Naman Shrestha
The creation of Steve Martin and John Hoffman, Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ is a murder-mystery comedy series that centers on the trio of true crime enthusiasts — Charles, Oliver, and Mabel — all of whom reside in the Arconia, where they uncover suspicious murders. In the fifth season, the narrative revolves around the sudden murder of the upscale apartment building’s longtime doorman, Lester, whose remains were found in the courtyard fountain in the final episode of season 4.
While many in the Arconia believe it to be an accidental death, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel think otherwise. They notice that Lester had died under some mysterious circumstances, making the trio believe that he was a victim of murder. Thus, they take matters into their own hands again and launch an investigation that takes them beyond the walls of the building. Given the significance of the Arconia’s presence in the story, it takes the role of an additional character and adds another layer of mystery.
Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Filming Locations
Following the pattern of the previous seasons, the shooting for the fifth season of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ also took place across New York City, New York. According to reports, principal photography for season 5 got underway in early March 2025 under the working title ‘Rafael’s Interiors’ and wrapped up after three months or so, in June of the same year. One of the cast members, Tony Plana, took to social media after the conclusion of shooting. He stated, “Thrilled to share the screen once again with @stevemartinreally on Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building! Such a joy and privilege, always great laughs on set. Can’t wait for you all to see what we’ve cooked up.”
New York City, New York
For the fifth season, the Big Apple once again became the primary production location for ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ The cast and crew members set up camp outside the Belnord, a 13-story pre-war apartment building, and the surrounding areas. Located at 225 West 86th Street, it doubles as the Arconia and naturally becomes a hotspot for taping many pivotal exterior scenes involving the fictional apartment building. However, in order to lens the interior scenes of the Arconia, the production team seemingly utilized the facilities of Silvercup Studios at 42-22 22nd Street in the Long Island City neighborhood within the New York City borough of Queens.
Since 1983, Silvercup Studios has been fulfilling the requirements of many filmmakers during the production process. It is home to three world-class studio lots, with 23 different sound stages. Apart from that, the film studio also consists of a rooftop shooting space with spectacular Manhattan skyline views, production offices, dressing rooms, wardrobe space, hair and make-up rooms, and more, making it an ideal filming site for all kinds of projects. The filming unit also headed down to Staten Island, the southernmost borough. The area near the iconic property, at 110 Longfellow Road, that features in ‘The Godfather’, became a shooting spot too.
Several key portions for ‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 5 were also recorded on the former St. John University campus on Grymes Hill. According to reports, the cast and crew members were also spotted shooting multiple important sequences on Skillman Avenue and Bliss Street in Queens. Tompkins Square Park at East 10th Street also served as a prominent production location for taping various exterior scenes. Apart from the comedy drama series, New York City has hosted the production of many movies and TV shows over the years, including ‘The Usual Suspects,’ ‘Blow Out,’ ‘Sherlock Holmes,’ ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,’ ‘The Blacklist,’ ‘Person of Interest,’ and ‘Blue Bloods.’
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