Crime-thrillers are murder mysteries are two of the best movie genres. Featuring a great private detective allows for writers to tell more elaborate and deceptive stories than a standard cop movie. Often, a private detective-focused movie proves more entertaining and captivating than other thrillers.
Every mystery needs a great detective to piece together the clues, and movies - especially thrillers - have plenty of astute investigators to go around. Although some of the best thrillers follow hardened cops, detective movies allow the heroes to go above and beyond the law. Considering the number of private detectives who get roped into delicate and elaborate plots, sometimes it's better for them to be a private eye.
10 Joe Hallenbeck Is Perceptive
The Last Boy Scout
The Last Boy Scout's Joe Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis) shows himself from the beginning to be an incredibly perceptive detective. In a scene where he confronts his wife over an affair, viewers see him connect a series of otherwise benign clues that most wouldn't have noticed.
The Last Boy Scout then follows Hallenbeck as he solves an elaborate conspiracy involving politicians and a shady businessman. Hallenbeck consistently outwits his opponents - despite being somewhat inebriated most of the time - and proves himself as the smartest detective in town.
9 J. J. Gittes Was Thrust Into A Plot Of Deceit
Chinatown
In Chinatown, a detective named J. J. Gittes (Jack Nicholson) was hired for his expertise in cheating spouse cases. However, when he gets into the case, he suspects that the subject of his case - Mr. Mulwray - is being set up for an elaborate criminal conspiracy.
Enlisting the help of Mr. Mulwray's wife, Gittes ventures out of his typical low-level work and presses further down the rabbit hole of the case. Gittes' ability to adapt to his situation and expect the unexpected is what makes him an especially impressive and intelligent detective.
8 Velma Dinkley Is The Mystery Inc. Gang's Sharpest Detective
Scooby-Doo
Since the Mystery Gang's debut in 1969, Velma has proven to be the smartest member of the team. The character often has the case solved before the unmasking, usually capping a Scooby-Doo episode off by explaining the details of a case to her friends before the unveiling.
Velma has been given more depth and background in recent films and TV shows, showing her strong passion for science and detective work alike. She uses technology, collects clues, always notes the unusual, and searches for a grounded explanation of events, which makes her the smartest detective in cartoons.
7 John Klute Was A Small Town Detective On A Murder Case
Klute
In Klute, the titular private detective John Klute (Donald Sutherland) was hired to investigate the sudden disappearance of a businessman. With very little to go on, Klute quickly picks up the trail of the missing man, tracking his steps to a sex worker who was seen with him.
Although Klute's story is largely an emotional and psychological one, he is nonetheless a sharp detective who finds the killer in the end. Like many great PIs, John Klute's strength is evident from the way he handles himself outside of his comfort zone and his ability to piece together small clues.
6 John Shaft Was One Of The Coolest Private Eyes On Screen
Shaft
John Shaft (played by Richard Roundtree) is the resident private detective of Harlem in Shaft. He is known as a cool PI who takes on the most dangerous of cases. From the streets of New York to rural Africa, John Shaft has managed to solve some of the toughest mysteries around.
In the Shaft films and series, John acts as smart as he is tough, both traits he passed down to his son, Detective John Shaft Jr. If there's a case that needs solving without police presence, Shaft is the man to call, and he won't quit until he's finished.
5 Matt Scudder's Gut Never Failed Him
A Walk Among the Tombstone
A Walk Among the Tombstone's Matt Scudder (Liam Nesson) was a former detective who was dealing with alcoholism. Hired by Peter Kristo to solve the kidnapping and murder of his wife, Scudder was initially reluctant, but he took the case due to its brutal nature and Peter's determination.
One of the key aspects of A Walk Among the Tombstone is that Scudder is a keenly observant detective and an excellent judge of character, figuring out people within minutes of meeting them. Scudder can tell a lot about those he meets and knows what makes people tick, something necessary for a man in his line of work.
4 Tom Welles Was Willing To Do Whatever It Took To Solve His Case
8MM
8MM's Tom Welles (Nicolas Cage) was hired by a wealthy widow. She discovered a film reel, which was owned by her husband, that showed the murder of a young woman. Immediately heading out on the trail, Welles' pieced together the woman's journey from her hometown to Los Angeles.
Once in L.A., Welles quickly picked up the trail that led to the woman's death, swiftly discovering the identities of those involved. While 8MM turned into a revenge flick, the first half showed Welles to be an expert detective who went above and beyond what the police could do.
3 Jack Reacher Puts His Military Skills To Good Use
Jack Reacher
Although he's not a private detective by trade, Reacher continuously finds himself working in that capacity, lending his investigative skills to solve complex plots. Having been an investigator for the Military Police, the now-free agent Reacher finds himself thrust into situations that call for his talents.
Reacher has an eye for detail that few others share and a habit of being able to infer a lot from brief observations. This observant nature, coupled with his strong memory and ability to connect the dots, makes Reacher an almost unmatched detective.
2 Hercule Poirot Is An Astute And Charming Detective
Death on the Nile
A Death on the Nile's Hercule Poirot (played by Kenneth Brannagh) is the sharpest detective and hails from Agatha Christie's "whodunit" novel series. Typically finding his toughest cases while trying to get away from work, Poirot's mind is never switched off. Even when he's relaxing, he is an astute observer.
Like other masterful detectives, Poirot has excellent memory recall and his suspicious mind means he doesn't blind himself to inconvenient truths. Poirot is always thinking several steps ahead and lays traps for his adversaries before they even know he suspects them.
1 Sherlock Holmes Has Always Been The Greatest Detective
Sherlock Holmes
Whether it's in his eponymous film series or numerous TV shows, Sherlock Holmes has been the greatest private eye since his creation by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The detective boasts the most impressive investigative mind in all fiction, with a strong memory and hyper-observant nature.
Although Holmes' gift can sometimes be a curse, there's no man better in the world of mystery-solving and crime-fighting. Holmes is often seen working with and besting the London police and Scotland Yard, frequently outwitting police and criminals alike. Sherlock Holmes is even cited as one of the best-written protagonists of all time.