1

Harry Calahan - "Dirty Harry"

Image: Nejc Soklič

We’ll begin with one of the hardest cops on this list (and that’s saying a lot). Clint Eastwood’s career is filled with awards and recognition for his remarkable acting and filmmaking skills. Still, we can all agree that he will always be remembered for his no-nonsense, tough-as-nails portrayal of Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan.

Although Eastwood has played Callahan in five different films, his first appearance in the 1971 film "Dirty Harry" is perhaps the most memorable. After all, we can all remember that calm yet intimidating demeanor and iconic catchphrase, "Do you feel lucky, punk?"

2

John McClane - "Die Hard"

Image: Matt The Artist

We are not going to get into the timeless debate of whether "Die Hard" is a Christmas film, mostly because, whether this film gets you in the holiday spirit or not, no one can deny that Detective John McClane is a grade-A, certified tough cop.

Perhaps Bruce Willis’ most memorable performance, McClane has found himself in his fair share of dangerous situations throughout five films. However, perhaps the first "Die Hard" movie showcases this detective’s incredible antics : Trapped inside the unbreachable Nakatomi Tower, McClane makes it his job to deal with a small army of robbers by himself.

3

Lennie Briscoe - "Law and Order"

Image: Tingey Injury Law Firm

With over a thousand episodes and more than ten different series, it’s fairly easy to forget a character or two from the iconic "Law and Order" franchise. However, no true fan of this fantastic series will ever be able to forget Detective Lennie Briscoe, wonderfully portrayed by Jerry Orbach.

Starting in season 3, Briscoe was a seasoned and relatable detective focused on solving crimes in New York City. While Orbach sadly passed away in 2004, his legacy will forever live on whenever Detective Lennie Briscoe solves a case.

4

Frank Columbo - "Columbo"

Image: Volodymyr Hryshchenko

Actor Peter Falk’s devotion to Lieutenant Frank Columbo drove him to portray this legendary detective for over 40 years. Few TV characters are as instantly recognizable as Columbo, whether through his beige raincoat, cigar, and iconic catchphrase, "Just one more thing".

Frank Columbo truly cemented himself as one of the quintessential TV cops , allowing countless other characters to be born. Should you ever find yourself in the Hungarian city of Budapest, look for a bronze statue of Columbo, alongside his faithful basset hound simply named "Dog".

5

Jim Malone - The Untouchables

Image: Jennie Clavel

Sean Connery’s portrayal of Irish-American veteran cop Jim Malone earned him a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . And, to be perfectly honest, Brian De Palma’s 1987 film "The Untouchables" would not be the same without Malone’s dry humor and detective skills.

Set in 1930s Chicago, "The Untouchables" describes the crusade embarked on by Prohibition agent Elliot Ness against legendary mobster Al Capone. The first addition to Ness’ team of "Untouchables", Malone contributes his expertise and strong moral compass to take down this crime kingpin.

6

Frank Bullit - "Bullitt"

Image: Jan-Philipp Thiele

There’s a reason why legendary actor Steve McQueen was known as "The King of Cool" : His charisma and unflinching determination truly earned him a place in film history. In that sense, his portrayal of San Francisco police detective Frank Bullitt helped build his legacy as one of Hollywood’s coolest actors.

In "Bullit", McQueen’s character pursues a group of mobsters guilty of killing a witness he was assigned to protect. And when we say "pursue", we say it in the most literal of meanings: This movie features one of the best chase scenes ever recorded, with Bullitt relentlessly driving his now-iconic green Ford Mustang.

7

Martin Riggs and Murtaugh - Lethal Weapon

Image: Will Porada

We know we might be cheating by including two characters in one entry, but we simply couldn’t separate this iconic crime-fighting duo . Mel Gibson and Danny Glover played this odd couple of detectives in four different films (with a fifth one in development), forever cementing themselves as the essential "buddy cop" two-man army.

Perhaps what’s more appealing about these characters is how opposite they seem to be : Riggs (portrayed by Gibson) is a young, reckless loose cannon, while Murtaugh is an older, more experienced detective. However different their methods might be, detectives Murtaugh and Riggs are truly a force to be reckoned with.

8

Sam Spade - "The Maltese Falcon"

Image: Michelle Ding

It’s no secret that Humphrey Boggart is considered royalty by the acting world. Among his many acting credits, private detective Sam Spade is credited with breathing new life into the detective genre. To this day, Boggart’s portrayal of Spade in "The Maltese Falcon" is considered the biggest influence on the archetypical private detective character.

Based on Dashiell Hammett’s novel of the same name, "The Maltese Falcon" features Spade’s misadventures with three untrustworthy adventurers seeking a valuable falcon statue . This detective’s dry wit and moral ambiguity are part of what makes Boggart’s performance so unforgettable.

9

Thomas Magnum - "Magnum, P.I."

Image: Philippe Bout

Up until now, we have focused on gritty detectives, characters with a slightly dark side and tormented by some aspects of their busy lives. So, why don’t we take a breather and focus on a lighter detective, a charming and witty investigator driving a red Ferrari around the sunny streets of Hawaii? Meet Thomas Magnum (full name Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV), Tom Selleck’s iconic character from "Magnum P.I."

Many consider "Magnum P.I." to be the ultimate 80s show and, while that title might go to the final entry of this article, there’s no denying that this adventurous detective has become an essential pop culture icon.

10

Sonny Crocket & Rico Tubbs - "Miami Vice"

Image: Ussama Azam

Speaking of the 80s, how could we reference this wonderful decade without talking about the most stylish detective duo in history? "Miami Vice" introduced the world to the crime-fighting adventures of James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, two undercover detectives hellbent on battling Miami’s seedy underbelly.

Legend has it that, during a brainstorming session, a producer simply wrote "MTV Cops" on a memo, without knowing that this piece of paper would be the jumping point of one of the most iconic shows in history. Don Johnson’s portrayal of Detective Crockett is particularly remembered for its impact on 80s culture.

1

25 times a year

Image: Johannes Plenio

Its tall, elegant steel structure is definitely captivating; no wonder thousands of photographers, painters, and filmmakers have chosen the Empire State Building as the backdrop for their work. However, that imposing height comes with something a little scary: it's estimated that the building is struck by lightning about 25 times a year! Fortunately, it was designed to handle these strikes, so it's completely safe.

2

Really fast

Image: Guilherme Cunha

There are buildings that took decades to complete. But this is not the case with the Empire State Building. In fact, this is one of the fastest skyscrapers ever built: It took only one year and 45 days to erect such an architectural masterpiece. That means it was built at a rate of an incredible 4.5 floors per week!

3

Unlikely survivor

Image: Melanie Dretvic

It was 1945 when the Empire State Building was accidentally struck by a B-25 Mitchell bomber due to the thick fog that covered NYC. A worker named Betty Lou Oliver was on the 80th floor when the plane crashed into the 79th. She was severely injured, but incredibly, she survived. Hours later, while being rescued in an elevator, the damaged cables gave way, and Betty fell 75 floors to the basement. She survived that too!

4

40 million dollars

Image: Pepi Stojanovski

A tremendous building like the Empire State couldn't be built on a shoestring budget. When it was constructed —in the midst of the Great Depression, no less— it cost about $41 million . That's a hefty sum, even today! Adjusted for inflation, that would be around $600 to $700 million in 2025. Wow!

5

Secret floor

Image: roemer overdiep

If you are afraid of heights, be prepared: the Empire State Building has two public observation decks, one on the 86th floor and another on the 102nd. But there's another one, and it's even higher! It's located on the 103rd floor, but it's not open to the public and is mostly used for VIPs or special occasions.

6

High security

Image: Pawel Czerwinski

Although an incredible 4 million people visit the building each year on average, getting in isn't easy. Many visitors say it feels like going through airport security, with X-ray machines and metal detectors everywhere. Visitors must also pass through a security checkpoint before reaching the observation decks, and the building is constantly monitored by cameras and security guards.

7

King Kong

Image: Simon Ray

We all remember the iconic scene of the imposing King Kong climbing the towering mast of the Empire State Building. And while that image lives on in our minds, there's one detail many people overlook: When the original King Kong movie premiered in 1933, the Empire State Building was less than two years old! Plus, at the time, the building still held the title of tallest in the world, making King Kong's climb even more epic.

8

Underground waterways

Image: Evgeniy Smersh

Beneath what is now NYC, there was a network of streams and rivers that flowed freely before Manhattan and other boroughs covered them. The land below the Empire State Building is no exception, and these old underground waterways still occasionally cause complications. For example, during heavy rains, water can rise and seep into the building's wind tunnels, sometimes flooding areas with up to two feet of water.

9

The original plans

Image: Jaunt and Joy

The Empire State Building was originally supposed to have a dirigible anchor! That's right; the mast at the top of the building was meant to serve as a mooring post for dirigibles, with a docking platform and a door for passengers to disembark. However, due to the extreme height, high winds, and overall potential danger, the idea was discarded. Today, the mast is used for antennas and other communications equipment.

10

Green building

Image: Chris Ladouceur

This iconic building that defines New York's skyline is considered a "green building." And no, it has nothing to do with the color of its walls; it's about something much more meaningful. The sustainability modifications that the Empire State has undergone over the years have made it one of the most energy-efficient buildings of its size, minimizing its environmental impact and earning it the title of "green building."