There are over 100,000 cold cases in America, and only about 1% are ever solved. With recent advancements in technology and the methods used to solve these cases, as well as the unwavering dedication of victims’ families, law enforcement and the public, “Cold Case Files” explores the cases that defied the odds.
Each episode of the Emmy-nominated series examines the twists and turns of one murder case that remained unsolved for years, and the critical element that heated it up, leading to the evidence that finally solved it. Featuring interviews with family members, friends, detectives, and others close to the cases, the refreshed classic series examines all facets of the crime and shines a light on a range of voices and victims.
Episode Ratings Grid
Every episode at a glance, color-coded by rating. Rows are episode numbers within each season, columns are seasons.
The best and worst episodes at a glance. Use this to find must-watch episodes or ones you might want to skip.
🏆 Top Episodes
#1 8.1
S4E5Money, Moguls and Murder
A 2007 cold case resurfaces when a detective reopens the investigation into the brutal killing of Audrey Giannotti, 20, in rural Pennsylvania. Uncovering hidden secrets, he races against time to bring justice to a family desperate for answers.
#2
S1E8 8.0
A Family Secret
Ten years after a 17-year-old girl is found strangled in the woods in small-town Kentucky, detectives uncover a terrible family secret.
#3
S4E8 8.0
A Bullet to the Heart
When the body of a woman turns up in a field in Huntington Beach, CA in 1968, police simultaneously seek a killer and the identity of the victim herself. It takes 52 years for detectives to solve this dual mystery and expose a vicious predator.
4. S4E6 "Evil in Huntington Beach" 7.9
5. S1E4 "Sweethearts, Silenced" 7.8
6. S4E9 "Viciously Murdered" 7.8
7. S1E3 "She Never Came Home" 7.7
8. S4E4 "Damn His Soul to Hell" 7.7
9. S1E1 "Little Girl Lost" 7.6
10. S4E2 "Good Girl Gone" 7.6
📉 Bottom Episodes
#60
S3E2 6.2
Gone in a New York Minute
Landlord Bruce Blackwood disappears without a trace in March 2006. Though there is no body, the NYPD is sure this is a homicide and they, along with Bruce's brother Ed, spend the next 9 years searching for answers and a killer.
59. S3E3 "Murder in the Midwest" 6.3
58. S2E23 "A is for Arson" 6.3
57. S3E5 "Vanished in Virginia" 6.4
56. S3E4 "Death of a Hero" 6.4
The Quality Arc
Each point is an episode, plotted chronologically. The colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for upward or downward trends to see if quality improved or declined over time.
Episode Engagement
Vote count shows how many people cared enough to rate. High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.
Rating threshold:
6Standouts
26Infamous
7Hidden Gems
21Forgettable
Top Standout:S1E1Little Girl Lost
Most Infamous:S1E9A Family Cursed
Best Hidden Gem:S4E5Money, Moguls and Murder
Episodes plotted by rating vs. vote count. The vertical line marks the rating threshold (7.5).
More votes = more engagement. Toggle above to compare against global or show-specific median.
Series Trajectory
A simplified view: one point per season. This smooths out episode-to-episode noise to show the overall arc of the series.
Season Momentum
Did each season build momentum or fizzle out? Green arrows mean the finale rated higher than the premiere. Red means the opposite. Longer arrows = bigger swings.
Season Consistency
Some seasons are reliable bangers. Others are hit-or-miss. Each dot is an episode. Tightly clustered dots mean consistent quality. Scattered dots mean a mixed bag.
Each dot is an episode. Clustered dots = consistent quality. Scattered dots = variable season. Hover for episode details.