Marie Claire's 42 Murder Mystery Movies That Will Satisfy Your Inner Detective

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We're living in a golden age of true crime content, from documentaries to podcasts to TV shows and books. Which means, no surprise, that the murder mystery film is also seeing a resurgence in popularity. The classic genre has had some major standouts over the last several decades, and the typical whodunit setup—several people in a house, one dies, a detective has to solve the crime—has expanded to include truly unique settings and stories. That's a good thing: It means that a lot of these mysteries can play with form and framing while still giving you a perfect twist ending. There are horror films, action movies, and dramas on this list (not to mention a couple comedies!). From Alfred Hitchcock to the Coen brothers to David Fincher to Rian Johnson, some of the best directors in history have tried their hand at this iconic genre. The one thing these movies have in common? A killer mystery—pun absolutely intended.

What's also great is that fictional whodunits can satisfy your crime-solving, clue-finding itch without the sad (and, if we're being honest, somewhat problematic) true-life aspects of those true crime shows you love. Here are 42 murder mystery movies that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. No major spoilers lie ahead for any of these mind-bending films, particularly the whodunit part. But if you don't want to know ANYTHING about the plot, go watch before you read.