Only Murders in the Building is a Hulu comedy mystery starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez as true-crime fans who start a podcast about a death in their New York building. Our review of season 1: warm, funny and well cast, but more hit-or-miss as a mystery. In India it streams on JioHotstar.
When we first reviewed it in 2021, it was a new show with an odd trio at its centre. Five seasons later, it is one of Hulu’s best-known comedies, with season 6 on the way. Here is our updated take.
Only Murders in the Building: quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Created by | Steve Martin and John Hoffman |
| Showrunner | John Hoffman |
| Lead cast | Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez |
| Original network | Hulu (US) |
| Where to watch in India | JioHotstar |
| Seasons released | 5 (10 episodes each) |
| Season 6 | Renewed; slated for 8 December 2026 |
What is Only Murders in the Building about?
Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) are three neighbours at the Arconia, a grand building on New York’s Upper West Side. They have little in common except an obsession with a true-crime podcast.
When a young man in the building is found shot and police call it a suicide, the three suspect murder. They start investigating on their own and turn the case into a podcast of their own. The pilot opens with Mabel standing over a body, then jumps back two months to show how they got there.
Main characters
- Charles-Haden Savage, played by Steve Martin
- Oliver Putnam, played by Martin Short
- Mabel Mora, played by Selena Gomez, the youngest of the trio
Aaron Dominguez, Amy Ryan, Michael Cyril Creighton, Adina Verson and Cara Delevingne also appear in main roles across different seasons. This was Gomez’s first scripted TV role since Wizards of Waverly Place.
Only Murders in the Building review: what works
The chemistry between the three leads is the show’s biggest asset. Martin and Short bounce off each other with easy timing, and Gomez plays the dry, younger third wheel. A lot of the humour comes from two older men trying to understand a millennial, and vice versa.
The supporting cast is strong. Tina Fey voices podcast host Cinda Canning, Sting plays himself, Nathan Lane appears as Teddy Dimas, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph plays a sharp detective. The building itself works almost like a fourth lead, with its staff, residents and secrets.
The later episodes of season 1 are the best. One episode shifts focus to Teddy’s deaf son, played by James Caverly, and it is one of the most inventive half-hours of the season.
What does not work
As a mystery, the first season is uneven. The humour is smooth but rarely sharp, and some gags about age and technology get repetitive. A few subplots, such as a character who was wrongly jailed, are raised and then dropped.
In our original review, we felt Gomez’s comic timing did not always land next to the two veterans in the early episodes. The podcast voiceovers, though clever at first, also slow the pace.
All seasons and release dates
- Season 1: 31 August to 19 October 2021
- Season 2: 28 June to 23 August 2022
- Season 3: 8 August to 3 October 2023, with Meryl Streep joining
- Season 4: 27 August to 29 October 2024
- Season 5: 9 September to 28 October 2025
Season 5 added Keegan-Michael Key, Christoph Waltz, Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Beanie Feldstein, Dianne Wiest, Bobby Cannavale and Téa Leoni. It premiered with three episodes and then went weekly, and in India it streamed on JioHotstar.
Only Murders in the Building season 6
Hulu renewed the show in October 2025, and season 6 is slated to premiere on 8 December 2026. The story moves to London, where filming reportedly ran from May to August 2026.
The announced season 6 cast includes David Tennant, Sharon Horgan, Martin Freeman, Jim Broadbent, Jodie Whittaker and Nicola Coughlan, with Olivia Colman and Peter Capaldi confirmed in August 2026.
How to start watching
Start with season 1. Each season has its own main case, but the characters, running jokes and relationships carry over, so watching in order makes the later seasons more fun. With 10 episodes per season, each season is a manageable binge over a weekend or two.
Awards so far
The series has earned 61 Emmy nominations and seven wins, including Nathan Lane’s Outstanding Guest Actor award for season 1. The season 4 cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Martin, Short and Gomez have all been nominated at the Golden Globes.
Is Only Murders in the Building worth watching in 2026?
Yes. Season 1 is a hit-or-miss mystery but a very likeable comedy, and the show grows in confidence after it. If you like cosy whodunits more than dark crime dramas, this is an easy pick before season 6 arrives. For more, see our Hollywood and series sections.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Only Murders in the Building in India?
The show streams on JioHotstar in India, including season 5.
How many seasons of Only Murders in the Building are there?
Five seasons of 10 episodes each have been released. Season 6 has been confirmed.
When is Only Murders in the Building season 6 coming out?
Season 6 is slated to premiere on 8 December 2026, with the story set in London.
Who created Only Murders in the Building?
Steve Martin and John Hoffman created the series. Hoffman is the showrunner.
Sources: Wikipedia: Only Murders in the Building, Smartprix: season 5 OTT details.
