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The Best Episodes of The Rockford Files

Every episode of The Rockford Files ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Rockford Files!

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Cranky but likable L.A. PI Jim Rockford pulls no punches (but takes plenty of them). An ex-con sent to the slammer for a crime he didn't commit, Rockford takes on cases others don't want, aided

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 21 - Just by Accident
    10.0/10(400 votes)

    #1 - Just by Accident

    S1:E21

    A race car driver dies in an apparent accident that his mother, an old friend of Jim's, thinks was no accident. It turns out he was part of an insurance scam outfit and they soon have a similar plan for Rockford.

    Director:Jerry London
    Writers:Charles Sailor, Eric Kaldor

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  2. The Rockford Files Season 2 Episode 11 - Pastoria Prime Pick
    10.0/10(420 votes)

    #2 - Pastoria Prime Pick

    S2:E11

    A farming hub has more business than it can handle, including giving Rockford the business. The PI's car breaks down near the boomtown, after a source Rockford contacts in a divorce case steers Rockford there. While his car is being worked on, Rockford is quickly entangled between an underage motel worker and her jealous cop boyfriend, and in a double-cross over a narcotics deal. Is it just another tricky day for unlucky Jim, or is bucolic New Pastoria a sunny sin city ?

    Director:Lawrence Doheny
    Writer:Gordon T. Dawson

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  3. The Rockford Files Season 4 Episode 22 - The House on Willis Avenue (2)
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - The House on Willis Avenue (2)

    S4:E22

    Part two of episode. Originally aired as 1 2-hour episode.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Rockford Files Season 4 Episode 19 - The Competitive Edge
    9.5/10(362 votes)

    #4 - The Competitive Edge

    S4:E19

    Jim winds up in a funny farm when he gets too close to the truth about an elite health club.

    Director:Harry Falk
    Writer:Gordon T. Dawson

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  5. The Rockford Files Season 5 Episode 4 - White on White and Nearly Perfect
    9.5/10(497 votes)

    #5 - White on White and Nearly Perfect

    S5:E4

    Handsome, charmed PI Lance White (Tom Selleck) may speak lines that sound like they're from a 1940s B movie, but everyone is so attracted to him they hang on his every word. That is, everyone except Jim.

    Director:Stephen J. Cannell
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  6. The Rockford Files Season 5 Episode 5 - Kill the Messenger
    9.5/10(334 votes)

    #6 - Kill the Messenger

    S5:E5

    When an already overly stressed Dennis Becker is lumped with the unwelcome task of finding out who murdered Deputy Chief Towne's unfaithful wife, Jim decides to lend a hand in the investigation.

    Director:Ivan Dixon
    Writer:Juanita Bartlett

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Rockford Files

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  7. The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 3 - The Countess
    9.0/10(582 votes)

    #7 - The Countess

    S1:E3

    Jim is helping a Countess avoid a blackmailer but is then charged for the Blackmailer murder...

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  8. The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 13 - Profit and Loss (2)
    9.0/10(437 votes)

    #8 - Profit and Loss (2)

    S1:E13

    Rockford discovers the investment firm Fiscal Dynamics is a financial fraud and its president Leon Fielder will do anything to prevent him from destroying his company.

    Director:Lawrence Doheny
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  9. The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 20 - The Four Pound Brick
    9.0/10(402 votes)

    #9 - The Four Pound Brick

    S1:E20

    A cop dies in an accident that his mother refuses to accept. Rocky offers Jim's services free of charge. After begrudgingly accepting the case he discovers that dirty cops might be involved which then pits him against a very angry Lt. Diel.

    Director:Lawrence Doheny
    Writers:Juanita Bartlett, Leigh Brackett

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  10. The Rockford Files Season 2 Episode 13 - The Girl in the Bay City Boys Club
    9.0/10(360 votes)

    #10 - The Girl in the Bay City Boys Club

    S2:E13

    Jim goes undercover to expose an illegal gambling club and gets help from a young D.A.

    Director:James Garner
    Writer:Juanita Bartlett

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  11. The Rockford Files Season 3 Episode 5 - Drought at Indianhead River
    9.0/10(394 votes)

    #11 - Drought at Indianhead River

    S3:E5

    Jim finds out there's a hit out on Angel and runs into trouble with the mob bailing him out.

    Director:Lawrence Doheny
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  12. The Rockford Files Season 3 Episode 12 - There's One in Every Port
    9.0/10(393 votes)

    #12 - There's One in Every Port

    S3:E12

    After being conned by friends Jim sets them up to settle the score and save himself.

    Director:Meta Rosenberg
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  13. The Rockford Files Season 3 Episode 14 - The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers: Part 1
    9.0/10(383 votes)

    #13 - The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers: Part 1

    S3:E14

    Jim helps a friend (Strother Martin) of Rocky's who's being forced off his property.

    Director:Jerry London
    Writer:Gordon T. Dawson

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  14. The Rockford Files Season 3 Episode 15 - The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers: Part 2
    9.0/10(353 votes)

    #14 - The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers: Part 2

    S3:E15

    Jim helps a friend of Rocky's who's being forced off his property.

    Director:Jerry London
    Writer:Gordon T. Dawson

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  15. The Rockford Files Season 3 Episode 22 - Dirty Money, Black Light
    9.0/10(339 votes)

    #15 - Dirty Money, Black Light

    S3:E22

    Jim becomes very concerned when Rocky starts receiving thousands of dollars through the mail.

    Director:Stuart Margolin
    Writer:David Taylor

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  16. The Rockford Files Season 4 Episode 17 - Dwarf in a Helium Hat
    9.0/10(337 votes)

    #16 - Dwarf in a Helium Hat

    S4:E17

    A threat to the wrong phone number has Jim scrambling to find out who it was meant for.

    Director:Reza Badiyi
    Writers:David Chase, Stephen J. Cannell

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  17. The Rockford Files Season 4 Episode 20 - The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall
    9.0/10(287 votes)

    #17 - The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall

    S4:E20

    When the son of an old friend goes missing, Jim goes to the young man's college to try and find out what happened.

    Director:Ivan Dixon
    Writers:David Chase, Stephen J. Cannell

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  18. The Rockford Files Season 4 Episode 21 - The House on Willis Avenue (1)
    9.0/10(432 votes)

    #18 - The House on Willis Avenue (1)

    S4:E21

    When a fellow P.I. is killed on the Ventura freeway, Jim and Richie Brockelman team up to find out if it really was an accident.

    Director:Hy Averback
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  19. The Rockford Files Season 5 Episode 3 - The Jersey Bounce
    9.0/10(347 votes)

    #19 - The Jersey Bounce

    S5:E3

    Wrongly accused of beating a man to death, Jim discovers the best legal advice he can find is from disbarred lawyer John Cooper.

    Director:William Wiard
    Writer:David Chase

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  20. The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 1 - The Kirkoff Case
    8.7/10(729 votes)

    #20 - The Kirkoff Case

    S1:E1

    Rockford is hired by Larry Kirkoff to find the identity of his parents killer. There are a number of possible suspects including Travis Buckman and Tawnia Baker who were lovers of Mrs. and Mr. Kirkoff respectively. The police actually suspect Larry of the crime, but, lack of evidence prevents them from making a case against him. Rockford's investigation runs him afoul of some pretty bad men who want everyone to go on thinking Larry killed them.

    Director:Lou Antonio
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  21. The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 9 - In Pursuit of Carol Thorne
    8.5/10(484 votes)

    #21 - In Pursuit of Carol Thorne

    S1:E9

    Jim tails a woman just released from prison. She was involved in a robbery of a Marine Payroll. The mastermind of the crime and his henchman follow her as well. They search for the remaining robber who wound up with the loot.

    Director:Charles S. Dubin
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  22. The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 11 - Caledonia - It's Worth a Fortune!
    8.5/10(466 votes)

    #22 - Caledonia - It's Worth a Fortune!

    S1:E11

    When knowledge of a critically ill convict's hidden fortune comes to light, Rockford becomes involved in helping the con's wife find the treasure before his former partner arrives and demands his share.

    Director:Stuart Margolin
    Writer:Juanita Bartlett

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  23. The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 19 - Charlie Harris at Large
    8.5/10(427 votes)

    #23 - Charlie Harris at Large

    S1:E19

    Charlie Harris, Rockford's former cell mate, is suspected of murdering his rich wife and is on the run. He calls on Rockford to find his alibi witness, a mystery woman with whom he was having an affair.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Zekial Marko

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  24. The Rockford Files Season 4 Episode 16 - The Paper Palace
    8.5/10(309 votes)

    #24 - The Paper Palace

    S4:E16

    A prostitute (Rita Moreno) hires Jim to find out who has been sending her death threats.

    Director:Richard Crenna
    Writer:Juanita Bartlett

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  25. The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 16 - Counter Gambit
    8.3/10(442 votes)

    #25 - Counter Gambit

    S1:E16

    Two former cons hire Rockford to find an old girlfriend. They actually want her valuable pearl necklace and implicate him as the thief. With Angel's help, he'll get the pearls back and square himself with the police.

    Director:Jackie Cooper
    Writers:Juanita Bartlett, Howard Berk

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Best Episodes Summary

"Just by Accident" is the best rated episode of "The Rockford Files". It scored 10/10 based on 400 votes. Directed by Jerry London and written by Charles Sailor, Eric Kaldor, it aired on 2/28/1975. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Pastoria Prime Pick".