From the time we are young children, humans love solving puzzles. The fascination of the “how” keeps us continually guessing, even if we suspect we have the solution, we can’t stop obsessing until the puzzle is resolved. Perhaps it is this obsession with riddles that has made the "mystery" genre of movies so incredibly popular. When you think of the best mystery movies of all time, think of the puzzle, the intrigue, the allure of solving the case that has us hooked until the very end. 

12 Best Mystery Movies of All Time

The best mystery movies of all time keep us constantly guessing – the more unexpected twists, the more shocking plot developments, the better! Here are our best picks for the top must watch suspense movies of all time.
1

Rahasya (2015)

A 2015 Indian murder mystery film, "Rahasya" reveals the mysteries behind the death of an 18-year-old Indian girl, found brutally murdered inside her family’s fortress-like compound. If no one could get in, was it someone in the house? The prime suspect is her father, but as the case is further investigated, it appears that not everything is as it would seem. Inspired by the real live Aarushi murder case, "Rahasya" will keep you guessing until the very end.

2

Gone Girl (2014)

Who do you suspect when a man’s wife goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary? He seems distraught, but what about when the man is revealed to be lying? He paints a picture of marital bliss, but it soon becomes very apparent that this was perhaps not the case. Did he murder his wife? Or is it a much more sinister plot being played out? Based on the 2012 novel of the same name, "Gone Girl" is a true psychological thriller.

3

Inception (2010)

Extraction is the art of entering someone’s subconscious to steal secrets, yet "Inception" is much more difficult. In this dangerous game of dreams, one man is the undisputed master extraction thief and he has just been offered a chance to get his life back if he can pull off a masterful inception by planting an idea in someone’s subconscious. With so many layers to this 2010 blockbuster, how do you tell what is real and what is not? Who is dreaming and who is awake?

4

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

Inspired by Stieg Larsson’s masterful trilogy of novels, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was the first of the hugely popular "Millennium" movies to be released in Sweden. As a very popular mystery movie, it revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a girl from her family’s island 40 years before. Tasked with finding out what really happened, a disgraced journalist and a vengeful computer hacker begin to unravel crimes that go far beyond the disappearance of one girl, revealing a family history full of twisted secrets.

5

The Prestige (2006)

Two magician’s assistants in the late 1800’s enjoy a friendly rivalry until the actions of one causes the death of the other man’s wife. Then, both driven by anger, revenge and a burning ambition, the two rivals begin to sabotage each other’s show, and then their lives until they are no longer sure what is real and what is not. Obsessions, secrets and jealousy are mixed up in an enigma that is as confounding as any great magic trick.

6

Identity (2003)

Malcolm Rivers is a convicted serial killer, sentenced to death. But is Malcolm actually insane? Meanwhile, a series of unlikely events result in a strange cast of characters, all staying at a little motel in the desert. One by one, they start to die. Who will be next? Who is responsible? And what does any of this have to do with Malcolm Rivers? The shocking finale to this movie is what makes it one of the best mystery movies of all time.

7

The Game (1997)

A lonely millionaire, depressed on his birthday, receives an unusual gift from his estranged brother: a voucher to participate in a “game”. After being told that it is a life altering experience, he agrees to participate and undergoes a grueling session of psychological interrogation to see if he qualifies. Then he is told he can’t play the game... Moreover, is he already for the game? Who else is playing? And what is the end goal? How does he get out? All will be found out in the end of this great mystery movie! Or not?

8

Se7en (1995)

How do you get inside the mind of a serial killer? For two detectives investigating a series of horrific murders, the answer to that question is vital. The murders are in retaliation for society’s apparent acceptance of the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, lust, pride, envy and wrath. As each new murder is committed, the detectives are drawn further and further into the sadistic world of their quarry, willing to stop at nothing in order to catch him…until they realise just how high that cost is.

9

Blow Out (1981)

When working as a sound recordist for cheap horror movies, a man overhears and records the assassination of a presidential hopeful. Determined to prove that this death was not the accident as everyone claims, he begins an amateur investigation, and without meaning to, he soon finds himself surrounded by intrigue, suspicion and danger, not knowing who he can trust or where he will be safe. Was the murder political? Or was this the work of a serial killer? All the questions keep exploding throughout the whole movie until the very end- truly deserves a place in the best mystery movies of all time. 

10

All the Presidents Men (1976)

Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward is assigned to cover a minor break-in at the Democratic Party National Headquarters in the run-up to the 1972 elections. What seems like a minor event begins to become a snowball, as top defense attorneys get involved and the trail begins to lead to a far bigger conspiracy. With the help of an anonymous informant known only as “Deep Throat”, Woodward and fellow reporter Carl Bernstein must work to untangle one of the biggest mysteries in American political history.

11

Chinatown (1974)

A private investigator is hired by a woman who worries her husband, the chief engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, may be having an affair. But after the death of the man he was tailing, it soon becomes apparent that the woman is an imposter and the scandal goes far beyond an illicit love affair. Now, as he is threatened by henchmen and investigated by police, the P.I. must unravel a web of corruption, incest and murder if he is to survive unscathed.

12

Psycho (1960)

Definitely one of the best mystery movies of all time, this Alfred Hitchcock classic is a study in nail-biting suspense. When a beautiful blonde seeks refuge in the lonely Bates Motel, she thinks she is safe with the shy young Bates, who lives alone with his eccentric and controlling mother. But who is really controlling whom? What will jealousy drive a person to? And what is really going on in that big house on the hill? The thrilling conclusion to this mystery movie is one of the greatest plots twists in movie history.

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