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The First 48

2004 – nowShow30 seasons610 episodesTV-14

DocumentaryDrama
82
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Metacritic–8.7

A tense, intriguing documentary series about crime and everyday modern life.

Good for friends night · teens · binge-friendly

Skip it if you want something to laugh at

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, comfort or romance.

Shows with

Episodes

30 seasons · 610 episodes · best: S17E28 "Unspeakable" 9.4

Episodes

7.7
7.9
8.0
8.3
8.0
7.7
8.0
8.2
7.9
7.7
7.6
7.8
7.9
7.9
7.8
7.7
7.8
8.0
7.7
7.4
7.5
7.3
7.1
6.9
6.5
6.7
6.9
7.3
7.2

Story

The First 48 follows detectives from around the country during these first critical hours as they race against time to find the suspect. Gritty and fast-paced, it takes viewers behind the scenes of real-life investigations with unprecedented access to crime scenes, autopsies, forensic processing, and interrogations.

Feels like

  • Procedural Crime Drama
  • Forensic Investigation
  • True Crime Documentary Style
  • Police Work Realism
  • Mystery Solving
  • High Tension
  • Educational
  • Gritty Atmosphere
  • Episodic Structure
  • Law Enforcement Focus

Cast

1 of 1 · most episodes first

Crew

Music by
The Angel

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 3, 2004 · August 27, 2026 · Still running

First aired
June 3, 2004
Latest episode
August 27, 2026
Status
Still running
Length
30 seasons · 610 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language
Genres
Documentary, Drama, Crime
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
13 countries

Tropes

Pull the Thread, Dueling Shows, Murder by Mistake +9

  • Pull the Thread
  • Dueling Shows
  • Murder by Mistake
  • Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking
  • I Never Said It Was Poison
  • Exact Time to Failure
  • Spin-Off
  • But for Me, It Was Tuesday
  • Alas, Poor Villain
  • Pixellation
  • Even Evil Has Standards
  • Master of Disguise

12 of 28 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The First 48?"

Questions about The First 48

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The First 48?

NetflixPrimeDisney+HuluPeacockPhiloThe RokuThe CW

In the United States, The First 48 streams on Netflix, Prime, Disney+, Hulu, and Peacock, and it is free with ads on The Roku, The CW, Hoopla, Pluto TV, Spectrum On Demand, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 12 other countries.

Is The First 48 worth watching?

82
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 82 (IMDb 8.2). Season 26 is the weak spot, with an IMDb average of 6.5 against 8.3 for the best season.

Which season of The First 48 is best?

Season 4, with an IMDb average of 8.3. Season 26 is the weakest at 6.5. The highest-rated episode is Unspeakable (season 17, episode 28) at 9.4, and the lowest is Off the Tracks (season 11, episode 12) at 3.2.

Is The First 48 okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceDisturbing imageryStrong language

Not for young kids: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence, disturbing imagery, and strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

How long does it take to watch The First 48?

458 h

About 458 hours: 610 episodes in 30 seasons of about 45 minutes each since 2004, and it's still in production.

Can I half-watch The First 48?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 6 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it drop-in friendly.

What tropes does The First 48 use?

Pull the ThreadDueling ShowsMurder by MistakeArson, Murder, and JaywalkingI Never Said It Was PoisonExact Time to FailureSpin-OffBut for Me, It Was TuesdayAlas, Poor VillainPixellationEven Evil Has StandardsMaster of Disguiseand 16 more

TV Tropes lists 28 tropes for it, including Pull the Thread, Dueling Shows, and Murder by Mistake.