After the massive success that was Knives Out, there is a sudden interest in murder mystery movies, a genre that wasn’t dead but wasn’t exactly booming either. There are a ton of whodunit movies coming out, including the highly anticipated Death on the Nile, but there are previous movies laying dormant that could potentially make great series.
When it comes to murder mystery movies, most of them are one-and-done, because what else is there to do after the murder has been solved? However, there are some exceptions to that rule, whether it’s a detective whose literal 9-5 job is to solve murder cases or movies that still had mysteries left unanswered.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (2011)
Fans of Sherlock Holmes might always plead for a season 5 of the beloved modern-day retelling that is the BBC series more than anything, but the Hollywood blockbusters have a lot of merit to them too. After two incredible murder mystery movies, there are many other stories that could be adapted for the Robert Downey Jr.-led series.
And after A Game of Shadows ended with Watson believing that Holmes was dead, only for him to be hiding in plain sight in his office, it’s one of the biggest cliffhangers unresolved in a Hollywood movie. On top of that, fans want a better explanation for how Holmes survived the Reichenbach fall than what was given to them at the beginning of season 3 of Sherlock.
Murder Mystery (2019)
All of the phoned-in Adam Sandler Netflix movies over the past few years might be the longest phase of Sandler fatigue anybody has ever suffered, but there was still a gem among them. Though Murder Mystery may seem like another lazy movie, as the title is literally the name of the genre (it’s like if The Ridiculous Six was called Western, or if Happy Gilmore was called Golf,) the film is fantastically put together.
The mystery might be simplified compared to many others in the genre, but there are just as many surprising twists and turns. And though the movie may have been an excuse for the cast and crew to go on vacation, Jennifer Aniston and Sandler’s chemistry is on fire as always, and it’d be great to get a sequel instead of another inevitable rom-com for the pair.
Knives Out (2019)
Knives Out was a pleasant surprise upon its release, as it seemingly came out of nowhere, had an all-star cast, and is one of the most well-written crime movies of the 21st century. Inspired by Agatha Christie novels, Rian Johnson created some fascinating characters and expertly told a simple but clever murder mystery. As soon as the two-hour movie ended in a flash, audiences wanted more of Benoit Blanc, the genius detective with a southern drawl, and that’s exactly what they’re going to get.
Johnson’s Star Wars trilogy may be out of the window now, but after the announcement of a Knives Out trilogy, nobody has a problem with that. As movie budgets always include the salaries of the cast and crew, Johnson made a deal with Netflix that is unprecedented in the movie industry, as he is being paid $100 million to write and direct two Knives Out sequels, which is not part of the budget.
Game Night (2018)
Though the movie doesn’t start out as a mystery, Game Night gradually evolves into one murder mystery after the next, and if Murder Mystery was a solid comedic take on the genre, Game Night is the gold standard. As a couples-only game night turns into a blood bath, the couples must put on their detective hats and uncover what’s really going on.
The best thing about Game Night is its ensemble cast, and instead of suspecting each other, they’re all on the same team, but they’re all still hilariously competitive when it comes to solving the mystery first. It’s one of the best murder mysteries of 2018, and given how much of a box-office success it was, a sequel could be in the cards.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Inspired by hardboiled novels, the tongue-in-cheek postmodern noir did something completely different. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang found two dimwitted Hollywoodites out of their element solving a crime. Though it wasn’t seen by many at the time, the film influenced dozens, maybe hundreds of crime capers that came in its wake.
The end of the movie set up for the two partners in crime to go on several more adventures together. It’s a travesty that the movie bombed at the box office, as it barely made back its budget, because that’s the reason why fans probably won’t ever get a sequel.
Brick (2005)
Before the murder mystery phenomenon that was Knives Out, Rian Johnson cut his teeth in the crime genre with his lesser-known debut movie, Brick. Brick feels like much more of a standalone movie than Knives Out, or any other murder mystery for that matter, as it revolves around a high school kid trying to get to the bottom of the murder of his girlfriend.
But the world-building that the movie does is second to none, as it sees an underground world of teenagers dealing heroin and generally being up to no good. To see more of this world, even if it doesn’t feature the same characters, would be fascinating, though unlikely given that Johnson now has his hands full.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Tim Curry almost carved out a niche in the Hollywood industry, as not only did he star in Clue, but he almost starred in Roger Rabbit too. However, his Clue co-star, Christopher Lloyd took the mantle for himself.
Being the billionaire mogul Judge Doom who wants to create roads in toon town, Lloyd is one of the reasons why the movie is so great. But there’s so much more to it, and considering how most of the fun is in the cartoon references and Easter eggs, there’s no reason why there shouldn’t be a remake, especially given that it was a hit back then and it’s still beloved today.
Triangle (2009)
Being not just a murder mystery, but a psychological thriller, Triangle is a fascinating movie in which a group of friends finds themselves on an empty cruise ship, only to get picked off one by one by a mystery killer. The reveal at the end is shocking, but it leaves many loose ends.
Like a potential Brick sequel, a follow-up to Triangle could be more of an anthology, where it doesn’t necessarily follow the same characters, but a new cast who fall into the same trap. Given how there’s still so much mystery surrounding the movie, whether it’s that the events that took place were real or not, if the ocean liner was some kind of ghost ship, or if it’s some kind of purgatory, there’s still much to explore.
Clue (1985)
As the movie was a box office bomb 36 years ago, Clue has gained a cult following in the time since. And Tim Curry’s energy and Christopher Lloyd’s characteristically zany persona make the movie very entertaining, even if it is massively flawed.
It’s exciting to see the mansion adapted to the big screen, with hidden passageways and all, and a sequel is long overdue. Both Curry and Lloyd are still hanging around, and Lloyd was even recently in the action movie Nobody, so it’s very possible.
The Nice Guys (2016)
Being something of a spiritual successor to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys is another buddy movie where the characters start off at odds with one another, only to bond while undergoing detective work. Set in the 1970s, Jackson and Holland work together to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl, but it quickly escalates into a murder case.
Given the setting and the banter between the characters, it makes for the start of an incredible series. The final scene even hinted at more movies, but just like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, the poor box office intake will probably keep that from ever happening.