Looking to stream a twisty whodunit? Your search is over. The 20 best Netflix mystery movies to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes

Looking to stream a twisty whodunit? Your search is over.

The 20 best Netflix mystery movies to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes

Looking to stream a twisty whodunit? Your search is over.

and Kevin Jacobsen

on August 11, 2025 08:43AM EDT

Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'; Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in 'Enola Holmes'; Idris Elba as John Luther in 'Luther: The Fallen Sun'. Credit:

Courtesy of Netflix (3)

On your next movie night, where do you turn if you want your spine chilled and your brain teased? Netflix has mysteries to suit any taste, from dark noir films to light-hearted comedies and deep psychological dramas.

Here are the 20 best mystery movies on Netflix that will sharpen your sleuthing skills.

7 Women and a Murder (2021)

(From left to right): Margherita Buy as Magherita, Benedetta Porcaroli as Caterina, Sabrina Impacciatore as Agostina, Diana Del Bufalo as Susanna, and Luisa Ranieri as Maria in '7 Women and a Murder'.

In this playful Italian comedy-mystery, Susanna returns to her family's mansion for Christmas just before her father is found stabbed in his bed. The suspects include her judgmental Mama, her always-complaining aunt, her wheelchair-using grandmother, her little sister, the ill-mannered maid, and Papa's glamor-queen mistress.

With the phone lines cut and the snow piling up outside, the seven women start pointing fingers at each other, revealing each character's possible motive for murdering the old man. The film takes place almost exclusively in the same suite of rooms, like a stage farce, and the brief run time makes this a pleasant (if inconsequential) trifle. —*Danny Horn*

Where to watch *7 Women and a Murder*: Netflix

**Director:** Alessandro Genovesi

**Cast:** Margherita Buy, Ornella Vanoni, Micaela Ramazzotti

Earthquake Bird (2019)

Riley Keough as Lily Bridges and Alicia Vikander as Lucy Fly in 'Earthquake Bird'.

Murray Close/Netflix/Everett

In 1980s Tokyo, Swedish expat Lucy Fly (Alicia Vikander) works as a translator for movie subtitles. Introverted by nature, she's brought out of her shell thanks to an intense romantic relationship with Teiji (Naoki Kobayashi), a handsome and secretive photographer. Lucy's friendship with an American woman, Lily (Riley Keough), turns toxic when she discovers that her beau and bestie have been seeing each other on the side — and when Lily goes missing, Lucy is the prime suspect in her murder.

This quietly contemplative thriller is based on the 2001 Susanna Jones novel, and your enjoyment will depend on your appetite for Vikander's complex, moody portrayal. *—D.H.*

Where to watch *Earthquake Bird*: Netflix

**Director:** Wash Westmoreland

**Cast: **Alicia Vikander, Riley Keough, Naoki Kobayashi

Enola Holmes (2020)

Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in 'Enola Holmes'. Alex Bailey/Netflix/Everett

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." *—D.H.*

Where to watch *Enola Holmes*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Harry Bradbeer

**Cast:** Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Helena Bonham Carter

Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in 'Enola Holmes 2'. Alex Bailey/Netflix

In this lively second outing, teenage sleuth Enola Holmes opens a detective agency but struggles to build a clientele in the shadow of her famous older brother Sherlock. When she's approached by a girl from a matchstick factory looking for her missing sister, Enola finds herself drawn into a complex puzzle involving blackmail, extortion, murder, and being mistaken for the guilty party. The fast-moving sequel is just as witty and entertaining as the original while deepening Enola's relationships with her supporting cast. *—D.H.*

Where to watch *Enola Holmes 2*: Netflix

**Director:** Harry Bradbeer

**Cast:** Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, David Thewlis, Louis Partridge, Helena Bonham Carter

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'. Netflix

Modern mystery auteur Rian Johnson has whodunit again, crafting a mind-tickling follow-up to his brilliant *Knives Out*. 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+ (read the review)

**Director:** Rian Johnson

**Cast:** Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr.

Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie (2017)

Natasha Lyonne as Det. Fleur Scozzari and Jeff Garlin as Det. Gene Handsome in 'Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie'.

Aaron Epstein/Netflix/Everett

At the start of *Handsome*, an actor introduces himself to the audience, explaining that he plays the murderer in this movie. That's your cue that this comedy-mystery is more about the laughs than the chills. Jeff Garlin (*Curb Your Enthusiasm*) wrote, directed, and stars in this silly cop spoof, which also includes Natasha Lyonne, Amy Sedaris, and Steven Weber (as the murderer). When a babysitter is dismembered and arranged on a suburban lawn, Garlin's Detective Handsome leaps into action, questioning eccentrics and generally not making a lot of progress. *—D.H.*

Where to watch *Handsome*: Netflix

**Director:** Jeff Garlin

**Cast:** Jeff Garlin, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Sedaris, Steven Weber

In for a Murder (2021)

Anna Smolowik as Magda Borowska in 'In for a Murder'.

High-spirited housewife Magda (Anna Smolowik) takes the dog for a walk and stumbles across a corpse in this Polish film. The dead woman is wearing the necklace of Magda's best friend, who disappeared mysteriously 15 years ago, setting our protagonist on a new path as an amateur detective. Running rings around police inspector Jacek (Pawel Domagala), she starts interrogating suspects and following leads, uncovering all kinds of dangerous suburban secrets. The mystery plot doesn't quite manage to cohere, but Smolowik's confidence and pluck make this film an entertaining watch. *—D.H.*

Where to watch *In for a Murder*: Netflix

**Director:** Piotr Mularuk

**Cast:** Anna Smołowik, Pawel Domagala, Szymon Bobrowski

In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)

Michael C. Hall as Holt in 'In the Shadow of the Moon'.

Sabrina Lantos/Netflix/Everett Collection

If you're in the mood for a genre mash-up, *In the Shadow of the Moon* adds a time-travel twist to the serial killer procedural. Following an impossible set of simultaneous murders, Philadelphia police officer Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook) chases a suspect (Cleopatra Coleman) into a subway station, where she reveals that she knows personal information about him. She's then hit by an incoming train, but nine years later, Lockhart's investigation into a set of copycat crimes leads him to the same woman, who hasn't aged. This intriguing puzzle-box plot is rewarding for viewers willing to leap into the unknown. *—D.H.*

Where to watch *In the Shadow of the Moon*: Netflix

**Director: **Jim Mickle

**Cast: **Boyd Holbrook, Michael C. Hall, Cleopatra Coleman, Bokeem Woodbine

Lost Girls (2020)

Amy Ryan as Mari Gilbert (right) in 'Lost Girls'.

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

Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)

Idris Elba as John Luther in 'Luther: The Fallen Sun'. 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

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Murder Mystery (2019)

Jennifer Aniston as Audrey Spitz and Adam Sandler as Nick Spitz in 'Murder Mystery'. 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 meet 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.*

Where to watch *Murder Mystery*: Netflix

**Director:** Kyle Newacheck

**Cast:** Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Evans, Gemma Arterton

Murder Mystery 2 (2023)

Jennifer Aniston as Audrey Spitz and Adam Sandler as Nick Spitz in 'Murder Mystery 2'. Scott Yamano/Netflix

Returning for a second film, Nick and Audrey Spitz have started their own detective agency but can't attract any clients. The streetwise Maharajah (Adeel Akhtar) from the first movie invites the Spitzes to his wedding on a private island and, naturally, everything goes pear-shaped. The prince is kidnapped and held for ransom, and for some reason, everyone has to go to Paris for some pretty scenery to run around in. Once again, the featherweight plot is just an excuse to enjoy the lead actors' charisma and comic timing. *—D.H.*

Where to watch *Murder Mystery 2*: Netflix

**Director:** Jeremy Garelick

**Cast:** Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Mark Strong, Adeel Akhtar

Now You See Me (2013)

Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney, and Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas in 'Now You See Me'.

Steve Dietl/Summit Entertainment

The fun of a magic act as an audience member is the internal struggle between being astonished by an unbelievable stunt and both wanting and not wanting to know how they did it. Director Louis Leterrier knows this all too well and deploys that tension to great effect in *Now You See Me*, a crime thriller about an illusionist group who pull off heists through sleight of hand and deception. EW's critic calls the film, which has since spawned two sequels, "exceedingly clever," noting how it "never stops moving (the camerawork, dialogue, and plot twists keep rushing at you)." —*Kevin Jacobsen***

Where to watch *Now You See Me*: Netflix

**Director:** Louis Leterrier

**Cast:** Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Mélanie Laurent, Isla Fisher, Common, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman

The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

Christian Bale as Augustus Landor in 'The Pale Blue Eye'.

Scott Garfield/Netflix/Everett

When a student at West Point in the 1830s is found hanging from a tree with his heart cut out, the authorities call for investigator Augustus Landor (Christian Bale). Arriving on campus, Landor finds an unlikely partner in Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling), a young cadet with an uncanny understanding of the macabre.

The central victory of this period mystery is the winning performances, with EW's critic writing, "The movie is mostly a study in how good its two main actors can be: Melling's Poe, wearing his tell-tale heart on his sleeve, seems to melt something in Bale, whose dour detective becomes almost playful in his presence." *—D.H.*

Where to watch *The Pale Blue Eye*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Scott Cooper

**Cast: **Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Gillian Anderson, Lucy Boynton

Reptile (2023)

Benicio Del Toro as Tom Nichols and Alicia Silverstone as Judy Nichols in 'Reptile'.

Daniel McFadden/Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

Benicio Del Toro heads this slow-burn noir as police detective Tom Nichols, an experienced cop who's looking into the murder of a young realtor. Justin Timberlake plays the victim's boyfriend, and other suspects include an ex-husband, a vengeance-minded neighbor, and a shady real estate conglomerate. The somewhat overwrought soundtrack brings extra tension to what would otherwise be routine procedural scenes, pervading the film with an ever-present gloom. Then there's Alicia Silverstone as Tom's wife Judy, who lightens the tone with warmth; the movie could have used a lot more of her charm. *—D.H.*

Where to watch *Reptile*: Netflix

**Director:** Grant Singer

**Cast: **Benicio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Eric Bogosian, Alicia Silverstone

Shimmer Lake (2017)

Benjamin Walker as Sheriff Zeke Sikes in 'Shimmer Lake'.

Netflix/Everett

A clever piece of clockwork plotting, *Shimmer Lake* unfolds in reverse chronological order, telling the story of a small-town bank robbery gone terribly wrong. Sheriff Zeke Sikes (Benjamin Walker) leads the investigation, which includes his twitchy brother Andy (Rainn Wilson) as a suspect. We follow the case backward from Friday to Tuesday, piecing together a complex, darkly comic misadventure involving a mixed bag of eccentric sleuths and clueless co-conspirators. It all makes sense once the final twist is revealed, but the film requires careful attention to follow its winding (or unwinding?) plot. *—D.H.*

Where to watch *Shimmer Lake*: Netflix

**Director:** Oren Uziel

**Cast:** Benjamin Walker, Rainn Wilson, Rob Corddry, Adam Pally, Ron Livingston

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

John Boyega as Fontaine, Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, and Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles in 'They Cloned Tyrone'.

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. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *They Cloned Tyrone*: Netflix

**Director:** Juel Taylor

**Cast:** John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx

Wicked Little Letters (2024)

Olivia Colman as Edith Swan and Gemma Jones as Victoria Swan in 'Wicked Little Letters'.

Sony Pictures Classics

This British mystery comedy, based on true events, is as deliciously naughty as its title suggests. Olivia Colman stars as Edith Swan, a repressed, religious Englishwoman who lives with her parents in 1920s Britain. After receiving a series of profane letters in the mail, her family seeks answers and accuses their Irish neighbor — a single mother named Rose (Jessie Buckley) — causing a scandal around their seaside town of Littlehampton. Yes, it's comparatively low stakes compared to other films on this list, but it's good cheeky fun ideally watched on a lazy Sunday afternoon. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Wicked Little Letters*: Netflix

**Director:** Thea Sharrock

**Cast:** Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Malachi Kirby, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins, Timothy Spall

The Woman in the Window (2021)

Amy Adams as Anna Fox in 'The Woman in the Window'.

Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix

Anna (Amy Adams), an agoraphobic child psychologist, spends her days locked inside her home and gazing out the second-story window. She makes friends with Jane Russell (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who lives across the street, and soon after, she watches in horror as her neighbor is brutally stabbed. When Anna reports the crime, she's shocked to encounter a different woman claiming to be Jane Russell, and the woman's family insists the changeling is the real thing. Anna's struggle to hang on to her sanity is sometimes over the top, but patient viewers are rewarded with a powerful shock ending. *—D.H.*

Where to watch *The Woman in the Window*: Netflix

**Director:** Joe Wright

**Cast:** Amy Adams, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie, Fred Hechinger

The Wonder (2022)

Kila Lord Cassidy as Anna O'Donnell, Tom Burke as Will Byrne, and Florence Pugh as Lib Wright in 'The Wonder'.

Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

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, who EW's critic declared 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 (read the review)

**Director:** Sebastián Lelio

**Cast:** Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Niamh Algar, Ciarán Hinds

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