“Amanda Knox” is another gripping true crime documentary you should add to your Netflix list, according to nearly every critic.
The documentary examining the eponymous murder suspect and trial that captivated the media has a 91 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which counts 21 of the 23 reviews as “fresh.”
TheWrap’s critic Robert Abele described the film that started streaming on Friday as a “substantive, even-handed and eye-opening film from Rod Blackhurst.”
“Amanda Knox” features Knox herself, who was accused of and sent to prison for the murder of her roommate in Italy. She was then acquitted in 2011 and the definitively exonerated by the Supreme Court of Cassation in 2015.
Read 7 of the best reviews below to see why critics think this is a must-watch for Netflix subscribers.
Brian Tallerico, Roger Ebert:
“‘Amanda Knox’ does an admirable job of detailing the crucial facts of the case. I don’t suspect it will persuade anyone convinced that Knox is akin to the Monster of Florence, and it undeniably takes a pro-Knox stance, but it’s a well-made, accomplished piece of filmmaking that works because of how it focuses such a large case down to its key players, thereby illuminating how something like this could happen to anyone… Again, if you think Amanda Knox is a masterful criminal, someone who got away with murder, this film is unlikely to convince you otherwise. Most of this information has been available before–although some of the first-hand accounts of the interrogations from Knox and Sollecito are new. It’s just seeing it all presented in one, impactful film that one can view the scope of the whole story. Whether you think she did it or not, ‘Amanda Knox’ is a horror story that should be told.”
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times:
“Did she or didn’t she? That is the question ‘Amanda Knox‘ explores with laser-like precision. Different viewers will come to different conclusions, but without doubt this strong documentary sheds a powerful light on this particular case while emphasizing the ultimate unknowability of absolute truth.”
Ariel Scott, New York Daily News:
“‘Amanda Knox’ will not answer any questions surrounding the mystery of Meredith Kercher’s murder — but the documentary will stay with audiences long after its 92 minute run time. Although the truth behind what happened that night in Perugia may never be revealed, the film does not need a resolution to strike a powerful cord with viewers.”
Jeannette Catsouli, New York Times:
“You don’t have to remember the gutter headlines inspired by its namesake to find the true-crime documentary ‘Amanda Knox‘ completely riveting. And not because of the lip-smacking speculations surrounding Ms. Knox’s eight-year battle with the Italian legal system after being charged with the 2007 murder of a housemate and fellow exchange student, Meredith Kercher. Rather, the directors, Brian McGinn and Rod Blackhurst, have produced a tightly edited, coherently structured and ultimately moving reassessment that burrows beneath the lurid in search of the illuminating.”
Darren Ruecker, We Got This Covered:
“The retrospective aspect of the documentary is all a part of its clear mandate of seeking truth rather than views or clicks. Amanda Knox’s story is no longer a timely one, but the distance that we have from it is what allows for a deeper look, and one that has implications on today’s media landscape, whether it’s in the realm of sensational crime reporting or presidential campaign coverage. For sheer craftsmanship and watchability alone, Amanda Knox is a must-see offering on Netflix; for its exposure of the workings of justice systems and media culture, it’s an essential piece of work worth sharing and discussing… Netflix adds another outstanding documentary to their lineup with Amanda Knox, a true crime dive that would make Errol Morris proud.”
Benjamin Lee, The Guardian:
“Some might be frustrated about the lack of new information concerning what was already a well-documented case. But the film adds depth to what we know and refrains from a third act faux-discovery, as in Bart Layton’s ‘The Imposter.’ It’s a carefully balanced and frightening film with Knox a terrifyingly unknowable character at the grisly centre.”
Jen Yamato, The Daily Beast:
“Older, more wearied, and at times extremely emotional, Knox bares her soul for the cameras in ‘Amanda Knox,’ which took directors Brian McGinn and Rod Blackhurst five years to pull together and achieves what all that overexposure never tried to do all those years ago: It makes her seem human.”