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At first, the premise of The Sheep Detectives may seem a tad juvenile, but once you’ve watched it, you’ve discovered that it’s not just a cozy mystery movie; it’s a genuinely heartfelt story about ignorance, grief, prejudice, and faith. Based on the 2005 novel Three Bags Full by Craig Mazin, the film follows a flock of unusually intelligent talking sheep who must solve the murder of their beloved shepherd, George (Hugh Jackman). Blending family fun with heart and emotion, The Sheep Detectives has become the underdog film of the year.
Now, if you’ve enjoyed the film so much and need to fill the void with another cozy mystery, we have amazing titles that fit the bill. From large ensemble stories led by iconic detectives to the least likely sleuths saving the day, these films are like the cinema equivalent of a warm blanket. And yes, we have some talking animals for good measure. Whether shocking murders or tantalizing mysteries, these stories are perfect for a cozy night in.
‘Clue’ (1985)
Like The Sheep Detectives, the premise of Clue might sound like it should be a flop. Instead, it’s evolved into a comedy classic that defined the ’80s. Based on the board game of the same name, Clue follows six strangers with government secrets who are invited to an isolated New England mansion in 1954. When their blackmailer turns up dead, the guests must work with the butler to uncover the killer. With an all-star ensemble including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, and Martin Mull, it is unpredictable fun that will leave you guessing until the very end— especially since there are multiple endings!
A highly quotable and non-stop rush of comedy, Clue affectionately spoofs the old dark house whodunits of yore without taking its own violence seriously. There may be a dead body and murder weapons, but the humor stems from the high-strung individuals holding the items. The movie draws directly from the Hasbro game through its iconic characters, but the thrill lies in how the comedians use them as a springboard for exaggerated individuals. It’s hard to pick a favorite character because each one brings an iconic performance to the screen. The low-stakes nature of this cozy murder mystery makes it a perfectly rewatchable film that transcends generations.
‘Enola Holmes’ (2020)
Breaking free from her run on Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown found a new type of mystery genre in Enola Holmes. Adapting the first novel of The Enola Holmes Mysteries series by Nancy Springer, the franchise-launching film follows Enola, the brilliant, independent teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), as she navigates Victorian England. When her mother, Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter), suddenly disappears, Enola rebels against her older brothers’ wishes, running away to London to solve the mystery while kick-starting her own career as a super-sleuth. A fourth-wall-breaking mystery with humor and heart, Enola Holmes celebrates female empowerment, forging your own path, and subverting gender norms of the 19th century.
Enola Holmes faithfully adapts the novel and pays homage to Sherlockian tropes while creating its own identity. Brown does a remarkable job leading the story, surrounded by a bevy of big names. She never gets bogged down, growing stronger as the story goes on. Enola Holmes is wholesome to its core. It revolves around family puzzles, innocent romances, and finding oneself. As you solve the mystery alongside the titular character, you feel your own sense of inspiration. Enola Holmes and its two sequels are perfect to watch on a rainy summer’s day.
‘Gosford Park’ (2001)
Period mysteries always seem to scratch an itch. Especially when they’re simply cozy. Such is the case for the Robert Altman-directed and Julian Fellowes-written Gosford Park. The satirical black comedy mystery set on a 1930s English country estate chronicles the mystery surrounding the murder of the wealthy host, Sir William McCordle (Michael Gambon), during a weekend shooting party. Everyone, from his aristocratic guests to the downstairs servants, becomes a suspect, hiding dark secrets and deep resentment. A brilliant take on the upstairs-downstairs drama, Gosford Park focuses on class and routine with a satirical emphasis on gossip and motive.
Inspiring Downton Abbey, Gosford Park is a cozy, crafted thriller that blends classic Agatha Christie-style mystery with a lavish period drama whose dark comedy sets it apart. Through the locked-room premise with the action occurring within a single weekend, the story is contained, intimate, and alluring. No one is allowed out until the killer reveals themself. Or selves. Even as it entertains, Gosford Park conveys a strong satirical message about the ridiculousness of the wealthy’s dependence on the working class. Gosford Park boasts a brilliant ensemble of stars, including Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, Charles Dance, Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, Derek Jacobi, Richard E. Grant, and many more. They each bring such power to the screen, which helped earn the film seven Academy Award nominations.
‘Knives Out’ (2019)
Audiences have never given up on classic-style mystery films. Trying to find a new path while paying homage and creating a unique identity might be hard, but if anyone could do it, it’s Rian Johnson. Bringing the Agatha Christie essence to the modern world, Knives Out follows the suspicious death of wealthy mystery author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). When renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is hired to investigate, he suspects the dysfunctional family. But the first twist arrives immediately: Harlan’s nurse, Marta (Ana de Armas), accidentally gave him a lethal dose of morphine, prompting Harlan to slit his own throat to protect her from being blamed. So who framed Marta? That’s up to Blanc to reveal. A nostalgic mystery with a brilliant ensemble in which everyone is a suspect, the franchise starter explores themes of wealth inequality, entitlement, and the hypocrisy of the 1%.
Knives Out subverts expectations by revealing the killer at the start. But it’s not a mystery if it’s that easy. Knives Out changes the game while paying homage to the classics. With a nostalgic, gothic-mansion setting and an eccentric ensemble, the atmosphere exudes a cozy aura. The cast is strong—Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette— but it’s Craig who leads the film to victory. Shedding the James Bond sleekness, his Southern charm and folksy brilliance inspired two more Benoit Blanc masterpieces. Knives Out has brought the beloved genre to new audiences thanks to every element of the film being perfectly placed. With low gore, but high on excitement, Knives Out is the perfect mystery to turn on with a warm cup of cocoa.
‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (2017)
There are very few Agatha Christie mysteries more well-known and beloved than Murder on the Orient Express. With many adaptations over the years, it was its most recent entry, under the direction of Kenneth Branagh, that reignited the adoration for the author’s story. Murder on the Orient Express follows world-renowned detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh). After boarding the lavish Orient Express, a murder is committed when the train becomes trapped in a snowdrift. With the killer isolated on board, Poirot must interrogate thirteen diverse strangers before they strike again. Murder on the Orient Express provides a lavish period aesthetic for a star-studded ensemble that brings a masterful new take on a classic.
Murder on the Orient Express is a faithful adaptation of Christie’s classic tale, in which Branagh infuses it with added action and enhanced drama. In turn, it makes the mystery even more gripping. Those familiar with the story know the result, but Branagh plays upon the classic to make you think things may turn out differently. He gives Poirot new shades while also establishing a future for the franchise, which continued through Death on the Nile and A Haunting in Venice. Branagh’s cavalcade of stars—Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley— make the story even more enthralling. It’s such a random compilation of stars, and yet they still become a seamless ensemble. Murder on the Orient Express is the perfect gateway film for mystery lovers.
‘See How They Run’ (2022)
The title of the mother of cozy mysteries belongs to Agatha Christie. Another Christie-adjacent mystery is the Tom George-directed, Mark Chappell-written mystery comedy, See How They Run. The 1950s-set murder mystery revolves around the backstage theatrical world of Agatha Christie’s (Shirley Henderson) hit play The Mousetrap in the West End. When an obnoxious Hollywood director, Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody), attempting to adapt the play into a film, is murdered, world-weary Inspector George Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and eager, by-the-book rookie Woman Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) investigate. The unlikely duo must navigate the eccentric and cutthroat cast and crew of the play, each with a motive of their own, in order to solve the whodunit. With a retro-kitsch aesthetic and snappy, satirical tone, See How They Run is a clever, self-aware tribute to Christie’s famous play while establishing itself as a modern classic.
With the action starting on the night of The Mousetrap‘s 100th performance, the tone is immediately set. The film is filled with Christie Easter eggs, infuses the nursery rhyme theme, and evokes a nostalgic British mystery feel. See How They Run is quite fond of meta-humor, which serves as an ode to mystery lovers. It pokes fun at the predictable rules of murder mysteries while celebrating them at the same time. Rockwell and Ronan play an odd couple of investigators, and yet, their dynamic carries the film to glory. Their charm and lighthearted banter bring the right amount of levity to the darker moments. Like a good cozy mystery, the film offers a limited pool of suspects and lets the viewer play along as the detectives. Though the film has been overshadowed by Johnson and Branagh’s franchises, See How They Run deserves to be in the same conversation as a phenomenal film.
‘The Nice Guys’ (2016)
And now, for something a little different, we take a journey to the American neo-noir buddy action comedy from Shane Black, The Nice Guys. Set in ’70s Los Angeles, The Nice Guys follows an incompetent, cowardly private eye, Holland March (Ryan Gosling), and a tough, no-nonsense hired enforcer, Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe), as they are forced to team up to find a missing teenage girl, Amelia Kuttner (Margaret Qualley). The unlikely duo uncovers a tangled conspiracy involving auto manufacturers, hitmen, and the auto industry’s cover-up of a new anti-smog device. The Nice Guys thrives on its hilarious physical comedy, witty banter, and chaotic chemistry, making the film highly entertaining.
Rather than playing into the traditional amateur sleuth tropes, the neo-noir buddy comedy subverts gritty 1970s detective films with screwball comedy from two stars you wouldn’t expect to excel at it. The Nice Guys is non-stop entertainment. If you love awkward humor, this film fires on all cylinders. Crowe and Gosling are wonderfully mismatched, spending more time bickering and falling upward than conducting hard-boiled detective work. It’s similar to Nicholas Braun‘s clumsy cop, Tim Derry, who fails until he triumphs in the end. The other endearing element of the film is the dynamic between March and his daughter, Holly (Angourie Rice). She operates as the brains of the operation, grounding the film in a delightful father-daughter dynamic, like George and Rebecca (Molly Gordon).
‘The Thursday Murder Club’ (2025)
If there’s one thing that The Thursday Murder Club taught us, it’s that there is absolutely no age limit to being an amateur sleuth! Based on Richard Osman‘s novel, the Chris Columbus-directed crime comedy caper follows four quirky retirees—former intelligence agent Elizabeth Best (Helen Mirren), nurse Joyce Meadowcroft (Celia Imrie), retired union activist Ron Ritchie (Pierce Brosnan), and psychologist Professor Ibrahim Arif (Ben Kingsley)—living in the peaceful Coopers Chase retirement village where they meet weekly to investigate unsolved cold cases. When local property developer Tony Curran (Geoff Bell) is murdered, their casual sleuthing abruptly becomes a real-life whodunit. A charming, witty story with affable characters, The Thursday Murder Club is simply a delight.
Osman’s story served as a perfect source material for a warm and clever mystery that breaks away from standard senior stereotypes. Rather than depicting them as out to pasture, The Thursday Murder Club portrays its elderly protagonists as sharp, clever, and highly capable. They use their age to their advantage as they use their invisibility in society to solve murders from the comfort of their retirement home. The emotional depth serves as the heart and soul of the story. The cozy, light-hearted caper offers innate comfort thanks to its star-studded cast. The quartet has a wonderful dynamic, while each member finds a balance as an individual with their own struggles. The Thursday Murder Club is the perfect feel-good cozy comfort watch. It’s so good, you’ll wish there was more!
‘Wicked Little Letters’ (2023)
Some cozy mysteries have absolutely nothing to do with a murder. Sometimes, they just need a thrilling chase for justice. Such is the case in Wicked Little Letters. Directed by Thea Sharrock and based on the Littlehampton libels of the 1920s, the period black comedy is a true, stranger-than-fiction story of a scandal within the seaside hamlet of Littlehampton. When a conservative, pious, and reserved spinster, Edith Swan (Olivia Colman), receives a series of vulgar, obscenity-filled anonymous letters, she blames her outspoken, foul-mouthed neighbor, Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). But mystery ensues when the hunt for the real author leaves the entire town in a tizzy. Between a bawdy, hilarious story with a stellar cast playing up the zany antics, Wicked Little Letters smartly tackles heavy themes of patriarchy and small-town toxicity with just enough light and gloriously profane humor.
With a brilliant, thrilling screenplay by Jonny Sweet, the satisfying mystery and triumphant tone allow the on-screen superstars to go balls-to-the-wall. Colman and Buckley are at their comedic best. Their contrasting dynamics offer both emotional depth and fantastic timing. Their moments together are juicy, watching them try to top each other. And yet, during their individual arcs, they relish the moment. They are joined by an eccentric cast of characters, including Timothy Spall as Edward Swan and Anjana Vasan as WPC Gladys Moss. Wicked Little Letters plays up the camp of the situation rather than being bogged down by petty drama. There may not be a body, but it still has a cozy whodunit hook. You’ll laugh all the way through. That is after you lift your jaw off the floor from the characters’ shocking vulgarity.
‘Zootopia’ (2016)
We couldn’t leave you without another tale of sleuthing talking animals! This time, in animated form. A new Disney franchise emerged in 2016 with the buddy-cop comedy Zootopia. The instant animated classic follows optimistic bunny police officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and cynical con artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as they uncover a massive, city-wide conspiracy. When a bunch of predators suddenly go “savage,” the unlikely duo team up, ultimately discovering that the assistant mayor, Dawn Bellwether (Jenny Slate), may be behind the incitement of fear. Zootopia is a surprisingly mature animated story that excels at delivering a smart message about prejudice and inclusivity through immaculate world-building and lovable characters.
Disney animated films are notorious for thoughtful thematic depth. Zootopia is no different. By addressing complex societal issues without talking down to the audience, the film makes a profound teaching tool. Especially for young viewers. Zootopia contrasts predators and prey to illustrate how people treat one another in the real world. The vast world-building takes audiences on a joyride through the titular universe. Even the micro-environments like Tundratown, Sahara Square, and the Rainforest District have fully realized that they could host their own brilliant stories. Zootopia is a genuine mystery. Judy and Nick chase breadcrumbs to uncover why the predators are going savage. And their investigation brings them closer together, showcasing the power of friendship. Zootopia is a classic whodunit mystery that’s perfect for the entire family. And if you love the first, there’s a second story right behind it!
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Michael Block
Almontather Rassoul
