20 Hollywood Murder Mysteries That Are Perfect For Movie Night!

   

Murder mysteries can be some of the most satisfying ways to spend your evening what with the suspense and the rush of it all. It is without doubt that over the years world cinema has produced some truly gratifying (and sometimes horrifying) murder mysteries, and today we bring you 20 Hollywood murder mysteries that are perfect for a movie night!

   

Also read: 25 Best Hollywood Horror Movies That’ll Give You Nightmares For Weeks

Now, onto our list of the best Hollywood murder mysteries you can watch this weekend:

1. Murder on the Orient Express

When a passenger is murder while on a train journey, another passenger who happens to be a detective, decides to find the culprit himself. The movie is based on one of Agatha Christie’s most famous titles, and is the fourth on-screen adaptation of the novel. The movie, with a cast full of A-listers, was a commercial success, and received praise for its cinematography and rich setting. 

2. Gone Girl 

Based on Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name, Gone Girl follows the story of Nick Dunne, as he suddenly finds himself at the centre of media attention when his wife disappears and he becomes the prime suspect. The movie is a must-watch, especially for Rosamund Pike’s performance that’ll manage to haunt you for weeks. The film received rave reviews upon its release with Pike getting an Academy Award nomination among others. 

3. The Girl on the Train 

The Girl on the Train follows Rachel, an alcoholic divorcee struggling with separation from her husband who becomes obsessed with watching two strangers every morning through the window of her train. When Megan, one of the two strangers, goes missing, Rachel unwittingly becomes a person of interest in the investigation. Based on the novel of the same name by Paula Hawkins, the movie was met with generally favourable reviews, and earned Emily Blunt a BAFTA Best Actress nomination.

4. Se7en 

Se7en follows David Mills, a young cop partnered with an-about-to-retire William Somerset, as the two join hands trying to track down a serial killer who begins killing people using the seven deadly sins as a motif. Over the years, the movie has accumulated a huge fan base, and is especially remembered for Morgan Freeman’s spectacular performance. 

5. Lovebirds 

A couple on the verge of breaking up suddenly finds itself in the middle of a ludicrous murder mystery. As the couple tries to get to the bottom of the matter, things take several unexpected turns.The movie’s release was adversely affected by the covid-19 pandemic, and makers had to release it on Netflix instead of the planned theatrical release. The movie was praised for the performances by its main cast.

6. Silence of the lambs 

The film tells the story of a cop who confronts Hannibal Lecter, a psychopathic serial killer, to ask for his assistance in tracking down another serial killer who preys on young women. By adding a character that bears a striking similarity to people who have already lived in the world, The Silence of the Lambs taps into our most primitive fears. Despite the fact that it was panned for its depiction of LBGT characters, audiences loved the movie and it is now considered a cult-classic and is one of the best Hollywood murder mysteries of all time. 

7. Zodiac 

Robert Graysmith, a cartoonist with a talent for solving mysteries, becomes fascinated with the Zodiac killer. He employs his abilities to track down the Zodiac assailant. The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, and police were unable to apprehend him. Zodiac received generally favourable reviews upon its initial release, with praise for its script, acting, and historical accuracy. In a BBC poll, it was named one of the best films of the twenty-first century.

8. Game Night 

Starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as lead actors, the film follows a group of friends whose game into a nightmare when one of them is kidnapped by burglars. As the group tries to find out what is up, things take a dark turn. The movie upon its release was praised for its fresh scope, script, humor, and performances. It received generally favourable reviews from audiences and was a critical and commercial success. 

9. L.A. Confidential 

When three detectives from LAPD begin to investigate multiple homicides, it unearths information about the corruption in their own department. Upon its release, the movie became a major commercial and critical success, and was nominated for a total nine Academy Awards. 

10. Death on the Nile 

After a rich heiress and several others are fatally attacked while on a boat in the Nile, Hercule Poirot, a Belgian detective, decides to find out who the murderer is, all by himself. Over the years, the movie has received generally favourable reviews from critics. A remake of the movie is expected to release in 2021. 

   

11. Get Out 

Everything seems okay enough when an African-American man decides to pay a visit to his white girlfriend’s parents – at first. However, as the film progresses, things start to look out of whack. Overall, Get Out received positive reviews, with praise for its use of black comedy and its exploration of important social issues.

12. In the Heat of the Night 

When an African-American detective, Virgil Tibbs, begins investigating the death of a businessman in Mississippi, he has to face several untoward events because of his race. The movie was a major success, and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In the Heat of the Night is one of the best Hollywod murder mysteries of all time. 

13. North by Northwest

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, North by Northwest follows an advertising executive from New York who is mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies and has to make a cross-country run for his life. The screenplay writer of North by Northwest, Ernest Lehman, wanted to write “the Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures.” The movie is considered one of Hitchcock’s greatest, and also one of the greatest Hollywood murder mysteries of all time.

14. The Nice Guys 

Amelia, a girl on the run, hires a man named Healy to forcibly discourage March, a detective investigating her disappearance. When two hitmen try to make Healy reveal Amelia’s whereabouts, Healy and March join forces to find the teen girl. The movie received positive reviews and was a critical and commercial hit. 

15. Vertigo 

Vertigo is a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock about a man named Scottie who is charged with investigating the strange behaviour of a friend’s wife. Scottie, on the other hand, falls in love with her and becomes mentally distraught after she commits suicide. Despite receiving mixed reviews at the time of its release, the film has grown in popularity over time and is now regarded as one of the best films ever made.

16. Charade 

When a widow named Regina is stalked and harassed by three men who seem to be connected to the death of her husband, she seeks the help of a stranger she encounters – a charming man going by the name Peter. The movie has elements of three genres: romance, suspense thriller, and comedy. Upon its release, the film received positive reviews from audiences and was particularly praised for its screenplay and the chemistry between its two leads: Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. 

17. The Usual Suspects

During a police line-up, a group of suspects gather. They plan to try a risky heist once they’ve gotten out. Despite the fact that the film was initially given a limited release, it was later given a bigger release due to positive reviews. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay the following year.

18. Psycho

There’s a reason why Alfred Hitchcock is known as the “Master of Suspense.” The director is known for several excellent films, but Psycho is without a doubt the most well-liked in his illustrious filmography. Despite the fact that critics didn’t warm up to the film at first, it received so much positive feedback from the general public that it became an instant success, forcing critics to reconsider their opinions.

19. Unfaithful

When a married woman meets a younger man, she is instantly smitten and begins an extramarital affair with him. Her husband, on the other hand, quickly becomes suspicious. Even though it received mixed reviews from critics, the film was a commercial success. In particular, Diane Lane was lauded for her depiction of an unfaithful wife.

20. Shutter Island

When two US marshals are sent to a remote island to track down a patient who has vanished from the island’s asylum, they uncover a dark secret about the place. The film received generally favourable reviews upon its initial release. It was a commercial success, with particular praise for its soundtrack and its use of modern classical and classical music.

Did you like our list of Hollywood murder mysteries? Comment below to tell us which one’s your favourite!

 

 

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