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Parents' Guide to

O.J.: Made in America

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Riveting doc examines impact, background of famous crime.

Movie NR 2016 467 minutes
O.J.: Made in America Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Lea R.
Lea R. Adult
August 23, 2016
age 15+
The above review gives good insight to the first four episodes. The fifth episode becomes more dark with drug use, strippers, naked women, etc.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

They called it the trial of the century: a brutal murder, a rich and famous suspect, and a massive court case that sparked the beginning of "infotainment" reporting in America. But why did the jury render that infamous verdict? And what happened after? The five-part ESPN 30 for 30 documentary O.J. SIMPSON: MADE IN AMERICA digs into the historical and cultural underpinnings of the Simpson case, tracing his rise from San Francisco's housing projects through his storied college and pro football career and then to the heights of superstardom before entering the troubled marriage that ultimately ended in two murders. Interviews with insiders such as Marcia Clark, Mark Fuhrman, and Ron Shipp relate details about O.J.'s criminal case, while close-ups from childhood friends and family members reveal the man behind the headlines. Old footage of O.J. at work and at play appear alongside TV news, movie, and commercial clips that illustrate the events that led up to both the murder and the verdict.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Thoughtful, compelling, and ultimately very sad, this seven-and-a-half-hour documentary shines a new light onto a case you may think you know and uses every minute of its running time to tell us why. Why was O.J. Simpson so famous, so revered? Why was he able to repeatedly skate away from consequences even before the murders? Why was the jury primed to acquit? Of course, the most famous why of all -- why did he do it? -- is a dark mystery locked in the heart of a murderer, but this wide-ranging, carefully put-together doc does make a strong case for why he wasn't convicted.

Whereas The People v. O.J. Simpson surprised viewers by making them care and feel things about a case they'd long put aside, O.J. Simpson: Made in America draws in viewers by revealing details they may not have known about Simpson or the case: the way he was able to skate out of consequences for his actions as a charming young man; where, when, and how he met Nicole; and race, domestic abuse, celebrity, civil rights, the LAPD, the legal process, and how the prosecution of murder has changed since the case. Think you won't want to watch a documentary this long about a case you think you know a lot about? O.J. Simpson: Made in America will grab your attention and prove you wrong.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why the O.J. Simpson case has such enduring fascination for the American public. Why is crime so interesting to us? What about this particular crime as examined in O.J.: Made in America was notable?

  • Many narratives that focus on murder are called "exploitative," using tragedy and pain to turn a profit. Is this documentary exploitative? What is the aim of this documentary?

  • Is it harmful to viewers to watch TV shows or movies that focus on violence? What about young viewers? How do I talk to my kids about violence on TV and in movies or video games?

Movie Details

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