Who doesn’t like a really good mystery movie? This genre will never get old as it is not only exciting but also engaging. While some of them might be comical, others are quite serious. TechTrends made a list of the best Mystery movies of all time, in the last three decades, that you do not want to miss.
A lot of mystery movies are released every day from different parts of the world but we have put together the very best must-see mystery movies ever. These kinds of movies will be like an exercise for the brain as you try to solve it by yourselves or want to get the pieces of the puzzle together. People love to see movies that make them puzzled, horrified or confused sometimes as long as they feel thrilled at the end of the movie. From the black and white age to modern mystery films like Knives Out, this genre is cunning and entertaining. There is something in this genre that makes it comforting in a strange way, like classic mystery films such as Rear Window by Hitchcock. Without further ado, let’s get to the list of the best mystery movies ever made, ranked by their ratings on IMDb.
Best Mystery Movies of All Time
What makes mystery movies more entertaining and engaging than other genres might be that we all would play armchair detectives, trying to solve the mystery before it is revealed. Moreover, people are at the edge of their seats while watching the turns and twists of the plot. Here are the best Mystery films ever made.
13. Enola Holmes 2020
- Genre: Mystery/Crime
- Director: Harry Bradbeer
- Stars: Henry Cavill, Millie Bobby Brown, Louis Partridge, Sam Claflin, Helena Bonham Carter, Fiona Shaw
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 91%, IMDb 6.6
One of the best mystery movies of all time is Enola Holmes, which was quite a hit. The movie is set in England in 1884, showing a world that is on the brink of change. It mostly revolves around Millie Bobby Brown’s character, the 16-year-old Enola, when she comes under the care of her brothers Sherlock, played by Henry Cavill, and Mycroft, portrayed by Sam Claflin. It is after her mother disappears. Enola does not accept to adhere to the rules of her brothers, and she escapes to find her mother. Brown performs impressively, and Cavill is charming in portraying the legendary detective, notwithstanding the fact that he doesn’t do much in the movie.
Read more: Best Henry Cavill Movies of All Time
12. A Simple Favor 2018
- Genre: Mystery/Comedy
- Director: Paul Feig
- Stars: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Linda Cardellini, Rupert Friend
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 84%, IMDb 6.8
The movie A Simple Favor is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Darcey Bell, where Anna Kendrick portrays the role of Stephanie. She is a mom and vlogger in a small town, and she becomes friends with Emily, played by Blake Lively. When the glamorous Emily goes missing, Stephanie does her best to solve the case and goes into the world of mystery and crime. However, that world is way over her head. Then, Emily’s drowned body is found, and Stephanie goes and finds her history of Emily and what happened in her life. She finds some secrets from her past, and the story becomes so engaging and entertaining. A Simple Favor is among the best mystery movies of all time.
Read more: Best Blake Lively Movies of All Time
11. Brick 2005
- Genre: Mystery/Drama
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tracy Bitterolf, Noah Segan, Nora Zehetner, Emilie de Ravin
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 80%, IMDb 7.2
The tenth one on the list of the best mystery films ever made is Brick, which tells the tale of a high school student who turns to be a detective. His name is Brendan and his role is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He gets a phone call from his former girlfriend who is terrified. Brendan follows the footsteps and clues in a neighborhood in California to find where Emily is and solve the case. The film is directed by Rian Johnson, who also directed the hit Knives Out in 2019.
10. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery 2022
- Genre: Mystery/Crime
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Star: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr.
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 92%, IMDb 7.2
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery makes the puzzle-crazy spirit of the first movie come out and that one was also written and directed by Rian Johnson. Fans of the first movie were keen on getting a sequel with a twist and Rian Johnson delivered exactly that. Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, gets an invitation to a murder mystery party that Miles Bron, portrayed by Edward Norton, is hosting. The party is held on a private island in Greece and Miles is a tech billionaire looking for some fun with his friends. It all begins with Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, the detective whose skills are phenomenal. Not to mention the novelty of James Bond voicing like a southern gentleman not wearing off yet. We highly recommend this as one of the best mystery movies of all time. You do not want to miss it.
9. Sherlock Holmes 2009
- Genre: Mystery
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Kelly Reilly
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 69%, IMDb 7.6
The movie Sherlock Holmes is set in 1890 when the eccentric detective Holmes and Watson, his partner, are asked to stop a mythicist’s plot of using supernatural means to expand the British Empire. Robert Downey Jr. has very amazing chemistry with Law. Moreover, he adds cunning, quick-wit, and scruffy toughness to the character, which makes this one of the best mystery movies of all time.
For his role in Sherlock Holmes, Downey won a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. In addition, he won the IFTA award for Best International Actor. The movie was also a success at the box office, with $62.4 million on its first weekend. In 2011, there was a sequel movie named Sherlock Holmes; A Game of Shadows.
Read more: Best Robert Downey Jr. Movies of All Time
8. Zodiac 2007
- Genre: Mystery
- Director: David Fincher
- Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Chloë Sevigny, John Carroll Lynch, Brian Cox, Dermot Mulroney
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 89%, IMDb 7.7
One of the best mystery films of all time is Zodiac, directed by David Fincher. The movie tells the story of fear pervading San Francisco in the 1960s and early 1970s when a serial killer with the name of Zodiac was terrorizing the people in the city. Investigators and journalists became dedicated to find out who this murderer is and bring him to punishment. While they are doing that, Zodiac keeps taking victims, tormenting police with messages and clothes soaked with blood as well as newspaper ciphers.
Robert Downey Jr. plays the role of Paul Avery, who is a real-life journalist of the same name. When he gets a letter that threatens his life, he becomes paranoid and starts taking drugs and alcohol to an addiction level. Moreover, other MCU star actors like Mark Ruffalo, Hulk, and Jake Gyllenhaal, Mysterio, also feature in the movie. Therefore, it is a rare treat for the fans who really want to watch these actors together but not in an MCU movie.
Read more: Best Mark Ruffalo Movies of All Time
7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 2011
- Genre: Mystery/Thriller
- Director: David Fincher
- Stars: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Stellan Skarsgård, Michael Nyqvist, Robin Wright
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 86%, IMDb 7.8
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is yet another one of the best Mystery movies of all time and it revolves around Daniel Craig’s Mikael Blomkvist. He is a journalist and his career is on the rocks in this mystery/thriller. He gets the help of a computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander, played by Rooney Mara, and he wants to solve the killing of a rich girl who went missing 40 years ago. According to the girl’s uncle, she was killed by one of the family members and he wants Mikael to help him find the answers he is looking for.
6. Knives Out 2019
- Genre: Mystery/Crime
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Stars: Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Daniel Craig, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 97%, IMDb 7.9
The movie Knives Out is quite interesting and it revolves around the story of a family after the death of their grandfather, who was a mystery novelist, Harlan Thrombey. He gives all his belongings to her nurse, played by Ana de Armas. Chris Evans played the role of Ransom Drysdale, the bratty grandson of Thrombey, played by Christopher Plummer. He gets murdered in his home. Evans’ character holds a grudge against his grandfather as he cut out him of the will. However, it is not just him, as he loathes everyone in his family. This is one of the best mystery movies of all time.
5. Gone Girl 2014
- Genre: Thriller/Mystery
- Director: David Fincher
- Star: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Tyler Perry, Neil Patrick Harris, Carrie Coon, Emily Ratajkowski, Kim Dickens,
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 87%, IMDb 8.1
The movie Gone Girl was directed by David Fincher, the father of crime/thriller movies. It is an adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s novel that has the same name. The story revolves around Nick Dunne, played by Ben Affleck, who turns out to be the lead suspect in the missing case of his wife. The female star is Rosamund Pike, playing Amy Dunne, Nick’s wife. The husband has to prove his innocence before it is too late. Affleck’s character underwent immense pressure and emotional turmoil. The movie is quite surprising and unpredictable as a modern thriller. Gone Girl is indeed one of the best mystery movies of all time.
4. Shutter Island 2010
- Genre: Thriller/Mystery
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 68%, IMDb 8.2
Shutter Island is another one of the most amazing and best mystery movies ever made in which Leonardo DiCaprio collaborated with Martin Scorsese. Moreover, he performs as a US Marshal, Teddy Daniels, investigating a murderer’s disappearance. The woman escaped the criminally insane hospital. While he goes deeper into his operation in the asylum, he realizes he is losing his grasp on reality. There are a lot of disturbing imagery and lingering dread in the movie, but Scorsese was incredible and had DiCaprio lead an earnest performance.
Read more: Best Leonardo DiCaprio Movies of All Time
3. Memento 2000
- Genre: Mystery/Thriller
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Stars: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Jorja Fox, Stephen Tobolowsky
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 93%, IMDb 8.4
Memento is one of the greatest mystery movies ever and is directed by Christopher Nolan, who is famous for his interest in the concept of time. Not only does this movie show the director’s fascination, but it also blends it with a murder mystery case. Leonard Shelby is trying to find the person who killed his wife and his short-term memory loss makes it all more difficult. However, it is the use of time in this movie that makes it far more interesting that many other mystery films out there. Therefore, Memento is one of the best mystery movies of all time.
2. Silence of the Lambs 1991
- Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Horror
- Director: Jonathan Demme
- Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Ted Levine, Frank Seals Jr., Brooke Smith
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 95%, IMDb 8.6
By far one of the best mystery movies of all time is The Silence of the Lambs, where Anthony Hopkins plays Dr. Hannibal Lector. He plays alongside Jodie Foster in this film that is one of the greatest movies ever. The two actors won their first Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Actress for this movie and their performance. In addition, the movie won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Clarice Starling, played by Foster, is a top student at the training academy of the FBI. She has to interview Dr. Hannibal Lector, who is a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath. In addition, he is behind bars as he committed acts of murder and cannibalism. Starling is believed to be able to draw Lector out to give an insight into a case.
1. Se7en 1995
- Genre: Crime/Mystery
- Director: David Fincher
- Stars: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 82%, IMDb 8.6
One of the best mystery movies of all time is Seven directed by David Fincher. The movie shows a classic young buck who becomes a partner of a veteran who is on the verge of retiring. Brad Pitt plays the role of a hardheaded rookie who has recently joined the homicide department as a detective. He then starts to track a serial killer who is obsessed with the seven deadly sins with the help of Somerset (Morgan Freeman). The two come across horrors that even Somerset, with that level of experience, has never faced. The end climax is indeed one of Pitt’s most dramatic and greatest performances, masterfully showing what one might feel like in such a situation.
Read more: Best Morgan Freeman Movies of All Time