Summary
ThePink Pantherfranchise is one of the longest-running comedy franchises of all time, but there’s a massive gulf in quality between its best movies and its worst ones. MostPink Panthermovies focus on the useless French detective Jacques Clouseau as he bumbles his way through another case, but there have been some twists and turns throughout the years.
Peter Sellers made the character famous way back in the 1960s. After his death, the franchise tried to stay alive with a few lackluster stand-ins, but none could hold a candle to Sellers. Steve Martin’s reboot failed to fully revive the franchise, but now, over 60 years since its inception, there are reports that thePink Pantherfranchise could return with Eddie Murphyin the lead role. The bestPink Panthermovies are true comedy classics, but the franchise has also dropped a fair few clangers over the years.
10 Best Comedy Franchises, Ranked
The best comedy franchises are able to make audiences laugh long after they are first released, proving that they stand the test of time.
11Son Of The Pink Panther (1993)
The franchise’s lowest point featured a comedy legend on poor form
Son of the Pink Pantheris the lowest point of a franchise that has suffered plenty of lows.Roberto Benigni is undoubtedly a brilliant comic actor, butSon of the Pink Pantherdoesn’t let him utilize any of his skills. He is best known for writing, directing and starring in the multiple Oscar-winning comedy-dramaLife is Beautiful,a story about a Jewish family during the Second World War.
10 years after the disappointing Curse of the Pink Panther, Son of the Pink Pantherwas a limp attempt to revitalize the franchise.
10 years after the disappointing Curse of the Pink Panther, Son of the Pink Pantherwas a limp attempt to revitalize the franchise. The story concerns a kidnapped European princess, and the man tasked with recovering her is Inspector Clouseau’s illegitimate son, which infuriates Commissioner Dreyfus to no end. With a dreadful script and yet another performance which doesn’t measure up to Peter Sellers,Son of the Pink Pantherall but killedPink Pantherfor good.
10Curse Of The Pink Panther (1983)
One of many attempts to move on without Inspector Clouseau
Curse of the Pink Pantherwas produced concurrently withTrail of the Pink Panther,but it didn’t use any old footage. Instead, the movie focuses on a new character, American detective Clifton Sleigh, who tries to find the missing Inspector Clouseau. This almost sets up a grand finale with one last moment featuring Peter Sellers, but clearly there was no archive footage that was usable. Clouseau is played byJames Bondactor Roger Moore, in a moment which makes no sense and comes across as an ill-advised stunt.
Clouseau is played byJames Bondactor Roger Moore, in a moment which makes no sense and comes across as an ill-advised stunt.
There are times whenCurse of the Pink Panthertries to reckon with Peter Sellers' legacy by using Clouseau as a proxy, but these potentially emotional moments are undercut by lame slapstick comedy and a meandering plot. Rather than acting as a genuine tribute to Sellers and closing out the series,Curse of the Pink Panthertries to set up a future of thePink Pantherseries with Clifton Sleigh at the center, who is no real substitute.
9Inspector Clouseau (1968)
Alan Arkin stepped in as the Inspector when Peter Sellers chose not to return
Although it was released just four years afterA Shot in the Dark,Peter Sellers decided not to return forInspector Clouseau,the movie named after his own character.Sellers and Blake Edwards reportedly clashed during developmentand vowed never to work with one another again. Although they patched things up for the sequels, Alan Arkin stepped in forInspector Clouseau.
As well as having a new Clouseau on screen,Inspector Clouseausuffered from Blake Edwards' absence in the director’s chair.
As well as having a new Clouseau on screen,Inspector Clouseausuffered from Blake Edwards' absence in the director’s chair, with Bud Yorkin taking on the sequel.Alan Arkin’s best moviesshow that he’s a superb comedic actor, butInspector Clouseaurestricts him by having him perform an impression of Sellers. He is at his best when he can be wry and sarcastic, like inLittle Miss SunshineorRussians Are Coming.
8Trail Of The Pink Panther (1982)
The first Pink Panther movie after Peter Sellers' death used old footage to keep Clouseau alive
Trail of the Pink Pantheris a bizarre movie. Made after Peter Sellers died of a heart attack at the age of 54, the film uses some old footage to keep Clouseau alive, but it mixes this with an entirely new story involving British comedian and actor Joanna Lumley. The result is a disorienting patchwork which lacks cohesion, direction, and, most importantly, anything remotely funny.
There’s a reason that the clips of Sellers used here were left on the cutting room floor in previous movies.
Trail of the Pink Pantheris just about saved from being the franchise’s worst movie by the atrocious misfires that came later.
The movie appears to have been hastily sewn together at the last minute, without any thought about honoring Peter Sellers and leaving his most famous character in a dignified manner. Audiences usually hate sitcom clip shows, and this is whatTrail of the Pink Pantherfeels like. There’s a reason that the clips of Sellers used here were left on the cutting room floor in previous movies.
7The Pink Panther 2 (2009)
The last Pink Panther movie failed to improve upon the first reboot
The firstPink Pantherreboot was met with mediocre reviews, but its financial success meant that a sequel was released three years later. This time, the audiences seemed to agree more with the critics, as the film flopped at the box office and put the final nail in the coffin of thePink Pantherfranchise. It now seems like a bad idea to try to revive the franchise again, but there have been enough misguided attempts to suggest that someone will always be foolish enough to try.
The ensemble cast wasn’t enough to inject the sequel with any fresh ideas, andThe Pink Panther 2seems like a cautious rehash of its predecessor.
In his second outing as Inspector Clouseau, Steve Martin joins a “Dream Team” of international detectives to track down a high-profile thief known as “the Tornado”. The ensemble cast wasn’t enough to inject the sequel with any fresh ideas, andThe Pink Panther 2seems like a cautious rehash of its predecessor, treading familiar comedic territory and providing an unsatisfying mystery plot. There are a few laughs to be had, butit’s no tragedy that there was noPink Panther 3.
6The Pink Panther (2006)
The franchise’s big reboot cast Steve Martin as Clouseau
13 years after the dreadfulSon of the Pink Panther,the franchise received a surprising reboot with Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau. The reboot had a completely new team behind it, as director Blake Edwards had retired years ago. Shawn Levy, who is behind this summer’sDeadpool & Wolverine,took on the directorial duties. The story sees Clouseau trying to solve the murder of a French soccer coach, but he doesn’t know that Commissioner Dreyfus is merely using him as a distraction while he assembles a crack team of detectives to work in private.
Steve Martin’s version of Inspector Clouseau provides a few laughs, as all his characters do, but there are more misses than hits with the jokes.
The Pink Pantheris not one ofSteve Martin’s best movies, despite his best efforts. His version of Inspector Clouseau provides a few laughs, as all his characters do, but there are more misses than hits with the jokes.Martin may have been onto a winner with a better script, but there’s no way of knowing.The mystery plot, just like many of the gags, is entirely unremarkable. A greatPink Panthermovie requires both.
5Revenge Of The Pink Panther (1978)
Peter Sellers' final outing as Clouseau
Revenge of the Pink Pantherwas Peter Sellers' finalPink Panthermovie, not counting the archive footage inTrail of the Pink Pantherwhich was made after his death. Although it isn’t his very best outing as Inspector Clouseau, it’s far superior to anything else that the franchise has attempted to cook up without him.Revenge of the Pink Panthersees Clouseau busting a heroin ring after a drug kingpin tries to have him killed.
This could have and should have been the end of the series. Sellers and the script both seem a little less vibrant than they were in previous movies.
Time has not been kind toRevenge of the Pink Panther,andthere are one or two scenes which would be unacceptable by today’s standards. Looking beyond these ill-advised moments, the movie does provide some classic buffoonery from Inspector Clouseau. This could have and should have been the end of the series. Sellers and the script both seem a little less vibrant than they were in previous movies.
4The Return Of The Pink Panther (1975)
Peter Sellers made a triumphant return to the series in the aptly named sequel
After the dreadfulInspector Clouseau,Peter Sellers really had no choice but to return and revive his beloved character. With Blake Edwards returning too,The Return of the Pink Pantherpicks up where the duo left off, delivering a raucous comedy caper that gives Sellers ample opportunity to don ridiculous disguises and make a fool of himself. The plot may be a rehash of earlier movies, but that doesn’t matter too much.
With Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards back together,The Return of the Pink Pantherpicks up where the duo left off.
Inspector Clouseau is as joyously inept as everinThe Return of the Pink Panther,but other characters also benefit from Sellers' reintroduction. His absence and reappearance helped highlight his brilliant dynamic with Herbert Lom as Dreyfus. Bert Kwuok’s Cato is also more enjoyable when he’s punching Peter Sellers in the back of the head, rather than some other actor.
3The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
Dreyfus' finest hour shows that Clouseau isn’t the only star
Inspector Clouseau is the star of thePink Pantherseries for good reason, butThe Pink Panther Strikes Againgives Dreyfus his time to shine. After Clouseau’s infuriating antics send Dreyfus spiraling into a complete mental breakdown, he plots to have the Inspector assassinated by any means necessary. Dreyfus kidnaps a scientist to construct a nuclear doomsday weapon for him, and he threatens the United Nations to kill Clouseau.
There is still a fun mystery for Clouseau to stumble through, but with Dreyfus adopting the role of a deranged Bond villain, there are also elements of the espionage genre.
Dreyfus' threat sends dozens of international assassins after Clouseau, but his trademark ineptitude works in his favor, and he manages to escape every assassination attempt through pure luck.The Pink Panther Strikes Againis an unusual kind of film in the franchise.There is still a fun mystery for Clouseau to stumble through, but with Dreyfus adopting the role of a deranged Bond villain, there are also elements of the espionage genre.
2The Pink Panther (1963)
The film that started it all is still a classic over 60 years later
Although it’s sometimes easy to forget after the eleven subsequent movies,The Pink Pantherwasn’t originally a movie designed around Inspector Clouseau. David Niven plays Sir Charles Lytton, a gentlemanly jewel thief who commits daring heists for sport. Clouseau is just one part of the puzzle, butPeter Sellers steals the show, and it’s no surprise that the sequels focus more on him.
David Niven plays a charming and seductive jewel thief, so Sellers is the punchline, bringing him crashing down to the real world.
The Pink Pantheris one ofPeter Sellers' best movies, as he takes to the character of Inspector Clouseau with ease. His moments of riotous slapstick are the perfect counterweight to Niven’s evergreen charm. Niven plays a charming and seductive jewel thief, so Sellers is the punchline, bringing him crashing down to the real world. Although Sir Charles Lytton might enjoy the cat-and-mouse game of being pursued by a brilliant detective, he instead has to put up with an obnoxious dolt.
