If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good whodunit. But I must clarify, I don’t like movies or shows where the “twist” is that someone forgot to lock the door and the writer just spun a wheel and picked a culprit at random. The best whodunits don’t just stick a body in a fancy room and call it a day, they invite the viewers to play along and get involved. They want you to side-eye every character (I’ve done this plenty of times), question if any of the characters are trust-worthy (spoiler: they aren’t), rewind scenes, and say “wait..this doesn’t really add up.”
With all that being said, here are 10 whodunits which vary in style and setting, available to watch on Apple TV, Hulu, and more. Whether it’s a murder in a mansion, a body at a party, or a suspicious neighbor living across from you, the core appeal remains the same: someone’s lying, and you get to be the world’s cleverest detective and figure out who before the end credits roll, all from your couch!
Clue (1985)
If you ever thought murder mysteries take themselves a little too seriously, then Clue is here to gently (and then not so gently) shove that notion down a staircase. Six strangers gather at a creepy mansion at a dinner, and by the end, someone (or several someones) is dead. From there, it’s a race to figure out who did it, with delightfully over-the-top performances and the kind of sharp dialogue that can cut through a candlestick. The reason Clue continues to be a hallmark for whodunits is because of the way it operates; it balances comedy with a mystery that’s structured like a classic closed-room puzzle filled with alliances, secrets, and motives, similar to Knives Out.
If you’re looking for a slow-burn mystery, then you might find the frantic energy in Clue a bit overwhelming; in this case, Broadchurch might be a better fit. But if you’re someone who wants to have fun while solving mysteries (there are three different endings!), and not feel like they’re studying for a final, then Clue is a must watch. Clue has a high rewatchability factor; where each viewing is better than the last, and either way you’re in for a good time.
Gosford Park (2001)
Another movie that’s synonymous with ‘whodunits’ is Gosford Park. A weekend gathering at an English country estate brings together the upper-class guests and their servants, when a murder happens and everyone’s secrets start bubbling to the surface. The fun isn’t just about finding the killer—it’s in watching how the characters squirm while the bumbling detectives try to untangle the mess amidst lies and motives (and let’s not forget Maggie Smith’s one-liners.) That said, if you’re expecting a puzzle-first mystery like The Last of Sheila, then you might feel slightly disappointed, because yes, the murder is important, but sometimes it feels as though it was just an excuse to gather these unhappy people all under one fancy roof.
The ensemble cast is incredible and the cinematography makes it feel as though the estate itself is an additional character. People love to compare Gosford Park to Downtown Abbey, but I personally feel that the former is way sharper. If you’re someone who enjoys classy mysteries that unfold quietly, without the constant plot fireworks, while packing more under the surface than they first appear to, Gosford Park is basically perfect.
And Then There Were None (1945)
If someone says they want to watch a mystery that actually stresses them out (a closed setting and a shrinking group of suspects would just be a bonus!) you can confidently point them to And Then There Were None (both the 1945 and 2015 versions are worth checking out; their core plot is the same, but they each have a different ending.) The hook of the movie is unbeatable: ten strangers are lured to a remote island (this is where I think my introverted nature would come in handy—I just wouldn’t go.) One by one, they start dying in ways that eerily match a nursery rhyme, so of course, the survivors scramble to figure out who the killer is before it’s too late.
The suspense is relentless, though I did feel like the characters were rather flat; then again, I guess the point of the story is the tension and the trap, and not about making you fall in love with them, so it all works out! ATTWN is the most precise mystery in this list, but outside of this list, you can see its “group trapped with a killer” blueprint everywhere from teen slashers (April Fool’s Day) to modern thrillers (Invitation to a Murder), providing the ultimate reminder that a great whodunit doesn’t need bells and whistles, it just needs stakes and rules for a perfectly designed trap to unfold.
The Last of Sheila (1973)
Looking for a fiendishly clever puzzle you can solve with your friends on a Friday night? Then The Last of Sheila is tailor-made for you, brilliantly balancing complexity with entertainment. It follows a wealthy producer who invites a group of friends on his yacht for a week-long scavenger hunt style game that turns deadly when hidden secrets and a real murder take place. Who’s bluffing and who’s innocent? It’s a race to find out the answer.
Honestly, I found it hard to root for any of the characters because they were pretty unpleasant and unlikable, and if you’re used to watching cozy mysteries where everyone’s at least slightly charming, then this movie may not land for you. Compared to Magpie Murders or Glass Onion, which also plays on a multi-layered puzzle, The Last of Sheila is more adult in its tone. If you’re like me and love to work out the mystery while the characters are slowly panicking, then this movie can be immensely satisfying to watch.
Rear Window (1954)
Rear Window is the kind of movie that sneaks up on you making you feel like a slightly guilty accomplice. When Jeff, a wheelchair-bound photographer, is confined to his apartment and spies on his neighbors, he grows suspicious that one of them has committed murder, so he pieces together the truth without ever leaving his chair (and we’re right there with him.) This masterpiece from Hitchcock is definitely worth the watch; it turns the audience into a witness and a detective all at once, and reminds us that being curious can be dangerous.
The film isn’t a clear cut whodunit, because our protagonist names the character he thinks is the murderer, so it’s more about observation and suspense; if you’re someone who loved The Last of Sheila’s method of puzzle-solving storytelling, then you might feel Rear Window comes up short. However, I personally think the movie is genuinely cleverly made, where even the smallest detail could be a clue or a red herring (and really, should we even be on Jeff’s side? Is he just making all this up?) Fans of tense, morally complicated movies, like Disturbia, will find Rear Window intriguing.
Broadchurch (2013)
Broadchurch is for anyone who likes small-town murder mysteries and emotional drama, where every resident throws lingering looks that scream “I know something you don’t!” A town fractures under suspicion and gossip when a young boy is found dead on a coastal beach. Now, the detectives must untangle a web of secrets and grief to uncover the perpetrator. Broadchurch is a show that’s equal parts tightly plotted mystery and a painfully human drama, reminiscent of something like Top of the Lake.
It’s not just about murder where the reveal is an “aha!” moment, it’s also about how a crime can change everyone, especially the people you don’t notice. Broadchurch is the most emotionally heavy title on the list, where you can feel the weight of the fallout. Sure, the show is slow paced compared to something like See How They Run, which might frustrate you if you’re expecting flashy twists and turns. For me, it’s one of the most satisfying and heartbreaking modern whodunits, where I couldn’t help but care about the people in the community, with the kind of story that I just couldn’t look away from.
Magpie Murders (2022)
What’s better than one whodunit? A whodunit within a whodunit! If you’re confused, allow me to explain. Magpie Murders is about Susan, a book editor who investigates the death of a famous mystery author, while also diving into the pages of his latest unfinished locked-room whodunit novel packed with secrets and lies. So essentially, you’re following a story within a story, unraveling the details of the fictional murder and the real life twists, which keeps you guessing until the very end (hope this made things clearer!)
The layered storytelling is the best part, but this means that it’s not a show you can have on in the background while you clean your kitchen, as the nested narratives can be a bit confusing. It’s witty and keeps you on your toes, and giving it your full attention is what makes Magpie Murders such an interesting watch. So if you’re a fan of classic murder mysteries, but also like the genre gently examined (not mocked!) then this show is for you. If you’re left wanting more of Susan’s mystery solving, then head on over to watch the sequel, Moonflower Murders, where she takes the adventure to a hotel in Crete.
The Afterparty (2022)
Don’t like a grim whodunit in a dreary setting? Then The Afterparty is your perfect match. It delivers a mystery with style, humor, and audacity. A high school reunion afterparty ends in murder, and each episode from then on recounts the night from a different character’s perspective. The show is never boring; the same story is told through multiple perspectives, one minute you’re in a psychological thriller flashback, and the next you’re in a musical number, and somehow it just all makes sense.
Each retelling brings a new clue or fresh angle to the forefront, and you’re more than likely to be cackling as you take notes. Like See How They Run, it blends mystery with playfulness, and leans into comedy shamelessly. Needless to say, this doesn’t take on a traditional whodunit format, for that, And Then There Were None might suit you better, but if you like your mysteries with dance, music, and a bit of flair (and who doesn’t?), then The Afterparty should be next on your list. This is the most inventive show I’ve ever seen, and you won’t want to miss it!
See How They Run (2022)
See How They Run is the whodunit meta-spoof for anyone who wants their mysteries with characters who are a bit too theatrical for their own good (and I think that’s what makes them watchable!) A detective and a constable navigate eccentric actors and hidden motives (like the Constable, you’ll be furiously scribbling notes in your own notebook, dear viewer) when a film adaptation of a play turns deadly. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, and its silly and stylish tone keeps you constantly entertained, similar to how The Afterparty keeps things breezy.
With a playful nod to Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, See How They Run is an absolute delight, proving that a murder mystery doesn’t always have to be brooding, even if I did feel they could have honed in on the actual puzzle-solving a bit more. It’s the perfect escapist movie, and if you enjoy watching over-the-top characters, genre homages, and a witty plot you can recommend to a friend without giving a lecture on how to follow the clues (or you just want to watch Saoirse Ronan steal her scenes), then See How They Run will hit the sweet spot.
Identity (2003)
What could possibly happen when a group of strangers get stranded at a motel during a violent storm? If you’ve read the rest of the list, you know where I’m headed with this: that’s right, they start dropping like flies. Identity messes with your head in a way you start questioning everything and everyone, and the atmosphere adds to it with flickering lights and downpour making things seem extra tense and claustrophobic. It’s fast-paced, but doesn’t really give the characters too much depth; the creeping dread also doesn’t let you get comfortable with the characters, and keeps you recalibrating theories about who the killer could be.
If you enjoy thrillers with psychological twists, then Identity checks all the boxes. When I first watched the movie, I was taken aback by the ending, but it was in a “I can’t believe that just happened, but that makes so much sense” way. Identity is starkly different from See How They Run; where both movies try to deduce who the murderer might be, Identity does it in an intense way as compared to the latter, which keeps things light (or lighter, atleast.) Identity doesn’t play by the rules, and absolutely doesn’t apologize for it, but commits to keep you on the edge of your seat, and oh, does it deliver!
