Shows like Columbo
12 titles that share something real with Columbo, each on a streaming service you may already pay for, with one honest line on why.
Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently underestimated by his suspects. Despite his unprepossessing appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdly solves all of his cases and secures all evidence needed for indictment. His formidable eye for detail and meticulously dedicated approach often become clear to the killer only late in the storyline.
Columbo streams on · 1971
- Prime Video
- Peacock Premium
12 titles, where they stream, and why
Neon Genesis Evangelion1995
Both center on a central figure whose true depth is hidden beneath an unassuming surface.
- Netflix
Peaky Blinders2013
A determined, methodical leader outmaneuvers adversaries who consistently underestimate him.
- Netflix
The Mentalist2008
A sharp, observant investigator solves crimes by reading people others overlook, one case at a time.
- Hulu
Fargo2014
Deadpan tone, meticulous plotting, and ordinary Midwestern settings that mask extraordinary menace.
- Hulu
Agatha Christie's Poirot1989
An eccentric, detail-obsessed detective whose deceptively mild manner disarms every suspect he meets.
- Prime Video
- Hulu
Endeavour2013
A methodical detective in a classic procedural mold, piecing together clues with quiet intellectual rigor.
- Prime Video
Bosch2015
A dedicated, tenacious LAPD homicide detective who never lets a case go, however long it takes.
- Prime Video
Elementary2012
An eccentric, hyper-observant investigator whose unconventional methods lead police to the truth.
- Prime Video
- Hulu
In the Heat of the Night1988
A quietly persistent detective navigates social friction while solving homicides with steady determination.
- Prime Video
Murder in Suburbia2004
A sharp detective duo solves murders in a seemingly calm setting, with wry humor threading through each case.
- Prime Video
- FuboTV
Giri/Haji2019
A determined lawman pursues a morally complex investigation across two cities with patient, methodical focus.
- Netflix
Witches of East End2013
Small-town setting and a family drama framing mysteries; the pleasure comes from unraveling hidden secrets.
- Hulu
US streaming availability as of November 5, 2026. Platforms change their catalogs; Kueup checks before every pick.
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