Finding out exactly where to watch Ace Ventura feels a bit like trying to find a snowflake in a Miami heatwave. You remember the Hawaiian shirts. You remember the "Alrighty then!" and the way Jim Carrey could basically turn his face into a piece of Silly Putty. But when you sit down on a Friday night to actually stream it, the movie is nowhere to be found on your usual apps. It’s annoying. One month it’s on Netflix, the next it’s vanished into the licensing void.
Streaming rights are basically a game of musical chairs played by billionaires. If you're looking for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective or the sequel When Nature Calls in 2026, the answer changes depending on where you live and which corporate merger just went through. Honestly, it shouldn't be this hard to watch a guy talk with his rear end, but here we are.
The Current Streaming Home for Ace Ventura
Right now, as we move through early 2026, the streaming situation for the Ace Ventura franchise is a bit of a mixed bag. For those in the United States, the movies have been bouncing between Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video.
If you have a subscription to Paramount+, you're usually in luck. They've held onto a lot of the older Morgan Creek library. However, if you're a Netflix die-hard, you’ve probably noticed the movies pop in and out. Netflix frequently licenses these 90s hits for short three-to-six-month windows. If it’s there today, it might be gone by the time you finish your popcorn.
Interestingly, Philo and FuboTV often carry the films because they host channels like AMC or IFC, which play Pet Detective on a near-constant loop. If you have one of those "live TV" streaming packages, just search your local listings. You’d be surprised how often Ace is just... on.
Where to Watch Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
This is the one that started it all. The missing dolphin. Dan Marino. The tutu.
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- Paramount+: Usually the most stable home for this one.
- Prime Video: Often available with the "Paramount+ Add-on" or occasionally for free with ads via Freevee.
- Tubi/Pluto TV: Check these weekly. Because it’s a catalog title, it frequently ends up on "free with ads" platforms.
Where to Watch Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)
The sequel—famous for the rhino scene that lives rent-free in everyone's head—is actually harder to find than the first.
- Hulu: Sometimes holds the rights to the sequel while Paramount+ keeps the first. It makes zero sense, but that’s licensing for you.
- AMC+: Since AMC plays this on cable all the time, their app is a safe bet.
- The Roku Channel: They’ve been snatching up older Jim Carrey comedies lately.
Why Can’t I Just Find It on Netflix?
You’d think a massive hit like this would be a permanent fixture on the biggest platform. Nope. The reality is that the studio that owns the film, Morgan Creek, likes to shop the rights around to the highest bidder.
When you search for where to watch Ace Ventura and see it’s not on Netflix, it’s usually because another service paid more for an "exclusive window." These windows are like leases. Once the lease is up, the movie goes back on the market. It’s why you’ll see a "Leaving Soon" tag on movies—it’s just the lease expiring.
Digital Rental: The Only Way to Be Sure
If you’re hosting a 90s movie night and you absolutely must have Ace, don't rely on streaming subscriptions. They’re too fickle. Honestly, the only way to guarantee you can watch it right this second is to go the digital rental or purchase route.
It usually costs about $3.99 to rent and $12.99 to buy. You can find it on:
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- Apple TV (iTunes)
- Amazon Movies
- Google Play Store
- Vudu (Fandango at Home)
Buying the digital version is basically the only way to stop playing the "which app is it on this month" game. Plus, if you buy it on Apple or Vudu, it usually gets upgraded to the best possible resolution they have available. Speaking of resolution...
The 4K Quality Situation
If you’re a bit of a nerd about how things look on your 80-inch OLED, I have some news. For a long time, Ace Ventura looked pretty rough on digital. It was grainy, the colors were flat, and it felt very much like a VHS tape.
Recently, a new 4K transfer was released. If you're looking for where to watch Ace Ventura in the highest quality, keep an eye out for the "4K UHD" badge on the Apple TV or Amazon stores. The difference in the Miami landscape shots and the... uh... detail in the animal scenes is actually pretty striking. If you’re going to watch Jim Carrey crawl out of a mechanical rhino, you might as well see it in crisp Ultra HD.
What About the Animated Series?
Most people forget that there was an Ace Ventura cartoon back in the day. It ran for three seasons and was surprisingly weird. If you’re looking for that bit of nostalgia, it’s almost exclusively found on Amazon Prime Video or Tubi. It rarely shows up on the "prestige" streamers like Max or Disney+. It’s a deep cut, but it’s out there if you’re willing to dig through the sub-menus.
International Streaming: A Different World
If you’re reading this from the UK, Canada, or Australia, the answer to where to watch Ace Ventura is totally different.
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- In the UK: It often sits on Sky Go or Now TV.
- In Canada: Crave is the usual suspect for these types of comedies.
- In Australia: Check Stan or Binge.
If you're traveling, your US-based apps might not work, or they might show a different library. This is why people get so frustrated—it's the same movie, but the digital borders are real.
Is There a Third Movie? (The One We Don't Talk About)
Yes, there is a movie called Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective. It came out in 2009. It does not star Jim Carrey.
Most fans pretend it doesn't exist. But if you’re a completionist or you just want to see how the franchise was handled after the 90s, you can usually find it for free on platforms like Tubi or Freevee. Just don't say I didn't warn you. It’s... a choice.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Movie Night
Stop scrolling through the Netflix "Comedy" section hoping it will magically appear. If it's not in your "My List," it's probably gone. Here is exactly what you should do to find it right now:
- Check JustWatch or ScreenRant's "Where to Stream" tool: These sites update daily. Type in the movie name, and it will tell you which of your current subscriptions has it.
- Search your "Live TV" apps: If you have YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling, use the search function there first. It might be sitting in your "On Demand" library because it aired on a cable channel recently.
- Look for the 4K version: If you're going to pay for a rental, make sure you're getting the UHD version. Don't pay $3.99 for a standard-def version that looks like it was filmed through a screen door.
- Check the library: Seriously. If you have a local library card, check if they have the Blu-ray. It’s free, and the quality is often better than a compressed stream anyway.
The quest for the Miami Dolphins' mascot shouldn't be as hard as finding the movie itself. Pick a platform, grab a slinky, and enjoy one of the weirdest performances in cinema history. Just remember: laces out.