80s Detective Shows: Where to Watch Them Today

Remember when TV detectives drove red Ferraris, solved murders between book deadlines, and traded clues with plenty of romantic banter? That was the world of 80s detective shows, from Magnum, P.I. and Murder, She Wrote to Moonlighting. On grittier streets, Miami Vice and Hill Street Blues gave the decade’s cop shows a darker edge.

Want to watch one tonight? We checked 22 detective, crime, and police series to see whether you can stream them free, find them on a local antenna channel, or own them on DVD. Some services carry only selected seasons or episodes, so check the listing before settling in.

Every show below aired during the 1980s. A few began in the late 1970s or continued into the 1990s, but all were part of the decade’s television landscape. Start with the shows that are easiest to find now—or scan the full list for one you remember.

Still in a 1970s mood? Visit our 70s detective shows guide for Columbo, Kojak, The Rockford Files, and more.

Other 1980s Detective and Crime Shows

More detective and crime series from the decade included Matt Houston, Father Dowling Mysteries, The Law and Harry McGraw, Nero Wolfe, Philip Marlowe, Private Eye, Police Squad!, Sledge Hammer!, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Stingray, B.L. Stryker, Houston Knights, A Man Called Hawk, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Lady Blue, Ohara, J.J. Starbuck, Midnight Caller, The New Dragnet, and the 1980s Police Story revival.

The Fall Guy and MacGyver also used mystery and investigative plots, but they leaned more toward action-adventure. We include shows like these only when detective or police work is central to the story.

We will add a show to the viewing chart when we find a current free streaming option, TV antenna listing, or official complete-series DVD set.

Can’t Find Your Show? Try These Steps

You open an app, search for a favorite show, and find that it is gone—or only a few episodes are there. Streaming services change their catalogs, so a show may move after we check it.

Before you give up, try these steps:

1. Search inside the app. Open the service listed in our chart, such as Tubi or The Roku Channel. Look for Search or a magnifying glass and type the show’s name. Check the cast and year, too, so you choose the original series rather than a remake.
2. Check which episodes are free. Open the show’s page and look at its season or episode list. A service may have one season, selected episodes, or the whole series. If you see a price or paid-subscription notice, that option is not free. A free trial may lead to a charge when it ends.
3. Try another option in the chart. If we list two free services, check both because they may carry different episodes. For shows listed on COZI TV, Start TV, or MeTV, check your local TV guide to see whether your station carries the channel and when the show airs. You can also use the DVD link if you prefer to own the series.
4. Tell us about a missing listing. Use our contact page and include the show’s name, the service, and what you found. For example: “Wiseguy no longer appears when I search Tubi.” That helps us check the right listing and keep this guide useful.

How to Watch These Shows With an Antenna

A TV antenna lets you watch local channels without internet or a monthly TV bill. In our chart, Murder, She Wrote is listed on COZI TV and Start TV, while Matlock is listed on MeTV. You can watch them this way if a local station carries the network and your antenna receives its signal.

Here’s how to get started:

• Check your local channels before buying. Our guide to channels you can get with an antenna explains how to check your address. Look for COZI TV, Start TV, and MeTV in your local results.
• Choose an antenna for your home. An indoor antenna may work when local signals are strong. Compare our best indoor TV antennas. If indoor reception is weak, see our best outdoor TV antennas.
• Connect the antenna and scan for channels. Attach its cable to the TV’s round jack marked ANT IN or RF IN. In your TV’s settings, choose Antenna or Air, then run a Channel Scan. Menu names vary by TV.

• Check the show’s airtime. Antenna TV follows a schedule. Use your local TV guide to find the next episode.

Do you need a signal booster? A long cable or splitter can weaken a signal. Our TV antenna amplifier guide explains when a booster may help. It cannot add a channel your antenna does not receive.

Why DVD Can Still Make Sense

You may find a favorite show on a free app today, then find it gone next month. Some services also carry only a few seasons or selected episodes. A DVD set lets you keep watching without internet or waiting for the show to return.

DVDs can be useful if you want to:

• Watch episodes in order. A complete-series set keeps the seasons together.
• Skip streaming ads. Watch without the ad breaks found on free apps.
• Keep your favorite shows. Your discs stay on your shelf when streaming catalogs change.

Before you buy, check that the set has English audio and works with your DVD player. Read the title and product details carefully, too—a single-season set is not the complete series.

Use the DVD links in our chart to check the included seasons, format, and current price.

Need Help Hearing the Voices?

A quiet line can hold the clue that solves the case. If voices sound muffled or music makes the words hard to hear, turning up the volume may only make everything louder.

Start with our free steps to make TV voices louder and clearer. A change to your TV’s sound settings may be enough.

If you still need help, choose an option that fits how you watch:

• For sound across the room: Compare our best soundbars for dialogue. The guide explains which features help voices stand out from music and sound effects.
• For your own listening volume: See our best wireless TV headphones. Check the TV connections and comfort notes before choosing a pair.

You can also turn on captions, when available, to catch names, places, and words you miss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose Your Next 80s Detective Show

Pick a show from the chart and check which seasons are offered before you start. Try one episode to see whether you like the characters and pace.

Fans of Magnum, P.I. may also enjoy Mannix’s private-eye cases. Our 60s detective shows guide also includes courtroom classics such as Perry Mason.

Try Columbo if you like watching a detective outsmart a confident killer. Our 70s detective shows guide also covers The Rockford Files and Kojak, with ways to watch each show.

For police cases and stories about the detectives’ lives, try NYPD Blue. Find it alongside Nash Bridges and Walker, Texas Ranger in our 90s cop shows guide, which lists streaming, antenna TV, and disc options.