Sam Spade (Maltese Falcon)
Sam Spade helped create the blueprint for the movie detective.
Sharp-tongued, cynical, and impossible to intimidate, Spade navigates criminals and con artists with wit, nerve, and a willingness to outplay everyone in the room.
The world of The Maltese Falcon is full of lies, betrayals, and shifting alliances — and Spade survives it all.
The debate among noir fans is simple:
Did Sam Spade define the genre… or did Philip Marlowe perfect it?
Sam Spade (Maltese Falcon)'s Rankings
Movie Detectives
Rank: #5 (see rankings)
Win Rate: 49.6%
Streak: ❄️ 4-match losing streak
Best matchups (highest win rate)
- Sam Spade (Maltese Falcon) vs Philip Marlowe (The Big Sleep) - Wins 81.8% of battles
- Sam Spade (Maltese Falcon) vs William Somerset (Se7en) - Wins 68.2% of battles
- Sam Spade (Maltese Falcon) vs Jake Gittes (Chinatown) - Wins 66.7% of battles
Worst matchups (lowest win rate)
- Sam Spade (Maltese Falcon) vs Sherlock Holmes - Loses 93.5% of battles
- Sam Spade (Maltese Falcon) vs Hercule Poirot (Murder on the Orient Express) - Loses 76.5% of battles
- Sam Spade (Maltese Falcon) vs Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop) - Loses 61.1% of battles