The Thin Man was the first of six comic detective films starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, a hard-drinking and flirtatious married couple who banter wittily as they solve crimes with ease. Their dog, the Wire-Haired Fox Terrier Asta, played by Skippy, was also a popular character. Somehow, after drinking a lot of alcohol, Nick never seems to get a headache or even seem seriously drunk, aside from a little wobble every now and then.

Completed in 1934 and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, the film was directed by W.S. Van Dyke from a script by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich; the screenplay was based on the novel The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett, supposedly based on his relationship with playwright Lillian Hellman. Also appearing in the film were Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell, Cesar Romero, Porter Hall, Henry Wadsworth, William Henry, Harold Huber and Natalie Moorhead.

The "Thin Man" of the title was actually the lead suspect, but the name was thought by virtually everyone to refer to Nick Charles, and it was used in the titles of the sequels, although no one ever called him that.

In 1997, the film was added to the United States National Film Registry after being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

The Thin Man was a half-hour weekly television series based on the mystery novel The Thin Man (1933) by Dashiell Hammett.

The 72 episodes were produced by MGM Television and shown on NBC for two seasons from 1957–1959 on Friday night. The series starred Peter Lawford (who was prominent because he was the brother-in-law of then Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy) and Phyllis Kirk as Nick and Nora Charles. Jack Albertson, Patricia Donahue, and Nita Talbot had recurring roles during the show's second season. Mr. Albertson played Lieutenant Harry Evans of the NYPD. Ms. Donahue played Hazel, Nick and Nora's neighbor. Ms. Talbot played Beatrice Dane, alias Blondie Collins, a criminal who dragged Nick and Nora into her schemes.

After a four year absence, one time detective Nick Charles returns to New York with his new wife Nora and their dog, Asta. Nick re-connects with many of his old cronies, several of whom are eccentric characters, to say the least. He's also approached by Dorothy Wynant whose inventor father Clyde Wynant is suspected of murdering her step-mother. Her father had left on a planned trip some months before and she has had no contact with him. Nick isn't all that keen on resuming his former profession but egged-on by wife Nora, who thinks this all very exciting, he agrees to help out. He solves the case, announcing the identity of the killer at a dinner party for all of the suspects. Written by garykmcd

Young Dorothy Wynant approaches amateur sleuth Nick Charles when her inventor father appears to be a major suspect in a murder case. In fact, Dorothy is so worried about her father's guilt that she tries to convince Nick that she did it. Nick's wife Nora wants him on the case so that she can experience some of the excitement herself. However, Nick is reluctant to get involved until he sees that police Lt. Guild is coming to the wrong conclusions. Nick decides that the best way to clear up the case is to invite all the suspects to dinner with Lt. Guild and see what happens... Written by Gary Jackson

In New York, Dorothy Wynant visits her father, the inventor Clyde Wynant, with her fiancé to tell him that she is going to get married. Before traveling, her father opens the safe in his company to get some stock certificates to give as a wedding gift and realizes that his mistress Julia Wolf has stolen them. When Clyde vanishes and Julia is killed, his daughter approaches the former detective Nick Charles to investigate the mysterious disappearance. His wealthy wife Nora Charles convinces the reluctant Nick to work on the case, since it would be exciting for their boring life. When two other men are killed and Clyde is accused of murder, Nick invites all the suspects to have dinner with Nora and him and resolves the case, disclosing the real criminal. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Nick Charles, an ex-private detective, marries Nora and lives in a luxurious Park Avenue apartment in New York City. Nick's former underworld friends still hang around and get him involved in a number of crimes that he solves. Beatrice Dane is a beautiful con artist using the alias "Blondie Collins" and Nora finds it difficult to be hospitable to her. Written by J.E. McKillop