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Murder Files

Murder Files

2013Ended1 season4 episodes~44 min/epMidcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

This series takes an in-depth look at some of Britain's most high-profile murders in recent memory and examines just how police nabbed the culprits.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Murder Files?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Murder Files streaming on HBO Max via Hulu.

Subscription

via Hulu

Reception

Is Murder Files worth watching?

Murder Files' Midcredits score is the 46th percentile of all shows, from 65 ratings across 2 sources (very few ratings yet, so treat it as provisional). 66% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

46th percentile

Better received than 46% of shows

Very few ratings yet, so treat it as provisional.

36th percentile among Documentary44th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)50th
Approval (how many liked it)42nd

Acclaim

Broadly Agreed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

71 /100

Very few ratings yet, so treat it as provisional.

50th percentile of all shows

39th percentile among Documentary48th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.7 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

66% liked it

42nd percentile of all shows

37th percentile among Documentary40th percentile among 2010s
66% rated it 7–1034% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

5th percentile

64 ratings across platforms

11th percentile among Documentary9th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 21% in 30 days

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2013 · 4 episodes

  • S1E1
    S1E1

    The Schoolboy Assassin

    Feb 28, 201344 min
  • S1E2
    S1E2

    The Haircut Killer

    May 14, 201344 min
  • S1E3
    S1E3

    Killer on the Run

    Jun 5, 201344 min
  • S1E4
    S1E4

    The Sketchbook Killer

    Jun 12, 201344 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Murder Files like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseContemplative
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Episodic · 11% of shows: Loosely connected incidents rather than one driving plot.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe film holds its material straight as a factual documentary, treating each case with serious, sober interest.
The rideThe series maintains a consistently tense and thought-provoking atmosphere across episodes.
StructureEach episode presents a self-contained criminal investigation, typical of a case-based documentary series.
Episode formatThe series presents a new criminal case each episode, but the overarching theme of investigating UK crime provides a connective thread.
Season formatEach season, though short with only 4 episodes, focuses on a distinct set of criminal investigations.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves the viewer reflecting on the nature of crime, evidence and justice, with a lingering unease about real cases.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeDocumentary series examining real criminal investigations, not a narrative with a plot archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% (this title) · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% (this title) · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Power

Oppression · 2% of showsJustice · 14% of showsTruth · 6% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores how crimes affect communities and the pursuit of justice in the face of systemic failures.
StanceThe series critically examines the criminal justice system and societal responses to crime.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalUrbanRealistic
AmbientBackground music · original score
SettingRecent criminal investigations across the UK, focusing on police work and legal proceedings.

Content guide

Is Murder Files okay for kids?

Ratings in 1 other country
  • Netherlands12

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Murder Files have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Murder Files?

Cast

David Holmes
as Self - Forensic Psychologist
Jez Noyce
as Self - Detective, Dorset Police
Mark Cooper
as Self - Detective Superintendent, Dorset Police
Phil James
as Self - Detective Superintendent, Dorset Police
Stuart Black
as Self - Environmental Scientist
Gildo Claps
as Self - Elisa's Brother
Denise Le Voir
as Self - Heather's Sister
Andy Martin
as Self - News Editor, Daily Echo
Caitlin Marsh
as Self - Heather's Daughter

Crew

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TMDB's suggestions for shows like Murder Files include People Magazine Investigates (2016), Snapped (2004) and American Monster (2016).

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