Parents' Guide to Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom

Movie NR 2026 79 minutes
Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom movie poster: black and white headshot of Lamar Odom

Common Sense Media Review

Christie Cronan By Christie Cronan , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Drugs, sex, language in cautionary tale of NBA player.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 14+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

UNTOLD: THE DEATH & LIFE OF LAMAR ODOM reveals the never-before-shared stories, events, hidden struggles, and interviews all leading up to the infamous night NBA superstar Lamar Odom was found unresponsive outside of a brothel in Nevada in 2015. From a broken childhood to tragic moments involving his drug addiction and personal drama, Lamar Odom revisits his near-death experience and the pivotal moments that led to that day.

Is It Any Good?

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

A fascinating, introspective journey about a subject who shows little remorse or personal growth, Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom paints a real, raw, honest and yet appalling picture of the consequences of fame and fortune. This documentary doesn't hold back from exposing the bad and the ugly of Lamar Odom's life, with tragedy after tragedy shaping his toxic and almost fatal adult lifestyle.

But this deep dive is also revealing and relatable, showing how much our childhoods, experiences, and hidden secrets shape our adult selves for better or worse. But even in the midst of Lamar's unapologetic view of his life, this documentary earnestly begs for empathy—perhaps not always for him, but for his loved ones. This cautionary tale reminds us all that actions always carry consequences.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the reality sports celebrities deal with as they balance fame and fortune. What factors contribute to the pitfalls of being a superstar? Do you think that celebrities should receive more sympathy or more judgement for their actions? Why?

  • How does this film portray addiction—as a choice, a disease, or something else? How does Odom's addiction impact his family and friends?

  • Lamar Odom admits that basketball has helped and hurt his struggle with fame, fortune, and addiction. Why is it important to openly talk about addiction and mental health? Did you notice any warning signs of unhealthy coping? How can families support someone struggling with addiction?

  • What was the main purpose of this documentary: to inform, sensationalize, warn, inspire, or something else? What lessons do the filmmakers want audiences to take away from this documentary, and are they realistic? Can a documentary ever be completely unbiased?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom movie poster: black and white headshot of Lamar Odom

What to Watch Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate