20 Best Mystery Movies on Netflix 2026
Explore 20 tense Netflix mystery picks, from Gone Girl and Ready or Not to Smile 2, The Witch, and The Last House, with fresh updates all year.
If you’re hunting for a night of twists, secrets, and uneasy suspense, this roundup brings together 20 sharp picks that fit the mood. You’ll find modern standouts like Gone Girl, Ready or Not, Smile 2, and The Kid Detective alongside eerie slow-burns such as The Witch and In the Earth. There’s also a darker edge in All Good Things, plus newer conversation starters like The Last House. Because the list spans mystery, thriller, horror, science-fiction, action, and adventure, it works whether you want a clever puzzle or something more unsettling. Browse the mix and you’ll quickly see why these are among the strongest streaming choices for viewers who want tension that lasts.
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01
First Reformed
drama · mystery · thriller
A pastor of a small church in upstate New York starts to spiral out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist and his pregnant wife.
Directed by Paul SchraderCast Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric The Entertainer, Victoria Hill, Philip EttingerNetflix -
02
Europa Report
drama · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
A crew of international astronauts are sent on a private mission to Jupiter's fourth moon.
Directed by Sebastián CorderoCast Daniel Wu, Sharlto Copley, Christian Camargo, Karolina Wydra, Michael NyqvistNetflix -
03
The Last House
action & adventure · horror · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
A family suddenly sealed inside their home must work together to survive against dwindling resources and the ominous threat keeping them trapped.
Directed by Louis LeterrierCast Greta Lee, Wagner Moura, Riley Chung, Noah Alexander Sosnowski, Emma HoNetflix -
04
Host
horror · mystery
Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance via Zoom during lockdown — but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong. When an evil spirit starts invading their homes, they begin to realise they might not survive the night.
Directed by Rob SavageCast Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova, Caroline WardNetflixAMC+ -
05
Scream
horror · mystery · thriller
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettCast Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Melissa Barrera, Jack QuaidNetflixParamount Plus -
06
Ready or Not
action · comedy · horror · mystery · thriller
A young bride's wedding night turns into her worst nightmare when her ridiculously rich in-laws force her to play a gruesome game of hide-and-seek.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettCast Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O'Brien, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowellNetflix -
07
The Witch
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · thriller
In 1630, a farmer relocates his family to a remote plot of land on the edge of a forest where strange, unsettling things happen. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, each family member's faith, loyalty and love are tested in shocking ways.
Directed by Robert EggersCast Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie GraingerNetflix -
08
Gone Girl
drama · mystery · thriller
With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.
Directed by David FincherCast Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie CoonNetflix -
09
Under the Skin
drama · horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
A seductive stranger prowls the streets of Glasgow in search of prey: unsuspecting men who fall under her spell.
Directed by Jonathan GlazerCast Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay, Dougie McConnell, Kevin McAlindenNetflix -
10
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
crime · drama · mystery & thriller
Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist investigates the disappearance of a weary patriarch's niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander. As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.
Directed by David FincherCast Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård, Steven BerkoffNetflix -
11
Memento
drama · mystery · thriller
Leonard Shelby is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife's killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.
Directed by Christopher NolanCast Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior, Russ FegaNetflixHuluPeacock Premium -
12
Smile 2
horror · mystery · thriller
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.
Directed by Parker FinnCast Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter JacobsonNetflixAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus -
13
Nope
horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Residents in a lonely gulch of inland California bear witness to an uncanny, chilling discovery.
Directed by Jordan PeeleCast Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott, Steven YeunNetflix -
14
Anatomy of a Fall
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A woman is suspected of her husband's murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness.
Directed by Justine TrietCast Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz, Samuel TheisNetflix -
15
The Rip
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
After a team of Miami cops discovers millions in cash inside a derelict stash house, trust frays as everything — and everyone — is called into question.
Directed by Joe CarnahanCast Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino MorenoNetflix -
16
Run Rabbit Run
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
Sarah is a fertility doctor with a firm understanding of the cycle of life. When she is forced to make sense of the increasingly strange behavior of her young daughter Mia, she must challenge her own beliefs and confront a ghost from her past.
Directed by Daina ReidCast Sarah Snook, Lily LaTorre, Neil Melville, Katherine Slattery, Damon HerrimanNetflix -
17
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
comedy · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
Directed by Rian JohnsonCast Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila KunisNetflix -
18
Wrinkles the Clown
comedy · horror · mystery
In Florida, parents can hire Wrinkles the Clown to scare their misbehaving children.
Directed by Michael Beach NicholsCast Lillian Grubbs, D.B. Lambert, Miguel BeyNetflixAmazon Prime Video -
19
A Private Life
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
The renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner mounts a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered.
Directed by Rebecca ZlotowskiCast Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric, Vincent LacosteNetflix -
20
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
horror · mystery · thriller
One year since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, the stories about what transpired there have been twisted into a campy local legend, inspiring the town's first ever Fazfest. With the truth kept from her, Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, setting into motion a terrifying series of events that will reveal dark secrets about the real origin of Freddy's, and unleash a decades-hidden horror.
Directed by Emma TammiCast Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, Matthew Lillard, Freddy CarterNetflix
Wrapping Up
This collection is built for anyone who wants suspense with real payoff, whether that means a twisty crime story, a creepy slow burn, or a genre blend that keeps you guessing. Titles like Gone Girl, Smile 2, Ready or Not, and The Last House bring different flavors of mystery, so there’s something here for every kind of mood. Bookmark this page and come back when you need a fresh pick for your next streaming night. We update it regularly so the lineup stays current as new releases arrive and old favorites move in and out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Netflix. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these mystery movies ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the mystery titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 11, 2026