Episode 1
The Big White Rat
30m
Friday and Smith respond to and investigate reports of a drug ring.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Vic Perrin, Dorothy Abbott, Jack Kruschen, Frances Rafferty, Virginia Gregg
TV series
Dragnet
1951TV-PG8 seasons6.5 / 10
Follows the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Sep 1, 2026
Dragnet is available to stream on Philo, YouTube TV, Fubo, Fawesome, Hoopla, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play and Apple TV. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
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Synopsis
Follows the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Season 3 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Dragnet
Episode 2
The Big Revolt
30m
A woman reports her husband missing and Friday and Smith are assigned to find him.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars John Qualen, Irene Tedrow
Episode 3
The Big Bull
30m
Smith takes a personal interest when a strong-arm bandit threatens his family if he doesn't back off the case.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Art Gilmore, James Griffith
Episode 4
The Big Betty
30m
Friday and Smith track down a confidence ring who are selling defective watches.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Allene Roberts, Robert Clarke
Episode 5
The Big Sophomore
30m
A teenage boy steals food for his starving family.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Bobby Driscoll
Episode 6
The Big Pill
30m
Friday and Smith are on the trail of a gang that is robbing local drugstores.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack Webb
Episode 7
The Big Lie
30m
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars John Larch, Virginia Brissac
Episode 8
The Big Fake
30m
A police rookie is accused of assaulting a citizen and stealing his money.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Allene Roberts, Frances Bavier, Helen Kleeb, Todd Karns
Episode 9
The Big Dream
30m
Friday and Smith investigate the murder of a girl who came to Los Angeles with a dream of being an actress.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack Webb
Episode 10
The Big Guilt
30m
A man is found dead in an alley and it's up to Friday and Smith to find his killer and notify the man's wife.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars James Griffith, William Boyett
Episode 11
The Big Will
30m
Friday and Smith investigate the murder of a rich man.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Ellen Corby, Richard Garrick
Episode 12
The Big In-Laws
30m
Friday and Smith try to capture a ring of truck hijackers.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Dorothy Adams, Vic Perrin
Episode 13
The Big Lilly
30m
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Virginia Brissac
Episode 14
The Big Kill
30m
A cop is gunned down at home by a vengeful ex con. Friday must go under cover in prison to obtain a full confession.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Pamela Duncan, Paul Picerni
Episode 15
The Big Lover
30m
Friday and Smith investigate a con man that marries rich women just for their money.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Dal McKennon
Episode 16
The Big Thief
30m
Robbers phone doctors for house calls then assault them and steal their drugs.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Gil Stratton, Art Gilmore, Dorothy Abbott
Episode 17
The Big Little Jesus
30m7.0 / 10
A statue of the Child Jesus is stolen from a church. Friday and Smith must find it before the paritioners miss it on Christmas morning.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Harry Bartell, Herb Vigran, James Griffith
Episode 18
The Big Eavesdrop
30m
Friday and Smith overhear a suspicious conversation while on a coffee break in a diner.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Jeanne Baird
Episode 19
The Big Trunk
30m7.0 / 10
Three men are taken into custody for the murder of a former vaudeville actress who owned a large steamer trunk. The three men maintain innocence.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Dayton Lummis, James Anderson
Episode 20
The Big Youngster
30m
Friday and Smith catch a boy who has been vandalising private property, but they discover that the boy's problems begin at home.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Tom McKee
Episode 21
The Big Boys
30m10.0 / 10
The cops must stake out a hotel lobby and deal with a drunken desk clerk as they wait for four juvenile armed robbers to show up.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Harry Bartell, Peter Leeds, Adrienne Marden, Leonard Nimoy
Episode 22
The Big Ham
30m
Friday and Smith investigate the death of a young girl that is initially ruled a suicide but turns out to be murder.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbWritten by John Robinson, Ben AlexanderGuest stars Ellen Corby, Willis Bouchey
Episode 23
The Big Chance
30m
Signs point to foul play when a highway patrolman disappears from his car along a deserted road.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars George D. Wallace, James Anderson, Tyler McVey, Sidney Miller, Paul Picerni
Episode 24
The Big Children
30m8.0 / 10
Three children are found abandoned, filthy and starving. Friday and Smith charge the mother with neglect.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Mae Clarke, Robert Clarke, Celia Lovsky
Episode 25
The Big Poison
30m
An elderly couple suddenly disappears from a fashionable neighborhood.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Barbara Whiting, Sam Edwards
Episode 26
The Big Quack
30m
A man posing as a doctor burgles the house of a woman who is mentally disturbed.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Paul Richards, Tom McKee, Frances Rafferty, Herb Vigran
Episode 27
The Big Winchester
30m
An elderly man appears to have killed himself with a rifle, but the cops soon learn that it was no accident.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Fess Parker, Irene Tedrow
Episode 28
The Big Shoplift
30m7.0 / 10
Friday and Smith are surprised to find a wealthy house wife is a shoplifter, until they discover that she is a kleptomaniac.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Allene Roberts
Episode 29
The Big Hit-Run Killer
30m10.0 / 10
A woman and her grandson are run down by a bakery truck, but the driver has an airtight alibi.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Mary Shipp, Walter Reed, James Anderson
Episode 30
The Big Drink
30m
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Harlan Warde, Claude Akins
Episode 31
The Big Girl
30m10.0 / 10
Friday and Smith hunt down the bandit queen; a tall, gorgeous woman who is on a rampage of robberies and shootings.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Harry Bartell, Henry Corden, Harper Goff, Art Gilmore, Carolyn Jones
Episode 32
The Big Mattress
30m
Friday and Smith investigate a corrupt cop.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Claude Akins
Episode 33
The Big Pug
30m
An elderly woman is badly beaten and robbed while on her way to the bank. The trail leads to an ex prize fighter.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Dorothy Adams, Bill Williams, Aaron Spelling
Episode 34
The Big Frame
30m7.0 / 10
A man's body is found in the gutter and the only clue is a pair of skid marks found nearby.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Jack Kruschen, Natalie Masters, Carolyn Jones, Herb Vigran
Episode 35
The Big Plant
30m
A woman disappears and her husband is the prime suspect, but Friday and Smith will have a hard time getting past his fierce guard dogs.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Dennis Weaver
Episode 36
The Big Check
30m
A check forger is victimizing small businessmen in a particular neighborhood.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Dorothy Abbott
Episode 37
The Big Threat
30m
A man is beaten and robbed, then the thieves intimidate him and his family so he'll refuse to testify against them.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Art Gilmore, Howard McNear, Jack Kruschen
Episode 38
The Big Dare
30m
A single mother is stabbed to death in her home. The list of suspects includes her teenage son and her many boyfriends.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars John Larch, Barbara Woodell
Episode 39
The Big False Make
30m10.0 / 10finale
Friday begins to question a local gardener, who has been arrested for holding up a grocery store. During the interrogation Friday begins to have strong doubts about the man's confession.
Episode credits
Directed by Jack WebbGuest stars Frances Bavier
Episode information updated Sep 16, 2026
More about Dragnet
Cast
Jack WebbJoe Friday
Ben AlexanderFrank SmithHarlan Warde
Howard Culver
Dennis Moore
George Sawaya
Allene Roberts
Frances BavierCredits
- Created by
- Jack Webb
- Written by
- Ben Alexander, John Robinson
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 276
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
NBCUnited States- Mark VIIUnited States
Universal TelevisionUnited States
Themes
detectivelapdlos angeles, californiamysterypolicepolice detective
