{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "canonical": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/14584/the-cheap-detective-1978",
  "canonicalPath": "/watch/movie/14584/the-cheap-detective-1978",
  "title": "The Cheap Detective",
  "year": "1978",
  "type": "movie",
  "tmdbId": 14584,
  "region": "GB",
  "regionName": "United Kingdom",
  "directAnswer": "The Cheap Detective (1978) is not currently on UK subscription streaming. It can also be rented from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, and YouTube or bought from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Last verified on 12 May 2026 by ScreenSearch.",
  "lastVerified": "2026-05-12T01:59:16.172Z",
  "lastVerifiedHuman": "12 May 2026",
  "metadata": {
    "overview": "A spoof of the entire 1940s detective genre. San Francisco private detective, Lou Pekinpaugh is accused of murdering his partner at the instigation of his mistress—his partner's wife.",
    "tagline": "He knows every cheap trick, cheap joke, cheap shot and cheap dame in the book.",
    "runtimeMinutes": 92,
    "genres": [
      "Comedy",
      "Crime",
      "Mystery"
    ],
    "tmdbRating": 6.3,
    "tmdbVoteCount": 101,
    "releaseDate": "1978-06-23",
    "poster": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/7poVN0zQuxCIorAR9N6JDJN0dGG.jpg",
    "backdrop": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w1280/2sUbXCv2DMUdTJ8rLOeP8PXkVfv.jpg"
  },
  "providers": {
    "stream": [],
    "free": [],
    "rent": [
      {
        "providerId": 2,
        "name": "Apple TV Store",
        "category": "rental",
        "logoUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/SPnB1qiCkYfirS2it3hZORwGVn.jpg",
        "url": "https://tv.apple.com/gb/search?term=The%20Cheap%20Detective"
      },
      {
        "providerId": 10,
        "name": "Amazon Video",
        "category": "rental",
        "logoUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/qR6FKvnPBx2O37FDg8PNM7efwF3.jpg",
        "url": "https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=The%20Cheap%20Detective&i=instant-video"
      },
      {
        "providerId": 3,
        "name": "Google Play Movies",
        "category": "rental",
        "logoUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/8z7rC8uIDaTM91X0ZfkRf04ydj2.jpg",
        "url": "https://play.google.com/store/search?q=The%20Cheap%20Detective&c=movies"
      },
      {
        "providerId": 192,
        "name": "YouTube",
        "category": "rental",
        "logoUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/pTnn5JwWr4p3pG8H6VrpiQo7Vs0.jpg",
        "url": "https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The%20Cheap%20Detective+film"
      }
    ],
    "buy": [
      {
        "providerId": 2,
        "name": "Apple TV Store",
        "category": "purchase",
        "logoUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/SPnB1qiCkYfirS2it3hZORwGVn.jpg",
        "url": "https://tv.apple.com/gb/search?term=The%20Cheap%20Detective"
      },
      {
        "providerId": 10,
        "name": "Amazon Video",
        "category": "purchase",
        "logoUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/qR6FKvnPBx2O37FDg8PNM7efwF3.jpg",
        "url": "https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=The%20Cheap%20Detective&i=instant-video"
      },
      {
        "providerId": 3,
        "name": "Google Play Movies",
        "category": "purchase",
        "logoUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/8z7rC8uIDaTM91X0ZfkRf04ydj2.jpg",
        "url": "https://play.google.com/store/search?q=The%20Cheap%20Detective&c=movies"
      },
      {
        "providerId": 192,
        "name": "YouTube",
        "category": "purchase",
        "logoUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/pTnn5JwWr4p3pG8H6VrpiQo7Vs0.jpg",
        "url": "https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The%20Cheap%20Detective+film"
      }
    ]
  },
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "Where can I watch The Cheap Detective in the UK?",
      "answer": "The Cheap Detective (1978) is not currently included in any UK subscription service. It is available to rent on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, and YouTube and buy on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, and YouTube in the United Kingdom."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much does it cost to rent The Cheap Detective?",
      "answer": "Rental prices vary by service and tier (HD vs 4K), typically £3.49 to £5.99 in the UK for a 48-hour rental. ScreenSearch links you straight to Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, and YouTube so you can check the current price."
    },
    {
      "question": "Can I buy a digital copy of The Cheap Detective?",
      "answer": "Yes. The Cheap Detective can be bought as a digital download from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, and YouTube in the UK. A purchased digital copy lives in that storefront's library and stays available as long as the licence holds."
    },
    {
      "question": "Is The Cheap Detective on Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video in the UK?",
      "answer": "The Cheap Detective is not currently included with any major UK subscription service. It may still be available to rent or buy."
    },
    {
      "question": "How accurate is this film's availability data?",
      "answer": "Availability is sourced from The Movie Database (TMDB), which in turn pulls from JustWatch. Listings are refreshed daily. For purchase decisions, the provider's own site is the source of truth."
    }
  ],
  "sources": {
    "data": "The Movie Database (TMDB)",
    "licensing": "JustWatch (via TMDB)",
    "refreshFrequency": "daily"
  },
  "related": {
    "htmlUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/14584/the-cheap-detective-1978",
    "markdownUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/14584/the-cheap-detective-1978.md",
    "jsonUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/14584/the-cheap-detective-1978.json",
    "siteHomepage": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/",
    "llmsTxt": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/llms.txt"
  }
}