These whodunits range from goofy comedies to disturbing thrillers.

The 16 best murder mysteries on Netflix that you can solve from your couch

These whodunits range from goofy comedies to disturbing thrillers.

By Tanya Melendez

Tanya Melendez

Tanya Melendez is a freelance writer at **. She joined EW in 2023.

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and Kevin Jacobsen

May 22, 2026 7:00 p.m. ET

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Jennifer Aniston as Audrey Spitz in 'Murder Mystery'; Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery'; Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best in 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Credit:

Scott Yamano/Netflix; John Wilson/Netflix; Giles Keyte/Netflix

A good murder mystery is like nothing else. When they're particularly well written, the audience finds themselves piecing the clues together right alongside the sleuths onscreen and actively engaging with the evidence presented. Red herrings are prevalent in the subgenre, and suspects come and go, leading to a late-stage revelation that suddenly shifts everything into place.

Netflix has numerous murder mysteries available to stream, ranging from Rian Johnson's *Knives Out* whodunits *Glass Onion* (2022) and *Wake Up Dead Man* (2025), and cozy mysteries like *The Thursday Murder Club* (2025). Some, like 2017's *Wind River*, have a darker tone and deemphasize the "fun" of the genre, but are no less enthralling in their storytelling.

So, where to start? Luckily, we've done all the searching for you. Ahead, find our picks for the 16 best murder mystery movies and shows on Netflix.

Bodies (2023)

Amaka Okafor as DS Hasan in 'Bodies'.

Matt Towers/Netflix

This series has multiple murder mysteries in one — or does it? Set in 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053, four different detectives (Kyle Soller, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Amaka Okafor, and Shira Haas) investigate a body that appears on the same London street throughout history.

The show uses its time-bending conceit to great effect, putting a different flavor on each investigation and letting the era's prejudices impact the detectives. The twists and turns are winding, and the all-too-human detectives mean four times the flawed hero. A very good time, time, time, and time, indeed. *—Tanya Melendez*

Where to watch *Bodies*: Netflix

**Cast:** Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Shira Haas, Kyle Soller, Amaka Okafor, Stephen Graham

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'.

Courtesy of Netflix

It's a familiar trope: A murder mystery party goes awry when one of the guests is *actually* murdered. Writer-director Rian Johnson is well-versed in this subgenre, and he gives this standalone sequel to *Knives Out* a fresh spin. Like the first film, *Glass Onion* features an all-star cast including Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, and Dave Bautista, who play age-old friends convening at their wealthy friend Miles' (Edward Norton) mansion for a game of murder mystery. Also there is famed detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), who comes in handy when one of their own is poisoned.

"*Glass Onion* doesn't feel like a movie that's meant, really, to be peeled," quips EW's critic. "It's here strictly to dazzle you with money and murder and famous-people pandemonium." —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Rian Johnson

**Cast:** Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2024–present)

Emma Myers as Pip Fitz-Amobi and Zain Iqbal as Ravi Singh on 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder'.

Courtesy Netflix

British youth Pippa (*Wednesday*'s Emma Myers) decides to do a school project on the five-year-old murder of local girl Andie, despite no one wanting to revisit the painful event. But Pip is convinced the police got the wrong guy, and she can't forget seeing Andie the day she was murdered. Myers nails the realistic teen who is a far cry from the unflappable Nancy Drew, screwing up plenty and often terrified of what she's gotten herself into. It just makes her path to the truth an even more satisfying win. *—T.M.*

Where to watch *A Good Girl's Guide to Murder*: Netflix

**Cast:** Emma Myers, Zain Iqbal, India Lillie Davies

The Hunting Wives (2025–present)

Katie Lowes as Jill, Brittany Snow as Sophie O'Neil, and Malin Akerman as Margo Banks on 'The Hunting Wives'.

*The Hunting Wives* has just about everything you'd want from a soapy murder mystery series: morally ambiguous characters, fabulous actresses sinking their teeth into juicy material, and a core whodunit that keeps you guessing. Brittany Snow stars as Sophie, a new arrival in a wealthy Texas town where an elite group of women known as the Hunting Wives draw her into their orbit. After a teenage girl is murdered in the woods and Sophie's gun is found at the crime scene...let's just say things get messy. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Hunting Wives*: Netflix

**Cast:** Brittany Snow, Malin Akerman, Evan Jonigkeit, Katie Lowes, Dermot Mulroney

The Lincoln Lawyer (2022–present)

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller on 'The Lincoln Lawyer'.

Courtesy of Netflix

This legal thriller series, based on the Mickey Haller novel series by Michael Connelly, is classic TV drama with a fresh Netflix sheen. Created by television maestro David E. Kelley, *The Lincoln Lawyer* follows attorney Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), who inherits a fellow lawyer's practice after his murder. The first season finds Mickey trying to find answers about the murder while also defending a video game developer accused of double homicide. With propulsive pacing and excellent courtroom drama, *The Lincoln Lawyer* is an easy binge with just the right amount of grit to not feel old-fashioned. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Lincoln Lawyer*: Netflix

**Cast:** Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson

Lost Girls (2020)

Amy Ryan (right) as Mari Gilbert in 'Lost Girls'.

Jessica Kourkounis/Netflix

For good reason, this crime drama based on true events doesn't have the pulpy fun of most other titles in this list. Nonetheless, it's a compelling mystery with a dynamic performance by Amy Ryan, who stars as activist Mari Gilbert as she desperately seeks answers following her daughter's disappearance. In her pursuit, a grisly truth is revealed related to the elusive Long Island serial killer. EW's critic praises *Lost Girls*, writing of how the film "aims not so much to crack the case as simply to bring some kind of light, at least in death, to girls who deserved much more while they lived." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Lost Girls*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Liz Garbus

**Cast:** Amy Ryan, Thomasin McKenzie, Lola Kirke, Oona Laurence, Dean Winters

Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)

Cynthia Erivo as Odette Raine in 'Luther: The Fallen Sun'. John Wilson/Netflix

If you missed the BBC series *Luther*, start there (don't worry, it's British, so there are only 20 episodes). You'll want to watch every minute of the marvelously charismatic Idris Elba playing DCI John Luther, hunched in a gray tweed overcoat as he obsessively (and violently) solves major crimes. Then come back to this stellar 2023 movie, which, due to his many previous illegal transgressions, begins with a disgraced Luther in prison. His incarceration doesn't last long, though, because a taunting serial killer spurs a prison break. From there, it's game on for our now-vigilante antihero. *—T.M.*

Where to watch *Luther: The Fallen Sun*: Netflix

**Director:** Jamie Payne

**Cast:** Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis

Murder Mystery (2019)

Jennifer Aniston as Audrey Spitz and Adam Sandler as Nick Spitz in 'Murder Mystery'. Scott Yamano/Netflix

Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler star in this zippy, goofy mystery-comedy about a couple celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary in Italy getting caught up in the murder of a billionaire (Terence Stamp). She loves mystery novels and he's a cop, which makes them uniquely suited to solve the case, especially since the Italian police think they did it. The caper is as bubbly as an Aperol spritz on a hot Lake Como day, with Sandler and Aniston's charm and comedic chemistry keeping the whodunit going. *—T.M.*

Where to watch *Murder Mystery*: Netflix

**Director:** Kyle Newacheck

**Cast:** Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler, Luke Evans, Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton

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Murderville (2022)

Will Arnett as Terry Seattle on 'Murderville'. Lara Solanki/Netflix

This cleverly devised murder mystery comedy series allows celebrities to show off their improvisational skills. Will Arnett stars as a police detective investigating a new murder every episode, paired with a guest star who has no script. The guest must use their critical thinking to determine the culprit, with the truth revealed at the end of each case. The famous faces include Conan O'Brien, Marshawn Lynch, Kumail Nanjiani, Annie Murphy, Sharon Stone, and Ken Jeong, and — spoiler alert — not all of them correctly guess the killer. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Murderville*: Netflix

**Cast:** Will Arnett, Haneefah Wood, Lilan Bowden, Phillip Smithey

The Perfect Couple (2024–present)

Liev Schreiber as Tag Winbury and Nicole Kidman as Greer Winbury in 'The Perfect Couple'.

Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix

Murder mystery on an island? Check. A host of wealthy suspects who all have secret reasons to want the victim dead? Check. Nicole Kidman playing a rich, icy blonde holding her family together through NDAs, a killer wardrobe, and a strategically raised eyebrow? Check, check, and check. All that, plus Liev Schreiber as a pill-popping philanderer named Tag, Dakota Fanning in pregnancy prosthetics, and Donna Lynne Champlin as the beleaguered detective trying to solve the murder.

Binge the available first season as intended — like you're downing 12 dozen Pocomo oysters on ice that can't be returned to the caterer. An anthology series, the upcoming second season will focus on a different mysterious family on Nantucket. *—T.M.*

Where to watch *The Perfect Couple*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning, Donna Lynne Champlin, Meghann Fahy

The Residence (2025)

Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp and Giancarlo Esposito as A.B. Wynter on 'The Residence'.

Jessica Brooks/Netflix

In the grand tradition of iconic TV murder mystery series like *Columbo* and *Murder, She Wrote*, this Shondaland show is cleverly devised with a quirky, compelling performance at its center. Uzo Aduba, in an Emmy-nominated performance, stars as a detective investigating the mysterious death of the White House chief usher (Giancarlo Esposito), which is initially deemed a suicide, but evidence suggests otherwise. *The Residence* combines the twisty appeal of a murder mystery with juicy upstairs-downstairs intrigue, opting not to subvert its genre conventions but to lovingly embrace them. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Residence*: Netflix

**Cast:** Uzo Aduba, Giancarlo Esposito, Susan Kelechi Watson, Jason Lee, Ken Marino

The Thursday Murder Club (2025)

Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft, Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, Naomi Ackie as Donna De Freitas, Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie, and Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif in 'The Thursday Murder Club'.

Giles Keyte/Netflix

The concept of a "cozy" murder mystery may seem inappropriate at first glance. Yet, there is a certain appeal to these kinds of whodunits, which focus more on the thrill of investigation without resorting to grisly sensationalism. Adapted from Richard Osman's best-selling novel of the same name, this lighthearted crime caper centers on four amateur sleuths living in a retirement community who look into a suspicious murder. Bolstered by game performances by stars Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie, *The Thursday Murder Club* is a crowd-pleasing yarn of a film. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Thursday Murder Club*: Netflix

**Director:** Chris Columbus

**Cast:** Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

Josh O’Connor as Jud Duplenticy and Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery'.

John Wilson/Netflix

The *Knives Out *anthology of films took a decidedly darker turn with this third entry. This time around, the monsignor of a small-town church is found dead under mysterious circumstances, and Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is summoned to investigate. Teaming up with the church's young priest (Josh O'Connor), Detective Blanc faces his toughest mystery yet as he immerses himself in the tight-knit community of worshipers. Tackling heavy themes, including guilt and sins of the past, writer-director Rian Johnson crafts a rich story that transcends the surface-level reveals of whodunit. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery*: Netflix

**Director:** Rian Johnson

**Cast:** Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner

Who Killed Sara? (¿Quién mató a Sara?) (2021–2022)

Manolo Cardona as Álex Guzmán on 'Who Killed Sara?'.

Spoiler alert: The answer to the title question is definitely *not* the guy who served 18 years in prison for it. The streamer has embraced the "Netflixnovela": pulpy mysteries full of murder, beautiful people, and, of course, *escándalo*! This three-season Mexican series follows Alex Guzmán (Manolo Cardona), fresh out of the slammer and out for *venganza* (that's Spanish for "revenge," amigos) against the powerful family that framed him. If you love a soapy plot, settle in for this murder mystery spin. *—T.M.*

Where to watch *Who Killed Sara?*: Netflix

**Cast:** Manolo Cardona, Ginés García Millán, Carolina Miranda, Claudia Ramírez, Eugenio Siller

Wind River (2017)

Jeremy Renner as U.S. Wildlife Agent Cory Lambert in 'Wind River'.

Fred Hayes/The Weinstein Company

One year before his television empire began with *Yellowstone*, Taylor Sheridan wrote and directed this absorbing neo-Western mystery about the chilling death of an 18-year-old Native American young woman. Wildlife agent Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) and FBI Special Agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) team up to uncover the horrifying details behind her death. EW's critic writes, "For all its well-worn outlines, the narrative exerts its own fierce, clenched-jaw grip: a cautionary campfire tale that reminds us it’s not merely the end that matters, it’s the style and skill of the telling." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Wind River*: Netflix

**Director:** Taylor Sheridan

**Cast:** Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal, Graham Greene

Young Wallander (2020–2022)

Tomiwa Edun as Osei on 'Young Wallander'.

Andrej Vasilenko/Netflix

The original Swedish Kurt Wallander detective novels always had a healthy dose of social commentary, so, when updating the character, creator Ben Harris set his TV series in the present day to bring modern issues to the table. Wallander (Adam Pålsson) is a rookie cop whose first case gets messy quickly — and not just because he knows both the victim and the suspect personally. Soon, immigration, racism, and police brutality add layers to the moody Scandinavian noir mystery, leading Wallander to parts of Malmö his predecessors never ventured. *—T.M.*

Where to watch *Young Wallander*: Netflix

**Cast:** Adam Pålsson, Richard Dillane, Ellise Chappell

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