6 Best Cold Case and Unsolved Mystery Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 18, 2026

The obsessive pursuit of a decades-old unsolved crime has produced some of cinema’s most patient, haunting detective stories. In Prisoners (2013): A desperate father takes matters into his own hands after police fail to find his kidnapped daughter. Just as strong is Memories of Murder (2003): Detectives in a small Korean town grow increasingly desperate as they fail to catch a serial killer.

The Snowman (2017)

TMDB ★ 5.2

A detective investigates a serial killer whose crimes are linked by an ominous recurring signature.

Directed by Tomas Alfredson · 1h 59m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

TMDB ★ 7.6

Two private investigators searching for a missing girl uncover disturbing truths about her family.

Directed by Ben Affleck · 1h 53m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Memories of Murder (2003)

IMDb ★ 8.1 Metacritic 82

Detectives in a small Korean town grow increasingly desperate as they fail to catch a serial killer.

Directed by Bong Joon Ho · 2h 11m

34 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Prisoners (2013)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 81% Metacritic 70

A desperate father takes matters into his own hands after police fail to find his kidnapped daughter.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve · 2h 33m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar10 wins & 38 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Zodiac (2007)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 90% Metacritic 79

A cartoonist becomes obsessively consumed by his search for the identity of an uncaught serial killer.

Directed by David Fincher · 2h 37m · Rated R

3 wins & 71 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mystic River (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 89% Metacritic 84

Three childhood friends reunite as adults when one's daughter is murdered, reopening old wounds and secrets.

Directed by Clint Eastwood · 2h 18m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars57 wins & 144 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Cold Case and Unsolved Mystery Movies

The Snowman (2017)

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Memories of Murder (2003)

Prisoners (2013)

Zodiac (2007)

Mystic River (2003)

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