The 7 Best Mystery Movies For Wannabe Detectives

Good movies entertain, but great movies engage.

That’s why the mystery genre hits the sweet spot for audiences, since everyone fancies themselves as a wannabe detective capable of solving the greatest whodunits. Sure, there are tons of movies that lure the viewers into the more thrilling aspects, but there are only a special few that keep everyone guessing until the end. Truth be told, if you manage to solve these conundrums before the big reveal, consider yourself an honorary internet P.I.

Memento (2000)

Christopher Nolan turned the psychological thriller genre upside down with 2000’s Memento. Not only does it have a murder-mystery component, but the lead character, Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), experiences anterograde amnesia. For every step that Leonard takes, he moves two steps back when his condition kicks in and he forgets the crucial details. So, he keeps notes and tattoos in an attempt to remind himself of the clues he’s gathered to solve the murder of his wife, Catherine (Jorja Fox). Memento glues audiences to the screen, as they play detective and try to piece together all the confusing puzzle pieces that reveal this mystery. 

Seven (1995)

For thriller aficionados, there’s nothing better than a serial killer with a theme or twist. In the case of David Fincher’s 1995 classic, Seven, John Doe (Kevin Spacey) finds inspiration in the seven deadly sins and frames his crimes around this concept. Here’s the thing, though: Doe’s identity isn’t the mystery that needs to be solved here; it’s how he links everything he does to the sins. Detectives William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and David Mills (Brad Pitt) follow the bloody trails, but there’s always the sense that Doe leads them right to where he wants them to be. Also, the contents of the box at the end!

Zodiac (2007)

The mystery of the Zodiac Killer plagued America for decades. In David Fincher’s Zodiac, a group of individuals attempt to discover the identity of this infamous figure. Fincher lays out the evidence and sequence of events in a compelling and unbiased fashion, but this thriller turns into a tale about the dangers of obsession and not seeing the forest through the trees. Zodiac also possesses a strong journalistic quality in the sense that Fincher presents everything objectively and leaves it up to the audience to decide who truly committed these heinous acts.

Knives Out (2019)

Like a live-action version of Clue – though a movie based on that game already exists – Rian Johnson’s Knives Out toys with its viewers. The premise is simple: After a birthday celebration, crime author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead. Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) steps in and starts to uncover who committed the crime and needs to do the time. That said, everyone’s a suspect here, since they all have motives and raise Blanc’s suspicion. Knives Out turns into a twisty ol’ time as the audience tries to figure out the identity of the killer before Blanc does.

Shutter Island (2010)

The best kind of movies are the ones that lead you down a certain path, then pull out the rug from under you and challenge everything you thought to be true. In Martin Scorsese’s underrated 2010 thriller, Shutter Island, the audience meets U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) who visit the psychiatric facility Ashecliffe Hospital on Shutter Island to explore the mysterious disappearance of patient Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer). While it’s impossible to experience the mind-blowing revelation after the first viewing, it changes the perspective of how someone watches the film thereafter as people start looking for further hints. 

Prisoners (2013)

Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners is every parent’s worst nightmare: A child goes missing and the police take their time in finding them. That’s exactly what happens to Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) after his daughter and her friend disappear one fateful day. Unsatisfied by the police’s failure to act, Keller takes matters into his own hands and brings his own suspect into custody, but is this person the one who committed the crime? Villeneuve heightens the anxiety and tension of the story, showcasing how it’s possible to miss what’s in front of you when emotion is allowed to run rampant and reason takes a backseat. 

L.A. Confidential (1997)

There’s a classic noir quality injected into Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential that’s reminiscent of old-school Hollywood. Set in the ’50s in Hollywood, three detectives (Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, and Kevin Spacey) attempt to solve a series of murders. However, each of them has their own motivations and reacts differently to the evidence presented. At the same time, it’s clear that the Los Angeles Police Department still has too many dirty cops for its own good. L.A. Confidential keeps everyone on their toes, questioning whose hands are less dirty and who can be trusted in this delicious crime movie.