Movies and TV series about detectives

The 60 best titles about detectives, ranked by the iRank Score — our composite of IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and TMDb. Every page includes cast, where to watch and similar recommendations.

Psycho
iRank91
1960 · Alfred Hitchcock
MovieHorrorMysteryThriller
When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his ho
Vertigo
iRank89
1958 · Alfred Hitchcock
MovieMysteryRomanceThriller
A retired San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.
L.A. Confidential
iRank88
1997 · Curtis Hanson
MovieCrimeMysteryThriller
Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.
Death Note
iRank86
2006
SeriesAnimationMysterySci-Fi & Fantasy
Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects—and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whos
Batman: The Animated Series
iRank86
1992 · Jean MacCurdy
SeriesAction & AdventureAnimationDrama
Vowing to avenge the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne devotes his life to wiping out crime in Gotham City as the masked vigilante "Batman".
The Apothecary Diaries
iRank86
2023 · Takahiro Sato
SeriesAnimationDramaMystery
Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial
Sherlock
iRank85
2010 · Beryl Vertue
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London.
ERASED
iRank85
2016
SeriesAnimationDramaMystery
Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling manga artist who has the ability to turn back time and prevent deaths. When his mother is killed he turns back time to solve the mystery, but ends up back in elementary
Knives Out
iRank84
2019 · Rian Johnson
MovieComedyCrimeMystery
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From
Dark
iRank84
2017 · Quirin Berg
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
A missing child sets four families on a frantic hunt for answers as they unearth a mind-bending mystery that spans three generations.
Parasyte -the maxim-
iRank83
2014
SeriesAction & AdventureAnimationDrama
A species of parasitic aliens descends on Earth and quickly infiltrates humanity by entering the brains of vulnerable targets; insatiable beings that gain total control of their host and are capable o
True Detective
iRank83
2014 · Issa López
SeriesDramaMystery
An American anthology police detective series utilizing multiple timelines in which investigations seem to unearth personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within or outside the law.
Fargo
iRank83
2014 · Vincent Landay
SeriesCrimeDrama
A close-knit anthology series dealing with stories involving malice, violence and murder based in and around Minnesota.
Grimm
iRank83
2011 · David Greenwalt
SeriesDramaMysterySci-Fi & Fantasy
After Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt discovers he's descended from an elite line of criminal profilers known as "Grimms," he increasingly finds his responsibilities as a detective at odds
The King: Eternal Monarch
iRank83
2020 · Jinnie Choi
SeriesDramaSci-Fi & Fantasy
Korean emperor Lee Gon tries to close the doors to a parallel world which was opened by demons; a detective tries to protect the people and the one she loves.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
iRank82
2013 · David Phillips
SeriesComedyCrime
A single-camera ensemble comedy following the lives of an eclectic group of detectives in a New York precinct, including one slacker who is forced to shape up when he gets a new boss.
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated
iRank82
2010
SeriesAnimationFamilyMystery
This incarnation of the popular cartoon series finds Scooby and the gang living in Crystal Cove, a small town with a long history of ghost sightings, monster tales and other mysteries ripe for the sle
Dirty Harry
iRank82
1971 · Don Siegel
MovieActionCrimeThriller
When a madman dubbed 'Scorpio' terrorizes San Francisco, hard-nosed cop, Harry Callahan – famous for his take-no-prisoners approach to law enforcement – is tasked with hunting down the psychopath.
Mare of Easttown
iRank82
2021 · Paul Lee
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
A detective in a small Pennsylvania town investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart.
Agatha Christie's Poirot
iRank82
1989 · Nick Elliott
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
From England to Egypt, accompanied by his elegant and trustworthy sidekicks, the intelligent yet eccentrically-refined Belgian detective Hercule Poirot pits his wits against a collection of first clas
Mulholland Drive
iRank82
2001 · David Lynch
MovieDramaMysteryThriller
Blonde Betty Elms has only just arrived in Hollywood to become a movie star when she meets an enigmatic brunette with amnesia. Meanwhile, as the two set off to solve the second woman's identity, filmm
Bullitt
iRank82
1968 · Peter Yates
MovieActionCrimeThriller
Senator Walter Chalmers is aiming to take down mob boss Pete Ross with the help of testimony from the criminal's hothead brother Johnny, who is in protective custody in San Francisco under the watch o
Heat
iRank81
1995 · Michael Mann
MovieActionCrimeDrama
Obsessive master thief Neil McCauley leads a top-notch crew on various daring heists throughout Los Angeles while determined detective Vincent Hanna pursues him without rest. Each man recognizes and r
Midnight in Paris
iRank81
2011 · Woody Allen
MovieComedyFantasyRomance
While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.
Memories of Murder
iRank81
2003 · Bong Joon Ho
MovieCrimeDramaThriller
A sadistic serial rapist and murderer of young women terrorizes a small province in 1980s South Korea. To prevent further crimes, three increasingly desperate detectives with conflicting methods race
Se7en
iRank81
1995 · David Fincher
MovieCrimeMysteryThriller
Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one
Decision to Leave
iRank81
2022 · Park Chan-wook
MovieMysteryRomanceThriller
From a mountain peak in South Korea, a man plummets to his death. Did he jump, or was he pushed? When detective Hae-joon arrives on the scene, he begins to suspect the dead man’s wife Seo-rae. But as
The Bridge
iRank81
2011 · Björn Stein
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
When a body is found on the bridge between Denmark and Sweden, right on the border, Danish inspector Martin Rohde and Swedish Saga Norén have to share jurisdiction and work together to find the killer
Black Bird
iRank81
2022 · Dennis Lehane
SeriesCrimeDrama
As Jimmy Keene begins a 10-year prison sentence, he gets an incredible offer: If he can elicit a confession from suspected killer Larry Hall, Jimmy will be freed. Completing this mission becomes the c
Columbo
iRank81
1971 · Dean Hargrove
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently underestimated by his suspects. Despite his unprepossessing appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdl
Zodiac
iRank81
2007 · David Fincher
MovieCrimeMysteryThriller
Over the course of a decade, editors of the San Francisco Chronicle entice themselves in the murders of the Zodiac Killer. However, as time runs its course, interest in the case dwindles in the eyes o
Blue Velvet
iRank80
1986 · David Lynch
MovieCrimeMysteryThriller
The discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped
Detective Conan
iRank80
1996
SeriesAnimationComedyCrime
The son of a world famous mystery writer, Jimmy Kudo, has achieved his own notoriety by assisting the local police as a student detective. He has always been able to solve the most difficult of crimin
The Outlaws
iRank79
2017 · Kang Yun-sung
MovieActionCrimeThriller
In Chinatown, law and order is turned upside down when a trio of feral Chinese gangsters arrive, start terrorizing civilians, and usurping territory. The beleaguered local gangsters team up with the p
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
iRank79
1999 · Michele Fazekas
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squ
Prisoners
iRank79
2013 · Denis Villeneuve
MovieCrimeDramaThriller
Keller Dover is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a
Mayor of Kingstown
iRank79
2021 · Evan Perazzo
SeriesCrimeDrama
In a small Michigan town where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry, the McClusky family are the power brokers between the police, criminals, inmates, prison guards and politici
Psych
iRank79
2006 · Mel Damski
SeriesComedyCrimeDrama
Thanks to his police officer father's efforts, Shawn Spencer spent his childhood developing a keen eye for detail (and a lasting dislike of his dad). Years later, Shawn's frequent tips to the police l
Luther
iRank79
2010
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
A dark psychological crime drama starring Idris Elba as Luther, a man struggling with his own terrible demons, who might be as dangerous as the depraved murderers he hunts.
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
iRank78
2002 · Joseph Barbera
SeriesAction & AdventureAnimationMystery
Scooby-Doo and the Mystery, Inc. gang are launched into the 21st century, with new mysteries to solve.
True Romance
iRank78
1993 · Tony Scott
MovieActionCrimeRomance
Clarence marries hooker Alabama, steals cocaine from her pimp, and tries to sell it in Hollywood, while the owners of the coke try to reclaim it.
The Roundup: No Way Out
iRank78
2023 · Lee Sang-yong
MovieActionComedyCrime
Detective Ma Seok-do changes his affiliation from the Geumcheon Police Station to the Metropolitan Investigation Team, in order to eradicate Japanese gangsters who enter Korea to commit heinous crimes
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
iRank78
2022 · Rian Johnson
MovieComedyCrimeMystery
World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.
Insomnia
iRank78
2002 · Christopher Nolan
MovieCrimeDramaThriller
Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.
Veronica Mars
iRank78
2004 · Diane Ruggiero-Wright
SeriesComedyDramaMystery
In the fictional town of Neptune, California, student Veronica Mars progresses from high school to college while moonlighting as a private investigator under the tutelage of her detective father.
The Killing
iRank78
2011 · Veena Sud
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
The Killing is an American crime drama television series based upon the Danish television series Forbrydelsen. Set in Seattle, Washington, the series follows the various murder investigations by homic
Gangs of London
iRank78
2020 · Kim Hong-sun
SeriesAction & AdventureCrimeDrama
When the head of a criminal organisation, Finn Wallace is assassinated, the sudden power vacuum his death creates threatens the fragile peace between the intricate web of gangs operating on the street
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
iRank78
1969
SeriesAnimationComedyFamily
Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and the talking dog, Scooby-Doo, travel on the Mystery Machine van, in search of weird mysteries to solve.
The Nice Guys
iRank77
2016 · Shane Black
MovieActionComedyCrime
A private eye investigates the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.
Galaxy Quest
iRank77
1999 · Dean Parisot
MovieComedyScience FictionAdventure
For four years, the courageous crew of the NSEA Protector — Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, Lieutenant Tawny Madison, and Doctor Lazarus — set off on a thrilling and often dangerous mission in space.
Carnival Row
iRank77
2019 · Orlando Bloom
SeriesCrimeDramaSci-Fi & Fantasy
In a mystical and dark city filled with humans, fairies and other creatures, a police detective investigates a series of gruesome murders leveled against the fairy population. During his investigation
CSI: Miami
iRank77
2002 · Anthony E. Zuiker
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
The show follows Crime Scene Investigators working for the Miami-Dade Police Department as they use physical evidence, similar to their Las Vegas counterparts, to solve grisly murders. The series mixe
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
iRank77
2016
SeriesComedyCrimeSci-Fi & Fantasy
A comedic thriller that follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric “holistic” detective Dirk Gently and his reluctant assistant Todd. An adaptation of Douglas Adams’ wildly successful comic novels.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
iRank76
2000 · Andrew Dettmann
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
A Las Vegas team of forensic investigators are trained to solve criminal cases by scouring the crime scene, collecting irrefutable evidence and finding the missing pieces that solve the mystery.
Elementary
iRank76
2012
SeriesCrimeDramaMystery
A modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD's most impossible cases. Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where h
The Color Purple
iRank76
1985 · Steven Spielberg
MovieDramaHistory
An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equ
Haven
iRank75
2010 · Gabrielle Stanton
SeriesDramaMysterySci-Fi & Fantasy
FBI agent Audrey Parker arrives in the small town of Haven, Maine to solve a murder and soon discovers the town's many secrets—which also hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of her lost past.
The Chestnut Man
iRank75
2021
SeriesCrimeDrama
At a grisly murder scene sits a figurine made of chestnuts. From this creepy clue, two detectives hunt a killer linked to a politician's missing child.
V for Vendetta
iRank75
2006 · James McTeigue
MovieActionScience FictionThriller
In a world in which Great Britain has become a fascist state, a masked vigilante known only as “V” conducts guerrilla warfare against the oppressive British government. When V rescues a young woman fr
Marvel's Jessica Jones
iRank75
2015 · Jeph Loeb
SeriesDramaSci-Fi & Fantasy
After a tragic ending to her short-lived super hero stint, Jessica Jones is rebuilding her personal life and career as a detective who gets pulled into cases involving people with extraordinary abilit