The Detective Conan franchise has proven its lasting appeal not only through its manga and long-running anime series but also with 28 diverse feature films. These Conan movies deliver complex cases, romantic moments, and several installments that have left audiences shivering and haunted for years.
Let’s take a look at the top 6 Conan movies with the darkest, most chilling tones:
Movie 4: Captured in Her Eyes
Unlike the first three films, Captured in Her Eyes marked a turning point for Conan’s theatrical releases with a darker, heavier emotional tone. The story centers on a serial killer targeting police officers, but the most striking element is the cause behind Ran Mori’s sudden amnesia.
The tense atmosphere escalates when Ran becomes the killer’s target, and Conan races against time to protect her. Flashbacks of death and Conan’s helplessness create a haunting, unforgettable mood that still resonates deeply with fans today.
Movie 6: The Phantom of Baker Street
Many fans consider The Phantom of Baker Street the best Conan movie. Released in the 2000s, it was ahead of its time with a story exploring the dark side of technology, specifically advanced virtual reality. Conan and the Detective Boys enter a virtual contest unaware it’s a deadly fight for survival.
Set in a simulated Sherlock Holmes-era London, the plot reveals a sinister scheme manipulating the minds and lives of dozens of children. The horror comes from kids trapped in a virtual world where death is very real. Battles against terrifying figures like Jack the Ripper create a suffocating, frightening atmosphere unlike any typical children’s game. The film highlights the critical importance of controlling technology, a chilling message still relevant today.
Movie 9: Strategy Above the Depths
Strategy Above the Depths, the ninth Conan film, takes viewers aboard a luxury cruise ship where a murder with chilling twists unfolds. At release, it was praised as one of the hardest films to guess the culprit, with motives deeply tied to past tragedies. Later, the ship is bombed and destroyed, and Ran falls unconscious and goes missing as a deadly countdown ticks away.
This film is one of the rare moments fans see Conan nearly lose his composure in panic. Ran’s disappearance sends him and Kogoro Mori into a frantic search, keeping audiences on edge. The dark soundtrack and shots emphasizing the characters’ isolation amplify the uneasy feeling throughout this “adrift at sea” story.
Movie 20: The Darkest Nightmare
Updating the Black Organization storyline, The Darkest Nightmare delivers a full mix of action, suspense, emotion, and haunting moments. The standout character is Kir, a mysterious Black Organization member who loses her memory and forms a close bond with the Detective Boys.
The film’s most chilling moment is Kir’s sudden death after a deeply developed story arc that touched fans’ hearts. She sacrifices herself to save Conan and friends, buried beneath a collapsed Ferris wheel, leaving audiences devastated for a long time. Even now, many fans hold onto hope she might still be alive.
Movie 26: Black Iron Submarine
From the after-credits scene of Movie 25, fans could sense Black Iron Submarine would be intense and eerie. It features Gin closing in on Haibara more than ever since she was shrunk. The 26th film plunges into the deep ocean, where advanced surveillance technology is being developed.
The chilling atmosphere comes from the cold, deep-sea setting and Haibara’s kidnapping by the Black Organization, nearly falling into Gin’s hands if not for Conan’s rescue. The underwater action scenes are breathtaking, showing the Black Organization’s increasing ruthlessness. The new member Pinga’s actions add unexpected twists, making fans fear losing a key character forever.
Movie 28: One-Eyed Flashback
Returning with the 28th film, Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback continues to prove the franchise’s appeal, breaking anime box office records in Vietnam this summer.
Set against the majestic snowy mountains of Nagano, the film revolves around a case linked to the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, threatened by terrorism. Conan and Kogoro Mori join forces with a trio to unravel mysteries tied to a past avalanche and the suspicious death of a teammate, crafting a story that is both thrilling and emotionally rich. Interestingly, the usually sleepy detective Kogoro Mori gets to show a serious, responsible, and talented side.
One-Eyed Flashback is now showing in theaters nationwide.