#1 of 1,640 Top 100 · Mystery
The 100 Best Mystery Movies, Ranked
We rank 1,640 of the 10,469 mystery films on the site; these are the top 100. Rear Window (1954) is #1 with a critics & audiences score of 96/100, ahead of Vertigo (1958) and Three Colors: Red (1994). Ranked by Echo Score; 57 of these 100 films have none (released before 2017, when Echo Scores start) and are ranked by a blend of their Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings. A ranked watchlist for whodunits, twists and puzzling plots. For new releases and box office hits, see the mystery movies guide.
- ranked mystery films
- 1,640
- mystery films on the site
- 10,469
- release years in the top 100
- 1935–2026
- award winners in the top 100
- 32
#1 of 1,640 Top 10
What Are the Best Mystery Movies?
Rear Window (1954) leads with a critics & audiences score of 96/100, ahead of Vertigo (1958); 4 of the top 10 are from the 1950s. Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases).
- 1. Rear Window 100 Metascore (Metascore 100 out of 100)
1954 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 52m
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock No Echo Score: ranked 96/100 on critics & audiences · 6 award nominations
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2. Vertigo 100 Metascore (Metascore 100 out of 100)1958 · Mystery, Romance · 2h 8m
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock No Echo Score: ranked 95/100 on critics & audiences
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3. Three Colors: Red 100 Metascore (Metascore 100 out of 100)1994 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 39m
Dir. Krzysztof Kieslowski No Echo Score: ranked 94/100 on critics & audiences · 1 award win · $3.6M worldwide
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3. Citizen Kane 100 Metascore (Metascore 100 out of 100 (19 critic reviews))1941 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 59m
No Echo Score: ranked 94/100 on critics & audiences
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5. North by Northwest 98 Metascore (Metascore 98 out of 100 (16 critic reviews))1959 · Action, Adventure · 2h 16m
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock No Echo Score: ranked 93/100 on critics & audiences · 4 award nominations
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5. Rashomon 98 Metascore (Metascore 98 out of 100)1951 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 28m
Dir. Akira Kurosawa No Echo Score: ranked 93/100 on critics & audiences · 1 award win
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7. The Third Man 97 Metascore (Metascore 97 out of 100)1949 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 44m
Dir. Carol Reed No Echo Score: ranked 93/100 on critics & audiences · 2 award wins
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7. The Maltese Falcon 97 Metascore (Metascore 97 out of 100)1941 · Mystery, Film-Noir · 1h 40m
No Echo Score: ranked 93/100 on critics & audiences · 3 award nominations
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9. The Lady Vanishes 98 Metascore (Metascore 98 out of 100)1938 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 36m
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock No Echo Score: ranked 92/100 on critics & audiences
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10. Double Indemnity 95 Metascore (Metascore 95 out of 100 (18 critic reviews))1944 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 47m
Dir. Billy Wilder No Echo Score: ranked 92/100 on critics & audiences · 7 award nominations
#11 to #100
Mystery Movies Ranked #11 to #100
Places 11 to 100: The Night of the Hunter (1955) opens the list and The Long Good Friday (1982) closes it. 30 of these 90 films are not in English; 16 languages appear in all. Filter by decade or language, or sort by year or box office.
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Decade
Language
Places 11 to 100; films with the same score share a rank. Use a filter or another sort to include the top 10.
Echo Score, our 0–100 rating (films from 2017 on) Blend: Metascore with IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings, for films without an Echo Score
- 1 1. Rear Window
1954 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 52m
96 Blend - 2 2. Vertigo
1958 · Mystery, Romance · 2h 8m
95 Blend - 3 3. Three Colors: Red
1994 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 39m
94 Blend $3.6M - 3 3. Citizen Kane
1941 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 59m
94 Blend - 5 5. North by Northwest
1959 · Action, Adventure · 2h 16m
93 Blend - 5 5. Rashomon
1951 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 28m
93 Blend - 7 7. The Third Man
1949 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 44m
93 Blend - 7 7. The Maltese Falcon
1941 · Mystery, Film-Noir · 1h 40m
93 Blend - 9 9. The Lady Vanishes
1938 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 36m
92 Blend - 10 10. Double Indemnity
1944 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 47m
92 Blend - 11
11. The Night of the Hunter1955 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 32m
91 Blend - 12
12. Psycho1960 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 49m
91 Blend - 13
13. The Secret Agent2025 · Crime, Drama · 2h 38m
90 Echo $19.4M - 13
13. Sookshmadarshini2024 · Thriller, Mystery · 2h 22m
90 Echo $1.7M - 13
13. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery2025 · Comedy, Crime · 2h 20m
90 Echo - 13
13. Like Aani Subscribe2024 · Mystery, Thriller · 2h 22m
90 Echo - 13
13. Pahuna: The Little Visitors2019 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 28m
90 Echo - 18
18. Werckmeister Harmonies2001 · Sci-Fi, Drama · 2h 25m
90 Blend $69.9K - 19
19. Pan's Labyrinth2006 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 58m
89 Blend $83.9M - 20
20. The Lighthouse2019 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 49m
89 Echo $18.1M - 20
20. The Manchurian Candidate1962 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 6m
89 Blend - 20
20. The Innocents2022 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 57m
89 Echo $321.8K - 20
20. Trenque Lauquen Parte I2023 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 9m
89 Echo $2.9K - 20
20. To Kill a Wolf2025 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 32m
89 Echo - 25
25. Reversal of Fortune1990 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 51m
88 Blend $15.4M - 26
26. It Was Just an Accident2025 · Action, Adventure · 1h 41m
88 Echo $10.5M - 26
26. Chronovisor2026 · Fantasy, History · 1h 40m
88 Blend $131.3K - 26
26. High and Low1963 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 23m
88 Blend - 26
26. Sam Now2023 · Adventure, Drama · 1h 27m
88 Echo - 30
30. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre1974 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 23m
87 Blend $30.9M - 31
31. Chinatown1974 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 10m
87 Blend $29.2M - 32
32. Anatomy of a Murder1959 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 40m
86 Blend - 33
33. The Fugitive1993 · Action, Drama · 2h 10m
86 Blend $368.9M - 34
34. L.A. Confidential1997 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 18m
86 Blend $126.2M - 35
35. Hereditary2018 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 7m
86 Echo $87.8M - 35
35. The Tale2018 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 54m
86 Echo $2.7M - 35
35. Andhadhun2018 · Comedy, Thriller · 2h 19m
86 Echo $62.5M - 35
35. Three Colors: Blue1993 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 38m
86 Blend $1.6M - 35
35. Marjorie Prime2017 · Sci-Fi, Drama · 1h 39m
86 Echo $213.9K - 35
35. The Birds1963 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 59m
86 Blend - 35
35. Trenque Lauquen Parte II2023 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 13m
86 Echo - 42
42. The Departed2006 · Mystery, Thriller · 2h 31m
85 Blend $291.5M - 43
43. Knives Out2019 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 11m
85 Echo $312.9M - 43
43. Searching2018 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 42m
85 Echo $75.5M - 43
43. The Conversation1974 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 53m
85 Blend $4.9M - 43
43. The Summit of the Gods2021 · Adventure, Drama · 1h 35m
85 Echo $1.8M - 43
43. Lupin III: The First2020 · Action, Adventure · 1h 33m
85 Echo $7.5M - 43
43. Kishkindha Kaandam2024 · Drama, Thriller · 2h 5m
85 Echo $1.9M - 43
43. Caché (Hidden)2005 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 57m
85 Blend $16.2M - 43
43. The Green Fog2018 · Mystery · 1h 3m
85 Echo $5M - 43
43. The Soul2021 · Sci-Fi, Drama · 2h 10m
85 Echo $9.6M - 43
43. Bodies at Rest2019 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 33m
85 Echo $25.3M - 43
43. The Call2020 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 52m
85 Echo $1.6M - 43
43. Sequin in a Blue Room2021 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 20m
85 Echo - 43
43. Are You Lonesome Tonight?2023 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 35m
85 Echo - 56
56. Memento2001 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 53m
85 Blend $40M - 56
56. Capturing the Friedmans2003 · Biography, Mystery · 1h 47m
85 Blend $4.1M - 58
58. Gravity2013 · Sci-Fi, Drama · 1h 31m
85 Blend $723.8M - 59
59. The Past2013 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 10m
84 Blend $12.7M - 59
59. The Big Sleep1946 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 54m
84 Blend - 61
61. The Batman2022 · Action, Sci-Fi · 2h 56m
84 Echo $772.3M - 61
61. Uncut Gems2019 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 15m
84 Echo $50M - 61
61. Exhuma2024 · Horror, Mystery · 2h 14m
84 Echo $93.9M - 61
61. Wake Up Dead Man2025 · Comedy, Crime · 2h 20m
84 Echo $1.6M - 61
61. Sheep Without a Shepherd2019 · Crime, Mystery · 1h 52m
84 Echo $191.6M - 61
61. Blow Out1981 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 47m
84 Blend $12M - 61
61. Mirage2018 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 9m
84 Echo $17.3M - 61
61. Deep Red1976 · Mystery, Thriller · 2h 6m
84 Blend $68.5K - 61
61. Spiritwalker2020 · Fantasy, Action · 1h 48m
84 Echo $6.6M - 61
61. Foreign Correspondent1940 · Mystery, Thriller · 2h
84 Blend - 71
71. Rebecca1940 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 10m
84 Blend - 72
72. The Player1992 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 4m
84 Blend $21.7M - 72
72. The Double Life of Veronique1991 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 38m
84 Blend $2.2M - 72
72. The Wicker Man1974 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 28m
84 Blend $551.9K - 72
72. Black Rain2001 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 46m
84 Blend - 76
76. The 39 Steps1935 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 26m
84 Blend - 77
77. Great Expectations1947 · Adventure, Drama · 1h 58m
83 Blend - 78
78. Blade Runner 20492017 · Sci-Fi, Drama · 2h 44m
83 Echo $277.9M - 78
78. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 22011 · Adventure, Mystery · 2h 10m
83 Blend $1.3B - 78
78. Beasts Clawing at Straws2020 · Drama, Thriller · 1h 48m
83 Echo $5.8M - 81
81. The Bourne Ultimatum2007 · Action, Adventure · 1h 55m
83 Blend $442.8M - 81
81. Mulholland Dr.2001 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 27m
83 Blend $20.4M - 81
81. Brother's Keeper1992 · Mystery, Crime · 1h 44m
83 Blend $1.3M - 84
84. Atonement2007 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 3m
83 Blend $129.3M - 84
84. The Long Goodbye1973 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 52m
83 Blend $24.2K - 86
86. Inception2010 · Action, Sci-Fi · 2h 28m
82 Blend $839.4M - 86
86. Memories of Murder2005 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 12m
82 Blend $9.6M - 88
88. The White Ribbon2009 · Drama, Mystery · 2h 24m
82 Blend $19.4M - 89
89. Reservoir Dogs1992 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 39m
82 Blend $2.9M - 90
90. You Were Never Really Here2018 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 29m
82 Echo $9.4M - 90
90. Sleep2024 · Comedy, Horror · 1h 35m
82 Echo $11.1M - 90
90. The Execution2024 · Crime, History · 2h 18m
82 Echo $53.5M - 90
90. Twilight2023 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 41m
82 Blend - 90
90. The Kid Detective2020 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 40m
82 Echo $367.9K - 90
90. Forgotten2017 · Thriller, Crime · 1h 48m
82 Echo $10M - 90
90. Mildred Pierce1945 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 51m
82 Blend - 90
90. They Cloned Tyrone2023 · Action, Sci-Fi · 2h 2m
82 Echo - 90
90. The Postman Always Rings Twice1946 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 53m
82 Blend - 90
90. The Righteous2022 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 37m
82 Echo - 90
90. The Long Good Friday1982 · Drama, Mystery · 1h 54m
82 Blend
No film in this list matches both filters. Choose "All" in one of them.
Decade by decade
The Best Mystery Movie of Every Decade
From The Lady Vanishes (1938) in the 1930s to The Secret Agent (2025) in the 2020s: the highest-ranked mystery movie of each of 10 decades. The 2020s place the most films in the top 100 (29).
- 1930s 98 Metascore The Lady Vanishes 1938
- 1940s 100 Metascore Citizen Kane 1941
- 1950s 100 Metascore Rear Window 1954
- 1960s 97 Metascore Psycho 1960
- 1970s 91 Metascore The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 1974
- 1980s 86 Metascore Blow Out 1981
- 1990s 100 Metascore Three Colors: Red 1994
- 2000s 93 Metascore Werckmeister Harmonies 2001
- 2010s 90 Echo Pahuna: The Little Visitors 2019
- 2020s 90 Echo The Secret Agent 2025
Awards
Which Mystery Movies Won the Most Awards?
Gravity (2013) has the strongest record with 23 wins from 40 nominations, including wins at Oscars, Golden Globes and BAFTA. Wins and nominations are counted across every ceremony on our awards pages.
- Gravity 23 wins / 40 nom.2013 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 96 Metascore
- Inception 17 wins / 41 nom.2010 · Oscars, BAFTA, Saturn Awards · 74 Metascore
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Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood 15 wins / 50 nom.2019 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 75 Echo - L.A. Confidential 10 wins / 35 nom.1997 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 91 Metascore
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In the Heat of the Night 10 wins / 19 nom.1967 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 76 Metascore -
Hugo 9 wins / 39 nom.2011 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 83 Metascore - Chinatown 9 wins / 30 nom.1974 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 92 Metascore
- The Departed 8 wins / 27 nom.2006 · Oscars, Golden Globes, Critics' Choice · 85 Metascore
Keep exploring
More Ways to Explore Mystery Movies
The top 100 are the best 6% of 1,640 ranked mystery films. The mystery guide, the full list of 10,469 films and the mystery box office chart cover the rest of the genre.
FAQ
Mystery Movies: Questions & Answers
Answers from the mystery ranking above: the best mystery film, how many mystery movies there are, the strongest decade and the most awarded mystery film.
What is the best mystery movie?
Rear Window (1954) is the best-ranked mystery movie on What's After the Movie, with a critics & audiences score of 96/100. Vertigo (1958) and Three Colors: Red (1994) follow. Ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings (Echo Scores start with 2017 releases).
About Rear Window How many mystery movies are there?
The site lists 10,469 mystery films. 1,640 of them are ranked: features of 60+ minutes with a real audience, critic, award or box office signal and a score. This page shows the top 100.
All mystery movies Which decade has the best mystery movies?
The 2020s place 29 films in the top 100, more than any other decade. The oldest film in the list is The 39 Steps (1935), the newest Chronovisor (2026).
What is the most awarded mystery movie?
Gravity (2013) won 23 awards from 40 nominations, ahead of Inception (2010) (17 wins), counted across the Oscars, festivals and guild awards on our awards pages.
Movie awards How is this list different from the mystery genre page?
This page is only the ranking of the 100 best mystery films. The mystery genre page covers the whole genre: new releases, the biggest box office hits, its directors and how it changed over the decades.
Mystery movies guide