“Remember all the movies, Terry, we’d go see,
Tryin’ to walk like the heroes we thought we had to be?”
— Bruce Springsteen, “Hiding in the Backstreets“
“The camera lies all the time. It lies 24 times a second.”
— Brian De Palma
Since the beginning, even before there were talkies, the private eye has proven to be popular on the Big Screen. In fact, certain private detective films have represented their eras so well that they’ve become classics.
SEE ALSO:
PRIVATE EYES: A CINEMATIC TIMELINE
TV EYES: THE MADE-FOR-TELEVISION MOVIES
Wanna buy ’em? Try Amazon.com.
- The $100,000 Kiss (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- 120, rue de la Gare (1946, Sirius)
- 13 Lead Soldiers (1948)
- 2 Minutes Later (2007, 2ML Productions)
- 8MM (1999, Columbia)
A
- A toi de jouer Callaghan (1954, France)
- À vendre (1998, Canal+; aka “For Sale”)
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951, Universal)
- Accomplice (1946, PRC)
- Adéla Jeste Nevecerela (1978, Czechoslovakia)
- Adventures of a Private Eye (1987)
- The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990, 20th Century Fox)
- The Adventurous Blonde (1937, Warner Brothers)
- After Midnight With Boston Blackie (1943, Columbia)
- After the Storm (2016, GAGA; aka “Umi yori mo mada fukaku”)
- After the Thin Man (1936, MGM)
- Against All Odds (1984, Columbia)
- Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya (2019, Swadharm Entertainment)
- Al Roach, Private Insectigator (2004, Turner Classic Movies)
- Algunas nubes (1995, Televicine S.A. de C.V.)
- Alias Boston Blackie (1942, Columbia)
- Alibi for Murder (1936, Columbia)
- The Amazing Partnership (1921, Stoll Pictures)
- Among The Counterfeiters (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- Amorosos fantasmas (1994, Televicine S.A. de C.V.)
- Angel Heart (1987, TriStar)
- Another Thin Man (1939, MGM)
- Appaloosa (2008, CBS)
- Appointment with Murder (1948, Film Classics)
- Armed Response (1986, Cinetel)
- Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1939)
- Asesinato en el comité central (1982, Spain)
- Asesinato en el Meneo (2001; aka “Murder at El Meneo”)
- The Assassin (1952, British Film-Makers; aka “Venetian Bird”)
- Asylum (1996)
B
- Backstreet Justice (1993)
- Behind Green Lights (1946)
- Behind Locked Doors (1948, Aro Productions/Eagle-Lion Films)
- Behind the Headlines (1956, Kenilworth)
- Bellini e a esfinge (2002; aka “Bellini and the Sphinx”)
- Bellini e o demonio (2008; aka “Bellini and the Devil”)
- The Benson Murder Case (1930)
- Beyond Justice (1992, Reteitalia)
- The Big Bang (2010; Big Bang Productions)
- The Big Boodle (1957, United Artists)
- The Big Empty (1997)
- The Big Fall (1996, PM Entertainment Group)
- The Big Fix (1978, Universal)
- The Big Lebowski (1998, Working Title Films)
- The Big Sleep (1946, Warner Brothers)
- The Big Sleep (1978, Winkast)
- The Big Store (1941, MGM)
- Big Town (1947, Paramount; aka “Guilty Assignment”)
- Big Town After Dark (1947, Paramount; aka “Underworld After Dark”)
- Big Town Scandal (1948, Paramount; aka “Underworld Scandal”)
- Birds Of Prey (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- The Bishop Murder Case (1930)
- The Black Bird (1975, Columbia)
- The Black Doll (1938, Universal)
- Black Eye (1974, Warner Bros.)
- The Black Robe (1935, Northern Films/Commonwealth Productions; aka “Secrets of Chinatown”)
- Blackie’s Redemption (1919, Metro)
- Blackmail (1947, Republic)
- The Blackmailer’s Bluff (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- Blade Runner (1982, Warner Brothers)
- Blade Runner 2049 (2021, Columbia)
- Blind Rage (1978)
- Blonde for a Day (1946, PRC; aka “Blonde Barrage”)
- Blondes at Work (1938, Warner Brothers)
- Blood Simple (1985, Foxton Entertainment/River Road)
- Blood Work (2002, Warner Bros.)
- Blue, White and Perfect (1941, 20th Century Fox)
- The Bodyguard (1992)
- Body Fever (1971, Republic Pictures)
- Boomerang Bill (1922, Cosmopolitan Productions)
- Born to Kill (1947, RKO)
- Bondage House (1999, Japan)
- Bordello of Blood (1996)
- Boston Blackie (1923, Fox)
- Boston Blackie and the Law (1946, Columbia)
- Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion (1945, Columbia)
- Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood (1942, Columbia)
- Boston Blackie’s Chinese Venture (1949, Columbia)
- Boston Blackie’s Little Pal (1918, Metro)
- Boston Blackie’s Rendezvous (1945, Columbia)
- The Brasher Doubloon (1947, 20th Century Fox)
- Breakaway (1956, RKO)
- The Breath (1995, Japan/Taiwan; AKA Umihoozuki)
- Brick (2005, Bergman Lustig Productions)
- Broken City (2013, 20th Century Fox)
- The Brotherhood of the Yakuza (1975, Warner Brothers)
- Brown’s Requiem (1998, Lions Gate)
- Budapest Noir (2017, Pioneer Pictures)
- Bulldog Drummond (1922, Astra-National)
- Bulldog Drummond (1929, United Artists)
- Bulldog Drummond (1952)
- Bulldog Drummond At Bay (1937)
- Bulldog Drummond At Bay (1947)
- Bulldog Drummond Comes Back (1937)
- Bulldog Drummond Comes Back (1947)
- Bulldog Drummond Escapes (1937)
- Bulldog Drummond In Africa (1938)
- Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1934)
- Bulldog Drummond Sees It Through (1940)
- Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1947)
- Bulldog Drummond’s Bride (1939)
- Bulldog Drummond’s Peril (1938)
- Bulldog Drummond’s Revenge (1937)
- Bulldog Drummond’s Secret Police (1939)
- Bulldog Drummond’s Third Round (1925, Astra-National)
- Bulldog Jack (1935)
- Byomkesh Bakshi (2010)
C
- Callaghan remet ça (1960, France)
- The Caller (2008, Belladonna Productions)
- Calling Bulldog Drummond (1951, MGM)
- Calling Mr. Callaghan (1960, Atlantis)
- Calling Paul Temple (1948)
- Calling Philo Vance (1940, Warner Bros.)
- Camouflage (2001, Camouflage/Interlight)
- The Canary Murder Case (1929, Paramount)
- Captain Swagger (1928, Pathé Exchange)
- The Carter Case (1919, Oliver Films)
- The Case of the Baby-Sitter (1947, Screen Art)
- The Case of the Curious Bride (1935, Warner Brothers)
- The Case of the Howling Dog (1934, Warner Brothers)
- The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935, Warner Brothers)
- The Case of the Stuttering Bishop (1937, Warner Brothers)
- The Case of the Velvet Claws (1936, Warner Brothers)
- The Casino Murder Case (1935)
- Cat Run (2011, Lleju Productions)
- Cat Run 2 (2014, Lleju Productions)
- Catalina Interlude (1948, Paramount Pictures)
- Catherine’s Grove (1997, High Fliers)
- The Challenge (1948)
- Chan is Missing (1982, New Yorker Films/Wayne Wang Productions)
- The Chance of a Lifetime (1943, Columbia; see Boston Blackie)
- Chandler (1972, MGM)
- Charlie’s Angels (2000, Columbia)
- Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003, Columbia)
- The Cheap Detective (1978, Columbia/EMI)
- Cheaper to Keep Her (1980, Regal Productions/American Cinema)
- La chèvre (1981, Gaumont/France)
- Chinatown (1974, Paramount)
- City Heat (1984, Warner Bros.)
- City Hunter (1993, golden Harvest)
- City Hunter (2011)
- City of Tiny Lights (2017, BBC Films)
- City Streets (1931, Paramount)
- Clean Slate (1994)
- A Close Call for Boston Blackie (1946, Columbia)
- The Clutching Hand (1936, Stage and Screen)
- The Cobra Strikes (1948, Eagle-lion Films)
- Code 7, Victim 5 (1964, Columbia Pictures)
- Cold in July (2014, Backup Media)
- Cold Play (2008, Morin/Andrews Productions)
- Colourblind (2019, NH Productions)
- Come Back, Charleston Blue (1972)
- The Come-On (1956, Allied Artists)
- La Conciergerie (1997, Canadian, aka “The Haven”)
- Confess, Fletch (2022, Miramax)
- Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941, Columbia)
- Confidential (1986, Brightstar)
- The Conversation (1974, Paramount)
- Convicted (1938, Columbia)
- The Corpse Came C.O.D. (1947, Columbia Pictures)
- Cosa fácil (1982, Conacite Dos)
- Cotton Comes To Harlem (1970)
- Cover Up (1948, United Artists)
- Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku No Tobira (2001, Columbia)
- Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (2001, Columbia)
- Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001, Columbia)
- Crime by Night (1944, Warner Brothers)
- The Crimson Clue (1921, Broadwe
- Cronaca di un amore (1950, Villani Film; aka “Story of a Love Affair”)
- Crooked Alley (1923, Universal)
- A Cry At Midnight (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001, Dreamworks)
- Curtain at Eight (1934, Majestic)
- The Cutter (2005, Sony Pictures)
D
- Da zhen shen huo sang (2019; China; aka “The Great Detective”)
- Danger in the Bar 2
- Danger Zone (1951, Spartan Productions; aka “Pier of Peril”)
- Dangerous Female (1931; aka “The Maltese Falcon”)
- Dangerous Lady (1941, PRC)
- The Dark Corner (1946, 20th Century Fox)
- Darker Than Amber (1970, National General)
- Darwin Awards (2005, 3 Ring Circus Films)
- Das Gasthaus von Chicago (1921, Althoff Film; aka “The Chicago Inn”)
- A Date with The Falcon (1941, RKO)
- Dead Again (1991, Paramount)
- Dead End (1999, Canada)
- Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982, Universal)
- Dead of Night (2008; in production)
- Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street (1972, German)
- Dead Women in Lingerie (1990, Curb Esquire Films)
- Deadlier Than The Male (1967)
- Deadlocked (1971, Republic Pictures)
- Deadly Business (1977, Highlight Productions; aka “Skip Tracer”)
- Deadly Illusion (1987, Pound Ridge Films)
- Death of a Champion (1939, Paramount)
- Deadly Passion (1985, Lightning Video)
- Death Journey (1975)
- Death on the Nile (1978, Mersham Productions)
- Death on the Nile (2021, 20th Century Studios)
- The Delavine Affair (1954, Croydon)
- Der Fall (1972, Europa Film; aka “the Fall”)
- Der Passagier In Der Zwangsjacke (1922, Aafa-Film AG; aka “The Passenger in a Straitjacket”)
- Der Todesbote (1920, Althoff)
- Der Vampyr Von St. Louis 1. Teil (1920, Althoff)
- Le Dernier souffle (1999, Canada; aka “Dead End”)
- The Detective (1968, Fox)
- The Detective (2007, Universe Entertainment; aka “C+Detective”)
- The Detective II (2010, Universe Entertainment; aka “B+Detective”)
- Detetive Downs (2013, Friland Produksjon AS; aka “Detektiv Downs)
- Detectives Inc. (1985, Shamus Productions)
- Detektiv Downs (2013, Friland Produksjon AS)
- Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
- The Devil’s Cargo (1948, Film Classics)
- The Devil’s Mask (1946, Columbia)
- Diamond’s Edge (1988, Red Rooster; akaA “Just Ask For Diamond”)
- The Diamond Trail (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- Días de combate (1982, Conacite Dos)
- Días de combate (1994, Televicine S.A. de C.V.)
- Dick Barton at Bay (1950, Exclusive Films)
- Dick Barton, Special Agent (1948, Exclusive Films)
- Dick Barton Strikes Back (1949, Exclusive Films)
- Die Apotheke des Teufels (1921, Althoff Film)
- Die drei??? Das geheimnid der geisterinsel (2007; aka “The Three Investigators & the Secret of Skeleton Island”)
- Die drei??? das verfluchte schloss (2009; aka “The Three Investigators & the Secret of Terror Castle”)
- Die Erbschaft von New York (1919, Althoff)
- Die Hard (1988, Fox)
- Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990, Fox)
- Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995, Fox)
- Dirty Work (1998, MGM/UA)
- Divorce Detective (1931)
- Divorcing Jack (1998, Scala Productions)
- Dixie Ray, Hollywood Star
- Dodging the Law (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- Doomed to Die (1940, Monogram)
- Double Indemnity (1944, Paramount)
- The Dragon Murder Case (1934)
- Dressed to Kill (1941, 20th Century Fox)
- The Drowning Pool (1976, Warner Brothers)
E
- Écoute voir… (1979, France)
- Eddy Deco (2017, Helix Films)
- The Edge
- Eight Million Ways to Die (1986, Producer Sales Organisation)
- Ego Trip (1994, Canadian; aka “Ride Me”)
- 8MM (1999, Columbia)
- The Empty Beach (1985, Jethro Films)
- The End of the Affair (1955, Corondo Productions)
- The End of the Affair (1999, Columbia)
- Enigme aux Folies-Bergeres (1959)
- The Equalizer (2014, Columbia Pictures)
- The Equalizer 2 (2018, Columbia)
- Erzgauner (1921, Althoff Film; aka “The Cunning Rogue”)
- Eruption (1977, Cal Vista)
- Everybody Wins (1990, Orion Pictures)
- The Exploits of Elaine (2015, Eclectic)
- Exposed (1947, Republic)
- The Eye (2000 , Seville Pictures)
- Eyes in the Night (1942, MGM)
F
- Face Down
- The Face in the Fog (1922, Cosmopolitan Productions)
- The Falcon’s Adventure (1946, RKO)
- The Falcon’s Alibi (1946, RKO)
- The Falcon and the Co-Eds (1943, RKO)
- The Falcon in Danger (1943, RKO)
- The Falcon in Hollywood (1944, RKO)
- The Falcon in Mexico (1944, RKO)
- The Falcon in San Francisco (1945, RKO)
- The Falcon Out West (1944, RKO)
- The Falcon Strikes Back (1943, RKO)
- The Falcon Takes Over (1942, RKO)
- The Falcon’s Brother (1942, RKO)
- Farewell, My Lovely (1944, RKO; aka “Murder, My Sweet”)
- Farewell, My Lovely (1975, EK Corporation/ITC)
- Fast Company
- Fat Chance (1975, 20th Century-Fox; aka “Peeper”)
- The Fat Man (1951, Universal)
- Fatal Charm (1977; aka “Magnum Cop,” “Poliziotto senza paura“)
- The Fatal Hour (1940, Monogram)
- Fatal Pursuit (1997, Crossroads Entertainment)
- Fearless (1978, Italian)
- The Fiction-Makers (1968, ITC Television)
- Find the Blackmailer (1943, Warner Bros.)
- Fletch (1985, Universal)
- Fletch Lives (1989, Universal)
- Flickan som lekte med elden (2009, Yellow Bird/Nordisk Film and TV)
- Fly Away Baby (1937, Warner Brothers)
- Fog City Nocturne (2007, Kelp Entertainment)
- Follow That Woman (1945, Pine-Thomas Productions)
- For Sale (1998, Canal+)
- Foxtrap (1985)
- The Framing of the Shrew (1929, Christie Film Company)
- Frank McKlusky, C.I. (2002, Touchstone)
- Frauen, Die Die Ehe Brechen (1922, Aafa-Film AG; aka “Women and the Marriage Break”)
- The French Key (1946, Republic)
- From Hollywood to Deadwood (1989, Island Pictures)
- Frozen With Fear (2000, Milagro Films)
- Fugitive Lady (1951, Republic; aka “La strada buia”)
- F/X2: The Deadly Art of Illusion (1991, Orion)
G
- A Game Of Craft (1922, Murray W. Garsson Productions)
- The Garden Murder Case (1936)
- The Gay Falcon (1941, RKO)
- The Girl Hunters (1963, Fellane)
- The Girl in the Spider’s Web (2018, MGM)
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011, MGM)
- Give ’em Hell, Malone (2009, National Entertainment Media)
- The Glass Key (1935, Paramount)
- The Glass Key (1942, Paramount)
- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022, T Street/Netflix)
- Going Undercover (1988, Miramax)
- Gone Baby Gone (2007, Miramax)
- A Good Day to Die Hard (2013, Fox)
- The Gore Gore Girls.(1972, Lewis Motion Picture Enterprises)
- The Gorilla (1927, 20th Century-Fox)
- The Gorilla (1930, Warner Brothers)
- The Gorilla (1939, 20th Century-Fox)
- Gotham (1988, Showtime)
- The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939, Paramount)
- Grand Central Murder (1942, MGM)
- The Great Detective (2019; China; aka “Da zhen shen huo sang“)
- The Great Opium Case (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- The Great Piggy Bank Robbery (1946, Warner Bros.)
- The Greene Murder Case (1929)
- The Grissom Gang (1971)
- Guard That Girl (1935)
- Guilty Assignment (1947, Paramount; aka “Big Town”)
- Guilty Bystander (1950, Film Classics)
- Gumshoe (1972, Memorial Enterprises)
- A Gun, A Car, A Blonde (1998)
- Gunn (1967, Paramount)
- Guns and Lipstick (1995)
H
- Hail, Caesar! (2016, Universal)
- Hammett (1983, Orion Pictures/Warner Brothers)
- Happy Birthday, Turke! (1992)
- Harper (1966, Warner Brothers)
- Harukana jidai no kaidan o (1994 , Japan; aka “Stairway to the Distant Past”)
- The Hat-Box Mystery (1947, Screen Art)
- The Haven (1997, Canadian)
- Having a Wonderful Crime (1945, RKO)
- Heartaches (1947, PRC)
- Heaven’s Prisoners (1996, New Line)
- Herencia maldita (1987; aka “Algunas nubes”)
- The Heritage of Hamilton Cleek (1914, Edison Company)
- Hickey and Boggs (1972, United Artists)
- The Hidden Eye (1945, MGM)
- High Tide (1947, Monogram)
- The High Window (1947, 20th Century Fox; aka “The Brasher Doubloon”)
- Hold That Woman (1940, PRC)
- Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988)
- Hollywood Confidential (1997, Fox)
- Hollywood Harry (1985, Starquilt)
- Hollywoodland (2006, Focus Features/Miramax)
- Home for Christmas (1993, New Horizons; aka “Little Miss Millions”)
- Honeymoon in Vegas (1992, MGM)
- The House of Fate (1936, RKO; aka “Muss ’em Up”)
- The Hunter (1980, Paramount /Rastar Pictures)
I
- I Come with the Rain (2009)
- I Cover Big Town (1947, Paramount; aka “I Cover the Underworld”)
- I Cover the Underworld (1947, Paramount; aka “I Cover Big Town”)
- I Love a Mystery (1945, Columbia)
- I Love Trouble (1948, Columbia)
- I, the Jury (1953, Parklane Productions)
- I, the Jury (1982, Warner Brothers)
- I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes (1948, Monogram)
- In the Electric Mist (2009; Ithaca Pictures/Little Bear
- In the Mouth of Madness (1995, New Line Cinema)
- Incident (1948, Monogram)
- Inherent Vice (2014, Warner Bros.)
- The Inner Circle (1946, Republic Pictures; aka “The Twisted Circle”)
- Insurance Investigator (1951, Republic)
- It’s a Wonderful World (1939, MGM)
- It’s Called Murder, Baby (1982, Lightning Video)
- It’s Only Money (1962, Paramount)
- The Ivory Snuff Box (1915)
J
- The Jack of Spades (2010)
- Jack Reacher (2012, Paramount)
- Jagged Edge (1985)
- Jimmy the Gent (1934, Warner Bros.)
- Just Ask for Diamond (1988, Red Rooster; aka ‘Diamond’s Edge”)
- Just Off Broadway (1942, 20th Century Fox)
K
- Katchem Kate (1912, Biograph Company)
- The Kennel Murder Case (1933)
- The Kid Detective (2020, Woods Entertainment & JoBro Productions & Film Finance)
- The Kidnapping of Miss Nylon (1959, Deutsche Film Hansa)
- The Kill (1975, Arbee/New World Video)
- Kill Me Again (1989, MGM)
- A Killer Within (2004, Fireside Entertainment)
- The Killers (1946, Universal-International)
- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005, Warner Bros.)
- Kiss Kiss Kill Kill (1969)
- Kiss Me Deadly (1955, Parklane Productions)
- Klute (1971, Warner Brothers)
- Knives Out (2019, Lionsgate)
- Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (2001, Columbia)
L
- LA Bounty
- La chévre (1981, Gaumont)
- La Conciergerie (1997, Canadian, aka “The Haven”)
- La Nuit d’Austerlitz 1954, Telefilm)
- La nuit de Saint-Germain-des-Pres (1977, Filmologies)
- La strada buia (1951, Republic; aka “Fugitive Lady”)
- The Lady Fare (1929, Christie Film Company)
- Lady In Cement (1968, 20th Century Fox)
- The Lady in the Lake (1947, MGM)
- The Lady in the Morgue (1938, Universal)
- Lady of Burlesque (1943, United Artists)
- Larceny in Her Heart (1946, PRC)
- The Last Boy Scout (1991, Geffen Pictures)
- The Last Call (1922, Murray W. Garsson Productions)
- The Last Express (1938, Universal)
- The Last Fight (1982, Best Film & Video)
- Last Looks (2022, Head Gear/MadRiver/Metrol Technology/Romulus/Waldo Films)
- The Last Lullaby (2009, Chaillot Films/Timbergrove Entertainment)
- The Last Original B Movie (1971, Republic Pictures)
- The Last Warning (1938, Universal)
- The Late Show (1977, Warner Brothers)
- Le jeu avec le feu (1975, Arcadie Productions/Madeleine Films/Cinecompany)
- Le loup de la côte ouest (2002, France)
- Le Saint mène la danse (1960, Films Du Cyclope/Lux Films [France]; aka “The Dance of Death”)
- Le Saint prend l’affut (1960, Intermondie Prods. [France]; aka “The Saint Against Agent 001”)
- The League of Frightened Men (1937, Columbia)
- Leave It to the Irish (1944, Monogram)
- Les nouveaux exploits de Nick Carter (1909)
- Les Rats de Montsouris (1988, Telefilm)
- Lesbionage
- The Lincoln Lawyer (2011, Lionsgate)
- Little Miss Millions (1993, New Horizons; aka “Home for Christmas”)
- The Little Sister (2015, Brooklyn Multimedia)
- A Little Trip to Heaven (2005, Blueeyes Productions/Pink Productions/Palomar)
- Live Free or Die Hard (2007, Fox)
- The Living Ghost (1942; aka “A Walking Nightmare”)
- Living to Die (1991, Trinity)
- The Lone Wolf (series of films, from 1914-49)
- Lonely Street (2009, Echo Bridge Home Entertainment)
- The Long Goodbye (1973, United Artists)
- The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996, Forge/New Line Cinema)
- Looking for Kitty (2004, Marlboro Road Gang)
- Loophole (1954, Allied Artists)
- Los mares del sur (1990, Cyrkfilms/I.C.C./Spain)
- Los misterios de Barcelona (1915, Hispano)
- The Lost Son (1999, Columbia Tristar/United International)
- Love at Large (1990, Orion)
- Love Happy (1949, United Artists)
- Love in the Afternoon (1957, Allied Artists Pictures Corporation)
- Love Walked In (1999, TriStar)
- Love You to Death (see Deadly Illusion)
- A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994)
- Lowlifes (2010)
- The Lucky Stiff (1949)
- Luftslottet som sprängdes (2009, Yellow Bird/Nordisk Film and TV)
M
- Magnum Cop (1977; aka “Poliziotto senza paura“)
- Make Your Own Bed (1944)
- The Maltese Falcon (1931, Warner Brothers)
- The Maltese Falcon (1941, Warner Brothers)
- The Man Inside (1958, Warwick)
- The Man With Bogart’s Face (1980, Fox)
- The Man Who Wouldn’t Die (1942, 20th Century Fox)
- Man Killer (1933, Warner Brothers; see Private Detective 62)
- The Man Without a Map (1968, Japan; aka “Moetsukita Chizu”)
- The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery (1975, Strathmore Productions)
- Manhandled (1949, Paramount)
- Män som hatar kvinnor (2009, Yellow Bird/Nordisk Film and TV)
- Marlowe (1969, MGM)
- Marlowe (2022, Open Road/Briarcliff Entertainment)
- M’as-tu vu en cadavre? (1982)
- The Master Mystery (1919, Octagon)
- A Matter of Principal (2003, Another Level Inc.)
- Max Anderson, Private Eye (2013, Bad Atom)
- Mazan Filip (2003, Silver Screen; aka “Smart Philip”)
- Medicine Bend (1916, Signal Film)
- Meet Boston Blackie (1941, Columbia)
- Meet Flashgun Casey (1937, MGM; also known as Here’s Flash Casey)
- Meet Mr. Callaghan (1954, British Eros)
- Meet Nero Wolfe (1936, Columbia)
- The Melancholy Dame (1929, Christie Film Company)
- Memento (2000, I Remember/Newmarket Capital Group/Team Todd)
- Michael Clayton (2007)
- Michael Shayne, Private Detective (1940, 20th Century Fox)
- Midnight Limited (1940, Monogram)
- The Midnight Man (1974, Universal Pictures)
- Mike Case: The Big Kiss-Off (2013, Vagabond Entertainment)
- Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (2019, Every Cloud Productions)
- Missing Millions (1921, Broadwell Productions; Nick Carter)
- Missing Millions (1922, Famous Players-Lasky; Boston Blackie)
- The Missing Person (2009, 7th Floor)
- Mission Kill (1991, Betaview Film/Hong Kong; aka “Tu ying dang an“)
- Mister Dynamite (1935, Universal Pictures)
- Mr. Wong, Detective (1938, Monogram)
- Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939, Monogram)
- Mrs. O’Malley and Mr. Malone (1950, MGM)
- Moetsukita Chizu (1968, Japan; aka “The Man Without a Map“)
- The Money Jungle (1967)
- The Monkey’s Mask (2000, Arenafilm/Asmik Ace Entertainment/Canal+et al)
- Mortelle Randonnèe (1983; in French)
- The Most Terrible Time in My Life (1993, Film Detective Office/For Life Records Inc./Shutter Pictures)
- Motherless Brooklyn (2019, Warner Bros.)
- Munich Mambo (2004)
- Murder at El Meneo (2001; aka “Asesinato en el Meneo”)
- Murder By Death (1976, Columbia TriStar)
- Murder Goes to College (1937, Paramount)
- Murder is My Business (1946, PRC)
- Murder, My Sweet (1944, RKO)
- Murder on Approval (1956, RKO)
- Murder on the Mississippi (1936, Universal; aka “Mysterious Crossing”)
- Murder on the Orient Express (2017, Twentieth Century Fox)
- Murder Reported (1957, Fortress)
- Murder With Pictures (1936, Paramount Pictures)
- Music Hath Harms (1929, Christie Film Company)
- Muss ’em Up (1936, RKO)
- My Favorite Brunette (1947, Paramount)
- My Gun Is Quick (1957, United Artists)
- The Mysterious Bond Case (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- Mysterious Crossing (1936, Universal; aka “Murder on the Mississippi”)
- Mysterious Intruder (1946, Columbia)
- The Mysterious Mr. Valentine (1946, Republic)
- Mystery in Mexico (1948, RKO)
- The Mystery Mind (1920, Supreme)
- Mystery of Mr. Wong (1939, Monogram)
- The Mystery of the Amsterdam Diamonds (1914, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Dover Express (1913, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Fadeless Tints (1914, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Glass Tubes (1914, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Ladder Of Light (1914, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Laughing Death (1914, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Lost Stradivarius (1914, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Octagonal Room (1914, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Sealed Art Gallery (1914, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Silver Snare (1914, Edison Company)
- The Mystery of the Talking Wire (1914, Edison Company)
- Mystery of the 13th Guest (1943)
N
- The Naked Face (1984, Cannon)
- Nancy Drew (2007, Warner Brothers)
- Nestor Burma, detective en choc (1982, Zenith)
- Never Go Back (2016, Paramount)
- The New Exploits of Elaine (1915, Eclectic; aka “The Romance of Elaine”)
- The Nice Guys (2016, Silver Pictures)
- Nick Carter Down East (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- Nick Carter, Le roi des détectives (1908)
- Nick Carter: Les club des suicidés (1909; aka “The Suicide Club”)
- Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939, MGM)
- Nick Danger in the Case of the Missing Yolks (1983, Nesmith Enterprises)
- Nick Knatterton Abenteuer: Der Raub Der Gloria Nylon (1959, Deutsche Film Hansa) aka “The Kidnapping of Miss Nylon”)
- Nick Knatterton–Der Film (2002)
- Night Moves (1975, Warner Brothers)
- Night of Mystery (1937, Paramount)
- No Clue (2014, Sparrow Media)
- No Hands on the Clock (1941, Paramount)
- No Orchids for Miss Blandish (1948)
- No Place for a Lady (1943, Columbia)
- No Way Back (1976)
- Norman Conquest (1953, A&B Productions; aka “Park Plaza 605”)
- The Nuisance (1933, MGM)
- Nur Eine Nacht (1922, Aafa-Film AG)
- Nymphs Anonymous (2007)
O
- An Occasional Hell (1996, Greenlight Productions)
- Omertà (2012, Cinémaginaire Inc.)
- On the Edge (2002)
- Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017, Voltage Pictures)
- One for the Money (2011, Lakeshore/Sidney Kimmel Entertainment/Lionsgate)
- One Jump Ahead (1955, Kenilworth)
- One Million Dollars (1915, MGM)
- One Mysterious Night (1944, Columbia; see Boston Blackie)
- One Never Knows (see You Never Can Tell)
- Out of the Past (1947, RKO)
- Out to Kill (2014, Guest House Films)
- The Overlookers (2004, Overlook Terrace Productions)
P
- P.J. (1968, Universal)
- Panic on the Air (1936, Columbia; aka “Trapped by the Wireless”)
- Park Plaza 605 (1953, A&B Productions; aka “Norman Conquest”)
- Parker (2013, Filmdistrict)
- Partner in Crime (1937, Paramount)
- Passion For Danger (1973, Columbia; aka “Shamus”)
- Passkey to Danger (1946, Republic)
- Passport to Treason (1956)
- The Path Of The Spendthrift (1921, Broadwell Productions; aka “The Spendthrift”)
- Paul Temple Returns (1950, Nettlefold Films)
- Paul Temple’s Triumph (1950, Butchers/Nettlefold Films)
- Payback (1999, Paramount)
- Peeper (1975, Twentieth-Century Fox; aka “Fat Chance”)
- Phantom of Chinatown (1940, Monogram)
- Phantom Raiders (1940, MGM)
- The Phantom Thief (1946, Columbia; see Boston Blackie)
- Philo Vance’s Gamble (1947, PRC)
- Philo Vance’s Secret Mission (1947, PRC)
- Pier 23 (1951, Spartan Productions; aka “Flesh and Leather”)
- Pier of Peril (1951, Spartan Productions; aka “Danger Zone”)
- Playback (1995 Precious/Playboy)
- Plunder of the Sun (1953, Warner Brothers)
- Plus de whiskey pour Callaghan (1954, France)
- The Poison Rose (2019, JTP Films/March On Productions/Millennium Media/Poison Rose Productions)
- Polar (1984, Les Films Noirs/France 3; French)
- Poliziotto senza paura (1977; aka “Magnum Cop,” “Fatal Charm”)
- The Poppy Girl’s Husband (1919, Paramount)
- Pour la peau d’un flic (1981, Adel Productions; aka “To Kill a Cop,” “For a Cop’s Hide,” “Whirlpool”)
- Presumed Innocent (1990, Warner Bros.)
- Private Detective (1939, Warner Brothers)
- Private Detective 62 (1933, Warner Brothers)
- The Private Eye Blues (1994, Hong Kong)
- The Public Eye (1972, Universal)
- Pulp Fiction Art: Cheap Thrills & Painted Nightmares (2005 documentary)
- Pure Luck (1991, Universal)
Q
- Quincy Adams Sawyer (1912, Puritan Special Features)
- Quincy Adams Sawyer (1922, Sawyer-Lubin Pictures)
R
- The Radio Detective (1926, Universal)
- A Rage in Harlem (1991, Miramax)
- The Raven Red Kiss-Off (1990, Fries Entertainment)
- Raw Justice (1993, West Side Studios)
- The Resurrected (1991, Scotti Bros./Borde/Raich; aka “Shatterbrain”)
- The Return of Boston Blackie (1927, Chadwick)
- The Return of Bulldog Drummond (1934)
- The Riddle of the Green Umbrella (1914, Kalem Moving Picture Company)
- The Riddle of the Tin Solier (1913, Kalem Moving Picture Company)
- Ride Me (1994, Canadian: aka “Ego Trip”)
- Riffraff (1947, RKO; aka “Riff-Raff”)
- The Right Temptation (2000, Columbia)
- Roadblock (1951, RKO)
- Roadhouse Nights (1930, USA)
- Roaring City (1951, Spartan Productions)
- Rogue’s Gallery (1968, Paramount)
- The Romance of Elaine (1915, Eclectic; aka “The New Exploits of Elaine”)
- Romance on the Run (1938, Republic Pictures)
- Rough Magic (1995)
- The Runaround (1946)
- Russian Doll (2001, Beyond Films/Screen Artists — Australia)
S
- The Saint (1997, Paramount)
- The Saint and the Brave Goose (1980, ITC Television; aka “Vanishing Point”)
- The Saint in London (1939, RKO)
- The Saint in New York (1938, RKO)
- The Saint in Palm Springs (1941, RKO )
- St. Ives (1976, Warner Brothers)
- The Saint Meets the Tiger (1943, RKO)
- The Saint Strikes Back (1939, RKO)
- The Saint Takes Over (1940, RKO)
- The Saint’s Double Trouble (1940, RKO)
- The Saint’s Girl Friday (1953, RKO; aka “The Saint’s Return”)
- The Saint’s Return (1953, RKO; aka “The Saint’s Girl Friday”)
- The Saint’s Vacation (1943, RKO)
- Sam Marlow, Private Eye (1980, Fox) Samrat & Co.
- Satan Met a Lady (1936, Warner Brothers)
- The Scarab Murder Case (1936)
- Scoob! (2020, Warner Bros)
- The Scratch (2009, Maverick Entertainment Group)
- Sealed Orders (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- Search for Danger (1949, Film Classics)
- Secret Agent X-9 (1937, Universal)
- Secret Agent X-9 (1945, Universal)
- Secret File: Hollywood (1962, Crown International)
- Secrets of Chinatown (1935, Northern Films/Commonwealth Productions; aka “The Black Robe”)
- Send For Paul Temple (1946, Butchers)
- Sex, Secrets and Lies 2 (2002; MRG Entertainment; aka “Wicked Temptations”)
- Shadow of Suspicion (1944, Monogram)
- Shadow of the Thin Man (1941, MGM)
- Shaft (1971, MGM)
- Shaft (2000, Paramount)
- Shaft (2019, Warner Bros)
- Shaft’s Big Score! (1972, MGM)
- Shaft in Africa (1973, MGM)
- Shamus (1973, Columbia)
- Shatterbrain (1991, Scotti Bros./Borde/Raich; aka “The Resurrected”)
- Shattered (1991, MGM)
- Sheba, Baby (1975, American-International)
- Sherlock Jr. (1924, Buster Keaton Productions)
- The Silk-Lined Burglar (1919, Universal)
- Silver City (2004, Silver City Films Inc./Anarchist’s Convention Films)
- The Singing Detective (2003, Haft Entertainment/Icon Entertainment)
- Skip Tracer (1977, Highlight Productions; aka “Deadly Business”)
- Sleepers West (1941, 20th Century Fox)
- Small Town Crime (2017, 6 Foot Films)
- Smart Blonde (1936, Warner Brothers)
- The Smiling Man (2007, Kelp Entertainment)
- So Undercover (2013)
- The Soft Kill
- Some Girls Do (1969)
- Song of the Thin Man (1947, MGM)
- South Beach (1992, Po’ Boy Productions)
- The Spider (1945, Twentieth Century Fox)
- The Spirit of Evil (1922, Murray W. Garsson Productions)
- The Squeeze (1987, TriStar)
- Stairway to the Distant Past (1994, Japan)
- Story of a Love Affair (1950, Villani Film; aka “Cronaca di un amore“)
- Suburbicon (2017, Paramount)
- Summer Lightning (1933, Herbert Wilcox Productions)
- Sunburn (1979, Paramount)
- Sunset Grill (1993)
- Supercool (1971, Republic Pictures)
- Sylvia (1965, Paramount)
T
- Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood (1996)
- The Tattoo Connection (1979, Hong Kong)
- Tatort – Tote Taube in der Beethovenstrasse (1972, German)
- Tatuaje (1976, Profilmar/Spain)
- Temple Tower (1930)
- Tengoku No Tobira (2001, Columbia)
- There’s Always a Woman (1938, Columbia)
- There’s That Woman Again (1939, Columbia)
- They All Laughed (1981, MGM)
- The Thin Man (1934, MGM)
- The Thin Man Goes Home (1944, MGM)
- This Man is Dangerous (1941)
- The Thomas Crown Affair (1968, United Artists)
- The Thomas Crown Affair (1999, United Artists)
- Three Blondes in His Life (1961)
- Three on a Ticket (1947, PRC)
- Through the Dark (1924, Cosmopolitan)
- Ticket to a Crime (1934, Beacon Productions)
- The Tiger Woman (1945, Republic)
- Time to Kill (1942, 20th Century Fox)
- Time Table (1956, United Artists)
- Tokyo Raiders (2000)
- Tom Horn (1980, Warner Bros.)
- Tony Rome (1967, 20th Century Fox)
- Too Late (2016, Vanishing Angle/Foe Killer Films)
- Too Many Winners (1947, PRC)
- Top ‘o the Morning (1949, Paramount)
- Torchy Blane in Chinatown (1939, Warner Brothers).
- Torchy Blane in Panama (1938, Warner Brothers)
- Torchy Gets Her Man (1938, Warner Brothers)
- Torchy Plays with Dynamite (1939, Warner Brothers)
- Torchy Runs For Mayor (1939, Warner Brothers)
- Total Exposure (1991, Republic)
- Trader Hornee (1970, Entertainment Ventures Inc)
- The Trap (1996, Japan)
- Trapped By Boston Blackie (1948, Columbia)
- Trapped by the Wireless (1936, Columbia; aka “Panic on the Air”)
- Trixie (2000, Pandora Cinema/Sandcastle 5 Productions)
- Trouble in Panama (1938, Warner Brothers)
- Trouble is My Business (2017, Lumen Actus)
- Trouble Man (1972, 20th Century Fox/JDFB Productions)
- Truck Turner (1974, American International)
- True Love (2014)
- Tu ying dang an (1991, Betaview Film/Hong Kong; aka “Mission Kill”)
- Twenty Plus Two (1961)
- Twilight (1998, Paramount)
- The Two Jakes (1990, Paramount)
U
- Umi yori mo mada fukaku (2016, GAGA; aka “After the Storm“)
- Umihoozuki (1995, Japan/Taiwan; aka “The Breath”)
- Under Suspicion (1992, Columbia)
- Underworld After Dark (1947, Paramount; aka “Big Town After Dark”)
- Underworld Scandal (1948, Paramount; aka “Big Town Scandal”)
- Uneasy Terms (1948, British Pathe)
- The Unknown (1946, Columbia)
- Unseen Foes (1922, Murray W. Garsson Productions)
- An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1982, Boyd’s/Castle Hill)
V
- V.I. Warshawski(1991, Hollywood Pictures)
- The Valdemar Legacy (2010, aka “La herencia Valdemar“)
- The Valdemar Legacy II: The Forbidden Shadow (2010, aka “La herencia Valdemar II: La Sombra Prohibida“)
- The Vanishing Cracksman (1913, Edison Company)
- Vares (2004; “Vares, Private Eye”)
- Vendetta for the Saint (1969, ITC Television)
- Venetian Bird (1952, British Film-Makers; aka “The Assassin)
- Veronica Mars (2014, Warner Bros Digital/Spondoolie Productions)
- Vertigo (1958, Paramount)
W
- Waga jinsei saiaku no toki (1993, Film Detective Office/For Life Records Inc./Shutter Pictures)
- A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014, Universal)
- A Walking Nightmare (1942; aka “The Living Ghost”)
- Wana (1996, Japan; aka “The Trap”)
- The Westland Case (1937, Universal)
- Where’s Marlowe? (1998, Paramount)
- Whispering City (1947, Eagle-Lion/Québec Productions)
- Whispering Smith (1916, Signal Film)
- Whispering Smith (1926, Metropolitan)
- Whispering Smith (1948, Paramount)
- Whispering Smith Hits London (1951, Hammer-Lesser/RKO)
- Whispering Smith Investigates (1951, Hammer-Lesser/RKO)
- Whispering Smith Rides (1927, Universal Pictures)
- Whispering Smith Speaks (1935, Fox)
- Whispering Smith Vs. Scotland Yard (1951, Hammer-Lesser/RKO)
- Who Done It? (1956, Ealing Studios)
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988, Touchstone Pictures)
- Who’s Guilty? (1921, Broadwell Productions)
- Who’s Harry Crumb? (1989)
- Wicked Temptations (2002; MRG Entertainment; aka “Sex, Secrets and Lies 2”)
- Wild At Heart (1990)
- The Woman Condemned (1934, Progressive Pictures)
- Woman in the Dark (1934, RKO)
- Woman in the Shadows (1934, RKO)
- Women Are Trouble (1936, MGM)
- World for Ransom (1954, Plaza Productions)
X
- X Marks the Spot (1942, Republic Pictures)
Y
- The Yakuza (1975, Warner Brothers)
- Yellow Pages (1988, Miramax)
- You Never Can Tell (1951, Universal)
- You Never Know (see You Never Can Tell)
- You Were Never Really Here (2017, Film 4/BFI/Why Not)
Z
- Zen Noir (2007, Dreaming Dog Entertainment/Zenmovie))
- Zero Effect (1998, Castle Rock)
DOCUMENTARIES
- Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light (2006)
- Mike Hammer’s Mickey Spillane (1998)
- Pulp Fiction Art: Cheap Thrills & Painted Nightmares (2005)
- Pulp Fiction: The Golden Age of Storytelling (2009)