Films like Knives Out (2019)

Knives Out plot: When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.

Keywords: Ensemble cast, Family, Family drama, Class divide, Twist ending, Family dysfunction, Investigation, Mystery, Whodunit

Style characteristics: Tension, Complexity, Pacing, Humor

1. Gosford Park

IMDB: 7.2

2001 · 2h 17minUnited States, Italy

Director: Robert Altman

Overview

A group of wealthy people and celebrities gathers to unwind at a country hunting estate. Suddenly, the owner of the estate, Sir William, is found dead—and everything suggests that someone among the guests is involved.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Humor, Complexity, Tropes, ThemesNotable differences: Tension (-15%), Pacing (-20%)

Shared keywords

Ensemble cast, Family, Class divide, Mystery

2. A Simple Favor

IMDB: 6.7

2018 · 1h 57minUnited States, Canada

Director: Paul Feig

Overview

Single mother Stephanie, who runs her own blog, meets a successful woman named Emily—she has everything Stephanie can only dream of. One day Emily disappears without a trace, and Stephanie begins an investigation of her own to find her friend.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Tension, Pacing, Humor, Tropes, ConflictNotable differences: Darkness (+15%)

Shared keywords

Twist, Twist ending, Family dysfunction, Investigation, Mystery

3. See How They Run

IMDB: 6.5

2022 · 1h 39minUnited States, United Kingdom

Director: Tom George

Overview

Plans to adapt a popular play for the screen suddenly fall apart after the murder of a key member of the film crew. A seasoned Inspector Stoppard and his young assistant, Constable Stalker, take on the investigation.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Pacing, Humor, Tropes, ToneNotable differences: Tension (-25%), Complexity (-15%)

4. The Thursday Murder Club

IMDB: 6.5

2025 · 1h 58minUnited States

Director: Chris Columbus

Overview

A group of retirees spends their time for fun investigating unsolved murders. But one day they find themselves at the center of a real investigation—and have to use all their skills to crack the case.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Tropes, ToneNotable differences: Tension (-40%), Pacing (-15%), Humor (+20%), Complexity (-30%)

Shared keywords

Ensemble cast, Investigation, Mystery, Whodunit

5. Game Night

IMDB: 6.9

2018 · 1h 40minUnited States

Director: John Francis Daley

Overview

One day, a group of friends who regularly get together for late-night game sessions gets pulled into a real investigation when, during their latest game, real criminals kidnap one of their brothers.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Tension, Tropes, ThemesNotable differences: Pacing (+13%), Humor (+14%), Action (+35%), Complexity (-18%)

Shared keywords

Family, Twist, Mystery

6. Murder on the Orient Express

IMDB: 6.5

2017 · 1h 54minUnited States

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Overview

During an urgent journey aboard the Orient Express, the famous detective Hercule Poirot becomes involved in the mysterious murder of one of the passengers. The investigation is complicated by the fact that almost everyone on the train has a motive for the crime.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Tension, Complexity, Pacing, Tropes, ThemesNotable differences: Darkness (+15%), Humor (-45%)

Shared keywords

Family, Investigation, Mystery, Whodunit

7. Wicked Little Letters

IMDB: 7.0

2024 · 1h 40minUnited Kingdom, France

Director: Thea Sharrock

Overview

Residents of the town of Littlehampton start receiving strange letters filled with witty profanity. Before anyone can make sense of it, locals quickly begin to suspect Rose, a loud Irish migrant.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Pacing, Tropes, ToneNotable differences: Tension (-15%), Humor (+15%), Complexity (-15%)

Shared keywords

Investigation, Mystery

8. A Haunting in Venice

IMDB: 6.5

2023 · 1h 44minUnited States, United Kingdom

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Overview

Retired detective Hercule Poirot lives a calm, measured life in Venice. One day, he reluctantly attends a séance where one of the guests is murdered. Now Poirot must unravel the mysterious crime and find the killer.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Tension, Pacing, Complexity, Tropes, ThemesNotable differences: Darkness (+25%), Humor (-48%)

Shared keywords

Investigation, Mystery, Whodunit

9. Enola Holmes 2

IMDB: 6.8

2022 · 2h 9minUnited States

Director: Harry Bradbeer

Overview

Trying to step out of her brother’s shadow, Enola Holmes opens her own detective agency. Her first serious case doesn’t take long to arrive: a match factory worker comes to her asking for help finding her missing sister.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Humor, Pacing, Tropes, ToneNotable differences: Tension (-15%), Complexity (-15%)

Shared keywords

Family, Investigation, Mystery

10. Vengeance

IMDB: 6.8

2022 · 1h 48minUnited States

Director: B. J. Novak

Overview

One tragic evening, a New York journalist learns of his friend's death. He heads south to uncover the full story on his own and understand what really happened to the girl.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Humor, Pacing, Tension, Tropes, ThemesNotable differences: Complexity (-15%)

Shared keywords

Family, Investigation, Mystery

11. Matchstick Men

IMDB: 7.3

2003 · 1h 56minUnited States, United Kingdom

Director: Ridley Scott

Overview

A top-notch con artist and his partner are on the verge of a new big scam. But everything gets complicated when a daughter he never even knew existed suddenly shows up at his door.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Complexity, Pacing, Tension, Tropes, ThemesNotable differences: Humor (-18%)

Shared keywords

Family, Twist, Twist ending, Family dysfunction

12. Searching

IMDB: 7.6

2018 · 1h 42minUnited States

Director: Aneesh Chaganty

Overview

When David Kim’s 16-year-old daughter suddenly disappears and the police investigation turns up nothing, he decides to uncover the truth himself by using her laptop. The deeper David goes into the search, the more he realizes how little he truly knows his own daughter.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Complexity, Tropes, ConflictNotable differences: Tension (+20%), Pacing (+20%), Humor (-50%)

Shared keywords

Family, Family drama, Twist ending, Investigation, Mystery

13. 8 Women

IMDB: 7.0

2002 · 1h 51minFrance, Italy

Director: François Ozon

Overview

In a remote estate, a family gathers to celebrate Christmas, but the master of the house is found murdered. Eight women living on the property fall under suspicion—each of them has her own motives and hidden secrets.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Tension, Pacing, Humor, Tropes, Themes

Shared keywords

Ensemble cast, Twist, Twist ending, Family dysfunction, Mystery

14. Now You See Me

IMDB: 7.2

2013 · 1h 56minUnited States, France

Director: Louis Leterrier

Overview

An FBI agent investigates a crew of four professional illusionists who pull off brazen bank heists during their shows and hand the money out to the audience. Who are they—magicians, or just a bunch of con artists?

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Complexity, Tension, Pacing, Tropes, ThemesNotable differences: Humor (-15%)

Shared keywords

Twist, Twist ending, Investigation

15. Death at a Funeral

IMDB: 7.3

2007 · 1h 31minUnited States, Germany

Director: Frank Oz

Overview

A respected English family reunites to say goodbye to the head of the household. But at some point the funeral turns into chaos when a mysterious blackmailer reveals scandalous details from the deceased’s life.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Tension, Pacing, Tropes, ConflictNotable differences: Humor (+25%), Complexity (-25%)

Shared keywords

Family, Family dysfunction