There is only one truth!

While not as widely recognised or accessible as other anime and manga, Detective Conan (also known as Case Closed in some Western territories) is a cultural icon in Japan and other parts of Asia. It is the fourth best-selling manga of all time. Its anime adaptation has aired 1,167 episodes and spawned 28 film adaptations—all of which have performed remarkably well at the Japanese box office. Since 2018, a Detective Conan film has consistently ranked among Japan’s top five highest-grossing films. There’s even an exciting 4D ride at Universal Studios Japan. Detective Conan is undeniably a phenomenon in Asia.

The story follows 17-year-old Shinichi Kudo, who, while at a theme park with his childhood friend Ran Mouri, notices a suspicious deal involving the Black Organisation. Watching from afar, Shinichi fails to notice a figure sneaking up behind him and is knocked unconscious. To erase all evidence, the organisation uses a newly developed poison intended to kill him. However, instead of dying, Shinichi’s body shrinks. Now appearing to be around six or seven years old, he must hide his identity to protect those he loves, adopting the alias Conan Edogawa.

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During my visit to Japan this April/May, I decided to pop into a Book Off and was delighted to find many Detective Conan films on Blu-ray. I picked up a few, thinking they would make superb additions to my collection. This turned out to be a serious mistake—I now own all the films on Blu-ray, all the pamphlets sold in Japanese cinemas, and have become a mega fan of this little detective.

Thanks to my newfound obsession, I wanted to express my admiration for the films, hoping that Western fans who may have never considered watching them due to limited access might find a way to engage with this wonderful franchise.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to rank all 27 Detective Conan films from worst to best. While there is a 28th film currently showing in Japan, there is no legal way to watch it with English subtitles at present, so it will not be included.

27. Sunflowers of Inferno

Blending reality with fiction can be captivating. Sunflowers of Inferno suggests that Van Gogh’s second sunflower painting, Vase with Five Sunflowers, wasn’t destroyed in the 1945 Osaka bombing. It leads Jirokichi Suzuki to buy the picture and use his connections to establish an ambitious exhibition to showcase all seven sunflowers. However, his efforts are repeatedly thwarted by Kaito Kid, who inexplicably targets the paintings despite usually stealing jewels. While this narrative sounds engaging in theory, its execution results in a tiresome film, resorting once again to the overused trope of Kaito Kid disguised as Shinichi Kudo, which causes the supporting cast to fall for the same tricks he has used in three previous films. In addition to lacking a strong mystery, Sunflowers of Inferno is simply a poor film.

26. Magician of the Silver Sky

Featuring an incredible pre-credit sequence that utterly grips you, the rest of the film truly falters, leading to a disappointing experience. Kaito Kid has sent a calling card indicating his plan to steal the “jewel of destiny” from Juri Maki. Conan and his friends are invited to the actress’s stage performance, with Ginzo Nakamori present to stop Kaito Kid and, taking advice from Megure, he brings in Shinichi Kudo to assist. To Conan’s shock. Magician of the Silver Sky is the first film where Kaito Kid is disguised as Shinichi as a main plot point, and like Sunflowers of Inferno, it becomes insufferable. When the film shifts to the single location of the plane, it becomes more interesting and leads to a thrilling conclusion, but the events between the opening and the end are just mediocre.

25. The Lost Ship in the Sky

There seems to be a common trend among these weaker instalments, especially in the third film, which uses the trope of Kaito Kid disguised as Shinichi Kudo. The Lost Ship in the Sky perhaps offers the most egregious example of this, primarily because Ran, for most of the film, believes Shinichi—the embodiment of justice—could be a thief, until Kaito Kid tries to grab her butt, which Shinichi would never do. The mystery involving Kaito Kid attempting to steal a jewel called “Lady Sky” from an airship, which is then suddenly taken hostage by terrorists threatening to release a deadly bacteria, feels underwhelming. Many of the reveals are painfully obvious. Strangely, there is a lot of violence directed towards children, particularly when Conan is thrown from the airship.

24. The Darkest Nightmare

The first film on this list to feature the Black Organisation as the main antagonist, The Darkest Nightmare, focuses on spectacular action sequences rather than a compelling mystery, resulting in an enjoyable yet somewhat disappointing film. It opens with a thrilling chase scene enhanced by a gripping score, then follows Conan and his friends at the newly renovated Tohto Aquarium, which features a two-wheeled Ferris wheel. While there, he notices an injured woman suffering from amnesia and holding a broken phone. As he tries to help her recover her memories, it is gradually revealed that she is a member of the Black Organisation who has stolen a NOC list of undercover agents. Although the middle section is lacklustre, the film builds to a tense and exciting final action sequence that is over the top yet fun.

23. Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure

In what feels like an homage to Treasure Island and Goonies, Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure sees Conan and his friends heading to Koumi Island for a treasure hunt adventure. However, it is another Detective Conan film where the mystery lacks tension or a satisfying reveal, but this is offset by how well all the individual stories are interconnected. The film begins with Kogoro Mouri boasting to a hotel receptionist that he won a crossword puzzle (which Conan solved), and therefore decided to take Conan and others on a holiday to Koumi Island. While holidaying, Conan and his friends become embroiled in a mystery to find a lost treasure believed to be on the island, which turns deadly when a treasure hunter also seeking the treasure ends up dead.

22. Crossroad in the Ancient Capital

Crossroad in the Ancient Capital is the first Detective Conan film to utilise digital and 3D animation, replacing the earlier cel animation, and although the 3D looks dated, the animation is solid. It features a captivating mystery that cleverly incorporates Kyoto into the plot. However, while the mystery is engaging, I feel it doesn’t fully justify its runtime, and the final action scene isn’t as thrilling as in subsequent instalments. Conan travels to Kyoto to solve a series of murders and a robbery alongside Heiji, the Detective of the West. Meanwhile, Heiji is also trying to find his first love, whom he met in Kyoto as a child, using a gem she dropped to help locate her.

21. Full Score of Fear

With many of these lower-ranked Conan titles, the main flaw is that the mystery often lacks engagement or doesn’t hold your interest throughout, relying instead on action sequences to keep viewers hooked. For me, mystery is paramount, and while I enjoy some action-heavy films, those with a strong core mystery tend to be superior. Full Score of Fear suffers from a mystery that never truly develops and doesn’t give a satisfying payoff to justify the journey. Conan must solve a series of murders: all victims are musicians connected to a single performance. There are enough exciting moments to keep viewers engaged, and the final act is fun and thrilling, even if the reveal feels somewhat anticlimactic.

20. Strategy Above the Depths

Kogoro Mouri is a genuinely lovable goofball—part alcoholic, part terrible womaniser, and sometimes a detective. He usually provides comic relief and helps Conan solve cases without raising suspicion. But this isn’t the case in Strategy Above the Depths. Kogoro gets his moment to shine and prove he can be a detective. Setting entirely on a cruise ship, Conan and Kogoro must solve a double homicide that has occurred; however, as their investigation progresses, it’s revealed that a case from 15 years ago is deeply linked to current events. Featuring a well-crafted mystery that keeps you guessing from start to finish, the film is slightly marred by Ran’s exaggerated portrayal as a damsel in distress.

19. The Eleventh Striker

Conan’s connection with football has been a recurring theme since the very beginning. Early films showcased Conan kicking footballs to demonstrate the power of his enhanced kick shoes, but it wasn’t until the introduction of the Anywhere Ball Dispensing Belt that footballs were fully integrated into the action. It wasn’t until the sixteenth film The Eleventh Striker, however, that football became a significant part of the overall mystery. The way football is woven into the plot is fun and doesn’t feel gimmicky, even though the film was made in collaboration with J. League Division 1 to commemorate its twentieth anniversary. In this adventure, Conan must stop an act of revenge by helping defuse bombs hidden in football stadiums.

18. Black Iron Submarine

Black Iron Submarine suffers most from the fact that these films are non-canonical—that is, they cannot change the main storyline of the series. When a lot of the tension in these films relies on a dramatic reveal that could alter the entire series forever, it’s clear everything will be alright in the end. So, when your entire film revolves around software that could reveal Conan and Ai’s identities, there’s little real tension. Nonetheless, the film remains exciting, and its depiction of AI, government surveillance, and deepfakes effectively highlights the horrors of modern technology. The Black Organisation has kidnapped Ai Hibara and Interpol engineer Naomi Argento. Conan must rescue his friend and stop the Organisation from reaching their goals.

17. The Fist of the Blue Sapphire

The fifth and currently final film to feature Kaito Kid disguised as Shinichi Kudo boasts the best execution of this trope, even if scenes where Ran attempts to be romantic with Shinichi sometimes feel forced for comedic effect. What makes it work in The Fist of the Blue Sapphire is that both Conan and Kaito Kid need each other to solve a string of crimes. After being kidnapped by Kaito Kid, Conan wakes up trapped in a suitcase—and suddenly finds himself in Singapore. Kid needs Conan to solve Sherilyn Tan’s murder, as one of Kid’s calling cards was found at the scene, making him the prime suspect. Conan initially refuses but, since Kaito Kid is the only way for him to return to Japan, he has no choice but to team up with his main rival.

16. The Crimson Love Letter

The Detective Conan franchise has always been rooted in Japanese culture. Each film features Professor Agasa’s quiz for the children, often involving Japanese language tricks. These scenes tend to be moments of time-wasting, especially since I don’t understand Japanese. The Crimson Love Letter centres around the card game karuta, which I had no idea how to play. However, the film does an excellent job of providing a basic explanation, creating intense drama around a game many viewers may never have encountered. Coupled with an engaging mystery, it makes for a strong addition to the series. Conan, while at a TV station, gets caught up in a bombing that is also linked to the death of Toshiya Yajima, a karuta player scheduled to compete in an upcoming tournament.

15. Dimensional Sniper

While watching this film, I was amazed by how many locations were animated with great accuracy. It is set mainly in Asakusa, which was where I stayed during my time in Japan. So, seeing landmarks like the Tokyo Skytree, Azuma Bridge, and many others I had seen in person brought to life in an exciting Detective Conan film is just the cherry on top, to be honest. Dimensional Sniper has a fantastic mystery that starts strongly, but I feel the first half spends too much time on an obvious suspect who isn’t the real culprit. However, the second half picks up speed, culminating in an exhilarating final scene. While Conan attends the opening ceremony for the Bell Tree Tower, an assassination occurs via a sniper from a distance. Conan must identify the sniper as more people continue to be targeted.

14. The Last Wizard of the Century

The first film featuring Kaito Kid, The Last Wizard of the Century, opens with a truly magical presentation. Boasting stunning animation, it perfectly showcases why Kaito Kid is such a captivating character. Additionally, the opening theme and other soundtrack pieces, like Hashiru Limousine 1, are a delight to listen to. The film’s main flaw, I believe, lies in the mystery surrounding The Memory Eggs and the murders that happen midway, which feel like separate stories never fully converge into a single cohesive narrative, leading to an anti-climactic ending. In this film, Kaito Kid sends a calling card announcing his plan to steal a jewel called The Memory Eggs. Conan must protect the egg, but Kaito Kid is not the only one after it.

13. Captured in Her Eyes

This film suffers from the opposite flaw of the previous one. Captured in Her Eyes features a great setup with familiar characters being secretive and unwilling to share information about recent murders, with the story elements fitting together perfectly, leading to an incredible third act. However, the middle is somewhat sluggish, especially when Ran develops amnesia. While it highlights why Ran and Shinichi’s relationship is so special, it’s not fun to watch a beloved character become a shadow of herself. In this story, three police officers have been murdered, and when the fourth is seriously wounded, the only witness is Ran, who, after seeing the crime, suffers from amnesia.

12. The Raven Chaser

Members of the Black Organisation are named after various types of alcohol—Gin as the leader, with key members like Vodka and Vermouth. This instalment introduces a new member called Irish. Though the alcohol theme is a stretch, Irish proves to be a genuine threat in The Raven Chaser’s slow-burning story. The first half is quite methodical, but once the second half starts, the film accelerates, leading to a gripping mystery that highlights the true danger of the Black Organisation. Conan must solve a case where a series of murders across different regions are linked by a Mahjong tile left at each crime scene. As the investigation unfolds, it reveals connections to the Black Organisation.

11. Private Eye in the Distant Sea

Set entirely on a ship this time—a naval vessel—Private Eye in the Distant Sea features clever Chekhov’s guns, like a joke with a serious purpose later in the film. It also boasts a multi-layered mystery that keeps you guessing from start to finish, with effective use of characters on both sea and land to create a grand story that makes inventive use of its setting. Conan and friends are on a military vessel attending a public military exercise. Rumours suggest a foreign spy might be aboard, connected to a murder that occurs on the ship.

10. The Scarlet Bullet

Delayed by COVID-19, this instalment feels like a tribute to what 2020 could have been and offers commentary on that year. The mystery connects to the World Sports Game (a generic term for the Olympics) and how the world hoped to unite in Japan for these games. In reality, it never happened, but The Scarlet Bullet contains a fun mystery that critiques American policing and its flaws and features action moments that would make Michael Bay jealous. Conan works to solve the kidnappings of CEOs associated with the sponsors of the Games. As the film progresses, the FBI become involved, as the crimes resemble those committed 15 years earlier in the USA.

9. Quarter of Silence

These Detective Conan films love having bombs; there are many explosions in the entire franchise, but a Quarter of Silence might have the most over-the-top example of how bombs are utilised, but also has an enticing mystery that had me guessing from beginning to end, went in directions I never expected and then culminates on an action set piece that had me sitting on the edge of my seat with tension. A truly great instalment in this franchise. After Conan prevents a subway explosion from having deadly results, Conan believes that the mayor is being targeted by a resident of Kitanosawa as the mayor greatly affected the town due to a development of a damn that forced residents to move.

8. Zero the Enforcer

This action-oriented Conan film usually lacks a compelling mystery, but Zero the Enforcer strikes a wonderful balance between suspense and high-octane action. Rei Furuya, aka Toru Amuro, is a fascinating character as he is a triple agent: Kogoro’s apprentice, undercover in the Black Organisation, and working for the Public Security Bureau. The lines are blurred in Zero the Enforcer. When an explosion occurs at the Edge of Ocean Island, Kogoro is arrested as the main suspect. Believing in his innocence, Conan investigates, but Amuro continually interferes. Watching a trusted ally turn into a rival is always this kind of captivating and complex. captivating and allows Zero the Enforcer to make commentary on the Japanese justice system and how police exploit their powers for the “greater good”.

7. The Bride of Halloween

Compared to other titles this high on the list, the overall mystery of The Bride of Halloween is lacking; however, where it lacks in mystery, it makes up in character drama, embracing the Halloween setting and having a strong emotional score. Rei Furuya continues to be one of the most interesting characters in the entire franchise, and with this film, we dive more into his backstory, leading to a gripping film that might have one of the most emotional final set pieces in the entire franchise. The best action-focused Conan film in the entire franchise. In this instalment, Conan must solve the case of a bomber who has attached an explosive neck collar on Rei Furuya. Rei believes he was targeted as it is linked to an incident that occurred years ago, where he and his four friends encountered a similar bomb design.

6. The Private Eyes’ Requiem

From the outset, The Private Eyes’ Requiem is gripping and keeps you hooked from start to finish. It is also nice to see a film where, albeit briefly, we see Kogoro and Conan being forced to work together. Invited by a client to a theme park called Miracle and given VIP wristbands, Conan and his friends believe they are about to have an exciting day. However, when Conan and Kogoro are asked to stay behind by the client, it is revealed that the wristbands contain an explosive device. The wristbands are set to explode if the guest leaves the park. The only way to disable the devices is to solve a mystery for the client. This mystery is truly multi-layered, keeping you guessing until the final reveal and features Kaito Kid in a fun supporting role.

5. The Time Bombed Skyscraper

The first Detective Conan film is one of the best. Stripped back compared to later instalments and features wonderful animation. The Time Bombed Skyscraper follows Conan as he is caught up in a series of bomb attacks that were designed for Shinichi Kudo to solve by the culprit. While the attack locations start unconnected, Conan starts to realise that the locations where these attacks occur might be connected, and they also could be connected to a case Shinichi solved involving an ex-mayor. Enthralling from beginning to end, it all culminates in a final reveal that may be obvious but also feels earned and leads to a gripping and emotionally impactful third act that features one of the best frames of animation in the entire franchise.

4. Countdown to Heaven

A case of frightening happenstance, Countdown to Heaven was released in 2001 and featured a storyline involving a set of twin towers being destroyed. Aside from this coincidence, any film focusing on Ai Hibara will always be a positive addition. Especially how Ai, like Conan, has to deal with being shrunk back to a child’s size, but unlike Conan, she must also cope with the loneliness and isolation she feels after losing her sister. The film follows Conan as he investigates a series of murders sabotaging the opening of a pair of towers in Tokyo. During his investigation, Conan suspects that the Black Organisation may be connected to the murders. A truly exciting adventure, Countdown to Heaven is a fantastic film.

3. The Million-Dollar Pentagram

The latest instalment in the franchise is available in English, and the franchise continues to demonstrate that even after 27 films, Detective Conan remains popular and consistently produces excellent films. The Million-Dollar Pentagram was the first Conan film I watched and remains one of the best in the series, containing a fantastic mystery that blends history with fiction in fascinating ways and where appropriate, features gripping action that elevates the mystery rather than being separate. In this film, Kaitou Kid has sent a calling card, announcing his plan to steal two swords, but Conan and Heiji manage to foil the plan partially. The next day, a body bearing a cross-shaped slash is found. The deceased has links to an arms dealer, who is after a treasure tied to the swords. [read our review].

2. The Phantom of Baker Street

The Phantom of Baker Street might be seen as the best entry point for the entire franchise, as it requires the least prior knowledge of the franchise. Unlike other Conan films, it adopts a more Columbo-like approach, where we know who the killer is, and we observe how the characters work out the culprit and their method. This approach allows the film to centre around its core story element: if you die in the game, you die in real life. In this film, Conan and his friends are invited to the launch of a new virtual computer game; however, when one of the top programmers is murdered, Conan suspects that the mystery of his death is linked to the game, so he enters the game with many others. But an AI takes over and declares that if a level is not completed, everyone in the game will die.

1. The Fourteenth Target

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