10 mystery movies on Netflix to indulge your inner detective
10 mystery movies on Netflix to indulge your inner detective
Danny Horn, Kevin JacobsenSun, March 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
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Jeremy Renner as Cory Lambert in 'Wind River'; Florence Pugh as Elizabeth 'Lib' Wright in 'The Wonder'; Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery'Credit: Fred Hayes/The Weinstein Company; Aidan Monaghan/Netflix; John Wilson/Netflix
There's nothing quite like a good mystery movie.
The best of them unravel like a yarn, revealing new layers as we try to fit together each new piece of information. This genre includes good old-fashioned whodunits, grizzly detective stories, and moody, shadowy tales that indicate something is afoot.
Netflix has a wealth of good mystery movies on its platform, most notably Rian Johnson's second and third Knives Out installments, which find drawling detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigating intricate murders. Then there are stories of unspeakable crimes, like Wind River (2017) and Lost Girls (2020), that reveal the dark underbelly of our world.
Ahead, find our recommendations for the best mystery movies on Netflix to indulge your inner sleuth.
01 of 10
Enola Holmes (2020)
Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in 'Enola Holmes'Credit: Alex Bailey/Legendary
This engaging coming-of-age story stars Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes, the younger sister of famed detective Sherlock (Henry Cavill). Raised to be independent and observant, the teenager is a misfit in traditional Victorian society. When her mother goes missing, Enola embarks on an off-the-books adventure to solve a mystery, help a runaway lord, and prove that she can be just as accomplished and exceptional as her brother.
EW's critic sang praises for the film, writing that "While the mystery might be elementary (my dear, notably absent, Watson), the storytelling is winkingly subversive, proclaiming that a new and welcome game is afoot." —Danny Horn
Where to watch Enola Holmes: Netflix
EW grade: B+
Director: Harry Bradbeer
Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Helena Bonham Carter
02 of 10
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Kathryn Hahn as Claire Debella, Madelyn Cline as Whiskey, Edward Norton as Miles Bron, Leslie Odom Jr. as Lionel Toussaint, and Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay in 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'Credit: Netflix
Modern mystery auteur Rian Johnson has whodunit again, crafting a mind-tickling follow-up to his brilliant Knives Out (2019). In Glass Onion, the unflappable detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) attends a murder mystery party hosted by tech exec Miles Bron (Edward Norton) on a private island in the Aegean Sea. As the party turns deadly, Bron's frenemies turn on each other.
EW's critic writes that Johnson "has no shortage of ammunition for his rat-a-tat takes on pop-culture ephemera and the navel-gazing delusions of wealth and fame," plus the satirical send-up has a satisfying mid-movie twist, leading to a surprising and raucous finale. —D.H.
Where to watch Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery: Netflix
EW grade: B+
Director: Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson
03 of 10
Lost Girls (2020)
Amy Ryan as Mari Gilbert (right) in 'Lost Girls'Credit: Netflix
When a young sex worker goes missing on Long Island's South Shore, the police don't put much effort into finding her — but her mother, Mari (Amy Ryan), refuses to let the case go cold. Mari's tireless pursuit of the truth finally forces the authorities to act, leading to the discovery of four female bodies along the parkway. Based on the Gilgo Beach serial killings, Lost Girls demands attention for all victims. —D.H.
Where to watch Lost Girls: Netflix
Director: Liz Garbus
Cast: Amy Ryan, Gabriel Byrne, Thomasin McKenzie, Lola Kirke
04 of 10
Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)
Idris Elba as John Luther in 'Luther: The Fallen Sun'Credit: Netflix
In this follow-up to the hit British TV series Luther, the eponymous police detective (Idris Elba) is in lock-up for bending the rules a bit too often. When a terrifying serial killer (Andy Serkis) that he couldn't catch taunts him with a recording of a grisly murder, the ex-cop has to break out of prison and bring the sadistic creep to justice. Longtime fans of the show will appreciate this faithful continuation, which pushes Luther to the edge of his abilities as he navigates London's underworld on the other side of the law. —D.H.
Where to watch Luther: The Fallen Sun: Netflix
Director: Jamie Payne
Cast: Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis, Dermot Crowley
05 of 10
Murder Mystery (2019)
Jennifer Aniston as Audrey Spitz and Adam Sandler as Nick Spitz in 'Murder Mystery'Credit: Scott Yamano/Netflix
On a long-promised late honeymoon in Europe, police officer Nick (Adam Sandler) and hairdresser Audrey (Jennifer Aniston) strike up a friendship with a stylish nobleman (Luke Evans), who impulsively invites them to a party on his billionaire uncle's yacht. The couple meets a half-dozen colorful suspects before the mayhem begins, starting with the uncle's death by stabbing and later encompassing a shooting, a poisoning, and even a blow-dart killing purely for style points. As usual, Aniston and Sandler are immensely likable, blundering amiably through a choice selection of mystery clichés. —D.H.
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Where to watch Murder Mystery: Netflix
Director: Kyle Newacheck
Cast: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Evans, Gemma Arterton
06 of 10
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
John Boyega as Fontaine, Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, and Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles in 'They Cloned Tyrone'Credit: Parrish Lewis/Netflix
This wild mystery comedy combines the brilliant social satire of Us (2019) with the sci-fi leanings of The Twilight Zone with a healthy dose of Blaxploitation-style entertainment. John Boyega stars as Fontaine, a drug dealer who is killed by a rival during a transaction — only to wake up the next day as if nothing happened. After enlisting one of his customers (Jamie Foxx) and a sex worker (Teyonah Parris), they uncover a bizarre conspiracy involving — you guessed it — cloning technology in their local community. It's a bold swing, but one that certainly connects, particularly when you have Foxx delivering one of his most hilarious, scene-stealing performances. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch They Cloned Tyrone: Netflix
Director: Juel Taylor
Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx
07 of 10
The Thursday Murder Club (2025)
Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft, Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif, Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, and Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie in 'The Thursday Murder Club'Credit: Giles Keyte/Netflix
Hercule Poirot, eat your heart out: The Thursday Murder Club is on the case. This cozy mystery dramedy, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Richard Osman, follows a group of four retirees who investigate cold cases. After one of the owners of their retirement village is murdered, the group of amateur sleuths tries to get to the bottom of it, discovering some shocking truths in the process. Highly amusing and heartfelt, the film succeeds on the back of its immensely talented cast of British legends, including Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie. —K.J.
Where to watch The Thursday Murder Club: Netflix
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie
08 of 10
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
Josh O’Connor as Jud Duplenticy and Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery'Credit: John Wilson/Netflix
Drawling detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) faces his toughest case yet in Rian Johnson's latest Knives Out whodunit. After the incendiary priest of a small-town church in New York is found dead, suspicion turns to the young assistant pastor, Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor), with whom the deceased priest often squabbled. But could it have been a member of the priest's flock of devout followers? Taking a more solemn tone than previous entries in the Knives Out film franchise, Wake Up Dead Man is an absorbing mystery with rich themes of guilt and sin. —K.J.
Where to watch Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery: Netflix
Director: Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner
09 of 10
Wind River (2017)
Jeremy Renner as Cory Lambert in 'Wind River'Credit: Fred Hayes/The Weinstein Company
How did 18-year-old Natalie Hanson, a young Northern Arapaho woman, end up frozen to death? U.S. Wildlife Agent Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) and FBI Agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) team up to investigate the truth in this chilling crime mystery from writer-director Taylor Sheridan. As Lambert and Banner try to put the pieces together, Natalie's boyfriend is found dead as well, leading them to discover the crimes' disturbing origins. EW's critic writes, "For all its well-worn outlines, the narrative exerts its own fierce, clenched-jaw grip." —K.J.
Where to watch Wind River: Netflix
EW grade: B+
Director: Taylor Sheridan
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal, Graham Greene
10 of 10
The Wonder (2022)
Florence Pugh as Elizabeth 'Lib' Wright in 'The Wonder'Credit: Christopher Barr/Netflix
In a remote Irish village in 1862, 11-year-old Anna (Kíla Lord Cassidy) has survived without eating for four months, an apparently miraculous occurrence that divides the town. Thus, a nurse (Florence Pugh) is summoned from England to watch the girl and determine whether this is a sacred event or a hoax. Inspired by the Victorian phenomenon of "the fasting girls," this tense drama is anchored by Pugh's reliably dynamic performance. EW’s critic declares her to be "pretty much perfectly cast, an actress with such a keen emotional presence that she tends to cut through pretense and triviality like a hot knife." —D.H.
Where to watch The Wonder: Netflix
EW grade: B
Director: Sebastián Lelio
Cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Niamh Algar, Ciarán Hinds
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
