Best Episodes
The First 48 is a hit true crime docu-series that follows detectives during the hours immediately following a homicide. It is available to watch on A&E and first aired back in 2004. After 24 seasons, The First 48 has created some unforgettable episodes. Below, we’ll be ranking the best episodes of The First 48 and why they have earned their spots on the list.
From the shocking twists and turns of the case, to the heartbreaking stories of the victims and their families, the show has created some truly moving and captivating episodes. Each episode is filled with intense moments that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
So, without further ado, let’s jump right into the ranking and see which episodes made the cut as the best of the best of The First 48.
Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 13, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
In Tulsa, a homeless man is ambushed by two men on a dark trail, and his wife may hold the key to finding the killers.
The episode was rated 7.41 from 61 votes.
Two murders within hours of each other at the same apartment complex leave Mobile Homicide scrambling to find the culprits.
The episode was rated 7.43 from 14 votes.
When a man is found shot and dumped in the road, detectives learn how his struggle to overcome obstacles left him headed for a collision with someone on the edge.
The episode was rated 7.43 from 49 votes.
The cold-blooded shooting of a man outside his apartment is caught on video, but detectives must work through the night to identify his masked attacker.
The episode was rated 7.43 from 118 votes.
When a young father goes out partying and ends up murdered at a club, everyone knows what happened, but no one is talking.
The episode was rated 7.45 from 55 votes.
When three people are gunned down in a quiet neighborhood, Gwinnette County police struggle to find a connection between the victims.
The episode was rated 7.46 from 80 votes.
When a 15-year-old boy is murdered after getting in over his head, detectives hope a Snapchat message can lead them to his killer.
The episode was rated 7.47 from 62 votes.
Gwinnett County detectives chase down a bullet-ridden Toyota Camry to find who may have killed a beloved young man. (The original broadcast title was "Through Death's Door." As of September 2022, reruns use the title "Bad Driver.")
The episode was rated 7.47 from 83 votes.
A young Tulsa father is shot several times in his driveway after putting his 1-year-old daughter to bed; Detective Jason White hopes a pill bottle found on the scene will help lead to the killer.
The episode was rated 7.51 from 90 votes.
A father of four is gunned down in a strip club in Mobile, when a chance encounter turns deadly.
The episode was rated 7.53 from 60 votes.
When hip-hop artist Chucky Trill is gunned down on a highway after leaving a nightclub, Gwinnett County Homicide must retrace his steps to find the killer.
The episode was rated 7.55 from 49 votes.
When a man is gunned down while walking his dogs in a quiet park, surveillance video leads detectives to an unlikely suspect.
The episode was rated 7.55 from 38 votes.
In Gwinnett County, two brothers are murdered in their sleep. Detectives suspect they were betrayed by someone they knew.
The episode was rated 7.55 from 38 votes.
In Tulsa, Okla., a friendly gathering takes a fatal turn when three people are shot and a teenager is killed; in Mobile, Ala., a plan to settle a dispute backfires when a man is gunned down at a family member's house.
The episode was rated 7.60 from 55 votes.
When a love triangle turns deadly, a killer enlists an unusual murder weapon.
The episode was rated 7.67 from 58 votes.
