The Mystery genre that we admire and know today rose from the nineteenth century. The first true mystery movies were The Gold Bug (1910) from France and The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1914) – both inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
The film genre flourished as a complete film category in the 1930s, and now, with technology, we see wonders on screen. For instance, modern-day movies like Batman or Death on the Nile prove that people still love well-crafted mysteries. If you are also a fan, prepare your popcorn and soda for heart-pounding excitement! Here’s your list of the 10 best mystery movies on Disney Plus.
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L.A. Confidential
Director: Curtis Hanson
Writer: James Ellroy, Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Runtime: 2 hrs.18 mins
It’s an American neo-noir crime movie released in 1997 and is modeled on James Ellroy’s 1990 book with the same title. Both critically and financially, L.A. Confidential was a triumph. Critics praised the acting, screenplay, directing, and editing, bringing in $126 million compared to a $35 million budget.
Three policemen—one strict, one violent, and one sleazy—investigate a string of killings using their respective version of justice as corrupt practices increased in Los Angeles.
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Anastasia
Director: Anatole Litvak
Writer: Arthur Laurents, Marcelle Maurette, Guy Bolton
Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Yul Brynner, Helen Hayes
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Runtime: 1 hr.45 mins
An American historical drama Anastasia was adapted from a 1952 play by Guy Bolton and Marcelle Maurette. It was inspired by the life of Anna Anderson, the most well-known of the many Anastasia impersonators that appeared after the assassination of the Imperial family in July 1918.
Even skeptical people fall for a mysterious fake that a cunning businessman is trying to pass off as Grand Duchess Anastasia.
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Prometheus
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof, Dan O’Bannon
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Runtime: 2 hrs.4 mins
It’s a Sci-Fi horror and the fifth entry in the Alien series. The movie generally received favorable reviews and compliments on the production values, cast performances, and visuals. It received an Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects.
A crew searching for hints about the origin of humanity stumbles upon a building on a far-off moon. But they quickly learn they aren’t alone.
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The Sixth Sense
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Runtime: 1 hr.47 mins
It’s an American supernatural horror movie, The Sixth Sense, released on August 6, 1999. Critics liked the plot twist, atmosphere, and acting. The film was considered the second highest-grossing film of the year.
A dejected child psychologist accepts to help a scared, reclusive boy who speaks with spirits.
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Gone Girl
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Gillian Flynn
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Runtime: 2 hrs.29 mins
A 2014 American psychological thriller, Gone Girl, is built on the 2012 book of the same name by Gillian Flynn. It was well received by critics and audiences alike, earning $369 million globally against a $61 million budget to become Fincher’s most successful movie. The movie is today regarded as a cult masterpiece.
A tremendous media circus around the disappearance of a man’s wife causes him to come under scrutiny. It’s thought that he might not be completely innocent.
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Unbreakable
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright
IMDb Rating: 7.3
Runtime: 1 hr.46 mins
The American superhero thriller Unbreakable, released in 2000, is the first movie in the Unbreakable franchise. It garnered largely favorable reviews and developed a sizable cult following. The film won the Golden Trailer award for Best Horror/Thriller.
After a tragic catastrophe, a guy discovers something exceptional about himself.
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The X Files
Director: Rob Bowman
Writer: Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz
Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, John Neville
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Runtime: 2 hrs.1 min
The sci-fi thriller The X Files is based on Chris Carter’s T.V.T.V. show of the same title. It had its U.S debut on June 19, 1998, and made $189 million globally. Despite the critics’ mixed reviews, the movie was a commercial success.
Agents Mulder and Scully are the focus of the story as they look into a building bombing and gather evidence for a crime. They discover proof of what appears to be a government plot to hide the possibility of an alien presence on Earth.
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Trance
Director: Danny Boyle
Writer: Joe Ahearne, John Hodge
Cast: James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Runtime: 1 hr.41 mins
A 2013 psychological thriller movie, Trance, had its world premiere in London on March 19, 2013. The film received Golden Trailer Award for Best Thriller.
To locate a missing painting, an art auctioneer teams up with a hypnotherapist who becomes involved with a gang of criminals.
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Martha Marcy May Marlene
Director: Sean Durkin
Writer: Sean Durkin
Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes
IMDb Rating: 6.8
Runtime: 1 hr.42 mins
It’s an American thriller released in 2011. The film garnered both favorable and unfavorable reviews from critics and brought in Bodil Award for Best American Film.
After escaping an abusive cult, a damaged lady strives to reintegrate with her family while plagued by disturbing flashbacks and growing paranoia.
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National Treasure
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Writer: Jim Kouf, Cormac Wibberley, Marianne Wibberley
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Runtime: 2 hrs.11 mins
On November 19, 2004, a U.S action-adventure National Treasure was made available worldwide. Critics gave the movie both positive and negative reviews, praising the action sequences and cast members’ performances.
Its plot centers on a historian who faces off against mercenaries to find the rumored Templar Treasure.
