Conjuring a tone of intriguing mystery that not only engrosses viewers but makes them active participants in the film as they try to deduce the truth for themselves, whodunits have an alluring appeal to everyone who loves a good engaging movie. Typically, whodunits contain two stories; the first is a linear plot progression that follows a sleuth as they launch their own investigation, while the second is the shady events of the crime (usually a murder) that are gradually brought to light.

Suspects amass, killers strike again, plots thicken, and viewers frantically rack their brains around the clues as they try to beat the inspecting protagonist to identify the culprit. This unique rapport between story and audience has made whodunits a staple of American cinema, with everything from old classics to new phenomenons seeing the genre thrive. From contained thrillers that transpire in the one location to vast mysteries sprawled across cities, these are the 10 best whodunit movies of all time.

10 'See How The Run' (2022)

Director: Tom George

see-how-they-run-sam-rockwell-saoirse-ronan-social-featured
Image via Searchlight Pictures

An easily enjoyed mystery thriller with strong comedic senses and an acute awareness of whodunit narrative, See How They Run is, perhaps, an underrated film, especially given the modern era's renewed interest in the genre. Set in the West End of 1950s London, it follows the drunken Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and Constable Stalker (Saorise Ronan) as they look into the murder of an abrasive film director from America who had hopes of adapting a successful stage-play into a movie.

While an original film, it makes many overt references to the works of Agatha Christie and the traditional nature of whodunit stories, something that exploits the film's weaknesses but still gives it a self-referential breeziness that is a treat for genre fans. Rockwell and Ronan are a joy to watch, and the vast array of noteworthy characters - such as Richard Attenborough (Harris Dickenson) and even Agatha Christie (Shirley Henderson) herself - make for a hidden gem of modern comedy, one with a gleeful mystery to explore as well.

See How They Run
PG-13
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Release Date
September 16, 2022
Director
Tom George
Cast
Sam Rockwell , Saoirse Ronan , Adrien Brody , Ruth Wilson , Reece Shearsmith
Runtime
98 minutes

9 'Murder by Death' (1976)

Director: Robert Moore

The point at which the classical whodunit premise clashes with pure dumb fun, Murder by Death is perhaps the most underrated of all the spoof films that rose to prominence in the 70s and 80s. Featuring a truly spectacular cast including the likes of Peter Sellers, David Niven, Sir Alec Guinness, and Dame Maggie Smith, it follows five of the world's best investigators as they arrive at a castle owned by a criminal genius. With their host having planned an "unsolvable" murder, the detectives must get to work, with the first to solve the case earning a cash prize.

With each of the comedic stars parodying a different famous sleuth from literature and/or film, Murder by Death is an essential viewing experience for all lovers of whodunit stories, especially those with a taste for silly comedy. While it has a couple of flaws and some of its gags have aged rather poorly, there is still plenty within the film to make it one of the most self-aware and creative spins on the genre.

Rent on Apple TV+

8 'Clue' (1985)

Director: Jonathan Lynn

The cast of Clue looking out an open door.
Image via Paramount Pictures

Based on the board game of the same name (which is sometimes known as "Cluedo"), 1985's Clue has overcome its box office collapse to be revered as an energetic whodunit and a true cult classic. It takes place in a luxurious manor where six dinner party guests become suspects when their host is found murdered. As more bodies start dropping, the visitors work with the staff to identify the murderer before it is too late.

While it isn't the smartest, sharpest, or most socially adept murder mystery of all time, it is elevated by its incredible cast that give it an unusual appeal, one that has seen it become a cherished 80s comedy. Looking at it purely as a whodunit, Clue invites audiences to participate in the mystery with an effortless breeziness that immerses first-time viewers in the chaos of the story. Clue also has three different endings, a bizarre gimmick that only enhances its novel appeal.

Clue
PG
Mystery
Comedy
Crime
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Release Date
December 13, 1985
Director
Jonathan Lynn
Cast
Eileen Brennan , Tim Curry , Madeline Kahn , Christopher Lloyd
Runtime
94 minutes

7 'Brick' (2005)

Director: Rian Johnson

joseph-gordon-levitt-brendan-frye-brick-2005
Image via Focus Features

A fascinating combination of hard-boiled crime detective drama, contemporary high school angst, and whodunit intrigue, Brick was an eye-catching feature film debut from Rian Johnson. It follows Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a social outcast who receives a panicked phone call from his ex-girlfriend before learning that she has been found dead. Eager to solve the case, Brendan starts infiltrating the cliques he has avoided in search of answers, and comes across some mean figures in his investigation.

With Johnson also writing the screenplay, Brick is a razor-sharp crime mystery rife with incredible dialogue, a snappy story, and engrossing characters who bring a grounded grit to a premise that could easily have come off as disingenuous and goofy. As a whodunit, it is a scintillating flick that keeps audiences guessing at who might be involved. Its black comedy and its clear adoration of 1940s film noir only improve the movie.

Brick
R

Release Date
March 31, 2006
Director
Rian Johnson
Cast
Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Nora Zehetner , Lukas Haas , Noah Fleiss , Matt O'Leary , Emilie de Ravin
Runtime
110

Rent on Apple TV+

6 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (1988)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Who Framed Roger Rabbit Bob Hoskins
Image via Buena Vista Pictures

One of the most iconic pictures in Hollywood history, Who Framed Roger Rabbit blends some of the most famous characters in cartoon animation with an intelligent parody of film noir to delightful effect. It follows Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), a cartoon-hating private detective who becomes the last hope for "toon" star Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer) when he is framed for the murder of a wealthy industrialist. As Valiant investigates, he uncovers a larger plot tied to the fate of Toontown, the area where many of the animated characters live.

A hilarious mixture of comedy and mystery, Who Framed Roger Rabbit takes fans of all ages on an inventive and fun-fuelled ride that is the embodiment of live-action and animated crossover adventure. While its whodunit elements may be overshadowed by the sheer spectacle of seeing the renowned animated figures roam around the real world, the film still presents plenty of light-hearted mystery intrigue to make it a vibrant hallmark of the genre.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit
PG
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Release Date
June 21, 1988
Director
Robert Zemeckis
Cast
Bob Hoskins , Christopher Lloyd , Joanna Cassidy , Charles Fleischer , Stubby Kaye , Alan Tilvern
Runtime
103

5 'The Nice Guys' (2016)

Director: Shane Black

the-nice-guys-shane-black-2016
Image via Warner Bros.

Many whodunits flaunt a comedic zest, be it a dry wit and a wry social commentary or a more cynical humor poking fun at the macabre, but few have done so with the consistent laugh-out-loud hilarity of The Nice Guys. With Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe occupying the starring roles, it follows a down-on-his-luck private investigator and an enforcer for hire as they put their initial differences aside to look into the disappearance of a young woman.

Thriving off the back of Gosling and Crowe's irresistible comedic chemistry, the film is unique as a whodunit as it imbues its sharp twists and turns - of which there are plenty - with such vibrant fun that audiences are often too busy laughing hysterically to be solving the case themselves. Eccentric, stylish, and gleefully irreverent, The Nice Guys has become a criminally underrated cult classic of modern comedy, and a truly brilliant crime mystery.

The Nice Guys
R
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Release Date
May 15, 2016
Director
Shane Black
Cast
Russell Crowe , Ryan Gosling , Angourie Rice , Matthew Bomer , Margaret Qualley , Yaya DaCosta
Runtime
116

4 'The Big Sleep' (1946)

Director: Howard Hawks

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall sitting and talking in The Big Sleep
Image via Warner Bros.

With its hard-edged mysteries and its arresting array of sketchy characters, classic film noir put forward many great whodunits that have remained cinematic icons across the decades. A peculiar example of that is Howard Hawks' 1946 film, The Big Sleep, a picture famous for its overly convoluted story that is impossible to decipher. It follows private eye Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) as he is hired by a wealthy family to help absolve their youngest daughter of her gambling debts. However, the case takes a turn when people tied to the family start being killed.

It's rapid-paced and parts of the mystery are entirely incomprehensible, but The Big Sleep holds a fascinating allure as a whodunit, even if it does struggle to contain its enigmatic fervor and refuses to come to tidy conclusions. Bogart's central performance as the sly Marlowe is one of the most famous in Hollywood history, and the film itself has always flaunted a bizarre yet hypnotic mystique through its complexity.

The Big Sleep
NR
Release Date
August 31, 1946
Director
Howard Hawks
Cast
Humphrey Bogart , Lauren Bacall
Runtime
114

Rent on Apple TV+

3 'Murder on the Orient Express' (1974)

Director: Sidney Lumet

The absolute best of the film adaptations of Agatha Christie's work, 1974's Murder on the Orient Express runs as a whodunit mystery in the purest sense of the subgenre. It stars Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot, a renowned Belgian detective aboard the Orient Express who is tasked with solving the murder of an American business tycoon in his car. Every one of his fellow passengers, each of them coming from some form of wealth, has their own motive for wanting the victim dead.

With all the suspects contained to the carriage, and Poirot left to find the truth amid their litany of biased recounts and blatant lies, the film takes great delight in forcing the audience to second-guess their assumptions every few minutes. The winding, volatile mystery is one of the more engrossing ever put to screen. Flaunting a star-studded cast and an entrancing tempo to boot, Murder on the Orient Express also stands as one of the best films of its year and of Sidney Lumet's illustrious career.

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2 'Knives Out' (2019)

Director: Rian Johnson

knives-out-daniel-craig-social-featured
Image via Lionsgate

A quaint crime-comedy that became a mainstream phenomenon and single-handedly re-ignited interest in whodunit movies among modern moviegoers, Knives Out was enchanting, flamboyant, and fantastically fun. It also held a gripping ability to force viewers to guess who the killer was, with esteemed detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) being called in to investigate the apparent suicide of a successful crime novelist who died while celebrating his 85th birthday with his family.

Featuring a sublime ensemble cast, intelligently funny storytelling, and a brilliantly contemporary skewering of inherited wealth, Knives Out is the perfect whodunit for modern audiences craving something that makes them both laugh and think. Likewise, its sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, was well-received as another clever murder mystery that placed its satirical eye on tech billionaires and the personalities that make up today's elites.

Knives Out
PG-13
Mystery
Thriller
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Release Date
November 27, 2019
Director
Rian Johnson
Runtime
130 minutes

1 'The Maltese Falcon' (1941)

Director: John Huston

Brigid O'Shaughnessy (Mary Astor), Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart), and actors Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet all huddled around the Falcon statue in The Maltese Falcon
Image via Warner Bros.

When it comes to crime mystery film, there are few titles in American cinema more celebrated than The Maltese Falcon. A gripping film noir, it follows a rugged private eye as it is roped into the search for an immensely valuable statuette that has become the obsession of several key figures in the criminal underworld. When his partner ends up dead, and others start dropping as well, Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) navigates the moral corruption as he searches for answers.

Rich with suspense and completely engrossing, The Maltese Falcon hooks audiences in from its opening moments and takes them on a turbulent, labyrinthine ride that consistently asks more questions than it answers. It has endured for nearly a century as a masterpiece of film noir mystery tension that flaunts a hard-boiled wit and a litany of exceptional characters to be the most captivating whodunit in Hollywood history.

The Maltese Falcon
NR
Where to Watch

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Release Date
October 18, 1941
Director
John Huston
Cast
Humphrey Bogart , Mary Astor , Gladys George , Peter Lorre , Barton MacLane , Lee Patrick
Runtime
101

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