Mystery and suspense movies continue to leave countless audience members at the edge of their seats. These viewers often try to follow the clues to figure out the mysteries themselves.
Rotten Tomatoes, one of the most popular movie websites on the web, posts reviews published across print, broadcast, and online platforms. Then, they compile them to produce a “TOMATOMETER” score.
These movies have been given the best classic mystery and suspense movie reviews by Rotten Tomatoes critics:
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“Citizen Kane” (1941)
TOMATOMETER: 100 percent
AUDIENCE SCORE: 91 percent
Rated the best mystery and suspense movie by the Rotten Tomatoes critics, “Citizen Kane” is regarded as “entertaining, poignant, and inventive in its storytelling, earning its reputation as a landmark achievement in film.”
After the death of a publishing mogul, a reporter is assigned to explore his intricate life and what his dying words meant. The reporter’s investigation unveils a complex man who ascended to the highest levels of social and economic ladder from obscurity. Despite interviewing close friends, family and associates, he struggles to figure out the meaning of simple dying word, “Rosebud.”
“The Third Man” (1949)
TOMATOMETER: 100 percent
AUDIENCE SCORE: 94 percent
Following his brilliant acting job in “Citizen Kane,” Orson Welles gives another spectacular performance in Carol Reed’s “The Third Man.”
The Rotten Tomatoes critics have acclaimed this Cold War spy classic as an “atmospheric thriller” that’s one of the “undisputed masterpieces of cinema.”
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A pulp novelist travels to post-war Vienna after being promised a job by his old school friend. Upon arriving, he learns about the death of his friend due to a strange car accident. His deeper investigation reveals discrepancies in stories and soon he realizes he has to outsmart the city detective to reveal the truth about his friend’s death.
“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920)
TOMATOMETER: 100 percent
AUDIENCE SCORE: 90 percent
The first silent horror film, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” blends the elements of thrilling suspense and terror.
Rotten Tomatoes critics said that this classic, “remains terrifying nearly a century after it stalked the screen.”
Dr. Caligari goes to a town fair and shows off his somnambulist, Cesare, who claims that he can tell the future. When Cesare successfully predicts death of his friend, Francis suspects Dr. Caligari for his murder and starts spying on him. After Cesare tries to kidnap Francis’s fiancée Jane, the police and Francis decide to investigate the caravan of Dr. Caligari, but he slips away. Francis pursues Dr. Caligari and chases him into a madhouse where he finds out the truth about the doctor.
“Laura” (1944)
TOMATOMETER: 100 percent
AUDIENCE SCORE: 91 percent
Adapting Vera Caspary’s suspense novels by the same name, Preminger uses the zealous drive of obsession to take the viewers on
“a deliciously well-crafted murder mystery” with “Laura,” according to Rotten Tomatoes critics.
The story follows a charming detective investigating the brutal murder of Laura, a charming and young advertising executive in New York City. The investigation leads the detective to complete a puzzle of the life of the murdered victim. As the pieces come together, the detective finds himself falling in love with Laura, just like every other man who had met her. Then one night something peculiar happens that makes the detective reevaluate the entire case.
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