The murder mystery genre has kept audiences guessing for generations, but only a few classic films have redefined what a murder mystery movie could be. Despite having a rigid formula, the whodunnit has never failed to surprise, especially since the genre is so versatile. The murder mystery has never gotten stale, and each generation leaves their mark.
Inspired by the works of authors like Agatha Christie, a murder mystery needs only a few elements to succeed. The best murder mystery movies have an unusual crime at the center of the story, and a compelling detective who must crack the case. The detective doesn’t necessarily have to be an officer of the law, but they often are.
From that starting point, filmmakers have crafted brilliant murder mysteries that not only challenge the mind of the viewer but dazzle their eyes with wonderful craft. There have been dozens of noteworthy films in the genre, but it’s rare that a movie completely redefines what the murder mystery can be.
These movies are revolutionary because they embrace the structure of the classic murder mystery tales, but have something new to say. Whether they add in other genres like thrillers or horror, or make a complete farce out of the genre’s tropes, some movies aren’t satisfied with being just another well-made murder mystery.
The Thin Man (1934)
The Thin Man franchise has been almost forgotten in the modern day, but it was a pivotal part of early Golden Age Hollywood. The eponymous 1934 movie kicked things off, and introduced viewers to Nick and Norah Charles, the detective duo who crack tough cases for fun. Unlike the serious mysteries of the time, The Thin Man was humorous.
The Thin Man was followed by five sequels between 1934 and 1947.
Made before strict censorship took over Hollywood, The Thin Man has a cheeky and macabre sense of humor that is shockingly modern for a film made in the ’30s. Myrna Loy and William Powell are one of the Golden Age’s best duos, and the film moves along at a brisk and exhilarating pace.
Critical and commercial success aside, The Thin Man is pivotal to the history of the murder mystery because it contributed humor. Most modern murder mysteries have a tongue-in-cheek tone, and it can all be traced back to The Thin Man. The genre has grown since the ’30s, but movies still copy the classic.
Memories Of Murder (2003)
Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder isn’t a conventional whodunnit, but is actually more of a grizzly thriller with a compelling mystery at the center. The movie offers a thinly-veiled critique of South Korea’s police insтιтutions, and explores a serial murder case through the eyes of inept detectives. Memories of Murder is equal parts engaging and repulsive.
One of the most common tropes of murder mysteries is the satisfying ending, with the heroes catching the culprit and putting them away. However, Memories of Murder has little to offer viewers by way of satisfaction, and instead leaves them to guess for themselves. In doing so, it manages to be as chilling as any effective horror movie.
Memories of Murder isn’t usually brought up in conversations about murder mystery movies, but that’s largely because the film so effectively subverts the tropes. It has a puzzling story and interesting investigators, but everything else springs from Bong Joon Ho’s imagination. This helped usher in a new era for the genre, one that wasn’t as formulaic as in previous decades.
The Long Goodbye (1973)
Murder mystery movies don’t often reflect the moods of their respective eras, but The Long Goodbye captures the zeitgeist of the early ’70s perfectly. The Robert Altman film taps Elliott Gould to play an updated version of Phillip Marlowe, and he’s a far cry from the hard-boiled gumshoe from Raymond Chandler’s books.
The movie brilliantly captures Chandler’s cynical look at Los Angeles society, but it has a layer of existential dread that typifies the ’70s. The mystery at the heart of the story isn’t as simple as a whodunnit, but is instead indicative of larger societal issues that Marlowe is helpless to stop.
The strongest force in the story is apathy, and Marlowe must compel himself to care as he is confronted with bald-faced evil beyond his control. The murder mystery genre is anchored by a clear sense of morality, but The Long Goodbye shatters that illusion. Like Christie before him, the works of Raymond Chandler proved to be flexible in subsequent generations.
Knives Out (2019)
It took a brilliant mind like Rian Johnson to bring the murder mystery genre into the modern day, and Knives Out is a perfect mix of the old and the new. It intentionally hearkens back to classic whodunnits, but it has a fresh and modern look that is indicative of the newest trends in filmmaking.
From a structural standpoint, there’s absolutely nothing groundbreaking about Knives Out, but it redefines the genre through synthesis. Instead of trying to eschew the tropes of the genre, it embraces them and recycles them effectively. It’s also a hilarious comedy, so it has a lot to fall back on if the mystery isn’t enough of a driving force.
The movie makes some small jabs at class issues, but it never gets lost in messaging. Other films redefine the murder mystery genre in extravagant ways, but Knives Out does it by reminding audiences what is so great about the genre in the first place. With a franchise blooming, the Rian Johnson hit could continue to reinvent murder mysteries.
The Thursday Murder Club (2025)
There is a small subgenre within the murder mystery genre that involves older people cracking cases, but few films do it as well as The Thursday Murder Club. Blockbuster director Chris Columbus brings his quirky eye to the Netflix original movie that has an intriguing mystery and a cast of notable names.
Instead of having one sleuth trying to solve the murder, The Thursday Murder Club has a team of detectives who each bring something different to the table. Their disparate personalities make for some humorous clashes, but the movie is really trying to demonstrate that older people have an important part to play in society.
Cozy mystery movies are a genre staple, but The Thursday Murder Club is one of the first to bring the cozy vibe without sacrificing anything else. It’s a well-made movie, and every small detail just adds to the experience. Cozy mysteries always feel small, but Chris Columbus’ gem feels like it could have been a blockbuster if released theatrically.
Clue (1985)
One of the best ways to redefine a genre is by spoofing it, and Clue is the perfect spoof of a murder mystery. Based on the eponymous board game, the movie cleverly expands the lore behind the table-top experience with hilariously over-the-top characters and situations. It even has different endings which offer various alternatives to the mystery.
Like the game itself, Clue takes aim at murder mystery clichés and deconstructs them. The movie uses abundant humor to make a point about the repeтιтive nature of the genre, and in doing so, is never dull or boring. It also features a stellar cast, elevating every moment into a quotable classic.
By the 1980s, the murder mystery genre had been reinvented several times, and Clue is something of a period on decades of cinema. The spoof puts a lot of tropes to bed for good, while inspiring future filmmakers to have fun with what the audience expects from the genre. Clue bombed at the box office, but is now beloved.
Murder On The Orient Express (1974)
Even with Hollywood cinema heading toward cynicism in the 1970s, Murder on the Orient Express appeared an unabashed throwback. Adapted from the book by Agatha Christie, it’s still one of the author’s best movies because it embraces every cliché without shame. There’s an opulence to the adaptation, and it never cuts corners.
Christie’s structure is preserved, and it maintains just the right amount of the book’s charm. The cast is excellent, and they help to sell the classic mystery set aboard the тιтular train. Redefining the murder mystery genre isn’t always about changing things, and Murder on the Orient Express is a return to form.
