With each passing year, detective movie plots become increasingly intricate and complex, leaving viewers to rack their brains to figure out the solution on their own. But isn’t that the charm of the genre? We’ve rounded up the best mystery stories of recent years, all of which are already available to stream on Netflix.
Knives Out: Glass Onion (2022)
The sequel to the instant cult classic Knives Out, featuring Daniel Craig as the eccentric detective Benoit Blanc. This time, Blanc, bored and yearning for work, is drawn into the elaborate game of tech billionaire Miles Bron, who invites Blanc and a group of his friends to a private Greek island. They are tasked with solving the "murder" of the mansion's owner—until things take a drastic turn when a real murder occurs on the island.
Enola Holmes (2020)
A fresh take on the story of the world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes, focusing on his sister, Enola, who proves to be just as clever as her brother. Based on Nancy Springer's book series, the film and its sequel, Enola Holmes 2, follow Enola as she tackles cases on her own—first searching for her missing mother and then uncovering the mystery of a strange illness spreading through a match factory. Starring Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown in the lead role.
The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
A gothic thriller set in the 1830s at the U.S. Military Academy, where retired constable Augustus Landor goes undercover to investigate a series of mysterious murders. Upon the film's release, viewers flooded the internet with praise, noting that Christian Bale, in the lead role, brought yet another Sherlock Holmes-esque figure to life. His unofficial "Dr. Watson" in this case? Cadet Edgar Allan Poe, played by Harry Melling.
A Simple Favor (2018)
This stylish dark comedy by Paul Feig, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, quickly became a cult classic of the genre—and it’s no surprise that a sequel is already in the works. The story follows Stephanie and Emily, two friends with wildly different lifestyles. One day, Emily asks Stephanie to babysit her son, only to vanish without a trace. Stephanie must now rely on her skills as a dedicated mom-blogger to unravel the mystery of her friend's disappearance.
Murder Mystery (2019)
A detective comedy that reunites a fan-favorite acting duo—Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston—as a classic married couple who've been together so long they can barely tolerate each other. Things take a wild turn when Nick and Audrey are accused of murder. From then on, the two must work together, setting aside their personal issues, to find the real culprit.
