The essential episodes of Columbo
Watch these 25 in order and you've got Columbo — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Columbo's first mystery pits him against a cheating doctor out to get rid of his wife in favor of his young, pretty actress girlfriend.
- 02
When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, she becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.
- 03
A wealthy art collector is murdered, and all signs point to a robbery gone wrong. But the nephew's alibi is a little too convenient, and Columbo pulls a fast one to ferret out the killer.
- 04
A mousy heiress murders her brother, pretending she thought he was a burglar. Lt. Columbo unravels her alibi.
- 05
Elliot Markham, a brilliant architect and con-man, murders a Texas millionaire and hides his body in order to keep his visionary construction project financed.
- 06
The manager of a football team murders its callow owner, making it look as if the young man had had an accident in his swimming pool. Lt. Columbo is on the case.
- 07
In London, a respected Shakespearean acting duo cover up the unintended killing of their producer.
- 08
A faded movie actress commits murder. Lt. Columbo, one of her biggest fans, is on the case.
- 09
A chess player murders his opponent before a big match. Lt. Columbo must out-maneuver this crafty, but craven, killer.
- 10
The director of a government institute that employs various scientific geniuses commits a clever murder. But another kind of genius is on the case: Lt. Columbo.
- 11
The first secretary to the Suarian king may have immunity from the consequences of committing murder, but Lt. Columbo is wilier than any foreign diplomat.
- 12
A stage illusionist kills his employer and makes it look like a contract killing; it's up to Lt. Columbo to trick the master trickster.
- 13
The Bye-bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case
Sigma Society member Oliver Brandt murders his business partner when he threatens to expose him as an embezzler and constructs a seemingly foolproof alibi.
- 14
Food critic Paul Gerard, who has been extorting money from restaurant owners in exchange for good reviews, murders one when threatened with exposure.
- 15
Columbo investigates the apparent drowning of a famous painter's first wife.
- 16
When Dian Hunter, the publisher of the men's magazine "Bachelor's World", wants to sell her stock to a media tycoon, her adulterous partner Sean Brantley objects. Soon afterwards, Miss Hunter apparently disappears on a London-bound flight.
- 17
Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star
Columbo is pitted against an equally brilliant, nationally recognized criminal defence lawyer who murders his rock star girlfriend when he discovers she is seeing another man.
- 18
Columbo attends his nephew's wedding and as the couple get ready to leave on their honeymoon, the bride disappears; Columbo investigates and suspects his nephew may have made a few enemies on the police force.
- 19
Lauren Staton and Lisa Martin kill their two-timing lover Nick Franco. Lauren's the one who pulled the trigger and they've made it look like Franco was killed by a burglar in his apartment. They've prepared well with both having solid alibis. Lt. Columbo is in charge of the case and is very much attracted to the beautiful Lauren. She uses that to her advantage and is soon buying him gifts and giving him the odd kiss. Columbo is flattered but begins to see anomalies in some of the physical evidence. He becomes certain that Lauren is involved in Franco's death but ...
- 20
L.A. radio moderator Fielding Chase kills Gerry Winters, a member of his staff who tried to help Chase's daughter Victoria (also a staff member) to leave her father and become a novelist in New York. Chase presents a fine alibi: Winters was shot dead while speaking to him on the phone, even the shooting was recorded on his answering machine. Everything seems perfect, but will Lt. Columbo really believe this story?
- 21
When Graham McVeigh kills his brother and frames a mob bookie for the crime and then kills the bookie and claims self-defense. He finds himself facing trouble from both Columbo and the bookie's superior in the mob.
- 22
A beautiful woman and her forensic expert boyfriend try to frame her very rich husband for murder.
- 23
After a much maligned Hollywood gossip columnist is murdered by her former lover, Columbo tries to find a way to prove he was responsible for the crime.
- 24
A Hollywood film composer and conductor murdered a talented musician who has been ghostwriting most of his work in recent years.
- 25
Columbo gets a taste of the Los Angeles rave scene as he investigates the apparent suicide of a tabloid reporter.
Shows like Columbo
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
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- 02Drama·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of Castle2009–2016Same network — ABC·
- 03Drama·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of The Mentalist2008–2015·CBSPatrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of observation.
- 04Drama·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of Elementary2012–2019·CBSElementary is a modern-day take on the classic Sherlock Holmes story about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD's most impossible cases.
- 05Drama·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of Dexter2006–2013·Paramount+ with Showtime
He's smart, he's good looking, and he's got a great sense of humor. - 06Drama·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of Midsomer Murders1998–present·Acorn TVBased originally on the books by Caroline Graham, each self-contained episode of two hours is a classic whodunit revolving around Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby and his partner, and their efforts to solve the…
