The Investigation of Lucy Letby (Netflix): Release Date, Runtime & What’s Actually in the Film
Inside Netflix’s Lucy Letby Documentary: Release Date, Runtime, and What You’ll Actually See
Content note: This documentary and this article discuss real infant deaths and a criminal case. Viewer discretion advised.
Last updated: February 22, 2026
Quick facts (for skimmers)
| Title | The Investigation of Lucy Letby |
|---|---|
| Where to watch | Netflix |
| Release date | February 4, 2026 (now streaming) |
| Runtime | 1:34:46 (about 95 minutes) |
| Rating | TV-14 |
| Official synopsis (Netflix) | Unseen footage and unheard insider accounts reveal the harrowing and divisive case of Lucy Letby, the neonatal nurse convicted of fatally harming infants. |
Netflix link: The Investigation of Lucy Letby
Official Netflix trailer (YouTube)
Release date and what time it dropped
Release date: Netflix released The Investigation of Lucy Letby on February 4, 2026. If you’re the kind of viewer who likes to watch the moment a title appears, it rolled out on Netflix at the usual global drop time: 12:00 a.m. PT / 3:00 a.m. ET on February 4, 2026.
February 4, 2026 announcement from Netflix UK & Ireland
Runtime (and why you’ll see slightly different numbers online)
Netflix’s Tudum listing shows a runtime of 1:34:46 (about 95 minutes). Some entertainment listings round this to “about 90 minutes” or “1h 30m,” and IMDb currently lists it at 1h 32m. The simplest expectation: it’s a feature-length, under-two-hour documentary you can finish in one sitting.
What’s actually in the film (not just the marketing)
Netflix positions this as a feature documentary built around “unseen footage” and direct access to people who were involved in the case or its aftermath. In practice, that means the film leans heavily on three ingredients: investigative chronology, first-hand interviews, and archival material.
1) Never-before-seen police material
The documentary includes footage connected to Lucy Letby’s arrests and police questioning. This “access” angle is one of the main reasons the film sparked so much discussion, because it moves the viewer from abstract headlines into real-world procedural moments: arrest footage, interviews, and the investigation’s timeline.
2) A line-up of contributors from multiple sides
Netflix’s own Tudum guide lists interviewees that include Cheshire Police investigators, a retired consultant pediatrician, a prosecution expert witness, a journalist, and figures associated with defense challenges and appeals. You’ll also see two contributors presented under changed names (“Sarah” and “Maisie”) to protect identities.
- Cheshire Police interviewees (including senior investigating voices)
- Medical voices connected to the case
- Legal perspectives, including Letby’s attorney
- “Sarah” (a victim’s mother; name changed)
- “Maisie” (a friend; name changed)
3) A story shaped like an investigation (more than a courtroom recap)
While the trial is part of the narrative, the documentary’s framing is investigative: how concerns accumulated, how the police built a case, what evidence and expert interpretations mattered, and why public opinion remains split.
If you’re expecting a purely medical deep dive into neonatology, statistics, or competing clinical interpretations, this isn’t that. It’s a TV-paced investigative documentary: real people, real institutions, major turning points, and strong editorial structure.
The AI anonymisation: what it is, why it’s there, and why people noticed immediately
One of the most talked-about production choices is the way the documentary disguises two contributors. Netflix states that some contributors were digitally disguised to maintain anonymity; Tudum explains that using AI/digital technologies for “Sarah” and “Maisie” was a creative decision made with consent, intended to uphold anonymity either by request or due to court order.
Reaction post about AI anonymisation
The practical effect is that the documentary can include emotionally heavy testimony from people who cannot or do not want to appear on camera, without using the older “shadow silhouette + voice distortion” approach. The trade-off is obvious on screen: some viewers find it less distracting, while many find it uncanny and feel it clashes with the seriousness of the subject.
What Reddit Viewers Say About the AI Interviews
Reddit reaction has been fast, blunt, and surprisingly consistent: many viewers say the AI disguise pulls attention away from the testimony itself. Others argue it’s a reasonable compromise if it’s the only way to protect a contributor while still allowing them to speak.
Discussion thread
A separate accuracy controversy you might miss if you’re half-watching
After release, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists publicly highlighted an incorrect reference in the documentary: “occupational therapy” was said in a context where “occupational health” was meant. In a case this emotionally charged, small wording errors can become rocket fuel for online arguments about credibility.
Privacy and ethics: why the documentary became news beyond true-crime circles
The film’s use of arrest footage filmed inside a private home has also been controversial. Multiple outlets reported criticism from Letby’s parents, who described the use of footage from their home as an invasion of privacy and said they found it deeply distressing.
What Reddit Theories Say About the Case After Watching
Reddit discussions about the documentary often split into two big lanes: people who feel the film reinforces the investigation’s logic and the conviction, and people who focus on disputes about evidence, expert testimony, and the possibility of a miscarriage of justice.
- Some threads argue the documentary is strongest when it sticks to timelines, investigation milestones, and who did what when.
- Others criticize what they see as missing context, incomplete explanations, or editorial choices that shape emotional reactions.
- Many posts focus less on “new revelations” and more on “how it’s presented” (especially the AI disguise and the arrest footage).
Netflix documentary megathread
Related content to watch if this documentary sent you down the rabbit hole
If you want context, contrasts, or just a way to compare storytelling styles, here are a few legitimate next clicks.
More true-crime on Netflix (similar “investigative documentary” vibe)
- Capturing the Killer Nurse
- Take Care of Maya
- What Jennifer Did
- Girl in the Picture
Related YouTube watch
For a Netflix-owned explainer hub (cast, related articles, and updates), see: Tudum’s title page.
FAQ
Is The Investigation of Lucy Letby on Netflix in the US?
Yes. Netflix released it as a Netflix original documentary title with a global streaming page; availability can still vary by territory, but it launched as a Netflix release rather than a single-country broadcaster exclusive.
Is it a series?
No. It’s a single, feature-length documentary film (not episodic).
Is there graphic content?
This is not a gore-driven documentary, but it is about real infant deaths, medical collapse narratives, grief, and a high-profile criminal case. It can be emotionally intense even without graphic visuals.
What’s the main “new” thing compared to older TV coverage?
The biggest differentiator most coverage points to is the access: unseen police footage (arrest/questioning) and a package of interviews assembled specifically around “the investigation” framing.