O.J. Simpson, one of the most controversial figures in sports and American culture, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, in Las Vegas 1t age 76 from cancer. A former NFL star and actor, he was once a beloved figure but his success was overshadowed by the murder trial, in which he was acquitted, of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
The trial, which was deemed the “trial of the century,” took place in Los Angeles and spanned eleven months, from November 1994 to October 1995. It not only mesmerized the nation, it also had a political and cultural impact that extends to today, generating debates about race relations, celebrity and justice.
When it comes to pop culture, the trial has been the object of several documentaries, as well as adapted in several TV films and series, but one of the most famous in recent years was The People vs O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Here, check out where to watch the series and other two documentaries about the case.
Where to watch O.J Simpson series and documentaries
The People vs O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016)
Available to watch on: Hulu
The series was adapted from the book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson (1997), by Jeffrey Toobin, who had also served as a legal analyst for the New Yorker on the trial. It won several awards, including eight Emmys, two Golden Globes, and four Critics Choice Television Awards.
The cast included Sarah Paulson as lead prosecutor Marcia Clark, Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson, John Travolta as Robert Shapiro, Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran, David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian and Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden.
O.J.: Made in America (2016)
Available to watch on: Spectrum, rent/buy Apple, Prime Video, Google Play
This documentary was produced and directed by Ezra Edelman for ESPN Films and their 30 for 30 series. It was released as a five-part miniseries and in theatrical format, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
It’s an extensive exploration of Simpson’s life, including his emerging career, his celebrity status, his trial and acquittal for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Lyle Goldam, and how he was convicted and imprisoned for the Las Vegas robbery 13 years later.
Is O.J. Innocent? The Missing Evidence (2017)
Available to watch on: Fubo
In this ID documentary series, the team of experts and witnesses examine both old and new evidence and question O.J.’s role in the crimes. Dr. Henry Lee, a forensics expert from the original investigation, discusses the confounding details and problems with the preliminary evidence collection from the crime scene, and what impact that may have had on the trial.
