Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc on the set of 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.'
Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc on the set of 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.' Photo: Courtesy of John Wilson/Netflix © 2022.

Everyone loves a good mystery, right?

The rise in the genre's popularity is a result of box office successes like Kenneth Branagh's Hercule Poirot series, including 'Murder on the Orient Express' and 'Death on the Nile,' and director Rian Johnson's 'Knives Out,' and its new sequel, 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,' which is currently in theaters and premieres on Netflix December 23rd.

In honor of 'Glass Onion's release, Moviefone is counting down the 25 greatest mystery movies of all time!

Without further ado, grab your detective hat and let's begin!


25. Mystic River (2003)

The lives of three men (Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon) who were childhood friends are shattered when one of them has a family tragedy.
Mystic River
Mystic River
"We bury our sins, we wash them clean."
77
Audience
Release Oct 15, 2003Runtime 2h 18mBudget $25M

24. Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

Lake Tahoe, 1969. Seven strangers, each one with a secret to bury, meet at El Royale, a decadent motel with a dark past. In the course of a fateful night, everyone will have one last shot at redemption. Starring Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, and Chris Hemsworth.

Bad Times at the El Royale
Bad Times at the El Royale
"Seven strangers. Seven secrets. All roads lead here."
68
Audience
Release Oct 12, 2018Runtime 2h 21mBudget $32M

23. Death on the Nile (2022)

Based on the 1937 novel by Agatha Christie, “Death on the Nile” is a daring mystery-thriller about the emotional chaos and deadly consequences triggered by obsessive love. Kenneth Branagh, back as the iconic detective Hercule Poirot, is joined by Tom Bateman, four-time Oscar® nominee Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright.

Death on the Nile
Death on the Nile
"Murder was just the beginning."
64
Audience
70
Review
Release Feb 11, 2022Runtime 2h 7mBudget $90M

22. Murder Mystery (2019)

On a long-awaited trip to Europe, a New York City cop (Adam Sandler) and his hairdresser wife (Jennifer Aniston) scramble to solve a baffling murder aboard a billionaire's yacht.

Murder Mystery
Murder Mystery
"First class problems. Second class detectives."
63
Audience
Release Jun 14, 2019Runtime 1h 38mBudget $24M

21. Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy (Justice Smith) comes across an intelligent monster (Ryan Reynolds) who seeks to be a detective.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
"Partner up!"
69
Audience
Release May 10, 2019Runtime 1h 45mBudget $150M

20. Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures

Eccentric consulting detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Doctor John Watson (Jude Law) battle to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy England.

Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
"Nothing escapes him."
72
Audience
Release Dec 25, 2009Runtime 2h 9mBudget $90M

19. What Lies Beneath (2000)

When Claire Spencer (Michelle Pfeiffer) starts hearing ghostly voices and seeing spooky images, she wonders if an otherworldly spirit is trying to contact her. All the while, her husband (Harrison Ford) tries to reassure her by telling her it's all in her head. But as Claire investigates, she discovers that the man she loves might know more than he's letting on.

What Lies Beneath
What Lies Beneath
"He was the perfect husband until his one mistake followed them home."
64
Audience
Release Jul 21, 2000Runtime 2h 10mBudget $100M

18. A Simple Favor (2018)

Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a dedicated mother and popular vlogger, befriends Emily (Blake Lively), a mysterious upper-class woman whose son Nicky attends the same school as Miles, Stephanie's son. When Emily asks her to pick Nicky up from school and then disappears, Stephanie undertakes an investigation that will dive deep into Emily's cloudy past.

A Simple Favor
A Simple Favor
"Can you keep a secret?"
66
Audience
Release Sep 14, 2018Runtime 1h 57mBudget $20M

17. Prisoners (2013)

Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) faces a parent's worst nightmare when his 6-year-old daughter, Anna (Erin Gerasimovich), and her friend go missing. The only lead is an old motorhome that had been parked on their street. The head of the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), arrests the driver, but a lack of evidence forces Loki to release his only suspect. Dover, knowing that his daughter's life is at stake, decides that he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

Prisoners
Prisoners
"How far would you go to protect your child?"
81
Audience
Release Sep 20, 2013Runtime 2h 33mBudget $46M

16. Charade (1963)

After Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn) falls for the dashing Peter Joshua (Cary Grant) on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, she discovers upon her return to Paris that her husband has been murdered. Soon, she and Peter are giving chase to three of her late husband's World War II cronies, Tex (James Coburn), Scobie (George Kennedy) and Gideon (Ned Glass), who are after a quarter of a million dollars the quartet stole while behind enemy lines. But why does Peter keep changing his name?

Charade
Charade
"Is anyone really who they seem to be?"
77
Audience
Release Dec 5, 1963Runtime 1h 53mBudget $4M

15. Shutter Island (2010)

Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures

World War II soldier-turned-U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigates the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane, but his efforts are compromised by troubling visions and a mysterious doctor (Ben Kingsley).
Shutter Island
Shutter Island
"Someone is missing."
82
Audience
Release Feb 18, 2010Runtime 2h 18mBudget $80M

14. Gosford Park (2002)

Directed by Robert Altman, in 1930’s England, a group of pretentious rich and famous gather together for a weekend of relaxation at a hunting resort. But when a murder occurs, each one of these interesting characters becomes a suspect.

Gosford Park
Gosford Park
"Tea at four. Dinner at eight. Murder at midnight."
68
Audience
Release Jan 18, 2002Runtime 2h 17mBudget $19.8M

13. The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

Kermit and Fozzie are newspaper reporters sent to London to interview Lady Holiday (Diana Rigg), a wealthy fashion designer whose priceless diamond necklace is stolen. Kermit meets and falls in love with her secretary, Miss Piggy. The jewel thieves strike again, and this time frame Miss Piggy. It's up to Kermit and Muppets to bring the real culprits to justice.

The Great Muppet Caper
The Great Muppet Caper
"The Muppets... Scotland Yard... jewel thieves... lead to high adventure in London."
69
Audience
Release Jun 26, 1981Runtime 1h 37mBudget $14M

12. Gone Girl (2014)

With his wife's (Rosamund Pike) disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man (Ben Affleck) sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.

Gone Girl
Gone Girl
"You don't know what you've got 'til it's..."
79
Audience
Release Oct 3, 2014Runtime 2h 29mBudget $61M

11. Laura (1944)

A police detective (Dana Andrews) falls in love with the woman (Gene Tierney) whose murder he's investigating.

Laura
Laura
"The story of a love that became the most fearful thing that ever happened to a woman!"
76
Audience
Release Oct 11, 1944Runtime 1h 28mBudget $1M

10. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox

Genius Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) investigates the murder of an American tycoon aboard the Orient Express train.

Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express
"Everyone is a suspect."
67
Audience
Release Nov 10, 2017Runtime 1h 54mBudget $55M

9. The Nice Guys (2016)

A private eye (Ryan Gosling) and a thug (Russell Crowe) investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.

The Nice Guys
The Nice Guys
"They're not that nice."
71
Audience
Release May 20, 2016Runtime 1h 56mBudget $50M

8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

This English-language adaptation of the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson follows a disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), as he investigates the disappearance of a weary patriarch's niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
"What is hidden in snow, comes forth in the thaw."
74
Audience
Release Dec 21, 2011Runtime 2h 38mBudget $90M

7. Se7en (1995)

Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer (Kevin Spacey) whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Sommerset (Morgan Freeman) researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer's mind, while his novice partner, Mills (Brad Pitt), scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.

Se7en
Se7en
"Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Envy. Wrath. Pride. Lust."
84
Audience
Release Sep 22, 1995Runtime 2h 7mBudget $33M

6. Memento (2001)

Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife's killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.

Memento
Memento
"Some memories are best forgotten."
82
Audience
Release May 25, 2001Runtime 1h 53mBudget $9M

5. Brick (2006)

Focus Features
Focus Features

A teenage loner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend (Emilie de Ravin).

Brick
Brick
"A detective story."
68
Audience
Release Mar 31, 2006Runtime 1h 50mBudget $475,000

4. Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

In 1935, when his train is stopped by deep snow, detective Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) is called on to solve a murder that occurred in his car the night before.
Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express
"The who's who in the whodunnit!"
71
Audience
Release Nov 24, 1974Runtime 2h 8mBudget $1.4M

3. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

A petty thief (Robert Downey Jr.) posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who's been training him for his upcoming role...

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
"Sex. Murder. Mystery. Welcome to the party."
72
Audience
Release Nov 11, 2005Runtime 1h 43mBudget $15M

2. Knives Out (2019)

When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.

Knives Out
Knives Out
"Hell, any of them could have done it."
78
Audience
Release Nov 27, 2019Runtime 2h 11mBudget $40M

1. Clue (1985)

Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures

Clue finds six colorful dinner guests (Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren) gathered at the mansion of their host, Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving) -- who turns up dead after his secret is exposed: He was blackmailing all of them. With the killer among them, the guests and Boddy's chatty butler (Tim Curry) must suss out the culprit before the body count rises.

Clue
Clue
"It's not just a game anymore."
72
Audience
Release Dec 13, 1985Runtime 1h 34mBudget $15M