Movies Like So You Want to Be a Detective

If you liked So You Want to Be a Detective (1948), a comedy and crime movie directed by Richard L. Bare, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
The Late Show (1977)
★ 6.3/10Also crime and comedy
An over-the-hill gumshoe in Los Angeles seeks to avenge the killing of an old pal, another detective who was involved in a case concerning a murdered broad, stolen stamps, a nickel-plated handgun, a cheating dolly, and…
2
Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023)
★ 6.8/10Also comedy and crime
Monk steps out of retirement as his stepdaughter's wedding turns tragic when her fiancé dies in a bungee jumping accident.
3
The Nice Guys (2016)
★ 7.1/10Also comedy and crime
A private eye investigates the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.
4
WHAT DID JACK DO? (2017)
★ 6.3/10Also comedy and crime
In a locked down train station, a homicide detective conducts an interview with a tormented monkey who is suspected of murder.
5
Sherlock Jr. (1924)
★ 8/10Also comedy
A film projectionist longs to be a detective, and puts his meager skills to work when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend's father's pocketwatch.
6
Who Killed Who? (1943)
★ 7.1/10Also comedy and crime
A murder has occurred at Gruesome Gables, and the dog detective trying to find the killer has to deal with some suspicious suspects and a haunted house.
7
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
★ 6.9/10Also comedy and crime
Charles Dreyfus, who has finally cracked over inspector Clouseau's antics, escapes from a mental institution and launches an elaborate plan to get rid of Clouseau once and for all.
8
Mater Private Eye (2010)
★ 6.3/10Also comedy and crime
Detective Mater is hot on the trail of a dastardly car-napping! When Tia's sister goes missing, Mater is the only car she can turn to. With this tow truck on the case, anything can happen.
9
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)
★ 6.1/10Also comedy and crime
To the Los Angeles elite, Ford Fairlane is known as "Mr. Rock 'n' Roll Detective." This loudmouthed ladies' man serves an exclusive rock star clientele, who depend on his keen eye and smug discretion. So when a…
10
Who's Harry Crumb? (1989)
★ 6/10Also comedy and crime
Harry Crumb is a bumbling and inept private investigator who is hired to solve the kidnapping of a young heiress which he's not expected to solve because his employer is the mastermind behind the kidnapping.
11
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
★ 7.2/10Also crime
One evening, Hammer gives a ride to Christina, an attractive hitchhiker on a lonely country road, who has escaped from the nearby lunatic asylum. Thugs waylay them and force his car to crash. When Hammer returns to…
12
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
★ 6.6/10Also comedy and crime
Juliet Forrest is convinced that the reported death of her father in a mountain car crash was no accident. Her father was a prominent cheese scientist working on a secret recipe. To prove it was murder, she enlists the…
13
Film Noir (2007)
★ 6/10Also crime
Private detective Sam Ruben's clever plan falls apart with the onset of amnesia. Everyone is trying to kill him and he doesn't know why. The classic film noir milieu now comes to you in the form of an animated feature.
14
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
★ 7/10Also comedy and crime
World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.
15
Bottle Rocket (1993)
★ 6.2/10Also comedy and crime
Dysfunctional friends Dignan and Anthony plan and execute a robbery with their pot-growing friend, Bob. The short film that inspired Wes Anderson’s feature debut.
16
The Big Fix (1978)
★ 5.9/10Also comedy
Private detective Moses Wine is hired by his former college girlfriend to investigate a political smear campaign and he sets out to find out who is responsible, with deadly results.
17
The Thin Man (1934)
★ 7.5/10Also comedy and crime
Former detective Nick Charles has retired from police work, preferring a life of cocktails, parties, and relaxation with his wealthy wife, Nora. Their holiday is interrupted when the daughter of Nick’s former client…
18
Married to the Mob (1988)
★ 6/10Also comedy and crime
Angela de Marco is fed up with her gangster husband's line of work and wants no part of the crime world. When her husband is killed for having an affair with the mistress of mob boss Tony "The Tiger" Russo, Angela and…
19
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
★ 7.3/10Also comedy and crime
When the bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin investigates events following the shooting of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.
20
Wolfs (2024)
★ 6.5/10Also crime and comedy
Hired to cover up a high-profile crime, a fixer soon finds his night spiralling out of control when he's forced to work with an unexpected counterpart.