From high profile heists to high-stakes who-dun-its, this list of the top 10 best mystery movies to watch on TV right now will keep your guessing and have you on the edge of your seat.
Keep an eye on this list as it is updated with the latest and greatest mystery movies so you can be sure you’re in the loop. From Jaws to 1408, this list will help those who love finding clues and solving puzzles stay up to date on the most popular mystery movies available to watch on TV right now.
Watch Guide Methodology: Using proprietary viewership data, DIRECTV Insider curates lists of the most popular TV shows and movies being watched by real people, in real time, to help you pick the best trending content to watch across networks. Our rolling data collection also allows readers to see how a trending show’s ranking has changed week over week.
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TOP 10 MYSTERY MOVIES TO WATCH
Let’s get started. Here are the trending mystery movies TV-watchers are enjoying right now, with all the information you need to check them out for yourself.
1. ‘Jaws’
↔ vs. Prior Week
Prepare for a deep dive into terror with the iconic blockbuster, Jaws. Released in 1975, this legendary thriller directed by Steven Spielberg still holds its terrifying charm. Watch as Police Chief Martin Brody, played masterfully by Roy Scheider, battles both the bloodthirsty great white shark terrorizing his beach town and his own fear of water.
Alongside him, oceanographer Matt Hooper and grizzled shark hunter Quint, engage in a life-or-death struggle to end the nightmare. Suspenseful, intense and chilling to the bone, Jaws is the ultimate test of humankind versus nature. It will leave you at the edge of your seat, prepared to jump at even the slightest hint of a dorsal fin.
2. ‘Signs’
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In M. Night Shyamalan’s terrifying suspense-filled thriller of 2002, Signs, Mel Gibson stars as Graham Hess, a farmer who stumbles upon a mysterious pattern etched into his crops. This intimate exploration of crop signs shakes Graham’s worldview, plunging him and his family, including his brother (Joaquin Phoenix) and children (Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin), into unspeakable horror and fear.
As they start to unravel the chilling implications of the design, the inscrutability of the universe takes on a menacing presence. With its signature blend of uncompromising reality and chilling supernaturalism, this film promises to keep viewers filled with suspense util the end.
3. ‘American Gangster’
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Experience the gritty, harsh realities of 1970s Harlem in American Gangster. Starring Denzel Washington as the infamous real-life mob boss Frank Lucas, the film explores how Lucas built an empire smuggling heroin into the US in the coffins of American soldiers killed in Vietnam. The movie is not just about the criminal empire Lucas built, but also about his nemesis, the relentless investigator Richie Roberts. The two lead a star-studded cast in this tense, raw film that delves into the dark side of the American dream. Experience the high-stakes world of crime, corruption and power in American Gangster.
4. ‘Training Day’
↓ 1 vs. Prior Week
Released in 2001, Training Day is a heart-thumping police drama that will tear your sense of morality apart. Oscar-winning powerhouse Denzel Washington stars as a battle-hardened narcotics officer who takes Ethan Hawke, the naive rookie, under his wing for a day of training in LA’s inner-city.
This is no ordinary orientation though; as the day progresses, ethics blur, forcing audiences to question the true nature of heroism and justice. Training Day is an intense exploration of the harrowing grey zone of urban crime enforcement, asking what we are willing to sacrifice for the illusion of safety on our streets.
5. ‘The Silence of the Lambs’
↔ vs. Prior Week
A horrifying masterpiece, The Silence of the Lambs (1991) stars the incredible Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, a promising FBI trainee. Given the task of interviewing Dr. Hannibal Lecter played masterfully by Anthony Hopkins, a genius psychiatrist turned violent psychopath and cannibal, the movie takes a chilling turn. Jack Crawford, portrayed by Scott Glenn, throws Clarice into this unsettling encounter, believing Lecter can provide them with crucial insight into an ongoing case. Cleverly using Starling’s youthful allure as bait, this psychological thriller provides a dreadful yet thrilling journey into a murderer’s manipulative mind.
6. ‘Inside Man’
↓ 2 vs. Prior Week
Unravel the thrilling suspense of Inside Man (2022), where brain contests brawn in an intense game of wits. A tenacious detective, portrayed by none other than Denzel Washington, is pitted against a shrewd and savvy bank robber, played by Clive Owen, amid a pulsating hostage situation. Enter Madaline, an enigmatic power broker whose role is masterfully crafted by Jodie Foster, with an agenda so covert it could snap the already taut tension beyond repair. Inside Man boasts a brilliant narrative that takes the audience on a gripping journey through unanticipated twists and plot turns, challenging loyalties and defying expectations at every crossroad.
7. ‘Man on Fire’
↑ 2 vs. Prior Week
In Man on Fire, Denzel Washington takes on the role of highly skilled, but emotionally scarred, bodyguard John Creasy. Desperate for work, Creasy agrees to protect a wealthy family’s young daughter, Pita, played by the enchanting Dakota Fanning. As Creasy slowly breaks down his hardened exterior, he builds an unexpected bond with Pita, making her kidnapping all the more devastating. This action-packed thriller delivers a gripping storyline and electrifying performances that will have you on the edge of your seat, as a man ignited by vengeance fights against the odds to save a life he holds dear.
8. ‘Parker’
↑ 1 vs. Prior Week
A thrilling roller coaster of deceit, intrigue and high-stakes crime, Parker (2013) presents Jason Statham at his cinematic best. Playing a principled thief with a unique moral code, Statham’s Parker finds himself embroiled in a dangerous web after being double-crossed by his crew. With charm and meticulous precision, he plots an elaborate heist to take them down and recover what he’s owed.
An intense dive into the ruthless underworld of crime, Parker is a pulsating tale of vengeance that keeps you on the edge of your seat, proving there is always a price to pay when you break the trust of a hardened criminal.
9. ‘The Silence of the Lambs’
↑ 1 vs. Prior Week
A horrifying masterpiece, The Silence of the Lambs (1991) stars the incredible Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, a promising FBI trainee. Given the task of interviewing Dr. Hannibal Lecter played masterfully by Anthony Hopkins, a genius psychiatrist turned violent psychopath and cannibal, the movie takes a chilling turn. Jack Crawford, portrayed by Scott Glenn throws Clarice into this unsettling encounter, believing Lecter can provide them with crucial insight into an ongoing case. Cleverly using Starling’s youthful allure as bait, this psychological thriller provides a dreadful yet thrilling journey into a murderer’s manipulative mind.
10. ‘1408’
↑ 1 vs. Prior Week
In the spine-chilling thriller 1408 (2007), Mike Enslin (John Cusack), a renowned debunker of supernatural phenomena, experiences the fright of a lifetime. Disregarding the dire warnings of the Dolphin Hotel’s manager (Samuel L. Jackson), Enslin decides to spend a night in the establishment’s notoriously haunted room. What begins as another skeptically approached exploration escalates rapidly into bone-chilling terror, far beyond his rational understanding. This gripping film will leave audiences on the edge of their seats, questioning the limits of perception and reality.
And there you have it: the top 10 mystery movies to stream at home. Stay tuned for updates to come so you can keep up with the best content available right now.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the most well-known mystery movies?
Popular mystery movies include Psycho, Citizen Kane, The Prestige and The Green Mile.
Who are some of the greatest mystery film directors?
Directors most known for their mystery movies include Alfred Hitchcock, David Fincher, Christopher Nolan and M. Night Shyamalan.
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