(Credits: Universal Pictures)

The weird thing about getting older is that you stop searching for thrillers that scare you and start wanting the ones that understand you. Like, yes, someone dies, but could we make it look nice? Maybe throw in a pastel kitchen or a witty detective who bakes on weekends?

That’s what comfort mysteries do. They make murder feel… manageable. Nobody is chasing anyone through dark basements here. It’s just people in great outfits arguing politely about who did it. You get the fun of the puzzle, the drama of the reveal, and somehow still go to bed relaxed.

If you feel that you are someone who belongs to this category, you are lucky, as Netflix has been building a base of such mysteries for a while now. Films that feel less like anxiety and more like a warm distraction. They remind you that suspense can be soft, murder can be funny, and sometimes the best kind of crime story is the one you can watch while eating cookies.

And since you clearly look like someone who likes such films, here are five all-time favourite comfort mystery movies that you need to watch right now.

Five comfort mystery movies to watch on Netflix

7 Women and a Murder (Alessandro Genovesi, 2021)

Okay, imagine being stuck in a giant house with your entire family. It’s snowing outside, it’s warm inside, everything is going perfectly, and then suddenly someone ends up dead. And instead of panicking, everyone just… starts arguing. That is basically 7 Women and a Murder. It’s like if Knives Out had too much attitude.

Every woman in this movie is dramatic in her own way. You instantly feel that they are all hiding something, all dressed like they are attending a Vogue shoot, and absolutely no one can mind their business. It’s ridiculous in the best way possible. You are not even trying to solve the murder. Instead, you are just watching everyone accuse each other like it’s a group chat gone wrong. By the end, you’ll either want to join them or run for your life.

Casper (Brad Silberling, 1995)

This one is pure childhood nostalgia and emotional damage in the same movie. You go in thinking it’s about a friendly ghost, and then suddenly you’re crying over a transparent boy with floppy hair. Casper is that rare comfort movie that still feels magical even though you know every line by heart.

Christina Ricci plays the ultimate 1990s cool girl who moves into a haunted house with her dad, and instead of freaking out, she just makes friends with the ghost. And Casper? Honestly, he’s the kindest male character in cinema history, dead or alive. It’s cute, sad, funny, and weirdly romantic for a movie that involves, you know, death.

Enola Holmes (Harry Bradbeer, 2020)

We are sure you might have watched this one, but if you haven’t, it should be an immediate watch. If Sherlock ever felt too serious for you, his little sister totally fixes that. Enola Holmes is a pure comfort film which easily fits in the mould of comfort mystery movies. It has got mystery, adventure, and Millie Bobby Brown talking to the camera like she’s gossiping directly with you. She’s clever and funny and smart enough to make solving a Victorian crime scene look like fun.

And honestly, the energy is unmatched. Enola’s running from boarding schools, outsmarting grown men, and doing it all in perfect outfits. It’s a mystery, but make it empowering.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson, 2022)

Yes, yes, we know you might have watched this one too, but while you wait for the third instalment of this film series, aka Wake Up Dead Man, you might as well give it a rewatch. The reason is that even if you know who the killer is, it is fun to discover a new detail in the film every time. It is flashy and somehow still sharp enough to make you feel like you’re watching high art.

Everyone in Glass Onion is both glamorous and deeply stupid in the most entertaining way possible. Janelle Monáe completely steals the show, the set design looks like it was sponsored by an art museum, and the plot twists hit like gossip you weren’t supposed to overhear.

In for a Murder (Piotr Mularuk, 2021)

This one feels like if your mum’s book club accidentally got involved in a crime scene. It’s a cosy, small-town drama which is full of that nosy energy we all secretly have. Magda, the main character, literally finds a dead body while walking her dog, and instead of running, she decides she’s going to solve the case herself. Iconic behaviour, honestly.

The movie’s got that soft European charm, with pretty streets. You also have quirky side characters and the kind of humour which is the reason these films are called comfort mystery movies. It’s less about the murder and more about watching a woman finally take control of her life and, yes, do it better than the actual cops. It’s Agatha Christie, but with warmer lighting and better outfits.