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All 11 Live-Action Pink Panther Movies, Ranked

All 11 Live-Action Pink Panther Movies, Ranked

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Публикация в группе: Осторожный оптимизм

When it comes to infamous incompetent detectives, French Inspector Jacques Clouseau undoubtedly ranks high on the list, with his questionable French accent and penchant for slapstick. But no matter his methods and skill set, or lack thereof, he always managed to solve the case, sometimes accidentally. The result is the Pink Panther franchise, one of the best and most beloved comedy series to this day, with a total of 11 films, including reboots, five of which starred beloved comedic actor Peter Sellers as Clouseau. Another reboot is in the works, this time starring Eddie Murphy.

The Pink Panther films remain beloved comedies to this day, decades after the originals were made and nearly 20 years after they were rebooted. Still, there’s a stark contrast in quality between its best and worst offerings. Although some films featured a different director and star, the franchise was at its best, with director Blake Edwards at the helm and Peter Sellers starring as Clouseau. This list will rank all eleven live-action Pink Panther movies based on how funny they are, their place in the saga’s legacy, and their overall quality.

11

‘Son of Pink the Panther’ (1993)

Directed by Blake Edwards

A police man on a scooter in Son of the Pink Panther - 1993
Image via MGM/UA Distribution Co.

In Son of the Pink Panther, after Princess Yasmin (Debrah Farentino) of the kingdom of Lugash is kidnapped by Hans Zarba (Robert Davi), Commissioner Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) is sent to Nice, France, to supervise her rescue mission. It is there he meets Jacques Gambrelli (Roberto Benigni), who is remarkably similar to his old nemesis, Clouseau, and turns out to be his son. It is the ninth and final film of the original Pink Panther series.

Although a few of the Pink Panther films don’t star Sellers, Son of the Pink Panther is perhaps the one where his absence is felt the most. Continuing the franchise with Clouseau’s son is an interesting premise, but it just doesn’t work despite Benigni’s committed performance. The film’s main appeal was nostalgia, but the franchise was better left alone at that point. And it was… for thirteen years, anyway.

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10

‘Inspector Clouseau’ (1968)

Directed by Bud Yorkin

A woman reaching out to Inspector Clouseau
Image via United Artists

In Inspector Clouseau, Clouseau, now played by Alan Arkin, is on the case after the British Prime Minister taps him to investigate a string of bank robberies across Europe. The stolen money is then used to fund organized crime, and the whole operation seems to be linked to a dirty cop within Scotland Yard. Inspector Clouseau is the third Pink Panther film.

Arkin has wonderful comedic timing, but the biggest problem with Inspector Clouseau is its script. It just does not compare to any of the Pink Panther movies starring Sellers, who opted not to return after A Shot in the Dark due to tension behind the scenes with Edwards. Sellers did ultimately step back into the role, however, in Return of the Pink Panther, reducing Inspector Clouseau to a bizarre and often disregarded afterthought in the grand scope of the series.

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9

‘The Pink Panther 2’ (2009)

Directed by Harald Zwart

Steve Martin as inspector Jacques Clouseau wearing a formal uniform and holding up a notepad in The Pink Panther (2006)
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Clouseau, now played by the hilarious Steve Martin, teams up with a team of international detectives in The Pink Panther 2—the problem is they’re just as inept as he is. After being assembled by the French government, the group is tasked with tracking down a high-profile thief called “The Tornado,” whose specialty is stealing historical artifacts. Among the items he steals, of course, is the infamous Pink Panther diamond.

The 2006 reboot of The Pink Panther was financially successful enough to earn this sequel despite lukewarm reviews. Although it has some funny moments and the group of detectives is fun to watch, The Pink Panther 2 largely feels like a rehash of the previous film—a problem the franchise also faced when Sellers was still involved. It ignores what little strengths it does have, mainly the ever-enchanting star at its center.

8

‘Trail of the Pink Panther’ (1982)

Directed by Blake Edwards

Inspector Closeau talking to another man in Trail of the Pink Panther
Image via MGM

In Trail of the Pink Panther, Clouseau is missing, and journalist Marie Jouvet (Joanna Lumley) tries to uncover what happened to him by interviewing the people who knew him best—such as his senile father (Richard Mulligan). The film includes clips and outtakes of Sellers’ previous performances as Clouseau. It’s also the seventh Pink Panther film and the first after Sellers’ death from a heart attack.

Trail of the Pink Panther features previously unseen footage of Sellers as Clouseau and is considered a tribute to him. Although it comes up short as a Pink Panther movie—it largely feels like a clip-show compilation cashing in on Sellers’ death as opposed to serving as a tribute—it does feature some great moments from Herbert Lom as Dreyfus. His unbridled glee at learning of Clouseau’s apparent death is a hilarious, albeit slightly morbid, highlight of the series.

7

‘The Pink Panther’ (2006)

Directed by Shawn Levy

Steve Martin as inspector Jacques Clouseau wearing specialized wide lens glasses that make his eyes look bigger in The Pink Panther (2006)
Image via MGM

The Pink Panther was rebooted in 2006, thirteen years after the final movie. Steve Martin takes over the role of Clouseau as the inspector investigates the murder of a famous soccer coach, played by an against-type Jason Statham. Of course, Ckouseau once again attempts to track down the infamous Pink Panther diamond, which was part of the coach’s ring and is missing yet again. The film is the tenth in the franchise.

Martin is a good choice to take on the role of Clouseau—his facial expressions and absurd accent are great—but Sellers remains unmatched. Still, though, The Pink Panther is an entertaining and quite serviceable reboot, with some truly funny bits, as well as some fun references to the previous films fans will pick out easily. The film is also a great introduction to the franchise for younger fans, even if some of the humor borders on the stupid.

6

‘Curse of the Pink Panther’ (1983)

Directed Blake Edwards

A man parashooting with the title card Curse of the Pink Panther
Image via MGM

After Clouseau (Roger Moore) goes missing in Curse of the Pink Panther, Clifton Sleigh (Ted Wass), a New York police officer, is tasked with finding him. However, he is only chosen because he’s just as inept and unlikely to actually find the infamously incompetent inspector. While trying to track Clouseau, Sleigh encounters a number of people from Clouseau’s past, including jewel thief Charles Litton (David Niven).

Curse of the Pink Panther was an attempt to reboot the series with Sleigh taking over as a different incompetent detective, but no one could compare to Sellers. Still, Curse of the Pink Panther does feature some nice moments—including Moore as Clouseau in a cameo. Moreover, throwbacks to the previous movies, like Niven’s return as Charles, are just not enough to live up to the quality of the earlier films.

curse-of-the-pink-panther-1983-poster.jpg

Curse of the Pink Panther

In Curse of the Pink Panther, an inept American detective is tasked with locating the missing Inspector Clouseau. The detective’s investigation unfolds amidst comedic misadventures and a series of mishaps, resulting in a lighthearted and whimsical chase for the legendary inspector within a world filled with unexpected challenges.

Release Date

August 12, 1983

Director

Blake Edwards

Cast

David Niven
, Robert Wagner
, Herbert Lom
, Joanna Lumley
, Capucine
, Robert Loggia
, Harvey Korman
, Burt Kwouk
, Ted Wass
, Roger Moore
, Leslie Ash
, Graham Stark
, André Maranne
, Peter Arne

Writers

Blake Edwards
, Geoffrey Edwards

5

‘Revenge of the Pink Panther’ (1978)

Directed by Blake Edwards

A man looking shocked in Revenge of the Pink Panther
Image via United Artists

After learning he’s losing the respect of New York’s mob bosses, French drug kingpin Philippe Douvier (Robert Webber) decides to kill Clouseau to prove himself and hold on to his reputation. When someone else is mistaken for Clouseau and killed, the inspector takes full advantage of the situation—while his former boss, Dreyfus, is thrilled by the news.

Revenge of the Pink Panther marked the end of an era, as it was Sellers’ final Pink Panther film. The iconic actor died just two years later, making it bittersweet to watch. It wasn’t one of the series’ best, however, as the plot and humor weren’t as good as the previous films—both had begun to feel repetitive and uninspired. Still, Clouseau’s numerous disguises were as fun to watch as ever, and even if nostalgia goes a long way to place this movie so high on the list, it still holds a place of honor in the Pink Panther series.

4

‘Return of the Pink Panther’ (1975)

Directed by Blake Edwards

Inspector Clouseau with another woman in The Return of the Pink Panther
Image via United Artists

In Return of the Pink Panther, Dreyfus suspends Clouseau after the famed inspector lets a train robbery happen. Clouseau is soon reinstated when the Pink Panther diamond is stolen from the National Museum in Lugash, as the inspector had successfully found the precious jewel before. This time, the only clue left behind is the Phantom’s trademark glove. It is the fourth Pink Panther film.

While the plot mostly revisits the material of the previous films, Return of the Pink Panther is still a delight to watch. It injected some much-needed life back into the franchise—Edwards and Sellers had not worked together for ten years, and the previous film, Inspector Clouseau, did not star Sellers and was considered a disappointment. Thus, Return of the Pink Panther was something of a comeback for the series, feeling like a comeback to the glory days of comedy.

3

‘The Pink Panther’ (1964)

Directed by Blake Edwards

Inspector Clouseau looking to his left with an inquisitive look in The Pink Panther
Image via United Artists

In The Pink Panther, the first film in the series, Clouseau travels to Rome in search of a notorious jewel thief known as “The Phantom.” The thief is looking to pull off his biggest heist yet—the theft of a diamond called “The Pink Panther,” named for a flaw in the stone. However, his nephew, George (Robert Wagner), is also planning to steal the diamond.

Although it launched the franchise, The Pink Panther is a bit of a different film compared to the ones that followed. Most notably, Sellers’ Clouseau is not the main character, but his sharp comedic timing stole the show. It didn’t take long before the series shifted hands to Clouseau, being the more popular character and the focus of the franchise moving forward. Best of all, some of the film’s funniest scenes still hold up today.

2

‘The Pink Panther Strikes Again’ (1976)

Directed by Blake Edwards

A man holding Inspector Clouseau by the neck in The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Image via United Artists

Clouseau’s incompetence drives Dreyfus to spend time in a mental hospital. However, the Chief Inspector escapes and becomes determined to do away with Clouseau in The Pink Panther Strikes Again. Dreyfus captures a scientist and orders him to create a weapon that can destroy the planet and threatens to use it if Clouseau isn’t killed. The film is the fifth in the Pink Panther series, set three years after The Return of the Pink Panther.

The Pink Panther Strikes Again is one of the best Blake Edwards movies, and it isn’t hard to see why. Thanks to its plot, it is one of the most over-the-top movies in the franchise—but that also makes it one of the funniest. It features the type of humor the series has become known for, as well as some truly memorable gags that help make it one of the best. Even predictable gags manage to pay off, with Sellers and a deliciously unhinged Peter Lom in fine form.

1

‘A Shot in the Dark’ (1964)

Directed by Blake Edwards

In A Shot in the Dark, Maria, a chambermaid at the Ballon residence in the French countryside, is accused of murdering her millionaire lover. As more people are murdered, the clues continue to point to her. After Inspector Clouseau is put on the case—against the wishes of Chief Inspector Dreyfus—he falls in love with Maria and becomes determined to prove her innocence.

A Shot in the Dark is widely considered among the best of the Pink Panther movies, thanks to its good story and use of humor. Although it is a sequel to The Pink Panther, it also serves as a standalone film. It’s also notable for being the first film in the series in which Sellers used his wonderfully absurd take on the French accent, which would become a hallmark of the character.

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NEXT: The Pink Panther and 9 Vintage Cartoon Icons Which Deserve a Comeback

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