Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building
Now Showing

Only Murders in the Building

"The building always wins."

8.4
Yr 2021
Status Returning Series
Comedy Mystery Crime
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Three strangers share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 88 /100

Critics overwhelmingly embraced Only Murders in the Building as a charming, cozy, and highly entertaining addition to the true-crime comedy landscape. Reviewers consistently highlighted the dynamic lead performances, particularly praising the inspired, cross-generational chemistry between Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. The series was widely celebrated as supreme comedic comfort food that manages to be both whimsical and stylish.

Beyond the central cast, praise was directed at the show's urbane Manhattan aesthetic, cinematic craft, and fast-paced narrative twists. While critics noted that the series rarely seeks to reinvent the TV mystery formula, its clever ribbing of true-crime podcasts and classic murder mystery tropes made for a refreshing and lighthearted watching experience.

Some minor critiques pointed to occasional hit-and-miss parody elements and moments where the show prioritized character repartee and star power over deep narrative substance. However, the consensus overwhelmingly framed these flaws as trivial, cementing the show as one of the most delightful TV romps of its season.

“one of the most whimsical, wise, and venomous shows of 2021”

“a pleasant, fizzy trifle with dashes of semi-compatible substance”

“less murder mystery than showcase for cross-generational repartee”

“It's precious and artsy, a hothouse flower of a dramedy set amongst the rich and idle, but this series is also cinematically shot and expertly acted”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Disney Plus
CA • US • UK
Hulu
US
Why fans love it

The show grounds its comedic mystery in the unlikely chemistry between Steve Martin and his co-stars. It treats the theater world and the true crime podcasting craze with equal parts affection and satire. Despite the central premise involving an actual murderer, the tone remains light and consistently brisk.

The series integrates a diverse range of perspectives, from its exploration of deaf culture to the inclusion of queer protagonists, without treating these elements as afterthoughts. It manages to balance these character arcs with the central investigation, resulting in a project that feels as emotionally grounded as it is concerned with the mechanics of solving a crime.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 5
Longest run 50 eps
Steve Martin
Steve Martin
as Charles-Haden Savage
50 episodes
Martin Short
Martin Short
as Oliver Putnam
50 episodes
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez
as Mabel Mora
50 episodes
Amy Ryan
Amy Ryan
as Jan Bellows
15 episodes
Aaron Dominguez
Aaron Dominguez
as Óscar Torres
10 episodes
Michael Cyril Creighton
Michael Cyril Creighton
as Howard Morris
41 episodes
Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne
as Alice Banks
10 episodes
Olivia Reis
Olivia Reis
as Zoe Cassidy
3 episodes
Show 67 more
Julian Cihi as Tim Kono 6 episodes Zainab Jah as Ndidi Idoko 4 episodes Jeena Yi as Amy Huang 4 episodes Anthony Ruiz as José Torres 3 episodes Maulik Pancholy as Arnav Kapoor 3 episodes Jackie Hoffman as Uma Heller 25 episodes Jane Lynch as Sazz Pataki 10 episodes Andrea Martin as Joy Payne 5 episodes Ade Otukoya as Brazzos Director 5 episodes James Caverly as Theo Dimas 8 episodes Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Donna Williams 17 episodes Daniel Oreskes as Marv 6 episodes Jaboukie Young-White as Sam 5 episodes Zoe Colletti as Lucy 5 episodes Vanessa Aspillaga as Ursula 11 episodes Teddy Coluca as Lester 21 episodes Christine Ko as Nina Lin 4 episodes Ariel Shafir as Ivan 3 episodes Ali Stroker as Paulette 4 episodes Orson Hong as Grant 4 episodes Russell G. Jones as Grover Stanley 11 episodes Tina Fey as Cinda Canning 10 episodes Jayne Houdyshell as Bunny Folger 14 episodes Nathan Lane as Teddy Dimas 10 episodes Ryan Broussard as Will Putnam 11 episodes Adina Verson as Poppy White 8 episodes Michael Rapaport as Detective Kreps 4 episodes Jason Veasey as Jonathan Bridgecroft 9 episodes Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin 11 episodes Gerald Caesar as Ty Wessex 6 episodes Allison Guinn as KT Knoblauer 5 episodes Linda Emond as Donna DeMeo 6 episodes Ashley Park as Kimber Lee 6 episodes Don Darryl Rivera as Bobo Malone 6 episodes Jeremy Shamos as Dickie Glenroy 8 episodes Wesley Taylor as Clifford DeMeo 6 episodes Jesse Williams as Tobert 7 episodes Joel Waggoner as Tom 4 episodes Zach Galifianakis as Zach Galifianakis 7 episodes Eugene Levy as Eugene Levy 6 episodes Eva Longoria as Eva Longoria 6 episodes Catherine Cohen as Trina Brothers 5 episodes Paul Rudd as Ben Glenroy 19 episodes Jin Ha as Marshall P. Pope 5 episodes Molly Shannon as Bev Melon 7 episodes Siena Werber as Tawny Brothers 5 episodes Desmin Borges as Alfonso 4 episodes Richard Kind as Vince Fish 12 episodes Kumail Nanjiani as Rudy Thurber 7 episodes Lilian Rebelo as Ana 4 episodes Daphne Rubin-Vega as Inez 4 episodes Téa Leoni as Sofia Caccimelio 5 episodes Bobby Cannavale as Nicky Caccimelio 5 episodes Dane DiLiegro as Johnny Caccimelio 4 episodes Jermaine Fowler as Randall 8 episodes Keegan-Michael Key as Mayor Tillman 4 episodes Dianne Wiest as Lorraine 6 episodes Shea Buckner as Tony Caccimelio 4 episodes Elizabeth D'Onofrio as Nonna 4 episodes Aaron Dean Eisenberg as Braden Caccimelio 4 episodes Caitlin Houlahan as Romy 4 episodes Cory Jeacoma as Mikey Caccimelio 4 episodes Evan Mulrooney as Vinny Caccimelio 4 episodes Beanie Feldstein as Althea 6 episodes Logan Lerman as Jay Pflug 5 episodes Christoph Waltz as Bash Steed 5 episodes Renée Zellweger as Camila White 5 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Director
Don Scardino Shari Springer Berman Chris Teague Cherien Dabis John Hoffman Adam Shankman
Production Design
Patrick Howe Curt Beech
Editor
Shelly Westerman Julie Monroe Diana Cruz Hiatt Matthew Barbato Peggy Tachdjian David L. Bertman
Executive Producer
Selena Gomez John Hoffman
Casting
Bernard Telsey Tiffany Little Canfield Destiny Lilly
Costume Supervisor
Kathleen Gerlach
Wardrobe Supervisor
Amy R. Burt
Director of Photography
Chris Teague
Costume Design
Dana Covarrubias
Chief Lighting Technician
John Alcantara
Producer
Kristin Bernstein
Stunt Driver
Chris Hahn
Key Hair Stylist
Jenn Vasilopoulos
Creator
John Hoffman
Set Decoration
Mila Khalevich
Co-Executive Producer
Ben Smith
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Only Murders in the Building overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

deaf friendship female protagonist murderer lgbt murder mystery evidence podcast inspirational theater bisexual woman brisk
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
August 31, 2021
Status
Returning Series
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
2,234