OJ Made in America

You could make the case that “OJ Made in America” is the best sports documentary ever — and also the best true crime doc ever.

And you’d be right on both counts.

Trailer for “O.J.: Made in America”

You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up

O.J. signed autographs worth $3 million while sitting in jail during his murder trial.
He reportedly stopped taking arthritis medication so his hands would swell (and the infamous gloves wouldn’t fit).
A juror later admitted that 90% of the panel voted not guilty as “payback” for the LAPD’s beating of Rodney King.

Watch “O.J.: Made in America”

You can stream “O.J.: Made in America” on ESPN+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and other platforms. Check the latest streaming options on JustWatch.

Ratings:

My Rating: 100/100
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 98/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)

Director’s Note: Directed by Ezra Edelman, this 467-minute docuseries is often called the definitive take on O.J. Simpson’s saga. Edelman also directed “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals” and brings the same depth of sports + culture analysis here.

Release Date: June 11, 2016 (ESPN; ABC)

My Review of “O.J.: Made in America”

The Setup

The doc spans Simpson’s life: his breakout at USC, his NFL stardom, the abusive marriage to Nicole, the Rodney King riots, the “Dream Team” trial defense, and his surreal downfall in a Las Vegas robbery case thirteen years after his acquittal.

It’s about O.J.—but it’s also about race, celebrity, and America itself.

More Highlights from the Doc

Episode 1: O.J.’s rise through high school, junior college, and USC—plus his first marriage and meeting 18-year-old Nicole.
Episode 2: The abuse allegations, Nicole’s 911 calls, and the backdrop of Rodney King and LA riots.
Episode 3: Jury selection delivers a panel that is 75% Black—an enormous factor in the trial’s outcome.
Episode 4: Chris Darden makes the fateful decision to have O.J. try on the gloves. Mark Fuhrman’s racist recordings cripple the prosecution. Cochran’s “Hitler analogy” speech lands hard.
Episode 5: The acquittal shocks the country and deepens racial divides. Thirteen years later, O.J. is arrested again for armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas—and this time he goes to prison.
One juror raised a Black Power fist after the verdict; years earlier, she had been a member of the Black Panthers.

Lesser-Known Details from the Doc

Simpson’s crossover fame was carefully constructed—he deliberately distanced himself from racial issues during his NFL career, famously saying, “I’m not Black, I’m O.J.”
The doc shows O.J. golfing with friends almost daily even as the trial loomed—a surreal contrast to his public image as a man under siege.
While imprisoned in Nevada, Simpson became a jailhouse celebrity, refereeing inmate football games and holding court with fellow prisoners.
Even O.J.’s longtime agent Mike Gilbert says he’s 100% convinced O.J. killed Nicole.

Wrap Up

“O.J.: Made in America” is a sports or crime story and a mirror held up to America. If you want to understand why the trial divided a nation, this is the place to start.

Thanks for reading!

Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc