American writer/director Rian Johnson awed audiences and critics alike in 2019 with Knives Out.The hilarious murder mystery not only laid out a curious case in the style of Agatha Christie’s works, but also stacked it with stars who brought bite to the in-fighting Thrombey family. Whether you were swooning over Chris Evans in that chic sweater, cackling over Toni Collette’s flighty socialite, or rooting for Ana de Armas’ put-upon nurse to survive her brush with this toxic clan, Johnson had you hooked.
Here are Mashable’s picks for the best movies like Knives Out,and where you can stream them.
Written and directed by Jonathan Lynn, this clever comedy was a box-office bomb that confounded critics upon its initial release in 1985. But over the years of TV broadcasts,Cluebecame a cult classic, revered for its madcap humor, beguiling stars, and a TV edit that added more fun with alternative endings, playing one after another.
Based on the board game of the same name, Clueis set in a secluded mansion, where six strangers convene to meet a blackmailer known as Mr. Boddy. When he turns up dead, it’s up to Miss Scarlet, Mr. Green, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, and a butler called Wadsworth to discover the murderer before they kill again. Along the way, there’ll be plenty of macabre humor, wordplay, double entendres, and pratfalls, along with some blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos. Like Knives Out, Clueis a funny, sexy, and satisfying murder mystery that’s a joy to rewatch over and over.
Starring:Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren
How to watch:Clueis now streaming on Pluto TV.
The Thursday Murder Club
Adapted from the first novel in Richard Osman’s book series of the same name, this cozy crime thriller begins in a charming retirement village of Cooper’s Chase in rural England. But don’t underestimate its pensioners. When chatting over tea, it’s not the news or grandchildren they’re discussing, but unsolved homicide cases.
Named for their curious weekly activity group, the Thursday Murder Club is made up of former firebrand union leader Ron Ritchie, semi-retired psychiatrist Professor Ibrahim Arif, retired trauma nurse Joyce Meadowcroft, and former MI6 agent Elizabeth Best. Together, they are a force that rivals even the local police. So, when a murder happens on their grounds, they’re on top of it with a fearsome intellect and hilarious wit. Director Chris Columbus’ star-studded cast brings Osman’s novel to such vivid life, you might be tempted to dive into pages of his book series too. (Do it!)
Starring:Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Richard E. Grant, Tom Ellis, Geoff Bell, Paul Freeman, and Ingrid Oliver
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How to watch:The Thursday Murder Clubis now streaming on Netflix.
The Sheep Detectives
The Last of Usshowrunner Craig Mazin channeled his softer side with this cozy crime movie based on Leonie Swann’s novel Three Bags Full.As you might gather from the title, The Sheep Detectivescenters on a flock of sheep who set out to discover who murdered their beloved shepherd (Hugh Jackman).
While the premise is ridiculous, director Kyle Balda and his cast plumb surprising emotional depths here. Sure, on the surface there’s a lot of silliness about all the ways that sheep — even those nurtured with nightly readings from mystery novels — misunderstand the ways of mankind. But beneath the charming surface of this rural English village, they discover not only a dark underbelly, but also a deep grief they must confront to move through. The result is a movie that presents a satisfying puzzle in an unexpected form that’s winsome and a tad heartbreaking.
Starring:Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Emma Thompson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, and Brett Goldstein
How to watch:The Sheep Detectivesis now streaming on Prime Video.
Murder on the Orient Express
I was tempted to add several Agatha Christie adaptations to the list. Even beyond direct adaptions of her work, this legendary dame with 66 detective novels to her name was a seminal influence on many movies. But if we had to pick just one, it’d be Sidney Lumet’s Murder on the Orient Express. (Yes, yes, Kenneth Branagh adapted the same novel in 2017. This one is better and not an eyesore!)
Christie’s iconically mustachioed detective Hercule Poirot is traveling on the eponymous train route, when American businessman Samuel Ratchett is killed in the night. Long before Knives Out,Christie mastered the storytelling method of setting up a murder mystery in a confined space, where all eccentric suspects are interrogated as fear of more murder hangs heavy like a guillotine’s blade. Bringing together a cast of critically acclaimed stars, Lumet draws out the suspense and dark humor of Christie’s works with a timeless appeal.
Starring:Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael York, Rachel Roberts, Jacqueline Bisset, Anthony Perkins, Denis Quilley, Colin Blakely, and Wendy Hiller
How to watch:Murder on the Orient Expressis now streaming on YouTube.
The Last of Sheila
Johnson has cited this under-appreciated film as a big influence on his Knives Out franchise. Written by Psychostar Anthony Perkins and Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, this curious thriller explores the sordid underbelly of the filmmaking industry.
The film begins with gossip columnist Sheila Greene fleeing a Bel Air party, only to be fatally rundown in a hit-and-run. One year later, her husband, movie producer Clinton Greene, reunites the revelers from that night on a boat named Sheila. What begins as a swanky getaway for Hollywood elites becomes a dastardly game, as the secrets of this group float to the surface with deadly consequences. Scandalous and surprising, it’s a must-see for murder mystery fans.
Starring:Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, James Coburn, Joan Hackett, James Mason, Ian McShane, and Raquel Welch
How to watch:The Last of Sheilais now streaming on YouTube.Recommended deals for you
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top pick for premium content
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best for families
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popular choice for originals
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low-cost choice for live sport
Kristy Puchko is the Entertainment Editor at Mashable. Based in New York City, she’s an established film critic and entertainment reporter who has traveled the world on assignment, covered a variety of film festivals, co-hosted movie-focused podcasts, and interviewed a wide array of performers and filmmakers.
