Top 13 Mystery Movies of the Last 30 Years
HM: GLASS ONION
I couldn't compile this list without at least mentioning the movie that inspired it. That obviously refers to the Netflix phenomenon that was Glass Onion last Christmas Break, when everyone cuddled up to watch it with their families. This Knives Out sequel for the most part lived up to the high standards that its predecessor left for it thanks to a charming and classy performance from Daniel Craig returning as Benoit Blanc. Luckily, that's not all it has going for it, as there are plenty of smart twists in this movie that the supporting cast has a hammy field day with in order to make this mystery highly rewatchable.
13. DONNIE DARKO
To officially kick off these rankings we have the cult classic, Donnie Darko. This is a personal favorite of this writer's that gets better with every viewing. As always is the case with time-travel movies, it can be a very complex and confusing viewing the first time (and a few times after). While a science fiction movie at its heart, what makes it worthy of a spot in the top mystery genre movies is its ability to create several questions both for the audience and its characters. Some of these questions remain unanswered or up for your interpretation at the end which allows for peak entertainment every time you see it.
12. THE BATMAN
The second and last 2022 entry on this page is the new Caped Crusader depiction, The Batman. This movie sees Bruce Wayne true to his "World's Greatest Detective" gimmick from the comics which is a refreshing take on the character, especially with him being in his early years. The mystery that the director, Matt Reeves, carves out with the Riddler as the big bad is a thoroughly engaging time that does a great job building the world of Gotham. Lastly, the visuals are stunning and Robert Pattinson makes for one of the best Batman portrayals ever. Only the runtime brings this one down a touch.
11. THE GIFT
Someone needs to give this film some love. Even with a good box office haul from a small budget and a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, this gem is never spoken about. It's disappointing considering that The Gift features three powerhouse performances from Rebecca Hall, Jason Bateman, and Joel Edgeton (pulling double duty) that slowly burn as the past comes about. It's all disturbing that tends to make you feel more uncomfortable the more you find out about the situation that's at play. I would say that this movie is better to go in blind for than most so I won't share any of the details regarding the plot.
10. ZODIAC
To round out the top 10 we have the David Fincher vehicle that sadly bombed at the theaters for some reason. The true, unsolved story of the Zodiac killer from the late '60s is a helluva ride. It's a thrilling ride despite its length that gets especially nerve-wracking in THAT basement scene which everyone should dedicate time to, as it gives me chills every time I see it. The murder scenes are insanely suspenseful and they leave just enough breadcrumbs for the story to give people hope in a resolution being found when watching. Also....absolutely STACKED cast.
9. THE SIXTH SENSE
"I see dead people." at #9 we have the movie with the line that has gone down as one of the most famous pop culture references in decades. M. Night Shyamalan's first and breakout film is probably his best too. The man famous for his twists delivers one for the ages that allow for vastly different experiences the first and second time seeing. That alone gives it a spot on this list but why this mystery movie works so well is the confusion we too feel with Bruce Willis' lead, Malcolm. The twist means we can't ever fully understand what's going on and it's executed perfectly.
8. SCREAM (1996)
Couldn't leave the best horror mystery of all-time off these rankings now could I? Wes Craven's meta slasher is one of the best whodunnits around. Specifically, its self-aware tone offered a unique spin to the genre. This movie also essentially created the rules of horror movies and the checklist for finding murderers in them (Thank you, Randy). The Ghostface reveal in this one never really gets topped in the sequels and that's a testament to the strength of the quality of this one. If this doesn't entice you, at least go watch the opening scene with drew Barrymore that may be the best opening horror scene in cinema...no joke.
7. SHUTTER ISLAND
This one is a real doozy. Shutter Island is one trippy film full of dark turns. Taking place at an insane asylum, what seems like a normal detective mystery movie is really a psychological thriller. Every time you think you know what's going on, some wack s*** happens to make you question what's real and what's not. It's also pretty hard to go wrong with anything Leonardo DiCaprio decides to be in if you don't trust me here. Highly recommend watching this movie at night after a session outside (if you're catching my drift here) if you want to get the full experience of this masterpiece.
6. SEARCHING
Searching might be the most low-profile movie here and while it makes sense given the premise, budget, and marketing -- this movie is such a rollercoaster of emotions. A man just wanting to find his daughter always pulls on the heartstrings and you should expect to leave this movie a little teary-eyed and full of goosebumps. What sets this apart from movies like Taken is the cool directing technique where every scene takes place on a computer screen whether it was through facetime, a news network clip, or just John Cho's dad character scrolling. It definitely stands out and is used clearly to advance the search (pun intended).
5. PRISONERS
And we enter the top 5 with the thrill that is Prisoners. I love this movie whether or not I'm willing to rewatch it due to the relatable nature of the film. It's impossible not to root for the families who got their children abducted and tends to get you in your feels when you put yourself in their shoes. It's the best cinematic take on what someone is willing to do when they're desperate in big thanks to Hugh Jackman's dad being as convincing as ever. It's also a great and unique mystery because you get to see two very diffferent methods of solving between a father and a detective that end up weaving together in intricate ways.
4. GONE GIRL
The second of three David Fincher movies on this list is the one and only, Gone Girl. This dude just knows how to make a griping tale from start to end. In this one, Rosamund Pike delivers in a breakout role where she is absolutely ruthless as a wife just trying to keep her marriage together through horrible deeds. This sadly is another one of those movies you'll see with an ending that won't be as crowd-pleasing but that's something that makes this stand out above the rest. There isn't much hope going on in Gone Girl but if you can get past that then you'll be in for a ride if you go in blind.
3. MEMENTO
Surprisingly, this is the only Christopher Nolan movie on this list, but if you're a fan of his peep out the rest of the site. Memento is a hard movie to describe. The entire movie is filmed in reverse chronological order to put us behind the mind of its narrator, Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), who has severe anterograde amnesia. The condition doesn't allow you to create new memories so Leonard has to use tattoos and pictures to remember his life every single day to find his wife's murderer. It's an insanely clever way of allowing the events of the movie to be questioned by both audience and Leonard, resulting in a top 3 mystery of all-time.
2. KNIVES OUT
Director Rian Johnson must've known he had struck gold with this recent murder mystery installment. Netflix paid a buttload of money for its sequels for a reason, I mean this movie has more turns than any other movie listicle. Where should I start? The cast is an embarrassment of riches and is clearly having a good time with the witty material. The actual puzzle of the movie creates so many suspects you'll have a fun time trying to figure it out more than the other movies due to its surprising nature not to take anything too seriously. This picture is criminally funny and is crafted so meticulously that only one film could beat thanks to its ending.
SEVEN (1995)
"What's in the booooox?" I don't know many quotes more said than this one from Seven's batshit crazy finish. That small mystery by itself could be enough to get it in the top 5 but what makes this iconic movie the BEST of all these stellar options? The central mystery of a killer trying to repeat the seven deadly sins is such an intriguing concept Throughout no matter how dark the entire film is. Nothing signifies this better than the ALL-TIMER ending that you probably have heard of even if you haven't seen it. Lastly, while this isn't one of those movies you'll want to see again thanks to its bleak ending, just give it a shot.
