If you devoured everything from Agatha Christie, Hardy Boys, and Feluda novels as a kid, chances are that you always secretly hoped to stumble upon a dead body and a sinister mystery attached to it only you would be able to solve. Perhaps with a few friends to help you along. But as you grew into a sad ol’ adult (but with that cool aunt vibe), that secret now vicariously survives through every mystery movie and detective story you consume.
The genre’s versatility is its hallmark. From Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho to Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, and now Kenneth Branagh’s A Haunting in Venice, the ensemble whodunnit is a genre that is a gift that keeps on giving. A mystery film loosely inspired by Christie’s Hallowe’en Party, where Branagh reprises his role as Hercule Poirot, joined by a star-studded cast including Tina Fey and Michelle Yeoh. The story unfolds as Poirot, now in self-imposed exile, attends a haunting seance, leading to a murder mystery in the glamorous city of Venice.
If you’ve found yourself particularly captivated by A Haunting in Venice, then you’re in for a treat. We’ve curated a list of ten exceptional mystery films on Netflix that capture the essence of whodunnits, ensemble casts, and murder mystery themes. There may or may not be an amateur (or pro) sleuth in the midst of it all.
Whether you’re a seasoned detective fiction connoisseur or a novice looking for a thrilling journey, these films are guaranteed to keep you entertained.
10 mystery movies to binge-watch on Netflix:
Monica O My Darling (2022)
Directed by Vasan Bala and starring Rajkummar Rao, Huma Qureshi, and Radhika Apte, this film is not just a murder mystery but a love letter to cinema itself. In true Vasan Bala-style, Monica O My Darling has cinematic homages to the best of Hollywood and Bollywood—from Quentin Tarantino to Vishal Bhardwaj.
This Hindi-language neo-noir crime comedy thriller is based on Keigo Higashino’s 1989 Japanese novel Heart of Brutus.
Knives Out (2019)
When a wealthy crime novelist is found dead, a detective is called in to solve the intricate puzzle, and everyone is a suspect.
Directed by Rian Johnson and featuring Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis and more prestige performers, Knives Out is a modern murder mystery that pays homage to classic Agatha Christie tales that will fit right in with the headspace created by A Haunting in Venice.
Enola Holmes (2020)
Follow the brilliant younger sister of Sherlock Holmes as she embarks on her own adventure to find her missing mother, encountering mysteries, codes, and charming characters along the way. This one is perfect for a younger generation.
Directed by Harry Bradbeer and starring Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, and Sam Claflin, Enola Holmes offers a refreshing twist on the classic detective genre.
What Did Jack Do? (2017)
Directed by David Lynch, who also stars in the short film What Did Jack Do?, this surreal and bizarre short film is a must-see. In this offbeat story, a detective interrogates a monkey named Jack about a murder. Lynch’s signature style ensures that this film draws you into its mystery while also being oddly hilarious.
Drishyam (2015)
Directed by Nishikant Kamat and featuring Ajay Devgn, Tabu, and Shriya Saran, Drishyam takes you into the world of an ordinary man who must use his wits to protect his family from a crime they inadvertently become involved in. The film borrows its ‘perfect alibi’ from Keigo Higashino’s The Devotion of Suspect X.
Glass Onion (2022)
Glass Onion is a standalone sequel to Knives Out. Written and directed by Rian Johnson again, this one is produced by Johnson and Ram Bergman.
Daniel Craig reprises his role as Detective Benoit Blanc, investigating a murder on a private Greek island owned by tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton). The ensemble cast includes Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
In the midst of a hurricane, a group of young adults find themselves trapped in a secluded mansion. A sinister party game escalates into murder, and trust dissolves as they scramble to unveil the murderer among them. Bodies Bodies Bodies is a comedy-horror film helmed by director Halina Reijn.
The screenplay, penned by Sarah DeLappe from Kristen Roupenian’s story, features a talented cast including Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha’la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, and Pete Davidson.
Game Night (2018)
Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, this comedy-mystery film is fun and often flies under the radar when murder mysteries with ensemble casts are discussed. Game Night stars Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as a couple who host an ordinary game night with their friends when suddenly things take a more drastic turn.
Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery (2022)
In Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery, detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett), who despises holidays, must crack a murder case while famous trainees improvise their way to save Christmas. Developed by Krister Johnson for Netflix, the American comedic murder-mystery series with improvised elements drew inspiration from the BBC Three’s Murder in Successville.
The show debuted on February 3rd, 2022, featuring six episodes in its first season and a Christmas special that was released last December.
Andhadhun (2018)
Another mystery gem directed by Sriram Raghavan, Andhadhun, follows a blind pianist who becomes embroiled in a series of mishaps, some of which get deadly. The film features Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, and Radhika Apte. Andhadhun is a thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, with songs that will keep the beat of the story alive in your mind long after the film has ended.
