6 Shows To Quench Your Thirst For Mystery After ‘Only Murders In The Building’

Only Murders in the Building hits differently. Sure, it has an outstanding cast, sharply written scripts, and juicy mysteries to sink the teeth into, but it’s the combination of all these factors working together in magical unison that make each and every episode an unmissable event for the eyeballs. Since it’s so good, fans seek out more of it, but hey, give the cast and crew some time and space to make the best television possible. After all, all work and no play makes Jack a procedural crime drama.

As everyone awaits the next episode – or season – of Only Murders in the Building to drop, join us as we sniff out six similar shows that fill the void for those wanting more of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. Add these series to the ever-growing watchlist and let the mysteries unfold! Very mild spoilers follow.

Based on a True Story

Much like Only Murders in the Building, Based on a True Story centers around a crime podcast. In this show, married couple Nathan (Chris Messina) and Ava Bartlett (Kaley Cuoco) uncover the identity of a serial killer. Rather than turn him over to the authorities, they decide to team up with him to create a podcast about his murders. For the Bartletts, the podcast serves a secondary purpose, too: As a way to rekindle their flailing marriage. However, it might not matter in the end since they remain unsure if the killer will stab them in the back – quite literally. Based on a True Story satirizes the crime podcast genre and how so many people profit off other people’s misery. That said, it’s never preachy, but takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to showcase these opportunistic characters and their questionable behavior.

The Resort

Cristin Milioti and William Jackson Harper star as Emma and Noah, a married couple celebrating their 10-year anniversary in Yucatán. Even though they have been together for a decade, they have differing opinions about the state of their marriage. A shot of excitement arrives when they’re pulled into the mystery of two missing people – Sam Lawford (Skyler Gisondo) and Violet Thompson (Nina Bloomgarden) – from 15 years ago. Emma and Noah set out to find out what actually happened while unraveling the connected stories of Sam and Violet. The Resort only lasted a single season, but it’s absorbing television for eight strong episodes. JoBlo‘s Alex Maidy praised how it flawlessly blended different genres, writing: “It finds humor in a natural way rather than feeling purely like a comedy but also works very well as a traditional mystery.”

Sugar

While Sugar leans more into old-school Hollywood noir than Only Murders in the Building, the Apple TV+ show features a riveting plot that sees private detective John Sugar (Colin Farrell) investigating the disappearance of an esteemed film producer’s granddaughter, Olivia Siegel (Sydney Chandler). Beautifully shot and superbly edited, Sugar’s journey to uncovering the truth sees him clashing with members of the Siegel family who have their own secrets to hide. At the same time, all is not what it seems with Sugar, and there’s a plot twist in this show that changes absolutely everything – including the genre of the show. The big reveal could prove to be too much for some viewers, but it needs to be experienced to be believed.

The Flight Attendant

The first season of The Flight Attendant establishes itself as distinctively superior to the second, but this twisty series keeps everyone on their toes due to the unreliable narrator and main protagonist, Cassie Bowden (Kaley Cuoco). Cassie is a flight attendant and an alcoholic who after a drunken one-night stand with a passenger – Alex Sokolov (Michiel Huisman) – wakes up to find him dead and with his throat slashed. Rather than call the authorities, Cassie tries to cover it up, which leads to further questions and suspicion. Simultaneously, she attempts to piece together the events of the evening and who could have murdered Alex. The Flight Attendant Season 1 racked up an impressive 97% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, confirming that this is a must-watch program for all murder-mystery aficionados.

Murderville

What happens when someone combines Only Murders in the Building with Whose Line Is It Anyway? Murderville! Based on the British series Murder in Successville, this show follows Detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett) who gets paired with a new guest star each episode as they attempt to solve a murder-mystery. The catch is that the guest star isn’t given a script beforehand, so they need to improvise every scene. Guest stars include the likes of Conan O’Brien, Sharon Stone, and Kumail Nanjiani. The formula of the show allows for genuine laugh-out-loud moments and unpredictability for everyone involved. In addition, it showcases the undisputed talent of Arnett as a comedian since he needs to stay in character while still embracing the possibility of chaos.

The Afterparty

The Afterparty combines the comedic sensibility of Only Murders in the Building with the whodunit appeal of Knives Out. The anthology series lasted only for two seasons, but it’s built up a legion of followers who believe it to be one of the most entertaining shows released in the 21st century – just check Reddit to see how invested the fanbase is. The first season takes place after a high school reunion afterparty, showcasing each person’s point-of-view of what happened, while the second season follows the events after a wedding’s afterparty. The cast includes the talents of Sam Richardson, Tiffany Haddish, and Zoë Chao, with a number of other stars appearing in the two seasons. Executive produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, this is one show that deserves a #RestoreTheAfterparty movement on X, Twitter, or whatever in the world that hellscape is called nowadays.

For those who prefer films that scratch the Only Murders in the Building itch, check out the 7 mystery movies that will keep you on the edge of your seat.