The 10 Best Movies About Private Investigators, According To IMDb

The profession of private investigation, while rather mundane in real life, has been inflated by cinema into one of the most exciting and seedy jobs there is. Having their heyday in the noir-obsessed 1940s, the P.I. still continues to be a popular subject for films today.

Whether in noir classics such The Maltese Falcon or modern comedic takes such as The Nice Guys, the profession of private investigation is alive and well in movieland. Even though there are many classic P.I. films, some garnered higher scores on IMDb than others.

10 Farewell, My Lovely (1975) – 7.0

Coming as one of the best adaptions of Raymond Chandler’s novels, Farewell, My Lovely proved that the noir genre still had power in the 1970s. The story follows Chandler’s legendary detective Phillip Marlowe as he is hired by an ex-con to track down his estranged wife.

With veteran actor Robert Mitchum in the lead role, Marlowe is played with more emotional depth than he had ever been portrayed in past adaptations. By choosing not to modernize the story, the film is a feast for fans of modern period pieces, and the scenic dressing is top notch. Untethered from the strict censorship of the 1940s, Farewell, My Lovely is closer to Chandler’s dark vision of the times he lived in.

9 Night Moves (1975) – 7.1

The 1970s was a great decade for modern noir stories, and many of the best centered on private investigators. Night Moves follows a Los Angeles P.I who is hired to track down an actress who went missing in Florida. Once there, the P.I stumbles across something much larger than he anticipated, and it all ties back to Hollywood.

Night Moves ramps up the grittiness in its story and is nothing like the slick films of previous decades. By shooting the film on location in Florida, the movie takes full advantage of its unique location and juxtaposes it with dark imagery. While the story may be boiler-plate P.I fodder, it helps itself stand out with brilliant performances and interesting locations.

8 Klute (1971) – 7.1

While many films aimed to do something new in the noir genre, Klute was one of a few films that actually succeeded. The story follows a small town detective who is hired to look for a missing man in New York. With nothing else to work with, the detective finds that his only lead is a sex worker who may be the next victim.

The standard pieces of a classic noir story are present in Klute but it handles them with a more modern sensibility. The film is essentially anchored by brilliant performances from Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda, and the story takes a back seat to their acting. While noir has always been grimy, Klute is not only seedy, but it also has a level of tension that rivals even horror films.

7 Angel Heart (1987) – 7.3

While many P.I stories are gritty and suspenseful, Angel Heart showed that they could be terrifying as well. The film follows a P.I who is hired to track down a musician who may not want to be found. Soon the P.I learns that there is more to the case than he could ever imagine.

Director Alan Parker showed in Angel Heart that he was a master of psychological horror, and the film is one of the scariest hidden gems of the 1980s. What makes the film great is that not only is it scary, but it still delivers a great whodunit story that pays tribute to other classic murder mysteries.

6 The Nice Guys (2016) – 7.4

Many P.I stories have attempted to take the genre in darker directions but The Nice Guys showed that there was a fair amount of humor to be found as well. The story follows a pair of P.Is in the 1970s who are hired to find a missing woman, and they must work together despite their clashing personalities.

Showing that buddy comedies are truly in his wheelhouse, director Shane Black harkens back to previous successes like Lethal Weapon. Though the plot is relatively simple, it is the hilarious clashes between the two leads that carry the film. Also, by setting the film in the ’70s, the film exists in a visually interesting, hyper-exaggerated version of that decade’s style.

5 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) – 7.5

While most P.I films are relatively simple with their setup, some have a convoluted plot that only gets more complicated as the story progresses. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the story of a thief who is mistaken for an actor and sent to train with a private investigator for a new role. Once together, the P.I and thief are brought into a murder mystery involving an actress.

In one of his best roles outside of the MCU, Robert Downey Jr. showed exactly why he had a career renaissance in the 2000s. The film is a perfect mixture of hilarious hijinks and tightly plotted intrigue that keeps the viewer riveted throughout. It is also strong because it breathes new life in the overused cliche of the private investigator.

4 The Long Goodbye (1973) – 7.6

Once again returning to the Raymond Chandler well, Hollywood managed to find a wealth of new possibilities in his stories. The Long Goodbye finds Phillip Marlowe caught in a jam after he attempts to help a friend and ends up being implicated in the murder of his friend’s wife.

By recasting the legendary role with a fresh-faced actor, Elliot Gould, The Long Goodbye has a youthful energy that was lacking in older adaptations. Gould’s performance differs from his predecessors but he still embodies the streetwise detective. With director Robert Altman at the helm, the film is as interesting as it is cinematic, and the visuals are adventurous compared to other Neo-noir films.

3 The Big Sleep (1946) – 7.9

While he played a plethora of roles in his career, Humphrey Bogart is most known for his hard-boiled detective parts. The Big Sleep follows Phillip Marlowe as he is hired by a wealthy family to investigate who is blackmailing their daughter over extensive gambling debts.

The Big Sleep features all of the best aspects of classic noir detective stories, and it does it better than most of its contemporaries. With a plot that thickens with every turn, the film never fails to keep the viewer engaged from start to finish. The real star of the film however, is the onscreen chemistry between Bogart and Lauren Bacall, whose electricity practically leaps off of the screen.

2 The Maltese Falcon (1941) – 8.0

Though usually playing second fiddle to Raymond Chandler, the works of writer Dashiell Hammett also had a profound impact on cinema, especially his novel The Maltese Falcon. The story follows hardened detective, Sam Spade, who gets embroiled in an intriguing plot between criminals that involves a priceless artifact.

Not relying as much on complex plotting, The Maltese Falcon instead gives more time for its characters to develop. Dealing with the loss of his partner, Spade’s decisions are all colored by his grief, and his complex emotions are brilliantly performed by Bogart. The supporting cast is also strong and the film features a fair amount of twists and turns before its ends.

1 Chinatown (1974) – 8.2

Not only is Chinatown considered one of the best detective stories of all time, but it is also frequently brought up as one of the greatest films of all time. Set in the 1930s, the film follows a private detective who is hired to expose a wealthy adulterer and ruin his reputation. Along the way, he stumbles across a web of political corruption, and a harrowing secret involving the woman he is falling in love with.

With towering performances by Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, Chinatown succeeds both as a riveting story and as a piece of cinematic art. The plot unwinds at a perfect pace until the viewer is practically perched on the edge of their seat by the end of the film. Not afraid to push the envelope, Chinatown features one of the most shocking twists in film history.

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