The Cheap Detective

Name: The Cheap Detective
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Released: 1978-06-23
Duration: 1 h 32 min
Rating: 6.4
Cast: Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, Stockard Channing

1978·Movie·PG·92 min·★ 6.4(102)

Comedy Crime Mystery More English titles

“He knows every cheap trick, cheap joke, cheap shot and cheap dame in the book.”

A spoof of the entire 1940s detective genre. San Francisco private detective, Lou Pekinpaugh is accused of murdering his partner at the instigation of his mistress—his partner's wife.

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Where to watch The Cheap Detective in United States

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Click a service to open The Cheap Detective there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.

Where is The Cheap Detective streaming around the world?

Country	Streaming on	Rent / Buy
United States	Tubi TV	Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
India	—	Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
United Kingdom	—	Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
Canada	—	Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
Australia	—	Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
Spain	Filmin	—
Japan	—	Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies

About The Cheap Detective

The Cheap Detective is a 1978 English-language comedy, crime and mystery film directed by Robert Moore. The cast is led by Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan. It has a runtime of 1h 32m. Viewers rate it 6.4/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Tubi TV.

The Cheap Detective was produced by Columbia Pictures, EMI Films, and Rastar Productions and made in United States of America. It was released on June 23, 1978, and carries a PG certification.

Director: Robert Moore
Writers: Neil Simon
Release date: June 23, 1978
Original language: English
Age rating: PG
Status: Released
Country: United States of America
Production: Columbia Pictures, EMI Films, Rastar Productions

#spoof

The Cheap Detective cast & crew

The Cheap Detective was directed by Robert Moore and written by Neil Simon.

The cast features Peter Falk as Lou Peckinpaugh, Ann-Margret as Jezebel Dezire, Eileen Brennan as Betty DeBoop, Sid Caesar as Ezra Dezire, Stockard Channing as Bess, and James Coco as Marcel.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Patrick Williams, cinematography is by John A. Alonzo, and it was produced by Ray Stark.

Is The Cheap Detective worth watching?

The Cheap Detective holds an audience score of 6.4/10 from 102 ratings, a solidly received comedy films.

At 1h 32m, it's an easy, time-light watch.

If you enjoy comedy, crime, and mystery, The Cheap Detective is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch The Cheap Detective

In United States, you can stream The Cheap Detective on Tubi TV, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.

Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.