Each of the movies listed here is a hidden gem, or forgotten relic, of the detective genre. We’re not saying all these movies are great, but they are each classics in their own way.
These movies are eminently watchable, and together they make for a perfect deep-cut crime movie marathon.
10
“The Detective”
Directed By Gordon Douglas; Starring Frank Sinatra; Released In 1968
If you want to be well-versed in detective cinema, The Detective is one of those movies you need to see at least once. The Frank Sinatra starring vehicle is best known today for its ties to the Die Hard franchise; the iconic action movie was adapted from the sequel to The Detective’s novel source material.
Believe it or not, 70+ year old Frank Sinatra was actually contractually entitled to the lead role in Die Hard when it went into production in the mid-1980s. Sinatra declined to reprise his role as Joe Leland, paving the way for Bruce Willis to make action movie history.
Sinatra is the definition of “hardboiled” as Sgt. Joe Leland, the precursor to John McClane. The Detective is a bleak ’60s noir tale with plenty of twists and turns to keep you invested. It has an ending that might be controversial for modern audiences, but it was audacious for its time.
9
“Klute”
Directed By Alan J. Pakula; Starring Jane Fonda & Donald Sutherland; Released In 1971
Klute is a snapshot of a particular point in history. Specifically, the history of surveillance technology, and in turn, the corresponding evolution of the detective thriller. That is, as the 20th century went on, technology changed how criminals operated, and how crime was investigated. This change was then reflected in movies.
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The movie is about a missing executive, which leads to the investigation of a sex worker’s death. But it’s really about phone taps, and the increasingly minute ways authorities could trace and track individuals’ activities in the early 1970s. Of course, by today’s standards, it feels simultaneously archaic and ahead-of-its-time, which is exactly what makes Klute fascinating.
8
“Hustle”
Directed By Robert Aldrich; Starring Burt Reynolds & Catherine Deneuve; Released In 1975
Burt Reynolds made Hustle on the upside of his iconic career; it came out just two years before Smokey and the Bandit. Reynolds’ legacy as a star remains strong 50 years later, even as much of his filmography increasingly lapses into obscurity. Hustle is an underrated choice for a Reynolds movie night, and an underappreciated detective movie.
Hustle balances its character-driven story and crime procedural elements exceptionally well. It has a shock ending that still hits hard even today, and even if you know what’s coming. But if you don’t know what’s coming, avoid spoilers, and give Hustle its due ASAP, because it will hook you and then devastate you.
7
“Copycat”
Directed By Jon Amiel; Starring Sigourney Weaver & Holly Hunter; Released In 1995
On the surface, Copycat is a pretty blatant Silence of the Lambs rip-off, true to its title. Yet while it doesn’t live up to Lambs‘ exceptionally high standard, it has become a cult classic in its own right in the 30+ years since it was released. Copycat is about detectives teaming up with a famous psychologist to catch a diabolical serial killer.
Copycat reveals its killer’s identity early; like Lambs, it is a “cat and mouse” detective movie. The thrill of the film isn’t following the case step-by-step as it procedurally unfolds, but rather watching in horror as the antagonist stays one step ahead of investigators, until they ultimately catch up in the climax.
6
“Fallen”
Directed By Gregory Hoblit; Starring Denzel Washington; Released In 1998
Fallen is a underrated detective film with a supernatural twist. It’s another “cat and mouse” story where the audience, like the murderer, is one step ahead of the protagonist, but it effectively blends this with its procedural elements. When Denzel Washington’s detective character finally catches on to the infernal truth of what’s going on it’s a satisfying moment.
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Fallen isn’t a critical darling, but it’s far from a bad movie. Washington is great as the film’s lead, and the supporting cast of Donald Southerland, John Goodman, and James Gandolfini, a year away from debuting as Tony Soprano, give the demonic detective movie enough additional charm to make it worth watching.
5
“Frequency”
Directed By Gregory Hoblit; Starring Dennis Quaid, Jim Caviezel, & More; Released In 2000
Yes, Frequency is director Gregory Hoblit’s follow-up to Fallen. Like the prior film, Frequency’s novelty comes from layering a detective story over a high-concept plot device. In Fallen, it was a demon. In Frequency, it’s time travel, as Dennis Quaid’s detective character finds he’s able to influence the past and rewrite the future.
Frequency is a story that is ripe for a modern TV remake. Which is funny, considering that it’s already been done: The CW aired one season of a reboot from 2016-2017. Still, Frequency has the bones of a sci-fi Prestige drama, a genre entering a rennaissance at the moment thanks, in particular, to Apple TV+.
Frequency still gives Quaid a mystery to solve and a killer to catch, something that is complicated by his meddling with history. If you like sci-fi, and you like detective movies, there’s no good reason to pass on Frequency. It’s a rewatchable movie that is perfectly suited for a cozy weekend binging deep-cut detective thrillers.
4
“Blood Work”
Directed By Clint Eastwood; Starring Eastwood & Jeff Daniels; Released In 2002
Blood Work is often overshadowed by other entries in Clint Eastwood’s extensive filmography, as both actor and director. The movie puts Eastwood’s retired FBI agent character on the trail of an unknown killer. The movie’s first twist? Eastwood’s character is alive thanks to a heart transplant…from one of the killer’s victims.
The movie all builds up the big third act reveal of the villain’s identity. Blood Work is ultimately the kind of imperfect but enjoyable movie that will have you playing detective yourself as you watch, trying to anticipate where the movie is headed. If you figure out the twist before Eastwood does, then you’ve won the movie.
3
“Basic”
Directed By John McTiernan; Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, & More; Released In 2003
Basic is a movie where you should ignore the critical consensus. Yes, Basic only has 21% Rotten Tomatoes score, but whether it earns “so bad it’s good” status, or viewers are just overly harsh with it, the early 2000s thriller has its moments. It is a modern Rashomon set on a military base, with a plot propelled by intriguing ideas.
Basic reunited John Travolta and Sam Jackson a decade after Pulp Fiction. It’s by the director of Die Hard. Maybe you have to turn your brain off and go along for the ride to enjoy it, but if you let Basic be Basic, it’s a different kind of detective story that attempts to make the most of unreliable narration and cinematic sleight-of-hand.
2
“Brick”
Directed By Rian Johnson; Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt; Released In 2006
Brick kicked off Rian Johnson’s directing career, and eventually led to the Knives Out films and iconic detective character Benoit Blanc. Except Brick has a very different vibe. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s main character is an unconventional detective character; he’s not a detective at all, really, just a high school kid who gets in over his head.
Brick thrusts Gordon’s-Levitt’s character into the criminal underworld, in a story that is the product of Rian Johnson’s self-professed worship of detective fiction legends like Dashiel Hammett and Raymond Chandler. Brick expertly mimics the form of their iconic stories; that combined with Johnson’s clear cinematic vision make it a modern must-watch crime classic.
1
“Hollywoodland”
Directed By Allen Coulter; Starring Adrian Brody, Diane Lane, & Ben Affleck; Released In 2006
Hollywoodland is a lot of things. It’s part period piece. Part biopic. And part unsolved murder mystery. Like the real life case that inspired it, Hollywoodland denies resolution to the murder of Superman actor George Reeves. This puts it in a category with movies like David Fincher’s Zodiac and Brian De Palma’s The Black Dalia.
Hollywoodland depicts three potential versions of Reeves’ death. It’s essentially a large-scale cinematic version of a true-crime show, with A-list actor Ben Affleck starring in the recreations. And in this regard, it works. It’s a fascinating real-life story that is given its due treatment on film, and it’s an ideal movie for your next cozy crime movie marathon.
What do you think? What other movies deserve to be added to this marathon list?
- Release Date
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September 8, 2006
- Runtime
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126 minutes
- Director
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Allen Coulter