The Murder of Rachel Nickell

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The Murder of Rachel Nickell

2026

1h 36m

Crime

Documentary

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6 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

In 1992, a young mother is killed in broad daylight on London’s Wimbledon Common, leaving her two-year-old toddler as the sole witness. Exploring the shocking real events behind the drama series The Witness, this gripping documentary from BAFTA-nominated director Lucy Bowden examines the notorious, years-long police investigation that followed. Featuring exclusive archive footage, first-hand accounts from family members, and insights from leading forensic experts, the film unpacks how a flawed, highly-publicized inquiry led to the wrong man's prosecution, before a stunning breakthrough reignited a family's fight for justice over a decade later.

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Jun 20

A conventionally made documentary that sufficiently points out the pros and cons of the police investigation of this murder mystery. Unfortunately, interviews with two of the most important people in this story aren't shown until near the end.

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Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

Jun 16

3/5

It takes far too long for The Murder of Rachel Nickell to reveal that this is a story about police investigative error.

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Dustin Rowles

Pajiba

Jun 9

This is where the documentary, The Murder of Rachel Nickell, earns its place alongside the drama. It lays out the full scope of the institutional failure more methodically.

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John Serba

Decider

Jun 5

The Murder of Rachel Nickell doesn’t transcend the form of true crime documentaries, but ethically speaking, stands head-and-shoulders above most of them.

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Romey Norton

InSession Film

Jun 4

B+

The Murder of Rachel Nickell serves as a reminder that behind every headline lies a family forever changed. It asks audiences to look beyond the crime itself and consider the lives affected by it.

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Karina Adelgaard

Heaven of Horror

Jun 4

4/5

These true crime documentaries can be made in many ways, and I applaud the approach in this case. It has a very sombre feeling to it, and the case is covered through new interviews with both...

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Regina W

@Regina.warren7 Jun 16

Well done. Mesmerizing. Really gets the interesting angles on a very difficult case. And the "what ifs".

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Diane D.

@Diane19809 Jun 13

Too focused on their struggles with the media and trying to live a “normal” life versus on the actual murder.

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Bess A

@bessanders Jun 8

So many true crime shows. What this one gets right: the subjects portrayed eventually speak for themselves, and often complicate the stories told about them. Makes for a very human project.

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Kenneth L

@RT28484096 Jun 7

Another solid murder-doc on Netflix.

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Weather B.

@weatherwoman Jun 5

One of the best documentaries I’ve seen.

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Sean W

@RT47329216 Jun 4

First and foremost to see the partner of Rachel describe with an incredible depth of emotional energy the nightmare he has experienced with his son is absolutely heart wrenching. I knew this was not going to be an easy watch, but I just felt I wanted to lean into the screen and hug this brave man who has managed to keep it together enough to raise his son. The documentary lays out the errors of investigators to follow up properly on incidents that could have prevented the perpetrator being free to commit the crimes, but what hits home is the strength of the father and son to relay the story from their perspective. Really well put together documentary and a hard but must watch.

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Lucy Bowden

Director

The Murder of Rachel Nickell: Trailer

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Synopsis

In 1992, a young mother is killed in broad daylight on London’s Wimbledon Common, leaving her two-year-old toddler as the sole witness. Exploring the shocking real events behind the drama series The Witness, this gripping documentary from BAFTA-nominated director Lucy Bowden examines the notorious, years-long police investigation that followed. Featuring exclusive archive footage, first-hand accounts from family members, and insights from leading forensic experts, the film unpacks how a flawed, highly-publicized inquiry led to the wrong man's prosecution, before a stunning breakthrough reignited a family's fight for justice over a decade later.

Director: Lucy Bowden
Distributor: Netflix
Genre: Crime, Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 4, 2026
Runtime: 1h 36m