20 classic mystery films with endings audiences never suspected

When rewatching Knives Out, the solve seems so obvious. But that is just the sign of a great mystery: Hidden in plain sight and completely entertaining all the way through. 

There’s a reason Psycho is still heralded as one of the best horror films of all time. It has an absolutely wild plot twist that even the savviest of mystery solvers didn’t see coming. 

Gone Girl remains as culturally relevant as it was when it was first released. Not only does it have great plot twists, but it’s also contributed great meme fodder for the internet. 

No one does a mystery quite like Alfred Hitchcock. Though not quite as famous as Psycho, Rear Window is just as compelling if you like a good mystery. You know a movie is good when it holds up for decades. 

Speaking of films that have held up for decades on end … The Maltese Falcon is older than Rear Window and Psycho, and it still stands as a blueprint for movies of its ilk. It doesn’t hurt that it starred Humphrey Bogart, either. 

The Usual Suspects is a great title for a great movie. Roger Ebert didn’t love it, but most other critics did, and regular audiences were even more enamored with it. If you feel you’ve exhausted all modern mysteries, work backward to find some more gems, like The Usual Suspects. 

Who doesn’t love a good period piece? Period pieces are extra alluring when they’re mystery films, which makes Zodiac such a fun watch. Plus, it’s got a fantastic cast, with Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., and Chloe Sevigny among the stars. 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo isn’t an easy watch, but it’s a good watch. It’ll have you on the edge of your seat wondering how it’s going to end, and it’ll have you sitting back in your seat to contemplate its message when it’s over. 

Murder on the Orient Express is a good movie because the Agatha Christie novel was a good book. Whether you read the book or watch the movie first, you’ll be delighted by the ending.  

Se7en is a maddening title to type, but it’s a fun movie to watch. If you like Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and a thrilling plot, or even just one of those list items, you’ll like this movie. 

Jake Gyllenhaal doesn’t get enough credit for his superb work in thrillers. The twist in this film will have you sick to your stomach, but you’ll appreciate it cinematically. It’s an exciting and compelling film.  

Not a typical mystery film, but Get Out has quite the twist. And the script was good enough to garner writer/director Jordan Peele an Oscar, which should be more than enough to convince you to watch this film if you haven’t already. 

One of Christopher Nolan’s first projects, Memento has remained one of his most notable thanks to its thrilling and unique plot. And it’s not particularly long, especially for a Nolan film, which makes it even more appealing. 

A24 just knows which movies to make. It picked a good one in Midsommar , a horror mystery that’ll have you equal parts enthralled and disturbed. Florence Pugh did a fantastic job in the lead role, truly showing her range. 

Shutter Island proved to be very unexpected to audiences. When the film came out, everybody was talking about it. Spoilers exist across the internet, of course, but for anyone who can navigate the web without seeing the ending first, it’s a great mystery film to watch. 

Some might accuse Now You See Me’s twist as being a bit trope-y, but there’s a reason tropes are so popular. They almost always work. In this movie’s case, the trope works. Between a fun twist and a great cast, Now You See Me is an excellent watch. 

Though it’s a tad more comedic than it is mysterious, there’s no denying that Clue is a blast to watch. And its alternate endings make it totally camp and unexpected. You might be able to guess one of the endings, but you definitely won’t guess them all. 

The world deserves more animated mysteries. Spirited Away doesn’t totally fit that genre box, but it’s still thrilling and includes a plot twist that you won’t see coming. You might not be actively trying to figure out the plot while watching the film, but you’ll still feel a bit like you’re watching a mystery. 

Another classic Christopher Nolan film, The Prestige combines a great cast with a great script and a compelling sci-fi twist. You’ll be captivated from beginning to end, and you’ll see why Nolan routinely gets the green light for big-budget films. 

Don’t judge a film by its title. Brick sounds more like a comedy than a mystery, but it’s all the latter. Rian Johnson of Knives Out fame has been killing the mystery genre for decades, and Brick is proof.