9 Of The Best Twisty Detective Thrillers Like 'Dept Q' That'll Have You Completely Hooked
In need of your next dark detective fix? Come this way.
Finished Dept Q and looking for some films just like it to fill your evenings? Well, we've got you completely covered.
After a nine-episode arc that had you constantly at the edge of your seat, you may have come to the end of Dept Q wondering what to watch next. And after all that time, you might fancy a quicker fix - which is where our list of films you can watch in one night (or across two if, like some of us, you're prone to a sofa snooze) comes in.
As a long-time lover of the 'grisly troubled detective solves a dark crime against the odds, possibly with one or more partners that also have their own interesting and complex backstory' genre, one of the best things about Dept Q was that it was actually satisfying. There is nothing worse than sitting down to watch a crime thriller and it having an absolutely ludicrous ending - whether it's got obvious plot holes, a boring middle and a too-quickly wrapped up ending, or just a completely nonsensical motive, many a crime-drama can prove a disappointment.
After years of sifting through such movies, I'm here to tell you that just like Dept Q, these detective crime thrillers will not be a waste of your time, and will have you spending the evening picking apart clues like the sofa detective you are, instead of scrolling mindlessly on your phone.
And if these don't fit the bill, don't forget there are already two Dept Q films exploring the novels of the series.
If you've got more of a time commitment in mind, we've also compiled a list of the best TV series like Dept Q - and if that's the case, than can I add that Mare of Easttown really is a must-see.
The Best Films You'll Love If You Liked Dept Q
'Kiss The Girls'
Something about Dept Q has that feel of the 90s boom in detective movies based on thriller books that sold by the bucketload. This iteration of the Alex Cross books by James Patterson is one of the biggest around. If you've not seen it yet, it's a real popcorn Friday movie treat. Morgan Freeman plays hotshot detective Alex Cross who's called in when his niece goes missing - and her disappearance is linked to a serial killer. Helped by one of his victims that's managed to escape, played by Ashley Judd. If you love this movie, there's also a sequel, Along Came A Spider. Oh and if you're all in, Amazon Prime rebooted the books with a great series called Cross.
Kiss The Girls is available on Netflix.
'The Bone Collector'
In a similar 90s vein - and with lots of themes similar to that of Dept Q, The Bone Collector is a stone-cold classic of the genre. Denzel Washington plays a paralysed detective, brought in to investigate a series of murders. Unable to leave his apartment, he partners up and relies on a young Angelina Jolie to help solve the grisly crimes.
You can buy or rent The Bone Collector from Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime.
'Prisoners'
Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal are both incredible in this dark and tense movie about the kidnap of two young girls - and the fallout of the investigation on the families and the detective tasked with finding them. The twists and turns of this plot will have you GASPING, I promise. One of director Denis Villeneuve's less-talked about films, it's just as good as his other stellar productions.
Prisoners is available to watch on Netflix.
'Gone Baby Gone'
When you think about tense crime thrillers about kidnap, this incredible film is top of the list. Based on a Dennis Lehane novel (you must also watch the incredible movie adaptation of his book Mystic River), this film was actually Ben Affleck's directorial debut and stars his brother, Casey Affleck as a local police officer brought in to investigate the kidnapping of a young girl in his community. The last 10 minutes will have you blown away and unable to move from the couch.
Gone Baby Gone is available to rent or buy, or stream on Paramount+
'Wind River'
Loved Yellowstone? Well this is a Taylor Sheridan movie that flies under the radar - unjustly. Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen trying to solve a murder on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Dark, brooding, thrilling - it's a must-watch.
You can watch Wind River on Amazon Prime.
'Sleeping Dogs'
Russell Crowe plays a former detective, suffering from memory loss, who is forced to investigate a cold case. As he digs deeper into the case though, as the movie's tagline says, 'he is led to a chilling truth - sometimes, it's best to let sleeping dogs lie'.
Sleeping Dogs is available on Amazon Prime.
'Headhunters'
If you're looking for another hit of Scandi noir after Dept Q, this film is based on the Jo Nesbø novel of the same name about a corporate headhunter who leads a double life as an art thief. The film also stars Game of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
Headhunters is available on Apple TV+
'Fargo'
Frances McDormand won an Oscar for her portrayal of pregnant detective, Marge Gunderson - if you're looking for slightly quirky detectives, she's the one. A seminal movie by Joel and Ethan Coen, if you've not seen Fargo, add it immediately to the top of your watch list. I insist. And then work your way through the anthology series that the movie has spawned too.
Fargo is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
'The Departed'
Enjoyed the 'who's policing the police?' aspect of Dept Q? Well, treat yourself to The Departed. Martin Scorsese's masterpiece has one of the best casts ever assembled, from Jack Nicholson to Leonardo DiCaprio to Matt Damon to Mark Wahlberg. When a crime family place a spy within the Boston police force, the shockwaves create one of the best police and crime dramas ever made.
Watch The Departed by buying or renting it on a number of digital platforms.
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