Unraveling The Mysteries Of The Past

Clara Moreau
Clara MoreauOctober 8, 2025
The 1950s was a decade that saw the rise of the mystery genre in film, with many classic movies that still intrigue and captivate audiences today. From the masterful direction of Alfred Hitchcock to the eerie atmospheres of horror-mystery hybrids, this era produced a plethora of iconic films that continue to influence the genre.

One of the key characteristics of mystery films from this decade is their ability to craft intricate plots, often with unexpected twists and turns that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Whether it's a whodunit, a psychological thriller, or a supernatural enigma, these movies expertly weave together clues, red herrings, and suspense to create an immersive experience.

The movies selected for this list represent some of the best examples of the mystery genre from the 1950s, showcasing a range of styles, themes, and techniques that have become synonymous with the era. With their blend of intellectual curiosity, atmospheric tension, and surprising revelations, these films are sure to appeal to fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

So, if you're ready to delve into the fascinating world of 1950s mystery films, join us on a journey through the decades, as we explore the twists, turns, and surprises that await in these cinematic classics. With their enduring appeal and influence, these movies continue to entertain, intrigue, and inspire audiences, offering a glimpse into a bygone era of suspense and intrigue.
Vertigo
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Vertigo

#1

A retired San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.

1958128 min
MysteryRomanceThriller
8.2
6039 votes
Rear Window
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Rear Window

#2

A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.

1954112 min
ThrillerMystery
8.3
6846 votes
Witness for the Prosecution
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Witness for the Prosecution

#3

An ailing barrister agrees to defend a man in a sensational murder trial where the unconvincing testimony of the defendant's wife becomes a subject of confusion.

1957116 min
DramaMysteryCrime
8.2
1551 votes
Kiss Me Deadly
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Kiss Me Deadly

#4

One evening, Hammer gives a ride to Christina, an attractive hitchhiker on a lonely country road, who has escaped from the nearby lunatic asylum. Thugs waylay them and force his car to crash. When Hammer returns to semi-consciousness, he hears Christina being tortured until she dies. Hammer, both for vengeance and in hopes that "something big" is behind it all, decides to pursue the case.

1955106 min
MysteryThrillerCrime
7.2
389 votes
To Catch a Thief
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To Catch a Thief

#5

An ex-thief is accused of enacting a new crime spree, so to clear his name he sets off to catch the new thief, who’s imitating his signature style.

1955106 min
MysteryRomanceThriller
7.3
1596 votes
Diabolique
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Diabolique

#6

The cruel and abusive headmaster of a boarding school, Michel Delassalle, is murdered by an unlikely duo -- his meek wife and the mistress he brazenly flaunts. The women become increasingly unhinged by a series of odd occurrences after Delassalle's corpse mysteriously disappears.

1955117 min
ThrillerMystery
7.9
1032 votes
The Man Who Knew Too Much
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The Man Who Knew Too Much

#7

A couple vacationing in Morocco with their young son accidentally stumble upon an assassination plot. When the child is kidnapped to ensure their silence, they have to take matters into their own hands to save him.

1956120 min
ThrillerMystery
7.5
1480 votes
The Hound of the Baskervilles
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The Hound of the Baskervilles

#8

When a nobleman is threatened by a family curse on his newly inherited estate, detective Sherlock Holmes is hired to investigate.

195987 min
MysteryThrillerHorror
6.8
356 votes
The Blue Gardenia
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The Blue Gardenia

#9

Upon waking up to the news that the man she’d gone on a date with the previous night has been murdered, a young woman with only a faint memory of the night’s events begins to suspect that she murdered him while attempting to resist his advances.

195389 min
CrimeMystery
6.6
91 votes
House on Haunted Hill
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House on Haunted Hill

#10

Frederick Loren has invited five strangers to a party of a lifetime. He is offering each of them $10,000 if they can stay the night in a house. But the house is no ordinary house. This house has a reputation for murder. Frederick offers them each a gun for protection. They all arrived in a hearse and will either leave in it $10,000 richer or leave in it dead!

1959
6.8
554 votes
Anatomy of a Murder
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Anatomy of a Murder

#11

Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler takes the case of Army Lt. Manion, who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner, who's hiding a dark secret.

1959161 min
CrimeDramaMystery
7.8
1084 votes
Rashomon
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Rashomon

#12

Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.

195088 min
CrimeDramaMystery
8.1
2386 votes
An Inspector Calls
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An Inspector Calls

#13

An upper-crust family dinner is interrupted by a police inspector who brings news that a girl known to everyone present has died in suspicious circumstances. It seems that any or all of them could have had a hand in her death. But who is the mysterious Inspector and what can he want of them?

195480 min
CrimeDramaMystery
7.1
102 votes
I Bury the Living
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I Bury the Living

#14

The new manager of a small-town cemetery becomes convinced that he triggered the untimely deaths of several plot owners by tampering with a certain map. When nobody believes him, he risks his sanity to play God once again and prove his point.

195877 min
MysteryHorror
6.1
69 votes
Night of the Demon
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Night of the Demon

#15

American professor John Holden arrives in London for a conference on parapsychology only to discover that the colleague he was supposed to meet was killed in a freak accident the day before. It turns out that the deceased had been investigating a cult lead by Dr. Julian Karswell. Though a skeptic, Holden is suspicious of the devil-worshiping Karswell. Following a trail of mysterious manuscripts, Holden enters a world that makes him question his faith in science.

195796 min
FantasyHorrorMystery
7.0
290 votes

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