Watch The Cheap Detective (1978): rent on Apple TV+ or Fandango At Home. Compare all streaming options for this movie on WhereCanIWatch.tv.
The Cheap Detective
Top Pick
Rent on Apple TV+
HD · Check price
About
Rent on Apple TV+ or buy on Apple TV+.
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.
Lou Pekinpaugh finds himself framed for murder by his own mistress, a betrayal that turns his hardboiled world into a ridiculous comedy of errors. This spoof dismantles every tired noir trope with sharp, self-aware wit and a heavy dose of absurdity.
Trailer
Director
Robert Moore
Cast
Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, Stockard Channing, James Coco, Dom DeLuise, Louise Fletcher, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn
You might also like
See all →
Best way to watch
4 options ranked by value · 🇺🇸 United States
Last verified 8 days ago
The Cheap Detective
Rent on Apple TV+ or buy on Apple TV+.
IMDb
6.4/10
RT Critics
53%
Director
Robert Moore
Cast
Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, Stockard Channing, James Coco, Dom DeLuise, Louise Fletcher, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn
4 options ranked by value · 🇺🇸 United States
Keep browsing: New Releases · Popular Movies · Comedy · Crime
spoof
Rent The Cheap Detective on Apple TV+. Rent The Cheap Detective on Fandango At Home. Buy The Cheap Detective on Apple TV+. Buy The Cheap Detective on Fandango At Home. The Cheap Detective is not currently available on Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney+, Prime Video. Availability last verified July 13, 2026.