

The Laughing Policeman
“This movie is so real it makes every other movie in this town look like a movie.”
When a gunman opens fire on a crowded city bus in San Francisco, Detective Dave Evans is killed, along with the man he'd been following in relation to a murder. Evans' partner, Sgt. Jake Martin, becomes obsessed with solving the case.
Where to watch The Laughing Policeman in United States
Can I watch The Laughing Policeman in United States? The Laughing Policeman isn't currently available to stream in United States. Availability changes often — add it to your watchlist and check back.
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About The Laughing Policeman
The Laughing Policeman is a 1973 English-language crime, drama and thriller film directed by Stuart Rosenberg. The cast is led by Walter Matthau, Bruce Dern, Louis Gossett Jr.. It has a runtime of 1h 52m. Viewers rate it 6.2/10 across 100 ratings.
The Laughing Policeman was produced by 20th Century Fox and made in United States of America. It was released on December 20, 1973, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $2 million, it went on to gross $2 million worldwide.
- Director
- Stuart Rosenberg
- Writers
- Thomas Rickman, Stuart Rosenberg
- Release date
- December 20, 1973
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $2 million
- Box office
- $2 million
- Production
- 20th Century Fox
The Laughing Policeman cast & crew
The Laughing Policeman was directed by Stuart Rosenberg and written by Thomas Rickman and Stuart Rosenberg.
The cast features Walter Matthau as Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD, Bruce Dern as Insp. Leo Larsen SFPD, Louis Gossett Jr. as Insp. James Larrimore SFPD, Albert Paulsen as Henry Camerero, Anthony Zerbe as Lt. Nat Steiner SFPD, and Val Avery as Insp. John Pappas SFPD.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Charles Fox, cinematography is by David M. Walsh, and it was produced by Stuart Rosenberg.
Is The Laughing Policeman worth watching?
The Laughing Policeman holds an audience score of 6.2/10 from 79 ratings, a solidly received crime films.
At 1h 52m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy crime, drama, and thriller, The Laughing Policeman is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Laughing Policeman
The Laughing Policeman isn't currently available on major streaming services in United States. We track availability continuously — add it to your watchlist and we'll keep an eye out.
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.
Rate & review
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Cast of The Laughing Policeman

Walter Matthau
Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD

Bruce Dern
Insp. Leo Larsen SFPD

Louis Gossett Jr.
Insp. James Larrimore SFPD

Albert Paulsen
Henry Camerero

Anthony Zerbe
Lt. Nat Steiner SFPD

Val Avery
Insp. John Pappas SFPD

Cathy Lee Crosby
Kay Butler

Mario Gallo
Bobby Mow, Snitch

Joanna Cassidy
Monica, Beth's Roomate

Frances Lee McCain
Prostitute

Clifton James
Officer Jim Maloney SFPD Bomb Squad

Paul Koslo
Duane Haygood
The Laughing Policeman — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Laughing Policeman in United States?
The Laughing Policeman is not currently available on major streaming services in United States. Availability changes often — check back soon.
▸What language is The Laughing Policeman in?
The Laughing Policeman is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Laughing Policeman?
The Laughing Policeman runs 1 hours 52 minutes (112 minutes).
▸What is The Laughing Policeman rated?
The Laughing Policeman is rated R. It holds a 6.2/10 audience score from 79 ratings.











