The 7 Best Whodunit Mystery Films of All Time, Ranked
· Thought CatalogFrom beloved literary adaptations to modern comedic mysteries, here are some of our favorite whodunit films.
Updated 20 hours ago, November 15, 2024
Who doesn’t like a worthwhile mystery every now and again?
Consistently challenging us from an intellectual standpoint, mystery movies force us to put on our thinking caps and pay close attention to its unfolding plot line, keeping track of who’s who, who’s hiding what, and who’s pretending to be someone else. In a film where every line of dialogue bears significant weight on its narrative’s outcome, mystery movies allow us to test out our problem-solving skills from the comfort and safety of the theater.
Of course, it’s hard to find a more formidable challenge than a classic whodunit film. Presenting an eccentric cast of characters, a largely limited setting, and an ample number of twists and turns throughout, whodunit movies have a way of exercising viewers’ observational abilities from the moment the opening credits begin to roll. From beloved literary adaptations to modern comedic mysteries, here are some of our favorite whodunit films, ranked in order from worst to best.
The Last of Sheila (1973)
By the late 1940s, the formulaic whodunit genre had all but withered away. While the following decades saw a scarce supply of memorable mystery films, an unforgettable murder mystery occasionally arrived in theaters, as seen with 1973’s wholly underrated The Last of Sheila. Retaining the tried-and-true tropes associated with a classic whodunit plot line, The Last of Sheila cleverly weaved in more adult themes stemming from its darker plot, influencing numerous future filmmakers like Edgar Wright and Rian Johnson in the years ahead.
Gosford Park (2001)
One of the final films of the legendary director Robert Altman, Gosford Park spells out another fantastic genre piece from the filmmaker behind Nashville, M*A*S*H, and McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Adopting the premise and setting of a traditional parlor house mystery, Gosford Park uses its whodunit plot line to examine the class disparity in 1930s Great Britain. A stylistic precursor of sorts to Downton Abbey, it’s a fascinating drama that’s hilarious, intelligent, and wholly original throughout, standing tall as a mystery film that Agatha Christie herself might wholeheartedly approve of.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Often touted as Gen Z’s answer to Scream, Bodies Bodies Bodies offers a wonderfully humorous look at today’s youth culture. Trapping its main characters in a hurricane-rocked Florida mansion, Bodies Bodies Bodies finds a way to gradually increase its tension throughout, even as it doubles down on its perverse humor. At once startlingly funny and at times shockingly suspenseful, it’s among A24’s best releases to date, and almost assuredly among the greatest whodunit films of the past decade.
Scream (1996)
Yes, yes, it’s probably more accurate to categorize Scream as a slasher film than as an outright whodunit. But it’s hard to ignore the underlying mystery prevalent in this 1996 Wes Craven horror film. Forcing audiences to pay close attention to Ghostface’s potential identity, Scream is as riveting a whodunit as Agatha Christie’s best mysteries, complete with numerous homages to pre-existing horror franchises like Halloween and Friday the 13th.
Clue (1985)
In no uncertain terms, Clue is the best board game adaptation ever made. While the competition for that title is admittedly underdeveloped, this 1985 cult classic comedy is perfectly deserving of its favorable reputation today. Tossing together some of the ‘80s’ most energetic character actors under one shared roof, Clue unfolds with the speed and energy of a vintage Looney Tunes short – with many of the characters as unforgettably wacky and cartoonish as their two-dimensional Warner Bros. counterparts.
Knives Out (2019)
Having grown up watching practically every whodunit movie previously mentioned, Rian Johnson channeled his love for the genre into his 2019 tour de force, Knives Out (along with its two sequels, Glass Onion and the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man). Assembling a talented cast of A-list actors, Johnson also weaved in liberal inspiration from Agatha Christie’s Poirot novels, especially in regards to Poirot’s Southern counterpart, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). Jetting along with the meteoric speed as Murder on the Orient Express or Death on the Nile, it’s among the finest whodunit films in recent memory.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
She may not have created the genre, but few writers remain as closely attached to the whodunit vehicle than Agatha Christie. As an extension of her impressive contributions to the literary landscape, audiences continue to associate Christie with her numerous TV and movie adaptations, starting with the 1974 classic, Murder on the Orient Express. Incorporating an all-star lineup of noteworthy ‘70s actors, Murder on the Orient Express serves as a sensational take on Christie’s most recognizable Hercule Poirot story, standing tall as the definitive entry in the entire whodunit genre.