MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Best Fictional Detectives

Best Fictional Detectives

posted 6 years ago by TheLovelyAnomaly (619)
53 replies | jump to latest

Hi all! Long time, no post! (I've been ridiculously preoccupied.) So, as a lover of mysteries, I'm wondering who, in your opinion, are some of the best fictional detectives in movies and TV shows (and books). Some of my personal favorites are listed below.

Sherlock Holmes
Miss Marple
Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan
Detective Robert "Bobby" Goren
Detective Inspector Alec Hardy
The Scooby Gang
Hercule Poirot
Philip Marlowe
Nancy Drew & the Hardy Boys

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Dirk Gently , by a mile , 2 books and 2 tv seriesieses

[–] TheLovelyAnomaly (619) 6 years ago

I've seen bits and pieces of a Dirk Gently TV series, but it's been a long time.

[–] captainbucky (15252) 6 years ago

Dirks Bentley?

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 6 years ago

I suspect you're being facetious here. But if not, here's the trailer for the 2016 - 2017 series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TNXaCBAjpo

And here's the trailer from the previous 2010 - 2012 series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5FLwkNX264

😎

[–] captainbucky (15252) 6 years ago

I was it was a a play on words

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 6 years ago

That's sort of what I figured, but just in case I wanted to be helpful. Dirks Bentley, sounds like a limo driver.

😎

[–] captainbucky (15252) 6 years ago

He’s a country singer

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 6 years ago

😎

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Ace Vetura

[–] TheLovelyAnomaly (619) 6 years ago

I've seen only one Ace Ventura movie (I'm pretty sure it was the "Nature Calls" one) but it was years ago and my memory of it's pretty foggy.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 6 years ago

Shikaka!

[–] mike (327) 6 years ago

Quincy M.E.
Columbo
Jessica Fletcher

But Sherlock is the best.

[–] TheLovelyAnomaly (619) 6 years ago

Sherlock is the definitive detective, I agree. :)

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Andy Sipowicz
Bobby Simone
Greg Medavoy
John Kelly
Marion Cobretti
Ray Tango
Gabriel Cash

[–] TheLovelyAnomaly (619) 6 years ago

Hmm, I don't believe I've heard of any of those. Time to do some research! :)

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I've heard of the bottom 3. Detectives in name only :)

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Top detectives, Mavericks maybe but they get their perps.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

zombie squad for the win!

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

👍

[–] jriley555 (8125) 6 years ago

guy lapointe ex Sûreté du Québec (tusk)
frank dreben
inspecteur clouseau
charley chan (oland, toler)
nick charles
dcs christopher foyle
sherlock (basil & nigel, of course)
sgt hoke moseley (miami blues)
columbo

[–] TheLovelyAnomaly (619) 6 years ago

Inspector Clouseau is pure win! I actually own every Pink Panther movie that stars Peter Sellers. :) And yes, Charlie Chan is another good one. Toler was my favorite actor to portray him, but I liked Oland as well. Basil is also my favorite Sherlock, with Jeremy Brett being a close second. :)

[–] jriley555 (8125) 6 years ago

here is guy lapointe, pour votre plaisir:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjvAhcQ0rlo

[–] Ghaleon (606) 6 years ago

Hercule Poirot is great. As is Columbo. I'll add a few anime/manga detectives to the list.

Taichi Hiraga-Keaton
Heinrich Lunge
Conan Edogawa
L

[–] TheLovelyAnomaly (619) 6 years ago

I really need to check out Columbo. Several people have mentioned him and it kinds of makes me feel put to shame, as a mystery fan, haha.

Nice! I've been meaning to catch up on my anime watching.

[–] Ghaleon (606) 6 years ago

I haven't watched much anime since 2010. Too many live action films and shows keep coming out for me to watch.

The last anime series I watched was the 2016 Berserk adaptation. It really didn't do the source material justice.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Poirot
Holmes - the Jeremy Brett version
Columbo
Jim Rockford

[–] Stratego (30510) 6 years ago

Brett is also my favourite Holmes. It's a shame he was a bit too old and looked very sick at the end.

[–] TheLovelyAnomaly (619) 6 years ago

Jeremy Brett is my second favorite Holmes, with Basil Rathbone taking first place, but that's probably because Rathbone was the one I was introduced to and have seen the most. They're both very good, though, and Holmes the character is, to me, the definitive detective.

[–] slimone (7996) 6 years ago

I like your list especially Bones, Goren, and Poirot. Also liked Holmes in the tv series Elementary.

[–] TheLovelyAnomaly (619) 6 years ago

Thank you! I've caught little bits here and there of Elementary. I do plan to watch it in its entirety at some point. :)