Effects is a film directed by Steven Soderbergh that came out between 2011 and 2013. It’s likely his most overlooked work from that period, with Haywire being the only other film that comes close to being as underrated.

From the very beginning, Side Effects is a gripping film. It’s equally a study of what happens when doctors make mistakes and a suspenseful murder mystery. The intense challenges faced by Jude Law’s character keep the tension high throughout the entire movie.

Stream Side Effects on Prime Video.

2) Blow Out

While Brian De Palma is known for many films, Blow Out doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Most people immediately think of Scarface when they talk about his work, but Blow Out is actually his masterpiece.

Brian De Palma consistently delivered compelling mysteries throughout the 1980s, often paying homage to Alfred Hitchcock. His early films clearly showed this influence: Dressed to Kill borrowed heavily from Psycho, Blow Out was his spin on Rear Window, and Body Double offered an erotic take on both Vertigo and Dial M for Murder (with a bit of Rear Window thrown in as well). However, Blow Out is widely considered his masterpiece, a thrilling reimagining of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation that ratchets up the suspense even further.

Stream Blow Out for free with ads on The Roku Channel.

1) Brick

While Rian Johnson is known for directing the film Star Wars: The Last Jedi, he truly excels at crafting mysteries. Before creating the Knives Out films and the series Poker Face, he began his career with a smaller, intriguing mystery called Brick.

Imagine Raymond Chandler’s The Long Goodbye reimagined in a high school setting. This story blends the sharp, classic style of noir fiction with the casual, witty language of today’s teens. It’s a mix of a drug-related gang war, the emotional feel of a movie like 10 Things I Hate About You (with Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and a mystery surrounding an ex-girlfriend’s death. Remarkably, it all comes together to create something epic, especially considering it was made with a budget of only $450,000.

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2025-12-26 02:11