Rian Johnson’sKnives Out,which was released in 2019, follows Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) as he investigates the Thrombey family after the death of their patriarch. It seemed to reinvigorate the mystery genre with its clever story and excellent cast. It quickly became acclaimed and beloved, and led to a sequel inGlass Onion– witha third film in development.Knives Outwas well-received for its suspenseful mystery, great ensemble cast, and dark, quirky humor. If you enjoyed all those things, here are some shows and movies to watch next.
8Twin Peaks (1990-1991, 2017)
Twin Peaksfollows a similar setup toKnives Out: quirky detective Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) enters the small town of Twin Peaks, Washington, to investigate the murder of teen Laura Palmer. The town is filled with strange citizens, all with hidden, dark secrets that keep you guessing and guessing. Its dark, large-scale mystery with deep emotions had never been seen before, and The Guardian shared how these aspectsmade it completely change television. It delves into the supernatural at times, but its central mystery is deep and puzzling, and its quirky cast and dark humor further make it a perfect fit forKnives Outfans.
Related:Twin Peaks: The Best Episodes, Ranked
7And Then There Were None (2015)
And Then There Were Noneis a miniseries adaptation of Agatha Christie’s book. Ten strangers are invited to an island, and, one by one, are murdered for their past crimes. Isolated in a house, the strangers quickly give into suspicion and hysteria as they attempt to escape with their lives. The ensemble cast is excellent, and makes you feel like you’re trapped on the island with them. Collider considers it one of thebest Christie TV adaptations; the suspenseful murders and jaw-dropping final reveal prove it deserves the title.
6Broadchurch (2013-2017)
Broadchurchstars David Tennant and Olivia Colman as Detectives Hardy and Miller. The first season finds them investigating the death of a young boy, in a small town where everyone has a secret and a connection to the murder. The second season, which focuses on a trial, is a bit weaker, but it finishes strong with a sexual assault case in season three. There are great performances from the whole cast, especially Tennant and Colman; their relationship further elevates the show beyond a standard procedural.
5Only Murders in the Building (2021-Present)
Comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short team up with Selena Gomez inOnly Murders in the Building. All three are residents in a luxury apartment, and share a love of true crime podcasts. When someone in the building is murdered, they team up to create their own podcast and solve the murder themselves, resulting in suspense and bright spots of humor. Despite themurder and twists and turns, the trio’s seamless chemistry brings in great comedy, and forms the heart of the show.
4Murder by Death (1976)
Murder by Deathis a spoof of classic mystery movies, with the characters all serving as caricatures of well-known detectives, like Hercule Poirot and Sam Spade. Like many murder movies, the characters are invited to a mansion, where the mysterious owner promises a million dollars to whoever solves a murder that will occur that night. Some of its humor may be a bit dated, but it’s a standout in the murder-comedy genre, filled with laughs and countless twists.
3Murder on the Orient Express (1974 and 2017)
Another Christie adaptation,Murder on the Orient Expresstells the story of one of her best-known novels: a man is killed on a stopped train, and Hercule Poirot must sort through the passengers to find his killer. The story is the same in both versions, and filled with twists and confusion before the final reveal. Both also have large, star-studded casts that bring the mystery and drama to life, so you may’t go wrong either way.
Related:Why Murder Mystery Movies Have Become So Popular
2Bullet Train (2022)
Bullet Trainfollows a premise similar toMurder on the Orient Express: a locked-room thriller set on a train. Based on the novelMaria Beetleby Kōtarō Isaka, it stars Brad Pitt as Ladybug, an assassin who must kill other assassins while on a bullet train racing through Japan.All the assassins have connected pasts and historyin the crime world, and their eccentric natures bring in a lot of fun. Ladybug’s quest to get off the train results in a fast-paced, heart-pounding thrill ride that excites the whole way through.
1Clue (1985)
Based on the board game,Clueis a twisty, funny delight. It follows the basis of the game, where six strangers are invited to a mansion for dinner. When the host winds up dead, the characters, along with the butler and housekeeper, try to solve the murder. The movie is filled with sharp, fast-paced humor, delivered bya hilarious cast. There is so much detail and deception before the murderer is revealed that it inspires multiple rewatchings to catch it all. Fitting with the game, the movie even has three different endings to discover, and is fun each time.
