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