Murder by Death (1976)
Kernel Score: 78% · 876 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Released: 1976-06-23
Runtime: 94 minutes
Where to watch Murder by Death
- Free with ads: Fawesome, The Roku Channel, YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Lionel Twain invites the world's five greatest detectives to a 'dinner and murder'. Included are a blind butler, a deaf-mute maid, screams, spinning rooms, secret passages, false identities and more plot turns and twists than are decently allowed.
Murder by Death parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Murder by Death is a PG comedy-mystery spoof with dated humor that a review notes includes casual misogyny, ableism, and racism.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Comedic murder-mystery premise played for laughs, not graphic.
- Language: A little — Mostly clean but includes dated, era-typical humor some reviewers call disrespectful.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Murder by Death
If you liked Murder by Death, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Clue (1985) — 82%
- Knives Out (2019) — 86%
- The Sheep Detectives (2026) — 95%
- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) — 81%
- A Shot in the Dark (1964) — 78%
- Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) — 82%
- Young Frankenstein (1974) — 88%
- The Nice Guys (2016) — 78%
Director
Robert Moore
Cast
- Truman Capote as Lionel Twain
- Alec Guinness as Butler Jamesir Bensonmum
- Peter Sellers as Sidney Wang
- David Niven as Dick Charleston
- Maggie Smith as Dora Charleston
- James Coco as Milo Perrier
- Peter Falk as Sam Diamond
- Eileen Brennan as Tess Skeffington
- Elsa Lanchester as Jessica Marbles
- Estelle Winwood as Nurse Withers
Murder by Death FAQ
Is Murder by Death good?
Murder by Death has a 78% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 876 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Murder by Death?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Fawesome, The Roku Channel and YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Murder by Death OK for kids?
Murder by Death is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Murder by Death is a PG comedy-mystery spoof with dated humor that a review notes includes casual misogyny, ableism, and racism.
What movies are like Murder by Death?
If you liked Murder by Death, try Clue, Knives Out, The Sheep Detectives and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.