Great Detective
by Skavation | created - 5 months ago | updated - 5 months ago | PublicA staple of Mystery Fiction and Detective Fiction, the Great Detective relies on powers of deduction and educated thought to solve crimes. The Great Detective is usually an Amateur Sleuth or a Private Detective (because Police Are Useless). Some of these detectives will have an Arch-Enemy that will be their equal, but in a different light.
The Great Detective tradition originates with Eugène François Vidocq, a Real Life criminal-turned-detective and founder of the French Sûreté in the early 19th century. Vidocq pioneered many of the scientific methods of detective work which would later become common in fictional detective stories.
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1. Sherlock (2010–2017)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The quirky spin on Conan Doyle's iconic sleuth pitches him as a "high-functioning sociopath" in modern-day London. Assisting him in his investigations: Afghanistan War vet John Watson, who's introduced to Holmes by a mutual acquaintance.
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves
Votes: 998,347
2. Elementary (2012–2019)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD's most impossible cases. Following his fall from grace in London, eccentric Sherlock escapes to New York where his father forces him to live with his worst nightmare - a sober companion, Dr. Watson.
Stars: Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, Aidan Quinn, Jon Michael Hill
Votes: 119,032
3. Poker Face (2023– )
TV-MA | 58 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Charlie has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. She hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can't help but investigate and solve.
Stars: Natasha Lyonne, Benjamin Bratt, Simon Helberg, Pedro Hollywood
Votes: 48,122
4. Columbo (1971–2003)
TV-PG | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Los Angeles homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo uses his humble ways and ingenuous demeanor to winkle out even the most well-concealed of crimes.
Stars: Peter Falk, Mike Lally, John Finnegan, Bruce Kirby
Votes: 41,991
5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984–1985)
TV-PG | 688 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson solve the mysteries of copper beeches, a Greek interpreter, the Norwood builder, a resident patient, the red-headed league, and one final problem.
Stars: Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Rosalie Williams, Eric Porter
Votes: 24,214
6. The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986–1988)
TV-PG | 781 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson solve the mysteries of the devil's foot, Silver Blaze, Wisteria Lodge and the Bruce-Partington Plans.
Stars: Jeremy Brett, Edward Hardwicke, Rosalie Williams, Colin Jeavons
Votes: 13,403
7. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994)
TV-PG | 51 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The last installment of Sherlock Holmes' investigations.
Stars: Jeremy Brett, Rosalie Williams, Edward Hardwicke, Charles Gray
Votes: 8,324
8. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1981)
TV-PG | 154 min | Adventure, Crime, Mystery
When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead in his country house, Dr James Mortimer asks Sherlock Holmes for help to save Sir Henry Baskerville, the only known heir, from the curse that haunts Baskerville family.
Stars: Vasiliy Livanov, Vitali Solomin, Rina Zelyonaya, Irina Kupchenko
Votes: 6,495
9. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1991–1993)
616 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Holmes and Dr. Watson solve the mysteries of the Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, Thor Bridge, Shoscombe Old Place, The Boscombe Valley Mystery, The Illustrious Client and The Creeping Man.
Stars: Jeremy Brett, Edward Hardwicke, Rosalie Williams, Colin Jeavons
Votes: 6,177
10. The Doctor Blake Mysteries (2013–2018)
TV-14 | 57 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Dr Lucien Blake left Ballarat as a young man. But now he finds himself returning, to take over not only his dead father's medical practice, but also his on-call role as the town's police surgeon.
Stars: Nadine Garner, Craig McLachlan, Charlie Cousins, Joel Tobeck
Votes: 5,104
11. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson: The Acquaintance (1980)
67 min | Crime, Mystery
Doctor Watson moves in with the eccentric Sherlock Holmes and they get a case to solve. A young heiress seeks Holmes' help when she feels threatened by her brutish stepfather after her sister dies under mysterious circumstances.
Stars: Vasiliy Livanov, Vitali Solomin, Rina Zelyonaya, Mariya Solomina
Votes: 4,194
12. Endgame (2011)
60 min | Crime, Drama
The death of his fiancee has left chess master Arkady Balagan agoraphobic and unwilling to step outside of his hotel. This debilitation, however, doesn't stop him from solving difficult crimes.
Stars: Shawn Doyle, Patrick Gallagher, Katharine Isabelle, Carmen Aguirre
Votes: 3,750
13. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Treasures of Agra (1983)
151 min | Crime, Mystery, Romance
Holmes and Dr. Watson help a young lady who is receiving anonymous letters 10 years after her father passed away under shady circumstances. They find themselves in an enigma involving a treasure, murder and a love interest for Watson.
Stars: Vasiliy Livanov, Vitali Solomin, Rina Zelyonaya, Borislav Brondukov
Votes: 3,205
14. A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001–2002)
TV-PG | 46 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
Genius detective Nero Wolfe and his right-hand man: Archie Goodwin, solve seemingly impossible crimes, in 1950's New York.
Stars: Timothy Hutton, Maury Chaykin, Colin Fox, Bill Smitrovich
Votes: 1,991
15. Baantjer (1995–2006)
43 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In this Dutch police detective series, Detective Jurriaan 'Jurre' de Cock is the 'Columbo' of a Dutch city's police department.
Stars: Piet Römer, Victor Reinier, Martin Schwab, Serge-Henri Valcke
Votes: 1,385
16. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (1980)
60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Picking up from Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson: The Acquaintance (1980) adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson continue as they oppose a fierce crime syndicate in one of their greatest challenges.
Stars: Vasiliy Livanov, Vitali Solomin, Rina Zelyonaya, Borislav Brondukov
Votes: 1,426
17. Miss Sherlock (2018)
TV-14 | 47 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic literary characters, the series follows Dr. Wato-san Tachibana and Sara Shelly "Sherlock" Futaba, an eccentric police consultant who uses deduction to solve strange cases in modern-day Japan.
Stars: Yûko Takeuchi, Shihori Kanjiya, Ken'ichi Takitô, Tomoya Nakamura
Votes: 1,259
18. Garireo (2007– )
Drama, Mystery
Yukawa Manabu, also known as Detective Galileo, is a genius physicist and university professor who solves unusual mysteries. His partner, Utsumi Kaoru, is a rookie cop.
Stars: Masaharu Fukuyama, Ikkei Watanabe, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Kô Shibasaki
Votes: 1,067
19. Sherlock Holmes (1954–1955)
TV-PG | 30 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The adventures of master detective Sherlock Holmes as he and his assistant, Dr. Watson--and, somewhat reluctantly, the bumbling Inspector Lestrade--battle criminals in London.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan, Richard Larke
Votes: 1,097
20. Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes (2000–2001)
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Certain events which had an impact on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, while he was still a medical student under the supervision of Dr. Bell, his teacher and mentor, on whom the character of Sherlock Holmes is partly drawn from.
Stars: Ian Richardson, Charles Edwards, Simon Chandler, Mossie Smith
Votes: 774
21. Capitain Marleau (2014– )
TV-14 | 90 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Beneath her eccentric appearance, Captain Marleau is a formidable detective. Her Sherlock Holmes deerstalker cap, her character, her unusual appearance, her humor, her unpredictable ... See full summary »
Stars: Corinne Masiero, Marius Colucci, Aymeric Demarigny, Jean-Claude Drouot
Votes: 664
22. Sherlock Holmes (1964–1968)
50 min | Crime, Drama, History
A series of Sherlock Holmes adaptations, based on the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Stars: Nigel Stock, Peter Cushing, Douglas Wilmer, Peter Madden
Votes: 589
23. Mrs. Columbo (1979–1980)
60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Mrs. Kate Columbo, wife of the famous lieutenant, solves crimes as a reporter, while raising her little daughter.
Stars: Kate Mulgrew, Henry Jones, Lili Haydn, Don Stroud
Votes: 538
24. Sherlock Holmes (2013)
44 min | Crime, Drama
A Russian crime drama series, based on the Sherlock Holmes detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Stars: Andrey Panin, Igor Petrenko, Mikhail Boyarskiy, Ingeborga Dapkunaite
Votes: 454
25. Don't Call it Mystery (2022–2023)
54 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Follows mystery-solving college student Kuno Totono. At the beginning of the story, the police bring him in for questioning on suspicion of murdering his classmate.
Stars: Masaki Suda, Sairi Itô, Matsuya Onoe, Michitaka Tsutsui
Votes: 487
26. Professor T. (2017–2020)
Crime, Drama, Mystery
About a man who, in his own words, is not Sherlock Holmes - but a scientist.
Stars: Matthias Matschke, Helgi Schmid, Julia Bremermann, Alexandra von Schwerin
Votes: 386
27. The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971–1973)
13+ | 50 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Adaptations of mystery stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's contemporary rivals in the genre.
Stars: Peter Vaughan, Peter Barkworth, Douglas Wilmer, Ronald Hines
Votes: 342
28. Colonel March of Scotland Yard (1954–1956)
30 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Colonel March of The Department of Queer Complaints investigates unusual cases, locked-room murders, and mysteries concerning the supernatural.
Stars: Boris Karloff, Ewan Roberts, Eric Pohlmann, Doris Nolan
Votes: 309
29. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1982)
TV-14 | 30 min | Horror, Mystery, Crime
When a young heir inherits a noble title that apparently has a deadly curse to it, Sherlock Holmes is hired to investigate.
Stars: Tom Baker, Terence Rigby, Will Knightley, Nicholas Woodeson
Votes: 280
30. The Files of Young Kindaichi (2022– )
60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Follow Kindaichi Hajime, a high school student and a private detective with an IQ of 180 solves murder cases that are riddled with difficult clues with his friend, Nanase Miyuki and Kenmochi Isamu.
Stars: Shunsuke Michieda, Moka Kamishiraishi, Taisho Iwasaki, Ikki Sawamura
Votes: 284
31. Sherlock: The Russian Chronicles (2020)
48 min | Adventure, Crime, Mystery
Sherlock Holmes follows the trail of Jack the Ripper, who slashed several women in London and left a special message for the detective on each of the murder sites, leading Sherlock to the Russian Empire.
Stars: Maksim Matveev, Vladimir Mishukov, Irina Starshenbaum, Pavel Maykov
Votes: 278
32. Nero Wolfe (2012– )
TV-PG | 100 min | Comedy, Crime, Mystery
The "Famous" Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, relocating from New York, begin telling the original stories (Fer De Lance), as just arriving in Rome. They start out finding the house, cook etc. While simultaneously solving the murders.
Stars: Francesco Pannofino, Pietro Sermonti, Andy Luotto, Giulia Bevilacqua
Votes: 204
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