Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

48 Hours

Original title: Forty Eight Hours
  • TV Series
  • 1988–
  • TV-14
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,503
916
48 Hours (1988)
48 Hours: Season 31
Play trailer0:18
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Crime DocumentaryTrue CrimeCrimeDocumentary

One of television's most popular true-crime series, investigating shocking cases and compelling real-life dramas with journalistic integrity and cutting-edge style.One of television's most popular true-crime series, investigating shocking cases and compelling real-life dramas with journalistic integrity and cutting-edge style.One of television's most popular true-crime series, investigating shocking cases and compelling real-life dramas with journalistic integrity and cutting-edge style.

  • Creator
    • Judy Tygard
  • Stars
    • Erin Moriarty
    • Peter Van Sant
    • Richard Schlesinger
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    2.6K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,503
    916
    • Creator
      • Judy Tygard
    • Stars
      • Erin Moriarty
      • Peter Van Sant
      • Richard Schlesinger
    • 18User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 21 wins & 24 nominations total

    Episodes1484

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos2

    48 Hours: Season 31
    Trailer 0:18
    48 Hours: Season 31
    48 Hours
    Trailer 0:21
    48 Hours
    48 Hours
    Trailer 0:21
    48 Hours

    Photos227

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 221
    View Poster

    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Erin Moriarty
    Erin Moriarty
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 1988–2025
    Peter Van Sant
    Peter Van Sant
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 1988–2025
    Richard Schlesinger
    Richard Schlesinger
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 1988–2022
    Maureen Maher
    Maureen Maher
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 2003–2022
    Susan Spencer
    Susan Spencer
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 1988–2020
    Dan Rather
    Dan Rather
    • Self - Host…
    • 1988–2024
    Harold Dow
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 1988–2016
    Troy Roberts
    Troy Roberts
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 1999–2021
    Bill Lagattuta
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 1998–2007
    Tracy Smith
    Tracy Smith
    • Correspondent…
    Bernard Goldberg
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 1988–2000
    Lesley Stahl
    Lesley Stahl
    • Self - Host…
    • 1999–2020
    Jim Axelrod
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 2002–2025
    Natalie Morales
    Natalie Morales
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 2022–2025
    Victoria Corderi
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 1988–1991
    Michelle Miller
    Michelle Miller
    • Self - Correspondent…
    • 2012–2024
    Nikki Battiste
    • Self…
    • 2021–2024
    Peter Van Zant
    • Self - Host…
    • 2007–2016
    • Creator
      • Judy Tygard
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews18

    7.52.6K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7jayydee3

    Unload Susan Spencer

    I do enjoy this show and watch it regularly. There are two things that I do not like about the series and one is the return of Susan Spencer.

    I don't find her pleasant and her facial expressions and demeanor are unpleasant. Always appears like she is challenging the person she is interviewing. Her voice is not great for an announcer. The second of my dislikes is that they tend to focus far too much on the grief of the victims family and have parents and loved ones upset and crying . Some of these poor people have horrible voices and there participation should be kept to a minimum. They really over do it with this. Just stick to the story and the investigation.
    7ThunderKing6

    should be called 38 hours or 47 hours

    Just another crime show discussing people who kill people. It's like all the rest. You are a narrator, killers, victims, reporter who acts like they care and tense music.

    Last Words: You have seen them once, twice, fivce, then you have seen them all. After a while you get bored and freaked out of hearing people killing people. So you just stop watching.

    Hard to believe so many crime shows exist. It's like they are making money off of death and crime.
    9blanbrn

    An investigative and in depth staple that entertains and ask questions.

    For years being a viewer of "CBS" this award winning real life investigative news program "48 Hours" has always been a must view as the reporting and interviews and cases examined are cutting edge and often open for challenge with both sides of the legal system often making challenges and fighting for answers. Each case featured does involve crime mostly murder and the cases are real life many are cold cases unsolved one's from many years ago it's like a search and find mission a detective show at it's best! It's really interesting and in depth many stories and cases featured are high profile and in depth that involve cases of serial killers. The interviews given with family members, police, and suspects are revealing and eye opening. Plus the reporting is from top notch "CBS" reporters! Overall award winning must see investigative show from "CBS" one of it's real life best!
    10sethmlanders

    Wonderful documentary crime drama!

    These are one of those shows that keep you hooked until the end. The suspense is also really well done. The best time to watch this is at night, it's really a great experience. You sometimes don't know whether the cases get resolved at the conclusion.

    It is a intriguing show that is edited in such a sure-handed way. You hear different sides to the story, from the authorities to lawyers and from criminals to the friends & family of the victim(s). There's a lot that goes on within that hour!

    48 Hours Mystery and 48 Hours on ID are the ones I like the most but the original 48 Hours is just as great as its successors. The genres are mixed so well, like drama and sometimes horror, and I'm glad there are so many to watch. If you don't have/use DVR for your cable, you can easily find full episodes on YouTube and the CBS News website. Give it a watch and you'll want to know more about the story in each episode from beginning to end.
    KUAlum26

    No real semblance to the series as it was first created

    IN 1988,CBS had created "48 Hours",a daring news-magazine show meant to cover one topic(examples: Immigration,police stakeouts,on duty with soldiers in Kuwait,Prom nights,etc.)over the course of(wait for it)forty-eight hours!

    This ran for a while,but something changed and the producers at CBS News decided to retool this show. It would no longer truly hinge on the time dynamic of covering a story,but would take on a much more methodical,studied examination of a story or event. For probably the better part of a decade now,it's mostly centered around a murder case,usually ones that have murky results or contentious verdicts.

    Perfectly fine filler entertainment for those who don't like sports,are shut-in on Saturday nights or have an interest in cases like the ones they showcase,this show has had a flux of correspondents,but some such as Erin MOriarty,HArold Dow and Susan Spenser,have been staples of the show's run,through the format changes.Probably a bit pulpy to be considered serious journalism anymore,more of a counterbalance to stuff like "DAteline" and "DAteline:To CAtch a Predator". NArrative and somewhat reminiscent of documentaries on A&E. A show one usually doesn't seek out,yet will most likely be drawn in once they give a show a look.

    More like this

    20/20
    6.8
    20/20
    Dateline NBC
    7.3
    Dateline NBC
    Cold Case Files
    8.0
    Cold Case Files
    On the Case with Paula Zahn
    7.3
    On the Case with Paula Zahn
    48 Hrs.
    6.9
    48 Hrs.
    60 Minutes
    7.4
    60 Minutes
    48 Hours on ID
    7.6
    48 Hours on ID
    Evil Lives Here
    8.0
    Evil Lives Here
    People Magazine Investigates
    7.6
    People Magazine Investigates
    Cold Case Files
    7.9
    Cold Case Files
    The First 48
    8.2
    The First 48
    Snapped
    7.7
    Snapped

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "The Killing Game" about the life of killer Rodney Alacala was the last story by the well respected Harold Dow. Dow passed away as a result of complications from acute asthma during its production; he had arrived at a hospital emergency room and an inhaler was later found on the floor of his vehicle. Dow's son was brought in to finish narration of the episode and 48 Hours dedicated the episode posthumously to Dow.
    • Quotes

      Announcer: [repeated line]

      Announcer: the mystery continues in 90 seconds.

    • Connections
      Edited into Who Killed JFK? Facts Not Fiction (1992)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ17

    • How many seasons does 48 Hours have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 19, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Forty Eight Hours
    • Filming locations
      • West 57th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • CBS News Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 1.78 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit pageAdd episode

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.