List of Every Original Columbo Episode Ranked (1971-1978)
This is a ranked list of every episode of the original Columbo television series that aired from 1971-1978. The rankings take into account the overall IMDb ratings as well as IMDb's Top 1000 voters' ratings.
**Both pilots are included in the list as well.**
**Both pilots are included in the list as well.**
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45 titles
- DirectorLeo PennStarsPeter FalkDonald PleasenceJoyce JillsonA wine connisseur kills his half- brother to prevent him selling the family winery to a merchant company so he can pay off his gambling debts.(746) 8.175 143 8.167
- DirectorJames FrawleyStarsPeter FalkRuth GordonMariette HartleyA mystery writer suspects her niece's husband of murdering her, and she exacts revenge by asphyxiating him in her house safe.(686) 8.075 138 8.083
- DirectorHarvey HartStarsPeter FalkJack CassidyBob DishyA stage illusionist kills his employer and makes it look like a contract killing; it's up to Lt. Columbo to trick the master trickster.(638) 8.050 140 8.017
- DirectorHy AverbackStarsPeter FalkLeonard NimoyAnne FrancisA surgeon has an ingenious plan for murdering his partner in a research project, but a nurse catches onto the scheme.(712) 7.850 149 7.867
- DirectorNicholas ColasantoStarsPeter FalkJohnny CashIda LupinoA gospel singer wants to be rid of his zealous wife. But a murder made to look like an airplane accident does not fool the wily Lt. Columbo.(733) 7.950 145 7.950
- DirectorBen GazzaraStarsPeter FalkRichard KileyRosemary MurphyA police commissioner provides a false alibi for a wife killer, but then expects an alibi in return.(637) 8.075 134 8.083
- DirectorRichard QuineStarsPeter FalkRobert CulpRobert MiddletonA self-styled "motivation research specialist" uses subliminal cues to commit a murder. Lt. Columbo is on the case.(561) 7.750 145 7.767
- DirectorJames FrawleyStarsPeter FalkNicol WilliamsonKim CattrallA behavioral psychologist whose wife died under suspicious circumstances trains his dogs to kill on command using a telephone.(528) 7.775 136 7.783
- DirectorHarvey HartStarsPeter FalkPatrick McGoohanBurr DeBenningThe commandant of a military academy murders the chairman of the board, who wants to oust him. Lt. Columbo takes up residence in the barracks to expose the killer.(681) 7.750 143 7.750
- DirectorHarvey HartStarsPeter FalkJanet LeighMaurice EvansA faded dance star of film and stage murders her husband and makes it look like a suicide; Lt. Columbo doubts her seemingly perfect alibi.(674) 7.925 135 7.883
- DirectorAlf KjellinStarsPeter FalkDick Van DykeDon GordonA photographer murders his wife and blames her death on a bungled kidnapping. But Lt. Columbo has an even sharper eye than the Pulitzer Prize winner.(656) 7.850 143 7.867
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsPeter FalkJack CassidyRosemary ForsythWhen one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, he becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.(1026) 7.625 182 7.600
- DirectorHy AverbackStarsPeter FalkRoss MartinDon AmecheA 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.(717) 7.650 158 7.667
- DirectorRobert ButlerStarsPeter FalkMartin LandauJeanette NolanA smarmy TV chef and his identical twin brother, a rigidly proper banker, are suspects in the electrocution of their rich uncle.(567) 7.650 145 7.633
- DirectorBen GazzaraStarsPeter FalkRobert VaughnJane GreerLt. Columbo takes a trip to Acapulco, but finds himself on a new case when a used car dealer commits murder on the cruise ship.(606) 7.725 131 7.717
- DirectorBoris SagalStarsPeter FalkJackie CooperJoanne LinvilleSenatorial candidate Nelson Hayward murders his domineering campaign manager, staging it to appear that Hayward himself was the intended victim of a mob hit gone wrong.(574) 7.625 142 7.600
- DirectorBernard L. KowalskiStarsPeter FalkRobert CulpPat CrowleyColumbo matches his skills against Brimmer, a former cop turned private investigator with a quick temper who tries to blackmail a client's wife. When she refuses, he accidentally kills her and it's up to Columbo to nail him.(740) 7.750 163 7.717
- DirectorRichard IrvingStarsPeter FalkGene BarryKatherine JusticeA psychiatrist uses a patient he is having an affair with to help him kill his wife, but his perfect alibi may come apart at the hands of a seemingly befuddled LAPD lieutenant.(1146) 7.775 162 7.783
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsPeter FalkLouis JourdanShera DaneseFood critic Paul Gerard, who has been extorting money from restaurant owners in exchange for good reviews, murders one when threatened with exposure.(511) 7.575 137 7.600
- DirectorPeter FalkStarsPeter FalkPatrick O'NealJanis PaigeElliot Markham, a brilliant architect and con-man, murders a Texas millionaire and hides his body in order to keep his visionary construction project financed.(613) 7.575 150 7.567
- DirectorRobert ButlerStarsPeter FalkJack CassidyMickey SpillaneA publisher hires a bomb enthusiast to murder a bestselling author of detective novels. Lt. Columbo is on the case.(550) 7.525 137 7.533
- DirectorNicholas ColasantoJohn CassavetesPeter FalkStarsPeter FalkJohn CassavetesJames OlsonA ruthless conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair. Lt. Columbo is on the case.(748) 7.650 149 7.633
- DirectorJames FrawleyStarsPeter FalkTrish Van DevereLaurence LuckinbillAn Emmy-winning TV executive kills her lover who's also her boss; Lt. Columbo is on the case.(542) 7.475 136 7.450
- DirectorBernard L. KowalskiStarsPeter FalkRobert ConradGretchen CorbettA health club owner murders one of his franchisees. Lt. Columbo is on the case.(620) 7.575 136 7.567
- DirectorJeremy KaganStarsPeter FalkRobert CulpDean JaggerThe 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.(584) 7.425 135 7.417
- DirectorPatrick McGoohanStarsPeter FalkPatrick McGoohanOtis YoungA top CIA operative commits murder, as only a brilliant agent can, never guessing he'll have to contend with a man like Lt. Columbo.(560) 7.450 131 7.450
- DirectorBernard L. KowalskiStarsPeter FalkOskar WernerGena RowlandsA gadget-happy inventor murders his mother-in-law; Lt. Columbo is on the case.(553) 7.600 138 7.567
- DirectorRichard IrvingStarsPeter FalkLee GrantJohn FinkAfter killing her boring husband and disposing of the body, a supposedly brilliant tort attorney fakes his kidnapping and keeps the ransom money. The FBI may be fooled, but not Columbo.(788) 7.575 156 7.567
- 1971–20031h 10mTV-PG7.6 (2.5K)TV EpisodeDirectorSam WanamakerStarsPeter FalkTheodore BikelKenneth MarsSigma Society member Oliver Brandt murders his business partner when he threatens to expose him as an embezzler and constructs a seemingly foolproof alibi.(540) 7.575 131 7.567
- DirectorBernard L. KowalskiStarsPeter FalkWilliam ShatnerBert RemsenAn egotistical but successful star of a TV detective show murders his blackmailing producer and makes it look like a robbery.(518) 7.375 (140) 7.367
- DirectorEdward M. AbromsStarsPeter FalkLaurence HarveyLloyd BochnerA chess player murders his opponent before a big match. Lt. Columbo must out-maneuver this crafty, but craven, killer.(538) 7.350 143 7.333
- DirectorBoris SagalStarsPeter FalkRay MillandBob DishyColumbo arrives at a kidnapping case, which at some point turns to worse. Everything seems to be related to a trust fund managed by a man with a great love for orchids.(585) 7.250 146 7.250
- DirectorLeo PennStarsPeter FalkClive RevillJeanette NolanAn IRA terrorist executes an arms dealer he considers traitorous; Lt. Columbo is on the case.(497) 7.350 125 7.300
- DirectorRichard QuineStarsPeter FalkAnne BaxterFrank ConverseA faded movie actress commits murder. Lt. Columbo, one of her biggest fans, is on the case.(596) 7.275 141 7.267
- DirectorNorman LloydStarsPeter FalkSusan ClarkJessie Royce LandisA mousy heiress murders her brother, pretending she thought he was a burglar. Lt. Columbo unravels her alibi.(642) 7.175 154 7.167
- DirectorHarvey HartStarsPeter FalkGeorge HamiltonLesley Ann WarrenA psychiatrist, who specializes in hypnosis, murders the husband of his mistress and convinces her to lie to the police; it's up to Lt. Columbo to discover the truth.(477) 7.375 129 7.367
- DirectorEdward M. AbromsStarsPeter FalkRoddy McDowallAnne FrancisPressured to give up his birthright, a chemical company heir enacts a clever plan to get rid of his blackmailing uncle and take over the family business. But Lt. Columbo suspects the man's death was not just a tragic accident.(631) 7.100 149 7.100
- DirectorAlf KjellinStarsPeter FalkJosé FerrerLew AyresThe 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.(519) 6.975 133 6.967
- DirectorRichard QuineStarsPeter FalkRichard BasehartWilfrid Hyde-WhiteIn London, a respected Shakespearean acting duo cover up the unintended killing of their producer.(590) 6.975 144 6.967
- DirectorRobert DouglasStarsPeter FalkJoyce Van PattenJeannie BerlinThe head of a family-run museum murders her brother when he threatens to dissolve the financially strapped institution.(452) 7.000 131 6.983
- DirectorTed PostStarsPeter FalkHector ElizondoSal MineoThe first secretary to the Suarian king may have immunity from the consequences of committing murder, but Lt. Columbo is wilier than any foreign diplomat.(485) 7.250 132 7.233
- DirectorJeannot SzwarcStarsPeter FalkVera MilesMartin SheenThe formula for a miraculous wrinkle cream leads the founder of a cosmetics company to murder; Columbo is soon on the case.(583) 7.150 134 7.117
- DirectorJack SmightStarsPeter FalkEddie AlbertKate ReidA war hero shoots and kills his business partner; an easily manipulated young divorcée is the only witness.(657) 6.900 153 6.883
- DirectorTed PostStarsPeter FalkRicardo MontalbanPedro Armendáriz Jr.When a famous bullfighter's trusted bookkeeper turns up dead in a bullring, Lt. Columbo suspects murder--with a bull as the murder weapon.(474) 6.775 136 6.750
- DirectorPatrick McGoohanStarsPeter FalkRobert VaughnWilfrid Hyde-WhiteCharlie Clay runs the ship building business of his father-in-law, Commodore Swanson, who turns up murdered; Lt. Columbo is on the case.(614) 6.325 133 6.300