12 Puzzling Mystery Movies You Can Watch Tonight

Styled like a neo-noir mystery, Brick follows Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) a lonely misfit who investigates a mysterious phone call made by his ex-girlfriend, Emily, just shortly before she was found dead. Brendan teams up with his nerdy friend Brain (Matt O’Leary) to look into her murder, questioning their school’s various social circles. When they piece together the mystery, Brendan discovers that Emily’s death is linked to something far bigger and more sinister than he could imagine.

This South Korean mystery is one wild ride. The film follows Lee Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in), an aspiring writer who does various jobs around Paju, a city in South Korea. When he runs into Shin Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo), a childhood classmate, she asks if he can feed her cat while so goes on a trip to Africa. Lee agrees, and the two get intimate just before Shin takes off. When she returns, she is accompanied by a man named Ben (Steven Yeun), a rich and confident man who seems to be hiding more than he lets on. When the trio hangs out together, Lee becomes increasingly jealous and suspicious of Ben’s motives. And when Shin goes missing, Lee takes it upon himself to investigate the matter, with Ben as the prime suspect.

This film starring Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Robert Downey Jr. is an interesting portrayal of the Zodiac killer’s crime spree. Taking place during the late 60s in San Francisco, Ruffalo and Edwards’ characters are investigators trying to unmask the titular serial killer. The pair work with Gyllenhaal and Downey who are two reporters also determined to bring the killer to justice. Based on actual events, the film offers a thrilling portrayal of the chaos that shook San Francisco for several years. 

Based on the novel of the same name by Dannis Lehane, Gone Baby Gone centers on Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan), a couple who are both private investigators. The pair take on a missing person’s case involving Amanda McCready, a four-year-old girl who was kidnapped from her neighborhood in Boston. As the two dig deeper into the investigation, they start to uncover the criminal underbelly in the town that is somehow connected to Amanda. With time ticking, Patrick goes to extreme lengths to try and find Amanda before it’s too late—but this wild side of Patrick starts to concern Angie.

This critically acclaimed Australian crime thriller is a mystery film that you won’t forget. The movie takes place almost entirely inside an interrogation room where Eddie Fleming (Hugo Weaving) is getting grilled by detective John Steele (Tony Martin) for crimes he claims he didn’t commit. At first, he gets questioned about a stolen vehicle, but later down the road Eddie appears to have a connection to a string of killings. Both actors play well off each other, and the shocking twists and power plays in the film will have viewers glued to their screens. 

It wouldn’t be a proper list without one of the most recognizable names in the mystery genre. Starring Robert Downey Jr. as the famed detective, this movie follows Holmes and his partner Watson (Jude Law) in the most their most thrilling case yet. When the duo is hired by a secret society to thwart a plot that would increase the British Empire’s size through supernatural forces, Holmes and Watson investigate the matter to find the root of the issue. Filled with exhilarating action sequences and a wonderful performance from Robert Downey Jr., this film is definitely a gem in its genre.

When the body of an 18-year-old woman is discovered on the Wind River Indian Reservation, FBI agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) is sent to investigate. She teams up with Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner), a wildlife officer who knows the area very well. Cory serves as a guide for Jane as she tracks leads and searches for clues to help find the killer. But while they’re out in the wilderness, the duo end up getting caught in a cat-and-mouse game that puts their lives in danger.

Perfect Stranger follows Rowena Price (Halle Berry), an ace reporter known for her tenacity. When she runs into Grace Clayton (Nicki Aycox), an old friend of hers, Rowena learns that Grace is trying to take down Harrison Hill (Bruce WIllis), a big time ad executive. Grace tells Rowena that Harrison has been having an affair with her, and she plans on exposing him, but she just needs a little more information and the right person to deal with it. But before she can give Rowena anymore leads, Grace is found dead, having been poisoned and drowned. Suspicious that Harrison is behind the murder, Rowena stops at nothing to expose Harrison, and avenge her friend—even if it puts her in danger.

One of Ryan Gosling’s first star turns, this legal mystery will shock all viewers. Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) is an incredibly wealthy man who one day shoots his wife, Jennifer. Although everyone knows who shot Jennifer, the court case is a true battle, with new information revealed at every turn. 

This Spanish film will have amateur detectives mystified. Businessman Adrian Doria is blackmailed after being found with the body of his lover. Yet nothing about his story is as it seems. 

Riz Ahmed (Rogue One, The Night Of) stars as Tommy Akhtar, a private detective looking for a missing sex worker. Put on the job by her roommate, Akhtar is soon in over his head, caught in his own past along the case. This old-school homage is worth watching for Ahmed and Billie Piper’s performances.

Angelina Jolie stars an FBI profiler on the hunt for a killer who takes on the identity of his victims after killing them. Also starring Kiefer Sutherland, Paul Dano, and Gena Rowlands, this thriller has levels.