Top Ten Christmas Mystery Movies
Looking for the perfect blend of holiday cheer and sleuthing suspense? Cozy mystery lovers, rejoice!
This curated list of the Top 10 Christmas Mystery Movies will keep you entertained with charming characters, festive settings, and intriguing whodunits.
From heartwarming tales of self-discovery to lighthearted detective adventures, these stand-alone films are sure to add a sprinkle of mystery to your holiday movie marathon.
10. A Christmas Mystery (2022)
When prized jingle bells, said to bring Christmas miracles, goes missing from a small town, a girl (played by Violet McGraw) sets out to clear her best friend's father of suspicion in A Christmas Mystery.
This film captures the spirit of community and holiday magic through its youthful protagonist who uses her intellect and natural curiosity to find clues.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
This movie’s focus on family, friendship, and solving mysteries with cleverness rather than force makes it a delightful and heartwarming choice for fans of the genre.
9. Unlocking Christmas (2020)
In Unlocking Christmas, Kate (played by Taylor Cole) and Kevin (played by Steve Lund) each receive a holiday riddle and a mysterious key and these two strangers are brought together to find the solutions before Christmas.
As they work to solve the puzzle, they find unexpected connections during the most magical time of the year.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
With its scavenger hunt-like mystery and blossoming romance, this lighthearted film captures the fun and coziness of solving puzzles in a festive setting.
8. The Spirit of Christmas (2015)
In The Spirit of Christmas, a lawyer (played by Jen Lilley) must settle the sale of a historic inn, only to discover it's haunted by a ghost (played by Thomas Beaudoin) who needs her help solving his own murder before Christmas. This romantic mystery blends supernatural elements with a holiday backdrop.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
The combination of a whodunit, a charming ghost, and an idyllic winter setting makes this film a unique and cozy viewing experience.
7. Deck the Halls (2011)
Deck the Halls (2011) is based on the popular Regan Reilly and Alvirah Meehan mysteries by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark.
In this holiday mystery, Detective Regan Reilly (played by Scottie Thompson) and her former cleaning lady-turned-private detective, Alvirah Meehan (played by Kathy Najimy), team up to solve the kidnapping of Regan's father and a young female driver. As they race against time to rescue them before Christmas, the pair navigates a thrilling investigation filled with twists.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
This movie offers a perfect blend of suspense and holiday cheer, with engaging characters working together to solve a crime in time for the holidays.
6. The Santa Stakeout (2021)
In The Santa Stakeout, Detectives Tanya Morris (played by Tamera Mowry-Housley) and Ryan Anderson (played by Paul Campbell) go undercover as newlyweds at Christmastime in order to solve a string of holiday heists. As they stake out their prime suspect, they discover more than just clues in this fun, lighthearted Hallmark mystery.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
This movie combines humor, romance, and a festive whodunit, making it the perfect holiday treat for mystery enthusiasts.
5. Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas (2022)
Four days before Christmas, Elizabeth (played by Holland Roden) mistakenly receives a voicemail from a man making a final plea for love. Not wanting him to miss his last chance, she teams up with her friend from college, Josh (played by Tyler Hynes) to interpret the clues and pass on the message.
Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas unravels a poignant mystery around an unsent message and its connection to a Christmas romance.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
The emotional depth of the story, coupled with the puzzle of uncovering hidden truths, offers a heartwarming and engaging viewing experience.
4. The Christmas Thief
In The Christmas Thief (2021), aspiring P.I. Lana Lawton (played by Michelle Borth) thinks that the biggest case she’ll ever crack is helping her nephew decide if a neighbor is the real Santa Claus, but when a string of burglaries occur in her hometown near the holidays, she’ll have her chance to prove her true talent.
Alongside Detective Nick Fallon (played by Jarrid Masse) and her enthusiastic nephew, Henry, Lana untangles clues, navigates romantic tension, and unravels a case involving stolen heirlooms and gumdrops left behind as calling cards.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
This lighthearted mystery offers a mix of humor, romance, and Christmas spirit, making it a perfect cozy pick for holiday movie lovers. The film’s charming characters and gentle pace appeal to fans of soft, family-centered mysteries.
3. Mystery on Mistletoe Lane
Mystery on Mistletoe Lane follows Heidi Wicks (played by Erica Cerra), a recently divorced woman who moves to the small New England town of New Hollow for a fresh start with her children and to work as the director of the local historical center. One perk of the job is the ability to live in a historic home. One downside is that the previous director, David (played by Victor Webster) is still very much involved with the historic society and isn’t very impressed with her festive ideas.
If figuring David out wasn’t enough of a puzzle, Heidi and her children start to uncover trinkets and riddles throughout the historic home. With clues starting to lead them to uncover what “Mistletoe Manor” is, the family finds a holiday mystery on their hands and seeks answers to the holiday treasure hunt.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
This film is a delightful mix of lighthearted mystery, family bonding, and Christmas spirit, making it perfect for cozy mystery lovers. Its blend of relatable characters, warm community setting, and the gentle unraveling of a mystery makes it a charming addition to any holiday movie list.
2. The Thin Man (1934)
This classic film stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as the iconic Nick and Nora Charles, who balance holiday festivities with solving a complex murder mystery. The movie sparkles with witty dialogue, 1930s glamour, and clever detective work.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
The film's humor, sophisticated charm, and Christmas backdrop make it a timeless treat for fans of lighthearted mysteries.
1. Finding Father Christmas (2016)
Raised by an actress mother, but orphaned at a young age near Christmas, Miranda (played by Erin Krakow) follows a clue in a photograph that could tell her the truth about her father. With some help from Ian (played by Niall Matter), Miranda investigates and regains her holiday spirit. The investigation leads her to heartwarming revelations just in time for Christmas.
Why Cozy Mystery Lovers Will Enjoy It:
With its tender exploration of family secrets and a picturesque holiday setting, this movie delivers both intrigue and warmth in equal measure.