Philip Marlowe Movies: Release Order
The Philip Marlowe film series adapts Raymond Chandler's hard-boiled detective stories, following the cynical private investigator as he navigates the dark underbelly of Los Angeles and beyond. Each film is standalone, with different actors bringing their own interpretation to the iconic character across multiple decades of cinema.
From Humphrey Bogart's classic 1940s portrayal to Robert Mitchum's grittier 1970s take, this watch order presents the complete theatrical evolution of Marlowe on screen. While some films update the setting to contemporary times or different locations, all feature the same sharp-tongued detective solving complex cases in a morally ambiguous world.
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The Big Sleep
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by a wealthy general to handle a delicate matter involving his daughter, but soon finds himself entangled in a web of murder, blackmail, and deception in this classic film noir.
Lady in the Lake
Private detective Phillip Marlowe is hired to find a missing woman, but the case quickly spirals into danger when bodies start appearing. This noir thriller follows Marlowe as he navigates a web of deception and murder.
The Brasher Doubloon
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired to find a stolen rare coin from a wealthy widow's collection, but the seemingly straightforward case quickly spirals into a web of murder and deception.
Marlowe
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired to find a missing person, but the seemingly simple case draws him into Los Angeles's criminal underworld where his own life becomes endangered.
The Long Goodbye
In 1970s Hollywood, private detective Philip Marlowe becomes entangled in a complex web of murder and deceit when he tries to help a friend accused of killing his wife.
Farewell, My Lovely
Private eye Philip Marlowe is hired by ex-con Moose Malloy to find his missing girlfriend, but the case becomes increasingly complex as he investigates multiple crimes and encounters dangerous secrets in 1940s Los Angeles.
The Big Sleep
Private detective Philip Marlowe takes on a blackmail case involving a wealthy general's two daughters, leading him into a web of corruption involving pornographers and gangsters.
Marlowe
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a beautiful blonde to track down her former lover, leading him into a complex investigation involving a wealthy Californian family.
Other Film Series
Alex Cross
Film adaptations of James Patterson's detective novels featuring forensic psychologist Alex Cross, spanning two connected films and a standalone reboot.
Dr. Mabuse
A decades-spanning German crime thriller series following the criminal mastermind Dr. Mabuse through various incarnations, from Fritz Lang's original trilogy to 1960s sequels and later spiritual successors.
Hercule Poirot
Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective has been adapted across multiple eras, from early talkies to modern star-studded ensembles.
Saw
A horror franchise centered on the elaborate death traps and moral philosophy of serial killer John Kramer, known as Jigsaw.
Scream
A meta-horror franchise following Sidney Prescott and others as they face various Ghostface killers, known for its self-aware commentary on slasher film tropes.
Sherlock Holmes
Feature films based on Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective, spanning multiple eras, actors, and interpretations across nearly a century of cinema.