The mystery genre is a playground for those who love trying to figure out a movie from the second the opening credits roll. With clues and motives galore, mysteries allow the audience to participate in the action. Unfortunately, many mystery movies can only be enjoyed once, as the reveal of the plot twist removes any tension from a second viewing.
However, there are a few gems out there worth a second (third, fourth, fifth...) play. Whether it's a complex web of clues you'll never catch the first time, a lovable cast of characters, or just a genuinely good time, here are eight mystery movies you can watch again and again.
Shutter Island
Based on the Dennis Lehane novel of the same name, this 2010 film is a mind-bending psychological thriller that has incredible rewatch value. Taking place in 1954, the story follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of a murderer who has escaped a hospital for the criminally insane.
While the film's twist is not incredibly revolutionary in this day and age, the artful direction and cinematography is worth a rewatch in and of itself. DiCaprio and the rest of the all-star cast give gripping performances. Clues are littered everywhere int his film, and you might even have to rewatch it multiple times to catch them all.
Glass Onion
The second film starring detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), Glass Onion follows the southern sleuth on a trip to Greece as he tries to sniff out a killer in the midst of a murder mystery party. While I could watch this and Knives Out again and again, there's something about this film that has an extra element of fun. The movie has an incredible twist that, upon knowing it, actually makes a rewatch of the movie more interesting.
Mulholland Drive
After getting in a car accident, a woman (Laura Harring) has no recollection of who she is. Aspiring actress Betty Elms (Naomi Watts) befriends her, setting out into the streets of Los Angeles to uncover her identity. In true David Lynch fashion, this is a twisting, surreal film that blurs dreams and reality. The experience is more about the journey than the destination, making this a wholly rewatchable mystery.
Memento
One of the most iconic mystery films of all time, Memento follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man who suffers from anterograde amnesia, a condition rendering him incapable of storing recent memories. Despite this major hurdle, he sets out to track down his wife's killer. With the film's non-linear narrative, it's almost essential to watch this film more than once. But even if you didn't have to, you'd want to celebrate the pure brilliance of Christopher Nolan's work.
Identity
If you like mysteries with an extra edge, Identity is probably a favorite of yours. A dangerous rainstorm strands a group of strangers at a motel in Nevada. Before long, an unfortunate inconvenience turns into a fight for their lives as a killer picks them off one by one. With an incredible casting including John Cusack, Ray Liotta and Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, Rebecca De Mornay, and Pruitt Taylor Vince, this is an incredibly unique and thought-provoking film that you won't be able to stay away from.
Clue
What makes a mystery more rewatchable than humor? Based on the board game of our childhoods, Clue follows a group of strangers anonymously invited to a dinner party at a mansion. Each of them holds a high-stakes secret, but when their host is murdered, they are forced to scrape together trust to sort out the killer. The mystery is compelling, but the real draw of this movie is the iconic cast. A cult classic, this hilarious film even has multiple endings to keep things fresh.
Gone Girl
Based on the book of the same name by Gillian Flynn, audiences went wild for this movie when it came out in 2014. When a man's wife goes missing, all signs point to his involvement—and the media attention only exacerbates the situation. While your first watch of this film will leave you slack-jawed, any subsequent rewatches will leave you just as enthralled, as you go along for the ride in a brilliant psychological thriller.
The Prestige
To sneak another Christopher Nolan film on the list, The Prestige is centered around a pair of rival stage magicians in London in the late 19th century. After a tragic accident, the men dedicate themselves to outwitting the other and devising the best illusion. This film is truly a ride of twists and turns, and there are so many threads of truth hidden in the film, it'd be impossible to catch them all the first time.
