Clive Owen’s Monsieur Spade Is the Last Great Detective Show of Its Kind

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Detective shows have been incredibly popular on TV this century, spanning everything from funny series like Monk and Psych to gritty dramas like True Detective and Monsieur Spade. Recently, studios have been heavily investing in well-known stories and characters, bringing back many old favorites in fresh ways. In 2024, Clive Owen starred in one of the most successful revivals in a long time, and Amazon has now made the show a must-watch.

Amazon’s Prime Video recently introduced viewers to Spider-Noir, and it feels like the perfect time for a revival of the noir genre – something we haven’t seen since the 1990s. Noir, born from the classic crime films of Hollywood’s golden era, consistently delivers a compelling experience. Recently, Clive Owen took on the role of a quintessential tough detective in a sequel that’s a standout in its category.

Clive Owen Resurrected a Golden Age Detective

Clive Owen delighted viewers of crime dramas in 2024 by starring in AMC’s Monsieur Spade. Decades earlier, in 1929, Dashiell Hammett penned The Maltese Falcon, which would become his most famous novel.

The story, famously adapted into the 1941 film starring Humphrey Bogart, follows detective Sam Spade as he investigates the murder of his partner, Miles Archer, and searches for a valuable statuette. He quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous scheme involving multiple groups, all desperate to obtain the statue – and willing to kill to get it – and is further complicated by a deceptive woman named Brigid O’Shaughnessy.

In Monsieur Spade, private investigator Sam Spade travels to the south of France with Teresa, the daughter of a woman who died in a train accident. He’s supposed to simply deliver Teresa to her father, but things get complicated when the father is missing. Along the way, Sam meets and falls for a rich French woman named Gabrielle.

Eight years pass, and we find Spade retired and mourning the loss of his wife, while Teresa is being cared for by nuns at a local convent. Sam, the only American in town, has both allies and rivals. However, trouble begins when he discovers all six nuns at the convent have been murdered.

I’m really getting pulled into Sam’s story! It jumps back and forth between his early days arriving in town and what’s happening with him now in 1963. It’s a bit disorienting, but it’s working. On top of everything, he’s also dealing with some really tough stuff – like Teresa’s dad coming home from the Algerian war, and all the complications that brings. It’s a lot for him to handle!

The more he investigates, the more hidden secrets are revealed about the town, a place still haunted by the memories of World War II and the social upheaval of the 1960s. What really stands out is the series’ clever use of the supernatural, blending local myths and beliefs as Spade tries to unravel the truth.

Monsieur Spade is a Rare Type of Sequel

Many classic TV shows and movies from the past, like Ghostbusters and Matlock, have been brought back in recent years. But almost all of these revivals have been heavily updated to try and appeal to today’s viewers. They often feature changes like switching character genders or adding current social and political themes, meaning the new versions often have very little in common with the originals beyond the title and a general idea of what the show was about.

Many reboots or sequels these days feel like quick attempts to make money off well-known brands, often disregarding established storylines. They tend to focus so much on modernizing things that they lose what made the original appealing, leaving both longtime fans and new viewers disappointed. However, Monsieur Spade avoids this pitfall, prioritizing substance above all else.

The show skillfully portrays the social and political climate of 1960s France, highlighting aspects that might seem strange or unfamiliar to viewers today. This approach is key to its success, as it features Sam Spade – an American character strongly reminiscent of 1940s detective fiction – existing as an oddity in the European countryside.

The show successfully continues the original story without feeling like a remake, thanks to its music, deliberate pace, and increasingly complex secrets. Everything fits seamlessly with what happened to Sam Spade after the events of ’41. Clive Owen’s performance as Spade is particularly noteworthy – he strikingly resembles Humphrey Bogart, from his facial features and hairstyle to his overall mannerisms. Viewers who haven’t seen The Maltese Falcon recently might even believe they’re watching the original actor, aside from the difference in accents.

Owen Wilson experienced the gritty world of neo-noir with his role in Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City. But Monsieur Spade offered him a different kind of part – a more nuanced character role than the action hero he played in 2005. The series itself unfolds slowly, building tension before reaching a climax. It’s not for viewers who prefer quick, straightforward crime shows, but those who enjoy classic, atmospheric crime stories will likely be captivated.

Monsieur Spade clearly draws inspiration from classic thrillers like Hitchcock’s Vertigo and North by Northwest, as well as films such as Casablanca and early James Bond adventures. This is particularly interesting given that Clive Owen was once considered for the role of James Bond, and he absolutely embodies that same cool, sophisticated persona in this film. It’s difficult to picture anyone else playing Sam Spade more convincingly.

Right from the start, the series demonstrates a strong understanding of classic detective fiction, pairing beautiful visuals with a compelling story. Anyone who’s enjoyed films like The Maltese Falcon and wondered how they’d look with today’s filmmaking techniques will find their answer here. It’s likely to make viewers question why Hollywood doesn’t adapt more novels by authors like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.

Why Amazon Just Made Monsieur Spade Mandatory Viewing

In February 2026, Amazon’s Prime Video and MGM+ released the first preview of the highly anticipated live-action series. The character, popular from the animated Spider-Verse films, is being brought to life by creator Oren Uziel in a crime drama inspired by classic detective stories.

Nicolas Cage recently told Variety that Humphrey Bogart heavily inspired his portrayal of Ben Reilly, a quirky detective from the 1930s. He specifically mentioned The Maltese Falcon—along with The Big Sleep—as the quintessential Bogart crime film and a key starting point for the American Noir genre.

Ben Reilly will likely be a very dramatic, classic detective, but Clive Owen seems to be playing a more realistic and relatable character. He’s just a regular guy who always seems to get caught up in trouble, much like any compelling private investigator. This impression comes from the trailer and related rumors.

These stories center around heroes who must rely on themselves, and the real thrill comes from seeing a web of lies fall apart, often revealed by the most surprising people. If done well, this could be one of the best Noir stories for mystery fans in decades.

I really appreciated how seriously Monsieur Spade took its noir roots, but honestly, I think director Uzi could really knock it out of the park by leaning into the genre’s silliness a bit more. Remember Sin City? That movie was fantastic because it didn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s one of the best crime films of the last twenty years. Plus, few actors can nail that balance between gritty realism and over-the-top absurdity like Nicolas Cage – he’s perfect for this kind of role.

Crime Audiences Need More Hardboiled Detective Shows

Hollywood has a hard time getting the classic hardboiled detective story right. Since the release of L.A. Confidential in 1997, very few films have successfully captured the spirit of iconic movies like Chinatown and The Maltese Falcon, with Monsieur Spade being a rare exception.

In the 21st century, thrillers moved towards a more modern style, largely ignoring stories set before the 1970s. Many of these new thrillers include a lot of humor, like those directed by Shane Black, such as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys. The series starring Clive Owen is notable for treating its genre and original stories with respect.

Classic film noir is making a comeback in recent years, particularly on television, with shows like Sugar and Monsieur Spade. With a new noir series, Spider-Noir, coming to Amazon, there’s no better way to get ready than by watching Clive Owen star in a compelling sequel to The Maltese Falcon.

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2026-02-28 00:08