8 Best Detective Movies to Watch Before 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery', Ranked by IMDb
A young businessman with dark secrets, a stolen piece of art, and other films worthy of true genre fans.
The third installment of Rian Johnson's detective franchise, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will soon be released on November, 26. It has already earned a nearly perfect 94% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
To help you pass the time, we've compiled a list of worth watching comedic and dark detective films.
8. 'Sleuth', 2007
IMDb Score: 6.3/10
Milo, a young actor who works as a chauffeur, arrives at the home of the famous writer, Andrew. Andrew lives in a high-tech mansion rigged with state-of-the-art surveillance systems.
Andrew treats his guest with arrogance even though Milo is not just another admirer but rather the man his wife left Andrew for. Milo has come with one purpose: to convince the writer to grant Maggie a divorce.
Andrew is opposed to the idea but willing to compromise if Milo fakes a robbery so he can collect the insurance money.
7. 'Crooked House', 2017
IMDb Score: 6.3/10
Elderly millionaire Aristide was found dead in his bed. An autopsy revealed that he died from a substance in eye drops that was injected intravenously.
The magnate's granddaughter, Sophia, turns to Charles – who traded his diplomatic career for work as a private detective – with a request: find the killer. The young woman is certain that the criminal is one of her many family members.
Charles soon finds out that everyone living in the mansion was interested in the owner's death.
6. 'Game Night', 2018
IMDb Score: 6.9/10
Max and Annie host game nights with friends every Friday. Everything changes when Brooks, Max's older brother, arrives and suggests upping the ante by throwing a disappearing party.
When masked men break into the house and kidnap Brooks, it seems like part of the performance.
The couple and their friends follow Brooks' trail and realize that he has caught them up in a complicated plot involving a crime boss and the theft of a valuable piece of art.
5. 'Burn After Reading', 2008
IMDb Score: 7.0/10
The plot revolves around a disc containing the memoirs of former CIA analyst Osborne Cox. In them, he reveals important information about the agency's dirty dealings.
Management wants to get the disc first, but, by an absurd coincidence, it falls into the hands of Linda and Chad, two gym employees. Seeing an opportunity to make money, they begin to blackmail Cox.
However, the situation soon spirals out of control for everyone involved.
4. 'Clue', 1985
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
Six strangers gather for dinner at a mansion. The butler, Wadsworth, asks the guests to remain anonymous and communicate under assumed names.
They await the arrival of the host, Mr. Boddy. When he arrives, it becomes clear that he had nothing to do with organizing the strange party. Boddy is a blackmailer who has successfully emptied the pockets of each guest.
He is soon found dead, and the guests, along with Wadsworth, must identify the killer. First, though, they must try to survive.
3. 'Decision to Leave', 2022
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
Senior investigator Hae-jun is a workaholic with insomnia and a smoking addiction. His new case is more complicated than many previous ones.
An immigration officer fell off a cliff and died. It is unclear whether it was murder, but suspicion falls on the deceased's wife, Seo-rae, an immigrant from China.
Since Hae-jun has no direct evidence, the investigator starts round-the-clock surveillance and then makes direct contact with Seo-rae, which leads to nascent feelings. Despite this, Hae-jun senses that the widow is hiding something from him.
2. 'Rope', 1948
IMDb Score: 7.9/10
Brandon and Phillip, two students, murder their childhood friend, David, for no apparent reason. Then, they prepare for a social event. Among the guests were David's parents, his fiancée, and their professor, Rupert.
The two are convinced they've pulled off the perfect murder. However, they decide to go even further and throw a party around the chest in which the body is hidden.
None of the guests in the Manhattan penthouse realizes that a corpse is lying next to them. Soon, the perceptive Rupert begins to suspect something is amiss.
1. 'The Invisible Guest', 2016
IMDb Score: 8.0/10
Young businessman Adrián Doria was caught red-handed in a hotel room next to his lover's corpse. He claims he is innocent and has been framed for the murder.
He is placed under house arrest and secures a good lawyer the day before his trial. Virginia Goodman agrees to begin her own investigation on one condition: her employer must answer all questions honestly.
The lawyer and the defendant spend the night together, during which time Adrián reveals his darkest secrets.
