Calling all armchair detectives! 2024 boasts a stellar selection of detective television shows and films that will tantalize your brain and keep you guessing until the very end.
From true-crime docuseries to classic whodunits, there’s a captivating case waiting to be unraveled. So, sharpen your wit and get ready to join these brilliant detectives in their pursuit of the truth.
1. Killers of the Flower Moon
Step back to 1920s Oklahoma, where the Osage Nation experiences a sudden windfall — oil discovered on their reservation land. This newfound wealth attracts a sinister figure: a corrupt local leader (played by Robert De Niro) who orchestrates the murders of Osage members, especially those with substantial oil rights (Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a man entangled in this web). Mollie (Lily Gladstone), a determined Osage woman, tragically loses loved ones in this brutal spree. Refusing to be silenced, she joins forces with a tenacious federal agent (Jesse Plemons) to expose the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice. Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, is a historical crime drama that sheds light on a chilling chapter in American history, showcasing themes of resilience, corruption, and the fight for justice.
2. True Detective: Night Country
A departure from the original creator’s vision, True Detective‘s fourth season, titled Night Country, plunges viewers into the frigid isolation of Ennis, Alaska. Detectives Liz Danvers (played by Jodie Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (played by Kali Reis) face a chilling mystery as they investigate the disappearance of eight men from a research station. The harsh environment and the complex case, which may involve supernatural elements, challenge the detectives both professionally and personally.
3. Death and Other Details
Death and Other Details, a Hulu mystery drama, premiered this year. Imogene Scott (Violett Beane) gets tangled in a murder on a luxury cruise and joins forces with a faded detective, Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin). Together, they navigate a web of secrets hidden amongst the wealthy passengers and crew, featuring an atmospheric setting, strong performances, and a unique spin on the whodunnit genre.
4. Some Other Woman
In the psychological thriller Some Other Woman, Amanda Crew plays Eve Carver, a woman forced to put her dreams on hold after relocating to a tropical island with her husband. As isolation sets in and the years crawl by, Eve’s grip on reality loosens when a mysterious woman (Ashley Greene) appears to be slowly taking over her life, leaving Eve to question her sanity and fight to reclaim her world.
5. Fool Me Once
Fool Me Once is a British Netflix thriller miniseries based on Harlan Coben’s 2016 novel. Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan) is left reeling after her husband’s murder. When a nanny cam captures footage of the presumed dead man, Maya is thrown into a whirlwind of suspicion and danger. As she searches for answers, her investigation intertwines with that of Abby and Daniel Walker (Dänya Griver, Daniel Burt) seeking the truth behind their mother’s death. Packed with twists and turns, the eight-episode series became a major hit for Netflix, garnering praise for the performances of Keegan and Joanna Lumley.
Whether you’re a fan of historical true crime, chilling anthology series, or witty whodunits, there’s a detective movie on this list waiting to be enjoyed. So grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready to put your inner detective skills to the test!
