Intrigue and suspense may serve as the vehicle behind a greatmystery, but the truth, resolution, and characters present further enrich the story at hand. In the 2020s, a wide range of mystery films have been released to much fanfare.
Experimenting with genres such as science fiction, comedy, and action, these select films have either broadened the horizon or successfully revitalized classic concepts for their gripping tales. What makes them uniquely gratifying to watch is the quality put into these films. Be it a conventional approach to chronicling a mind-bending mystery or subverting audiences' expectations with logical yet surprising twists and turns, these stand as some of the most engaging mystery films of the 2020s, thus far.
15The Woman in the Window (2021)
The Woman In The Windowsees Amy Adams as Dr. Anna Fox,a child psychologist with agoraphobia, who spends time watching her neighbors from the comfort of her home. However, when she witnesses a crime occur, her interest compels her to further investigate her neighbors and slowly, but surely take the steps necessary to alleviate her agoraphobia.
An Underrated Performance from a Beloved Performer
Despite the critical reviews of the film, Adams provides a particularly compelling performance in her role as the ever-so-inquisitive Anna. Alongside performances from seasoned actors like Gary Oldman, Julianne Moore, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, the film offers a different and positive portrayal of agoraphobia and grief.
The Woman In The Windowpales in comparison to its peers but insists on following an exciting trend of lending voices to often overlooked members of the population and earnestly depicting their unique experiences and how they inform their perception of themselves and the outside world.Stream on Netflix.
The Woman in the Window
14Medusa Deluxe (2022)
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Medusa Deluxetakes the traditional murder mystery and places it in an aesthetically pleasing but clearly competitive hairdressing contest. Between scenes of astonishment and grief are salacious exchanges of gossip that speak to a concerning desensitization to violence and their startling obsession with the contest, hairdressing, and beauty overall.
A Stylish Whodunit Satire
Marrying dark humor with the imminent threat found in whodunit films,Medusa Deluxeis a mesmerizing satire that pokes fun at the character’s obsession with beauty and a lingering dread that threatens all the contestants.
The relationships between the characters in the midst of the investigation also foster a sense of community, not in spite of the murder, but because of the murder. While some viewers may require the presence of a seasoned detective in their stories, the focus on the characters implicated makes for a messy, complex, yet entertaining impromptu investigation.Rent on Prime Video.
13Last Night In Soho (2021)
Last Night In Sohofollows a naive and sweet Ellie Turner (Thomasin McKenzie) on her journey towards a career in fashion. Her fascination for the Swinging Sixties and a shared passion for fashion with her late mother seems innocuous but would soon inform her vivid, adventurous dreams that quickly build into a riveting, generation-spanning mystery.
An Impressive and Stunning Fusion of Genres
A truly ambitious story,Last Night In Sohois just as mesmerizing for the senses as it is compelling for fans of murder mysteries, science-fiction, and psychological horror. Stellar performances from McKenzie, Matt Smith, and Anya Taylor-Joy, to name a few, further enrich the already promising tale, transforming it into an exciting adventure through time while also touching on family legacy and the reverberating ripple effects of unchecked misogyny.Stream on Max.
Last Night in Soho
12The Kid Detective (2020)
The Kid Detectivesees titular detective Abe Applebaum (Adam Brody), joined by Caroline (Sophie Nélisse), a high school student, in an attempt to discover the truth behind her boyfriend’s disappearance. Forever reminded of an embarrassing failure from his early childhood, Applebaum feels the pressure to solve the case and redeem his perceived reputation among the townsfolk.
A Coming-of-Age Mystery with a Dark, Comedic Heart
The Kid Detectiveremains a hilarious yet poignant film that centers on a familiar small-town mystery that forever haunts the residents.
However, the heart of the film lies in its messages about the risk of childhood notoriety and placing astronomically difficult responsibilities on said child instead of expecting or demanding them from capable adults and systems proposed to help protect the greater society.Stream on Starz.
The Kid Detective
11See How They Run (2022)
See How They Runfocuses on a strenuous theater production of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap”. After the murder of the sleazy director Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody), detective duo Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) take the mantle of sifting through the various, vivid personalities of the cast and crew in hopes of solving the case.
A Murder Mystery Defined by its Colorful Characters
See How They Runis truly entertaining and inventive. With a compelling narrative and the necessary actors to lift the words from the pages,See How They Runoffers a compelling meta-commentary about the various functions of a theater production that patrons, cast, and crew, know intimately. Furthermore,See How They Runcaptures a similar immortality as found in the Agatha Christie novels that served as the basis of the film’s structure.Rent on Apple TV+.
See How They Run
10Monolith (2023)
Monolithsees an unnamed, disgraced journalist (Lily Sullivan) pivot to podcasting in hopes of making a sustainable living. Creating a niche for herself, the Interviewer documents unsolved mysteries, which prove to be successful. That is until she comes across an unsettling story about a seemingly random black brick that threatens to upend her newfound career and her sanity.
A Creepy, Claustrophobic Look at Content Creation
The vagueness of the film offers audiences a chance to investigate for themselves while the Interviewer continues her content creation process. However, the end of the film elevates the film from an ominous horror to a spellbinding mystery open to the viewers' interpretation. Throughout the film, Sullivan stuns audiences with her performance, excellently illustrating the intensity of the situation with her distressed, panicked disposition as the story progresses.Rent on Apple TV.
9Vengeance (2022)
Vengeancefollows Ben Manalowitz (B.J. Novak), a New York-based investigative journalist who learns of the passing of Abby Shaw (Lio Tipton), one of his casual romances. Traveling to West Texas for the funeral, Ben soon unearths a series of discrepancies that suggests Abby’s death was much more than the initial tragedy it appeared to be.
A Quirky, Poignant Look at Modern America
Vengeancetouches on the sensationalism of everyday people’s lives. With well-written assertions about personal biases, the moral ambiguity of creating content out of tragedy, and worthwhile interrogations of class, the film is both amusing and informative as it captures the contrast between urban and rural life, and the many implications that arise from highlighting their distinctions.Stream on Netflix.
8The Night of the 12th (2023)
The Night of the 12th (“La Nuit du 12”)is a French mystery/thriller that introduces police captain Yohan Vivés (Bastien Bouillon) by way of a gruesome murder case. Joined by his older companion Marceau (Bouli Lanners), the film follows the former’s growing obsession with solving the case, identifying a network of suspects that further illuminate his understanding of the investigation.
A Gritty Drama That Demands Complete Attention
Without the central piece to the true story,The Night Of The 12thhighlights everything left in the wake of such tragedy, without ever dismissing the lingering silence from someone who can never advocate for themselves.
Veering off the path from typical police procedural media,The Night Of The 12thastonishingly peels the sensationalist veneer of true crime from this story, leaving audiences with the bleak reality of crime solving.Rent on Prime Video.
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7The Dry (2020)
The Dryfinds federal agent Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) returning home to Kiewarra for a funeral. A tragedy that hits close to home, Falk initiates an investigation of his own, much to the ire of huis former neighbors, still holding onto their resentment and suspicions about a younger Aaron’s alleged depravities.
Throughout the film, Aaron attempts to unearth the truth about the tragedies that follow him, while also hoping to exonerate himself in the eyes of his community.
A Slow Pacing, Emotional Drama
Alongside Bana’s critically acclaimed performance,The Dryties together environmental challenges, age-long rivalries, and the thread of violence that encircles Kiewarra, resulting in a particularly poignant film about the emotional weight everyone carries with them, and the threat of said heaviness collapsing onto them.Rent on Prime Video.
6Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mysterysees the return of beloved detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to another murder mystery. When tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites his friends to a lavish private island, guests appear to be jovial. However, when one of the puzzles goes wrong, everyone grows suspicious of one another, leading to an epic investigation and a gratifying reveal.
A Witty, Comical Mystery
Building on its predecessor’s inclination for strong comedic timing, outrageous personalities, and crafty plots,Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mysterycontinues director Rian Johnson’s impressive run of well-thought, whimsical murder mysteries. The labyrinthine mystery proves to be both genuinely intriguing to follow and exceptionally entertaining to watch.Stream on Netflix.
