20 Best Mystery Movies on Paramount Plus 2026
Discover 20 suspenseful picks, from Scream and Shutter Island to Arrival and Parasite, with mystery, horror, thriller, and sci-fi twists.
If you’re searching for the best mystery movies on Paramount Plus, this lineup gives you a mix of slashers, psychological twists, sci-fi puzzles, and noir-style secrets. You’ll find familiar names like Scream, Shutter Island, Arrival, and Parasite, alongside tense picks such as The Ring, Minority Report, and Sleepy Hollow. There’s also plenty for horror fans, with Friday the 13th, It Follows, Smile, and Doctor Sleep all bringing their own kind of suspense. Whether you want a classic whodunit feel or something stranger and darker, these movies make it easy to pick your next mystery watch.
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01
Friday the 13th
horror · mystery · thriller
Camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp that was the site of a child's drowning.
Why watch: If you enjoy slasher stories with a mystery at the center, this is a straightforward fit. Its horror-thriller setup makes it a good pick for viewers who like hidden identities and constant tension.
Directed by Sean S. CunninghamCast Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, Kevin BaconNetflixTubiPeacock PremiumAMC+Paramount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
02
Scream
horror · mystery
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
Why watch: If you like horror that mixes mystery with a killer targeting a tight group, this is an easy recommendation. The movie’s teen-centered setup and self-aware premise may appeal if you want a fast, tense watch.
Directed by Wes CravenCast Drew Barrymore, Roger L. Jackson, Kevin Patrick Walls, David Booth, Carla HatleyHuluPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
03
Sleepy Hollow
Won 1 Oscar Best Cinematography (2000) · 3 nominations
fantasy · horror · mystery
Skeptical young detective Ichabod Crane gets transferred to the hamlet of Sleepy Hollow, New York, where he is tasked with investigating the decapitations of three people – murders the townsfolk attribute to a legendary specter, The Headless Horseman.
Why watch: If you like period settings with supernatural mystery, this one stands out. Its fantasy-horror-mystery blend suits anyone who wants an investigation wrapped in eerie folklore.
Directed by Tim BurtonCast Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van DienParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
04
Tuner
crime · drama · music & musical · mystery & thriller · romance
A gifted piano tuner's meticulous skills for tuning pianos lead him to discover an unexpected aptitude for cracking safes, turning his life upside down.
Why watch: If you’re open to a newer crime-drama mystery with a strange angle, this may fit your taste. The premise suggests a clever, character-driven setup with some thriller energy.
Directed by Daniel RoherCast Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman, Alisen Richmond-Peck, Ellyn Jameson, Tim BlairParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
05
It Follows
horror · mystery & thriller
A young woman is followed by an unknown supernatural force after a sexual encounter.
Why watch: If you want a modern horror title with a strong mystery-thriller edge, this is worth a look. Its premise leans into the unsettling feeling of being pursued by something you can’t easily explain.
Directed by David Robert MitchellCast Bailey Spry, Carollette Phillips, Loren Bass, Keir Gilchrist, Maika MonroePeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb →
Not quite it? Ask WattaWatch for mystery on Paramount Plus →
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06
Doctor Sleep
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery & thriller
Still scarred by the trauma he endured as a child at the Overlook Hotel, Dan Torrance faces the ghosts of the past when he meets Abra, a courageous teen who desperately needs his help -- and who possesses a powerful extrasensory ability called the "shine".
Why watch: If you like horror stories that connect to deeper past trauma and supernatural questions, this is a solid choice. Its drama, fantasy, horror, and mystery-thriller mix gives it a broader appeal than a straight scare movie.
Directed by Mike FlanaganCast Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Cliff Curtis, Zahn McClarnonParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
07
Passenger
horror · mystery & thriller
After a young couple witnesses a gruesome highway accident, they soon realize they did not leave the crash scene alone, as a demonic presence called the Passenger won't stop until it claims them both.
Why watch: If you enjoy demonic horror with a mystery element, this one should land well. It’s best for viewers who like a dangerous setup built around an ominous force and rising suspense.
Directed by André ØvredalCast Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo, Joseph Lopez, Miles FowlerParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
08
Friday the 13th Part 2
horror · mystery · thriller
Five years after the horrible bloodbath at Camp Crystal Lake, new counselors roam the area, not sensing the ominous lurking presence that proves that the grisly legend is real.
Why watch: If you want another camp-set slasher mystery, this continues that type of story. It works for viewers who like horror-thriller momentum and a lurking threat that feels close by.
Directed by Steve MinerCast Amy Steel, John Furey, Adrienne King, Kirsten Baker, Stuart CharnoPeacock PremiumAMC+Paramount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
09
Event Horizon
horror · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
In 2047, a group of astronauts are sent to investigate and salvage the starship Event Horizon which disappeared mysteriously seven years before on its maiden voyage. However, it soon becomes evident that something sinister resides in its corridors.
Why watch: If you enjoy space-set horror with a mystery to unravel, this is a strong pick. The science-fiction backdrop makes it ideal for viewers who like their scares mixed with isolation and unknown danger.
Directed by Paul W.S. AndersonCast Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, Richard T. JonesTubiPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
10
Shutter Island
drama · mystery · thriller
World War II soldier-turned-U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels investigates the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane, but his efforts are compromised by troubling visions and a mysterious doctor.
Why watch: If you prefer psychological mystery-thrillers, this is one of the strongest options here. It suits viewers who like investigations where the setting and the lead character’s perspective both keep shifting the story.
Directed by Martin ScorseseCast Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle WilliamsParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
11
Arrival
Won 1 Oscar 8 nominations
drama · mystery · sci-fi
Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.
Why watch: If you want a mystery with a sci-fi premise and a thoughtful tone, this is a great match. It’s best for viewers who like stories about first contact and problem-solving rather than pure action.
Directed by Denis VilleneuveCast Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mark O'BrienPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
12
The Ring
horror · mystery
Journalist Rachel Keller investigates a strange videotape that may be behind the untimely deaths of four teenagers. There is an urban legend about this tape: the viewer will die seven days after watching it. Rachel tracks down the video... and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery of the Ring in order to save herself and her son.
Why watch: If you enjoy urban-legend horror mixed with an investigative setup, this should be on your list. It’s a good choice for viewers who like a mystery that grows more urgent as the danger becomes personal.
Directed by Gore VerbinskiCast Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox, Jane AlexanderNetflixPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
13
Blade Runner 2049
Won 2 Oscars Best Cinematography (2018) · 5 nominations
action & adventure · drama · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
Why watch: If you like futuristic mysteries with crime and thriller elements, this is a smart pick. The story’s secret-driven premise works well for viewers who enjoy piecing together a larger conspiracy.
Directed by Denis VilleneuveCast Ryan Gosling, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Mark Arnold, Vilma SzécsiAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
14
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.
Why watch: If you like horror sequels that revisit a masked-killer mystery, this is a natural fit. It’s aimed at viewers who enjoy franchise horror with familiar suspense and new targets.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettCast Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Melissa Barrera, Jack QuaidParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
15
Smile
horror · mystery · thriller
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain.
Why watch: If you want a horror-mystery centered on a disturbing unexplained event, this one fits that lane well. It’s a good option for viewers who prefer psychological unease over straightforward monster stories.
Directed by Parker FinnCast Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, Robin Weigert, Caitlin StaseyParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
16
Minority Report
1 Oscar nomination
action · crime · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
John Anderton is a top 'Precrime' cop in the late-21st century, when technology can predict crimes before they're committed. But Anderton becomes the quarry when another investigator targets him for a murder charge.
Why watch: If you enjoy crime and sci-fi mysteries with a chase element, this is a strong pick. It should appeal to viewers who like a suspenseful premise built around prediction and suspicion.
Directed by Steven SpielbergCast Tom Cruise, Max von Sydow, Steve Harris, Neal McDonough, Patrick KilpatrickAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
17
The Crow
action & adventure · crime · drama · fantasy · horror · mystery & thriller
Exactly one year after young rock guitarist Eric Draven and his fiancée are brutally killed by a ruthless gang of criminals, Draven, watched over by a hypnotic crow, returns from the grave to exact revenge.
Why watch: If you like revenge stories with fantasy and mystery-thriller elements, this is worth considering. Its mix of crime, drama, and supernatural touches gives it a darker, more stylized feel.
Directed by Alex ProyasCast Brandon Lee, Rochelle Davis, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, Bai LingPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
18
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.
Why watch: If you want a horror sequel with a mystery tied to fame and pressure, this is a good match. It should appeal to viewers who like escalating tension and a lead character under strain.
Directed by Parker FinnCast Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter JacobsonNetflixAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
19
Scream 2
horror · mystery
Two years after the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott acclimates to college life while someone donning the Ghostface costume begins a new string of killings.
Why watch: If you liked the setup of the earlier Woodsboro story, this sequel keeps the mystery-horror thread going. It’s a good pick for anyone who wants another masked-killer plot with a familiar framework.
Directed by Wes CravenCast Jada Pinkett Smith, Omar Epps, Paulette Patterson, Rasila Schroeder, Heather GrahamHuluPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
20
Parasite
Won 4 Oscars 6 nominations
comedy · drama · mystery & thriller
All unemployed, Ki-taek's family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.
Why watch: If you enjoy twisty stories that mix comedy, drama, and suspense, this is one of the standout choices. It suits viewers who like social tension and a mystery that keeps shifting directions.
Directed by Bong Joon HoCast Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-sik, Park So-damParamount PlusMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This list brings together a wide range of suspenseful movies, from horror-heavy choices to smarter crime and sci-fi mysteries. If you like stories built around secrets, investigations, and uneasy twists, there should be several options here worth adding to your watchlist. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want a fresh pick, since it’s updated regularly. That way, you can always check what’s worth watching next without starting your search from scratch.
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 Paramount Plus subscription to watch these?
Yes. Every title on this list is currently available on Paramount Plus. 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.