How to watch

The Pink Panther Movie Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch The Pink Panther movies in order

Last updated: July 20 2026

Written by: ChronoAlice

The Pink Panther is one of cinema's most beloved comedy franchises, built around the bumbling French detective Inspector Clouseau and the legendary diamond known as the Pink Panther. Spanning six decades of films, it remains the gold standard of slapstick comedy.

Created by Blake Edwards and starring Peter Sellers in what became a career-defining role, The Pink Panther launched in 1963 and produced some of the most celebrated comedy films ever made. Sellers' Inspector Clouseau — a catastrophically incompetent but supremely self-confident French detective — became one of cinema's most iconic comic creations. After Sellers' death in 1980, the franchise continued with replacements, and in 2006 Steve Martin took on the role in a modern reboot.

🕐 Release Order

The Pink Panther spans multiple eras. The classic Peter Sellers films are the heart of the franchise, followed by successor films and a modern reboot series.

  1. The Pink Panther (1963)
  2. A Shot in the Dark (1964)
  3. Inspector Clouseau (1968, without Sellers)
  4. The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
  5. The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
  6. Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
  7. Trail of the Pink Panther (1982, using archival Sellers footage)
  8. Curse of the Pink Panther (1983)
  9. Son of the Pink Panther (1993)
  10. The Pink Panther (2006, Steve Martin)
  11. The Pink Panther 2 (2009, Steve Martin)

The 1968 film Inspector Clouseau features a different actor (Alan Arkin) and is widely considered non-canonical to the main Sellers series. The 2006 and 2009 films form a separate modern continuity.

📖 Story Chronology

The franchise splits into distinct eras. For the essential Peter Sellers experience, focus on the six films he actually appeared in.

  1. Classic Sellers Era: The Pink Panther (1963) → A Shot in the Dark (1964) → The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) → The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) → Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
  2. Post-Sellers Films: Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) → Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) → Son of the Pink Panther (1993)
  3. Modern Reboot: The Pink Panther (2006) → The Pink Panther 2 (2009)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Start with The Pink Panther (1963) and A Shot in the Dark (1964) — these two films are the pinnacle of the franchise and among the funniest movies ever made. Then continue with the 1975–1978 Sellers trilogy if you want more. The post-Sellers films (1982–1993) are interesting curiosities but diminishing returns. The Steve Martin films are enjoyable on their own terms as modern slapstick comedies, though they pale next to the Sellers originals. For a perfect Pink Panther weekend, just watch the first two — you'll be quoting them for years.

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