You're sitting on the couch. You've got your snacks. You’ve heard everyone raving about Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez solving crimes in a posh New York apartment building. So, you open the app, type it in, and... nothing. It’s frustrating. People keep asking is Only Murders in the Building on Netflix, and the short answer is a flat no.
It isn’t there. It has never been there.
Honestly, the confusion makes sense. Netflix used to be the "everything" app for prestige TV, but the streaming wars changed the math. Now, content is siloed off based on who actually owns the studio. In this case, we’re talking about a show produced by 20th Television, which is a subsidiary of Disney. Because of that corporate lineage, the show lives on Disney-owned platforms.
If you're in the United States, you'll find the trio of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel exclusively on Hulu. If you happen to be watching from the UK, Canada, or basically anywhere else in the world, it’s tucked away in the "Star" section of Disney+.
Why Is Only Murders in the Building on Netflix Search Results So Common?
It’s the "Netflix Effect." We’ve spent a decade associating high-quality, buzzy dramedies with that red "N." When a show like this explodes—winning Emmys and dominating social media—our brains just assume it’s a Netflix Original. It feels like one. It has that polished, high-production value and "binge-able" hook that defined the early era of Orange is the New Black or Dead to Me.
But it’s a Hulu Original.
There's also the "Licensing Mirage." Sometimes, shows like Suits or Breaking Bad live on Netflix even though they were made by other networks (USA and AMC, respectively). This leads people to check Netflix first for everything. But Disney is notoriously stingy with its flagship content. They want you in their ecosystem. They want those Hulu or Disney+ subscription numbers to climb, so they aren't about to hand over their biggest comedy hit to a direct competitor.
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The Arconia and the Streaming Divide
The show centers on three strangers living in the Arconia, a fictionalized version of the real-life Belnord on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. They’re obsessed with true crime. They start their own podcast. It’s meta, it’s funny, and it’s surprisingly heartfelt.
If you’re looking for it, you have to navigate the messy landscape of modern digital ownership.
Back in the day, a show was on a channel. You turned on the TV at 8:00 PM. Simple. Now, it’s about bundles. Since Disney took full control of Hulu, they’ve been merging the apps. If you have the Disney Bundle, you can actually watch Only Murders inside the Disney+ app in the US now, thanks to the "Hulu on Disney+" integration. It’s a bit of a Russian nesting doll situation.
Where to watch based on where you live:
- USA: Hulu (or the Disney+ app if you have the bundle).
- United Kingdom: Disney+ (Star).
- Canada: Disney+.
- Australia: Disney+.
- Latin America: Star+ (though this is being consolidated into Disney+).
What to Watch on Netflix Instead
Since you're already paying for Netflix and realize Only Murders isn't there, you might want something with a similar vibe. You want "cozy mystery." You want quirky characters and maybe a bit of colorful knitwear.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is probably the closest match in terms of tone. It’s got the ensemble cast, the humor, and the "whodunnit" structure. It’s a Netflix film, so it’s right there.
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Then there’s The Afterparty. Wait, no—that’s Apple TV+. See? It’s a minefield out there.
If you stay on Netflix, try Murderville with Will Arnett. It’s more of a parody and leans heavily into improv, but it scratches that itch for a murder mystery that doesn't take itself too seriously. Or, if you want something darker but still set in an affluent world of secrets, The Gentlemen (the series) has that high-society-meets-crime energy, though it’s much more violent than the tea-drinking antics of Oliver Putnam.
Is it ever coming to Netflix?
Never say never? No, actually, in this case, you can probably say never.
The strategy for Disney right now is consolidation. They are trying to make their platforms the "must-have" services. Giving away their crown jewels to Netflix would be like a restaurant giving its secret recipe to the place across the street. It doesn't happen.
We’ve seen some HBO shows like Insecure and Band of Brothers pop up on Netflix recently because Warner Bros. Discovery needed the quick cash from licensing deals. But Disney is a different beast. They are doubling down on their own apps. If you want to see Meryl Streep or Paul Rudd join the cast in later seasons, you’re going to have to venture outside the Netflix garden.
How to get the best deal to watch it
If you’re annoyed about signing up for another service, look for trials. Hulu often runs "30 days free" promotions for new subscribers. If you’re a student, you can usually snag Hulu for a couple of bucks a month.
Don't bother with those "Watch Only Murders Online Free" sites. Most of them are just digital minefields for malware, and honestly, the cinematography of this show—the deep teals, the warm oranges of the Arconia—looks terrible in a low-res pirated stream. It’s a show that deserves a clean 4K screen.
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Actionable Steps for the True Crime Fan
If you've realized is Only Murders in the Building on Netflix was a dead end, don't just give up. The show is genuinely worth the extra effort of a separate subscription or a free trial.
- Check your existing bundles. Many Verizon or American Express plans include the Disney Bundle for free. You might already have access to the show without knowing it.
- Start from Season 1. The mystery is serialized. You can’t just jump into Season 3 to see Meryl Streep; you’ll be totally lost on why there’s a dog named Winnie or what the deal is with the secret passageways.
- Use the Hulu "No Ads" trial. The comedic timing in this show is precise. Having a loud commercial for insurance break up a tense elevator scene with Steve Martin really kills the mood.
- Explore the "Related" section. If you end up getting Hulu for this, check out The Bear or Reservation Dogs. If you're on Disney+ internationally, look for Extraordinary. These are the shows that share that same "human-centric" DNA.
The mystery of why it's not on Netflix is solved: it's just corporate competition. Now you can get back to the actual mystery of who killed Tim Kono. Or Bunny. Or... well, you'll see.