This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: M. Leng, S. Chang, and H. Wu, ‘Experimental investigation of shear-driven water film flows on horizontal metal plate’, Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, Vol. 94: 134-147, June 2018. Under embargo until 6 Feb 2019. The final, definitive version is available online via: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2018.02.004