2) A Shot In The Dark (1964)
Everyone knows the infectious theme music of The Pink Panther franchise, but long before the animated shorts and forgettable 2006 reboot, director Blake Edwards brought the world Peter Sellers in perhaps his most famous role, Inspector Jacques Clouseau.
The original 1963 Pink Panther film marked Sellers first of five appearances as the iconic bumbling detective (including the archive footage used in 1982 release Trail of the Pink Panther), but A Shot In The Dark still stands as the film that crystallized Clouseau’s distinct personality.
While The Pink Panther centers mostly on the thief played by David Niven, this follow-up shifts perspective to allow Sellers to become the centerpiece of the franchise. Given Sellers’ legendary comic timing, Edwards’ decision to make his star the main attraction of this film and its sequels proved to be a wise move.
A Shot In The Dark even outgrossed its predecessor and still stands as one of the most beloved entries in the franchise to date. Moreover, it’s hard to imagine The Pink Panther series wouldn’t be nearly as iconic if not for the creative foundation created by this film.
