If you’re a fan ofSteve Martin,Martin Short,Selena Gomez, and murder mysteries, then you need to be watchingOnly Murders in the Building. The hit comedy series is back for its fourth season on Hulu and is just as strong as ever. Martin—who co-created the show withJohn Hoffman— Short and Gomez star as three true crime-loving New Yorkers who set out to solve murders taking place in their affluent Upper West Side apartment building, chronicling their progress in a podcast.
Since its premiere in 2021,Only Murders in the Buildinghas been praised for its terrific blend of comedy and mystery, as well as being a love letter to the whodunit genre. Steve Martin and Martin Short have been collaborating on films and television for years, and this series is another strong addition to their body of work. That said,loyal fans who loveOnly Murders in the Buildingshould consider checking out these great comedy and mystery filmsthat share many similarities.
10’Game Night' (2018)
Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Who said board games can’t include murder?Jason BatemanandRachel McAdamsstar inGame Nightas Max and Annie, a competitive husband and wife who love games and hosting game nights. One night, Max, Annie, and their friends' murder mystery game with his brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) ends up taking a sharp turn and becomes a real life-or-death situation.
ForOMITBfans,Game Nightis a great viewing choice, especially for those in the mood for action and laughs. What especially sells the premise is the hilarious performances of the cast members—Bateman, McAdams, Chandler, and especiallyJesse Plemons as the creepy next-door neighbor, Gary, one of his best and most memorable roles.Game Nighthas mystery, mayhem, and puzzles, but it’s all about the laugh-out-loud moments.
Game Night
9’Manhattan Murder Mystery' (1993)
Directed by Woody Allen
OMITBis a Manhattan murder mystery, and so isManhattan Murder Mystery! This somewhat forgotten 1993 film is about a Manhattan married couple, Larry and Carol Lipton (Woody AllenandDiane Keaton), who suspect that their neighbor Paul (Jerry Adler) may have killed his wife. What follows is an amateurishly executed investigation by the persistent Carol and her eager friend Ted (Alan Alda), which is initially met with much skepticism from Larry until he relents.
Unlike the Arconia trio, though, Carol and Larry are far less effective and prone to chaos.
As the story progresses with them diving deep in, the antics remain entertaining and funny in that classic Allen way.Manhattan Murder Mysterymatches the same spirit asOMITBwith its setting and centering around snoopy neighbors playing sleuths in their homes. Unlike the Arconia trio, though, Carol and Larry are far less effective and prone to chaos, makingManhattan Murder Mysteryan underrated mystery comedy that would pair nicely with Hulu’s hit comedy.
Rent on Amazon
8’A Simple Favor' (2018)
Directed by Paul Feig
Based on the novel byDarcey Bell,A Simple Favoris a delightfully twisted mystery and easily the best film by directorPaul Feig.Anna Kendrickstars as a single mother named Stephanie who befriends an exciting but mysterious woman named Emily (Blake Lively). One day, Emily goes missing, and Stephanie sets out to learn what happened while documenting her findings on her mommy vlog.
What’s fun aboutA Simple Favoris Kendrick’s Stephanie stepping into amateur sleuth mode, much like Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. These characters also use modern technology and social media to solve their respective mysteries. Furthermore,A Simple Favorstands out because of how deliciously scandalous it gets, dipping its feet intoGone Girlterritory by way ofBridesmaids.A Simple Favoris definitely worth watching, and there’s asequel on the waywith Feig and the main cast returning!
A Simple Favor
7’Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' (2005)
Directed by Shane Black
People considerIron Manto beRobert Downey Jr.’s Hollywood comeback, but it was actually the criminally underratedKiss Kiss Bang Bang. Downey plays Harry, a petty thief who gets roped into a convoluted murder case in Los Angeles along with private investigator “Gay” Perry (Val Kilmer) and actress/childhood crush Harmony (Michelle Monaghan). Written and directed byShane BlackofLethal Weaponfame, the film was praised for its tongue-in-cheek approach to the neo-noir genre.
DespiteKiss Kiss Bang Bangbeing less of a whodunit thanOMITBand instead leaning more into the antics of the characters, it still revels in satire. Even with its lackluster box office results,Kiss Kiss Bang Bangstill received critical praise and helped revitalize Downey’s career, eventually leading toIron Man. With its witty dialogue and darkly comedic tone,Kiss Kiss Bang Bangis highly entertaining and absurdly hilarious.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
6’Three Amigos' (1986)
Directed by John Landis
Three Amigosis not a murder mystery but instead a lighthearted ‘80s comedy and a classic Steve Martin/Martin Short collaboration. Along withChevy Chase, they play failed silent movie stars in 1916 who believe they’ve gotten a career-reviving gig in Mexico, but it turns out to be a call for help from a small village terrorized by a ruthless gang. From there, the Three Amigos set out to become real heroes like the ones they’ve played on screen.
Despite possessing the unfavorable white savior trope,Three Amigosis stilla wacky comedy and an interesting time capsuleto visit for fans of ‘80s cinema. As far as Western comedies go, it’s not as funny or shocking as something likeBlazing Saddles, butcomedic giants like Steve Martinand Martin Short easily carryThe Three Amigos. Also, forOMITBfans who are curious to see how far back Martin/Short collaborations go, this one is worth popping in for some good chuckles.
Watch on Max
5’Glass Onion' (2022)
Directed by Rian Johnson
It could be argued thatRian Johnsonhelped re-popularize whodunits with theKnives Outfranchise. In the style of classicAgatha Christiemysteries, he introduced audiences to a new favorite fictional detective, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). Johnson’s second installment,Glass Onion, sees Detective Blanc receiving an invitation from tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) to spend a weekend on his private Greek island with a group of eccentric guests. But when one of them ends up dead, Blanc must solve the case before the killer strikes again.
Glass Onionhas an incredible ensemble cast, including big names such as Norton,Janelle Monae,Kate Hudson, andDave Bautista, to name a few. It also pokes fun at thedangerous influence that the wealthy can have, which has been especially relevant today.Glass Onionisthe kind of film that Charles, Oliver, and Mabel would watch togetheron a movie night when taking a break from podcasting. There can’t be too much else said aboutGlass Onionwithout spoiling it, but it does have many layers to go through.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
4’Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (1988)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
There will never beanother live-action/animation hybridas great asWho Framed Roger Rabbitever again. Not only was it a critical and financial hit, but also a groundbreaking achievement in traditional animation and VFX. Set in a 1940s version of Los Angeles where cartoon characters exist among humans, toon-hating detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) has to clear the name of toon Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer), who’s been framed for murder.
Who Framed Roger Rabbitwas a major gamble for Disney at the time; there was a lot of pressure on directorRobert Zemeckis, executive producerSteven Spielberg, and the late animation directorRichard Williamsto make the film work. It ultimatelypaid off as a stellar mashup of genres, including drama, noir, crime, mystery, and comedy, much like whatOMITBhas accomplished. And, while it does not have any cartoon characters, both the show andWho Framed Roger Rabbithavean endearing and delightful zaniness thanks to likable characters.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
3’Father of the Bride' (1991)
Directed by Charles Shyer
“That’s right, we’re the fathers of the bride!”OMITBfans might remember that direct but chuckle-worthy reference made in Season 3, Episode 9. Father of the Bride is considered one of Martin and Short’s best films. Martin plays George Banks, a man whose world is turned upside-down when his daughter, Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), announces she’s getting married. Short plays Franck, the eccentric and heavily accented wedding planner who adds to George’s stress with the growing costs of putting on the ceremony.
LikeThree Amigos,Father of the Brideis also not a murder mystery but agreat comedic showcase of Martin and Short’s talents. Moreso, the 1991 comedy is a heartwarming story about a father who’s essentially afraid of letting go of his daughter. Martin sells it with heart and a bunch of skeptical wit, and Short adds flair and flamboyance as the flawless foil.Father of the Brideis essential viewing for all Martin/Short fans.
Watch on Hulu
2’Knives Out' (2019)
Films likeKnives Outwere made for people like Charles, Oliver, and Mabel.It was one of the biggest surprise hits of 2019, boasting a talented cast and even launching a franchise. The death of famed mystery novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is initially ruled as a suicide, but when detective Benoit Blanc is brought in to investigate potential foul play, the rest of Harlan’s family and his nurse Marta (Ana de Armas) are deemed suspects.
For better or for worse, one thing that director Rian Johnson is best known for is subverting expectations. Without revealing any spoilers, what makesKnives Outwork so well is the twists and turns it takes. He elevates the mystery with social commentary on class inequality and race and best utilizes the talents of cast members such asChris Evans,Jamie Lee Curtis,Toni Collette, andMichael Shannon.Knives Outis one of the best mystery moviesof the 21st century, and now, withGlass Onionanda third film,Wake Up Dead Man, on the way, it’s certain to be a new favorite franchise for many.
Knives Out
1’Clue' (1985)
Directed by Jonathan Lynn
For many people growing up, their first experience with whodunits was playing the board gameClue. The Hasbro game has a simple objective: there’s a dead body and six suspects, and players must determine who the killer is, where the murder took place, and which weapon was used.Clueremains popular to this day and even led to a 1985 film adaptation, also calledClue. It was directed byJonathan Lynnand features a talented cast, includingTim Curry,Christopher Lloyd,Michael McKean,Lesley Ann Warren, and the lateEileen Brennan,Madeline Kahn, andMartin Mull.
Clueessentiallyfollows the same premise as the board game, and that’s a good thing. Although it received mixed reviews and bombed at the box office, it gained a cult following over the years and is now considered the best film adaptation of a board game. What also makesthe movie unique is its multiple endings, another great example of it staying true to its source material. Anybody who loves murder mysteries will loveClue. In fact,anybody who lovesOnly Murders in the Buildingwill loveClue.
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