A locked room mystery is a tale in which a crime—typically murder, but not always—takes place in a room or other location that is sealed off from the outside world.
The excitement in these stories centers on the impossibility of the crime, the claustrophobic atmosphere, and the intricate puzzle at the heart of it.
While there are a number of incredible locked room mystery books, locked room mystery movies often go overlooked as a genre.
From genius innovations on the classic genre to hilarious parodies, here are six of the best locked room mystery movies you can stream tonight!
Knives Out
This is an innovative locked room mystery with a twist!
Acclaimed crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead in his home on the evening of his 85th birthday celebration. His death unravels on screen, but as eccentric detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigates, you'll find that even what you see cannot be believed.
Flightplan
This film takes the locked room mystery to new heights.
Recently widowed aircraft engineer Kyle Pratt (Jodie Foster) gets on a plane with her daughter, Julia (Marlene Lawston), from Berlin to America. When the plane reaches 30,000 feet, young Julia is nowhere to be found.
As Kyle frantically searches for her daughter, no one aboard the plane will admit the girl was ever there. Fighting to solve an impossible and crucial mystery, Kyle must also prove her sanity at the same time.
Murder by Death
In this hilarious mystery parody, five renowned detectives—all based on well-known literary sleuths, such as Hercule Poirot and Sam Spade—are invited to a peculiar mansion. During dinner, the host seals the mansion shut and challenges the detectives to solve a murder that will take place at midnight.
This film stars Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith, and more.
Clue
Another hilarious murder mystery, Clue is based on the classic board game of the same name.
Six guests are gathered at a mansion, only to witness the murder of their host. As bodies begin to accumulate, the guests and the staff must work together to find out who the killer is.
This film stars Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, and Colleen Camp.
Identity
During a raging storm, a group of 10 strangers becomes stranded together at a rundown Nevada motel. When they start dying one by one, the survivors realize there's a killer in their midst.
A divisive film among mystery and thriller lovers, this film offers a great twist on the locked room mystery.
Gosford Park
In the 1930s, a group of the rich and famous gather for a weekend of luxury at a hunting resort. When a murder takes place after dinner, everyone becomes a suspect.
The film explores the investigation from both the servants' and the guests' perspectives.
