Best of the "Whodunnit?" Genre (Part One)
Friday, November 15, 2019 at 4:03PM 
by Eurocheese
Rian Johnson’s upcoming Knives Out is a thrill ride of a whodunnit, toying with one of the most enjoyable film genres. To celebrate, I'm sharing my all time list of favorite murder mysteries. Feel free to add your own in the comments – we could all use some good discoveries from any era or country.
Before we begin some whodunnit qualifiers to narrow down this list. The films must have:
- A set group of suspects, who we get to know through the film (disqualifies movies like Se7en)
- An unknown culprit (knocks out most of Hitchcock)
- Evidence, so the audience has some chance of guessing the final answer
- ...And the identity of the culprit being revealed late in the film, either by a detective or the movie itself.
This should go without saying, but a whodunnit isn’t as fun when the answer is spoiled, so no spoilers in the comments (about any of these or Knives Out)!
TEN FAVOURITE WHODUNNITS...
10. The Thin Man
If you’ve never seen this booze-soaked, hilarious charmer, you’re in for a treat. William Powell and Myrna Loy trade barbs and flirt shamelessly as they stumble into clue after clue, and the classic gather-all-the-suspects finale is the cherry on top. The razor sharp dialogue is still as satisfying as ever.
9. Gosford Park
None of the Agatha Christie adaptations made my list, but this one might be the most similar, at least in tone. The upstairs/downstairs nature allows director Robert Altman to play with his sprawling ensemble, and he takes full advantage. The mystery itself doesn’t feel as consequential as the inner lives we briefly glimpse, but that’s one of the joys of the genre – finding an excuse to get into everyone’s head. This arguable masterpiece is captivating from beginning to end.
8. The Third Man
The hunt for truth about a man’s death turns this classic into a thriller, with its walls continuously closing in. As we follow Joseph Cotten’s hero through Vienna, the picture becomes clearer for us as well. The shots in this film are iconic, as is the final act. I’ve seen the gravity of this film copied in many that followed, but it still packs an emotional punch. A must see for any mystery fan.
7. Chinatown
I’ll be honest – the first time I saw this film, the stylized language and over the top performances threw me for a loop. Now, I can’t get enough of them. Smart alec noir detective Nicholson is led further down the rabbit hole by an insanely high strung Faye Dunaway, trying to figure out what to believe. As the tension builds, so does the confusion. The performances are bonkers and extremely rewatchable. Director and co-star Roman Polanski would return to the whodunnit genre, but this is among his very best films.
Are you fans of these four mysteries? The list continues with part two
Reader Comments (25)
Expecting to see Otto Preminger's exquisite Laura (1944) ranking in the top five.
They are not really whodunnit's in the traditional sense so no to the list.
Interesting article. But your description of the Chinatown performances left me scratching my head. You make the film sound as though it's Murder by Death or some other camp riot! The performances in Chinatown aren't over the top. That's classic, tragic work.
+ the film isn't a whodunnit. The murder that takes place early in the film is just the starting-point for what the movie is really about.
Any list like this without "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Death by the NIle" should be declared invalid. These are essential whodunnits, even won Academy Awards with the former scoring plenty nominations as well. I love both films and therefore it was hard to watch Kenneth Branagh butchering the first one and now planning the same with the second one.
Well, in prepare for Knives Out I also watched a bunch of whodunit films. Speaking of camp entires, I found Clue to be silly, yet charming (the multiple-ending concept is extraordinary), Murder by Death to be just plain silly and loud.
Special mention for Rian Johnson’s debut Brick as well. Fully expect The Big Sleep and The Usual Suspects on the upper list.
TheDr—co-sign. Murder On the Orient Express from 1974 is one of my fave movies ever. Send Branaugh to Movie Jail.
I adore The Thin Man. A classic.
Great idea for a series. These are all solid picks, and I’m interested to see where it goes (I’ll be pulling for Brick and Evil Under the Sun to make the list).
And yeah, I share the opinion above that it’s tragic rebooting some of these is in the hands of the hammiest guy around since Porky Pig.
Clue better show up tomorrow!
I also love the 1974 Murder on the Orient Express (and the 1978 Death on the Nile is lots of fun!).
I've never seen Clue. Would like to.
These films are classic mysteries but not necessarily a who-dun-it.
People who saw “Knives Out” at TIFF really loved it. The classic murder mystery showing that Rian Johnson introduced at TIFF was “The Last Of Sheila”, written by Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins.
I like the way the whole genre is beautifully condensed in “The Girl Hunt Ballet”, in the movie “The Bandwagon”, choreographed by Michael Kidd, directed by Vincente Minnelli, and danced by Fred Astaire as the detective, and Cyd Charisse as both the sweet blonde and the sultry brunette.
“Charade”, directed by Stanley Donen, starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, has a nasty little group of suspects, and a quick and witty screenplay by Peter Stone.
“8 Women”, directed by Francois Ozon, an isolated country house mystery, has one of the best casts ever (Huppert, Deneuve, Ardant, Beart, etc.)
“In The Heat Of the Night”, directed by Norman Jewison, with Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. Still taut and engrossing, with great acting.
“Laura” as previously suggested, an utter classic with the incredibly beautiful Gene Tierney.
“Confidentially Yours”, directed by Francois Truffaut, with gorgeous Fanny Ardant and Jean Louis Trintignant, from a 1940s pulp author.
Gosford Park is divine (mesmerizing, wonderful) but not a whodunnit, at least not in the traditional sense and definitely not in the same tone as Christie. Yes, it takes place in a manor house in the 20s/30s but the flip is that it cares nothing about solving the murder - the detectives are bafoons! No one cares about the victim, nor do they care about the murderer. It’s all about character - that’s the whole point and that’s why Altman’s (and his collaborators) are brilliant. It’s a hilarious bc it’s mocking the troop
This is really an anti-whodunnit film - it shouldn’t be on the list (but I appreciate why you thought so) Am I only only one with this interpretation? :)
From the list, I've only seen Gosford Park and I´m a fan
My favorite whodunnit movie is Tesis by Alejandro Amenábar but I guess it doesn't have enough suspects.
A goofy choice but I can't resist mention it: Scary Movie
https://www.salon.com/2002/01/24/gosford_novels/
https://variety.com/2002/film/awards/genre-transfusion-1117858575/
Two good articles about Gosford Park's relationship with the classic whodunits. I think all "modern" (the movie is almost 20 years old now) whodunits can't really have the same exact feel of Christie's, as audience would be well aware of the tropes and the twists used. So some kind of parody or pokes at that genre should be expected. But it doesn't make Gosford Park any less of a whodunit. I certainly still remembered the mystery fondly, while appreciating everything else that makes the movie great.
I would never call The Third Man a whodunnit. It doesn't even qualify according to the stated rules. It's brilliant, but it shouldn't be on the list.
Ok, this is my favourite genre, but usually books and TV adaptations fill my needs more than films.
Still, I concur with others who stick up for the 1974, Sidney Lumet version of "Murder on the Orient Express".
Thin Man and Chinatown are great mysteries.
Gosford Park is unconventional and conventional at the same time.
'm a big fan of "Charade" and think it should be considered.
These would make up my top 5.
BTW. There is a great podcast - All About Agatha - which examines, reviews, and rates every written work by Agatha Christie. They rate the film/TV adaptations as well. Well worth your time.
A lot of these films aren’t Whodunnits by your criteria. A certain alter ego of mine could contribute a better article. Contact them/me Nathaniel. (Particularly with Misery’s 30th anniversary being next year).
WOW some of you are harsh. Holy cow. Preparing myself for Round 2, haha.
For those who don't like it, I'd still like to see your lists.
Evil Under The Sun is the finest Agatha Christie; not only an intriguing mystery but an incredibly camp comedy with impeccable turns from Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith.
Eurocheese - I enjoyed the list! But lists are never going to please everyone. Especially people who like to throw stones *cough cough*
Ellsworth -- i would definitely call GOSFORD PARK a whodunnit... but the brilliance (or part of it I mean) is that it refuses to acknowledge that it is.
Adri -- love the comment. must look up some of these
"Gosford Park" is a great movie that should have received more Oscar love- a modern classic. I was watching "Clue" last night- and for a movie with some many comic actors is surprisingly not funny- they now all show all three endings and I think the last one is the funniest. For a really funny comedy who done it- nothing tops "Murder by Death" (1976) And Maggie Smith is in both "Gosford Park" and "Murder by Death"
1945's And Then There Was None was the first whodunnit I ever saw when I was a kid. Got me interested in the genre and Christie's books. Just for that reason it would wind up on my personal favorite list.
"The Thin Man" is an absolute classic, as are most Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler adaptations. I'm definitely on board with the recommendation of "Charade".
Evil Under the Sun : Nicholas Clay in a Speedo...need I say more?