Tom Selleck’s 9 Jesse Stone Movies, Ranked Worst To Best

While his most iconic work will always be appearing in and as Magnum P.I., Tom Selleck, in his 50 years in Hollywood, has also achieved two long-standing roles as law enforcement officials — the more iconic protagonist of Blue Bloods, which ended with season 14, and the titular character of the Jesse Stone film series, based on the novels written by Robert B. Parker and one of Selleck’s often forgotten roles. Spanning a decade, the series comprises nine made-for-TV films, following the police chief of Paradise, Massachusetts as he investigates major crime in the seemingly quiet and undisturbed town.

Fired from his job with the LAPD due to a drinking problem which began after Jesse’s divorce from his wife, he found a job in law enforcement in a quiet town near Boston. But all is not as it seems as Jesse gradually uncovers corruption and conspiracies to protect criminals and keep illegal activities hidden from the eye of the law. In many ways, Jesse Stone is an older Jack Reacher. After a hiatus of nearly a decade following the ninth film, Blue Bloods’ ending sparked hope for Selleck to return as Jesse Stone and carry on the saga.

9. Jesse Stone: Stone Cold (2005)

Chronologically Jesse Stone #2

The first of the films to be released, Jesse Stone: Stone Cold is a relatively rocky start to the series. Jesse is simultaneously investigating two cases: a triple homicide and the rape of a schoolgirl. The two mysteries seem disjointed and stay that way for the entire runtime. While it feels like two separate stories being told at once, because of Selleck’s low-effort charisma as a disgruntled and cynical man, Stone Cold manages to be engaging.

It is difficult to like Jesse because he’s a gritty cop who’s willing to bend the rules if it favors him and can be a sleazy drunk as well. This makes for a good character study, but Stone Cold sort of fails him because his superior detective skills are mostly alluded to. If his detective skills were on display and the killers hadn’t been revealed to the viewers from the get-go, Stone Cold wouldn’t have felt like a drag despite being less than 90 minutes long.

8. Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost (2011)

Chronologically Jesse Stone #7

The only film in the series to not be directed by Robert Harmon, Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost is the slowest of them all. And yet, it’s not lacking in plot points. Jesse is investigating two different murders, although he has been removed from his job as chief of police in Paradise, with a councilman’s son now occupying that position. Primarily, Innocents Lost suffers by not spending time with the detective side of Jesse Stone.

Most of the film deals with Jesse’s issues with his ex-wife, his drinking problem, and how his ego clashes with the new chief of police. The film stands out in the series as Dick Lowry’s direction gives it a different look and feel from all the other installments. The diversion in tone suits the story, however, while the lull in pace seems natural in the overarching plot of the series, Innocents Lost is a chapter that is necessary but not the most riveting.

7. Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)

Chronologically Jesse Stone #1

Although it was released a year after the first film, Jesse Stone: Night Passage is narratively a prequel to Jesse Stone: Stone Cold. Some of the flaws in Jesse’s characterization in Stone Cold actually feel less glaring if that film is watched after Night Passage. The context of why he’s come to Paradise plays out for most of the film, although there’s a relatively compelling crime story as well. It is also the only time the series breaks the linear progression of time, with the other Jesse Stone movies being in order.

Night Passage is predictable from the start, even though the villain’s identity isn’t immediately revealed. The protagonist and the film both run through a list of noir TV movie clichés, be it in dialogue or plot devices. There’s a sense of coziness to the Jesse Stone films, but they’re not intellectually stimulating. The selling point is Selleck’s performance as the troubled cop. Of course, for Night Passage, Viola Davis’ presence is a strong suit, and she has significantly more screen time than in the previous film.

6. Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007)

Chronologically Jesse Stone #4

Featuring Davis’ exit from the Jesse Stone series, Jesse Stone: Sea Change has an interesting crime plot that presents a moral dilemma for Jesse. His sleaziness hasn’t changed, but he does make a change in his life after his ex-wife tells him to stop contacting her. The formula fatigue of what crime is committed and by whom, and even of how the protagonist will eventually stop them, is circumvented by Sea Change because Jesse investigates a cold case that concludes very differently from all the mysteries he’s investigated before.

Selleck’s performance draws empathy for Jesse’s struggles, as he’s possibly the mopiest in Sea Change. His problems are believable because Selleck adds weight to the persona, matching the slow pace of the film with the pace of his movements. Despite Jesse being the least charismatic he’s been until then, and Davis’ screen time significantly cut down, Sea Change stays interesting by committing to the darkness in the titular character and the crime he’s investigating.

5. Jesse Stone: Death In Paradise (2006)

Chronologically Jesse Stone #3

Focusing primarily on the mystery in comparison to the previous two installments, Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise presents a sense of comfort in the form of familiarity with the characters. The pacing issues of spending too long with characters who don’t have a major effect on Jesse, or on Jesse just going around town doing nothing is somewhat solved in Death in Paradise.

While Selleck shines as always in the role of the dysfunctional detective who has been convinced by her ex-wife to finally seek help, Death in Paradise also features the most screen time for Davis in comparison to the other films, and it’s better off for that. Her characterization is paid attention to, and a fascinating and doting person crawls out of the shell of unexplored character writing from the previous installments.

4. Jesse Stone: Benefit Of The Doubt (2012)

Chronologically Jesse Stone #8

After the events of Innocents Lost, Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt is a return to the classic formula of Jesse Stone films when the current chief of police is killed and Jesse reinstated to that position. The film also sets up the return of some other prominent characters who had left after Jesse had been originally removed from his post, including his therapist.

With the help of his incredible skills and his therapist helping him make sense of the scramble of thoughts in his head, Jesse uncovers a drug ring that had been hiding and operating from under everyone’s noses this whole time. There’s some action towards the end of the film, but the slow pace hasn’t changed yet. Benefit of the Doubt crawls at a gradual pace towards the conclusion, spending time on Jesse’s emotional recovery as he finds structure in his life again.

3. Jesse Stone: Thin Ice (2009)

Chronologically Jesse Stone #5

Jesse Stone: Thin Ice sees an interesting deviation from the typical plot by actually focusing on Jesse’s shortcomings as a cop — he kills too many people. The open flouting of rules that make him an unlikable character finally catches up with him, but that doesn’t hinder him from investigating another criminal against direct orders. He also has a falling out with his ex-wife, possibly foreshadowing that he’s going to start moving on.

The side plot of Thin Ice, while not significant to the arcs of the recurring characters, is an interesting investigation with a dark ending and no kills. Even then, Jesse’s bedside manner with the procedure and his sexual escapades, some of questionable morality, make him very difficult to tolerate. If Selleck wasn’t such a superior actor, it’d be impossible to feel for his character.

2. Jesse Stone: No Remorse (2010)

Chronologically Jesse Stone #6

The most noteworthy part of Jesse Stone: No Remorse is that Jesse finally cuts off his ex-wife. He also takes therapy more seriously, decides to open up to a couple of people he considers friends and manages to cut back on his drinking. It is ironic but poetic that so many positive changes occur after he’s been kicked off the police force.

No Remorse is proof that the Jesse Stone films are generally stronger when they focus on the characters and their arcs instead of the mysteries, which are often mediocre or predictable. No Remorse is one of the best in the series because Jesse shows the most character development and because the film spends time with recurring side characters outside a police capacity, so they become more fleshed out as characters.

1. Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (2015)

Chronologically Jesse Stone #9

Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise is evidence that patience pays off as it is the latest and the best of the Jesse Stone films. Part of the charm is definitely from realizing this is Selleck’s passion project, because it’s his and the fans’ efforts that ensured Hallmark picked up the character and the series after CBS discontinued producing the films after Benefit of the Doubt.

With fewer recurring characters and Jesse operating in a new role away from Paradise where crime rates have finally come down, Lost in Paradise feels like fresh territory. The relief of realizing that while the formula is still there, it isn’t the only factor in the story, makes Lost in Paradise particularly entertaining. Jesse’s doing better than ever before, and he’s even got himself a new dog. Be it a conclusion to the series or a new lease on it, Lost in Paradise feels like a long-deserved break from convention without losing character for the Jesse Stone series.