Summary
- Enola Holmes, Glass Onion, and Where the Crawdads Sing are among the best mystery movies currently available on Netflix, providing engaging narratives and strong performances.
- The Nice Guys and Don’t Worry Darling offer unique takes on the mystery genre, blending elements of comedy and suspense to create compelling stories.
- Prisoners, Reptile, Wind River, and State of Play showcase top-notch casts and well-crafted narratives, delivering captivating mysteries that keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Netflix has always been loaded with engaging mystery movies, but these are the best 10 the streaming giant currently has to offer. Mystery movies have always been an exciting form of film, gifting audiences some of the most riveting, suspenseful, and thought-provoking films ever made. Mysteries come in many shapes and sizes, but the best mystery movies truly challenge the audience, not only to understand the narrative, but to change the way it thinks in some way as well.
Not every mystery movie is able to accomplish that. Simply crafting a good narrative and finding a good cast can lead to success for a mystery film, but the best of the best are worth more than just an engaging story. Netflix’s revolving door of mystery films always keeps the streaming service stocked with films that both provide entertainment and challenge viewers, and these 10 films are the best Netflix currently has to offer in that esteemed category.
10 Enola Holmes
Millie Bobby Brown’s Enola Holmes is a joy to watch as she brings the little sister of Sherlock Holmes to the big screen in this Netflix original film. Enola Holmes is a highly engaging, light-hearted mystery story that follows Enola’s search for her mother and her quest to stop the progression of a British reform bill that would restrict women’s rights in the country. Enola Holmes has enjoyed generally positive reviews from audiences, leading to a sequel, Enola Holmes 2. The narrative and performances in Enola Holmes make it one of the best mystery movies Netflix currently has available.
9 Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is the sequel to Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, and it’s definitely one of the best mystery movies on Netflix. Starring Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc, Glass Onion follows the tech billionaire, Miles Bron (Edward Norton), and his closest friends as they seek to solve Bron’s murder mystery game on his private island. This Academy Award nominated film received widespread critical acclaim and has enjoyed a positive reception from audiences as well, making it a worthy entry on the list of Netflix’s best mystery movies.
8 Where The Crawdads Sing
Where the Crawdads Sing is inspired by a true story, which makes its riveting narrative even more enjoyable. This hugely popular movie is based on the novel of the same name by Delia Owens. The film follows a girl named Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones) who raises herself after being abandoned. Kya becomes the prime suspect in a murder case, leading to her being tried for murder. Where the Crawdads Sing is an incredibly well-told story with a fantastic cast and expert directing, making it easily one of the best mystery movies on Netflix.
7 The Pale Blue Eye
The 2022 American mystery film, The Pale Blue Eye, stars Christian Bale, and though it received mixed reviews, it remains one of the most engaging mystery movies on Netflix. The film follows Bale’s detective Augustus Landor as he investigates a series of murders at the United States Military Academy in 1830. Landor is aided by a young Edgar Allan Poe, who is a cadet at West Point during the film. Christian Bale puts in a characteristically strong performance, making this film worth a watch almost on his own.
6 The Nice Guys
The Nice Guys, starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, could be considered an action, comedy, or thriller, but at its core, The Nice Guys is a mystery story. The film follows Crowe’s tough enforcer and Gosling’s private eye as they work together to solve the disappearance of a teenage girl. The Nice Guys is funny and action-packed, and the story crafts a riveting mystery for the audience to follow. The Nice Guys is not an orthodox mystery movie, but it’s all the better for it, and it’s well worth a watch for Netflix subscribers.
5 Don’t Worry Darling
Don’t Worry Darling, starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh, is another fantastic mystery movie to stream on Netflix. The film follows Pugh as a brainwashed wife living in a seemingly idyllic society until she realizes that things are not exactly what they seem. This thrilling story gets more intense as it progresses, creating a masterful level of tension. The acting is also strong, making Don’t Worry Darling an excellent choice for Netflix streamers looking for a good mystery movie.
4 Prisoners
Prisoners is a 2013 Dennis Villeneuve-directed mystery thriller that follows the abduction of two young girls in Pennsylvania. Prisoners‘ excellent cast includes the likes of Hugh Jackman, Viola Davis, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Terrance Howard. Prisoners is a heart-pounding film that tells an incredibly well-thought-out story, which has been praised by critics and audiences alike. The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, proving it has the production value to match its engaging storyline and high-powered cast.
3 Reptile
Reptile is one of the most popular movies on Netflix, mystery or otherwise. It follows the murder of a young real estate agent in Maine, and the detective tasked with solving the case. Starring Benicio del Toro as detective Tom Nichols, Reptile also features the iconic pop singer, Justin Timberlake, as the boyfriend of the murdered real estate agent. Reptile‘s story has been criticized as overly convoluted, but the cast makes up for it with gripping performances that suck the audience in. Reptile is worth a watch for any fan of complex mystery movies, and it’s one of the better mystery movies Netflix currently has available.
2 Wind River
Wind River, starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, is a spell-binding mystery film that follows a tracker and an FBI agent’s attempts to solve a murder on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. This weighty film received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success upon its release in 2017. The riveting storyline and excellent performances from the cast combine with expert production and directing to create a thoroughly enjoyable film well worth streaming on Netflix.
1 State Of Play
State of Play is a 2009 mystery-thriller that follows the investigation of the death of a US Congressman’s assistant and mistress. State of Play boasts an outstanding cast that includes Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright, and Jeff Daniels. State of Play received positive reviews from critics, and though its box office numbers were not eye-popping, it has been consistently streamed and purchased on DVD since its release in 2009. This film’s cast and thematic purpose make it well worth a watch for Netflix subscribers in search of a good mystery movie.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
