Capturing the Friedmans

Play trailer

Capturing the Friedmans

2003

1h 47m

Documentary

Biography

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

152 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

The Friedmans seem at first to be a typical family - until one Thanksgiving while they are gathered at home preparing for a quiet holiday dinner, a police battering ram splinters the front door and officers rush into the house searching every corner and seizing boxes of the family's possessions. Arnold and his 18-year old son Jesse are both arrested. As the police pursue the investigation, and the community reacts, the fabric of the family begins to disintegrate, revealing disturbing questions.

Watch on HBO Max

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A haunting depiction of a disintegrating family, and a powerful argument on the elusiveness of truth.

Read Critics Reviews

Amy Taubin

Film Comment Magazine

04/10/2018

There's no doubt that the film delivers the emotional equivalent of a kidney punch, but that's as much a result of the filmmaker's attitude-better suited to entomological research-as it is to the Friedmans themselves.

Go to Full Review

Will Self

London Evening Standard

01/09/2018

While with any number of... documentaries one can happily say "wait until it turns up on the small screen", with Capturing the Friedmans it is well worth sitting in the dark to find out the extent to which you think you are being deliberately kept there.

Go to Full Review

Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

07/25/2003

4/5

Without a doubt a disconcertingly engrossing, difficult-to-shake experience.

Go to Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

02/16/2021

Capturing the Friedmans has generated widespread interest in part because it provides one of the few glimpses to be found in the contemporary cinema of present-day life in America.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/04/2020

3.5/4.0

This is a sad film, but nearly a must-see.

Go to Full Review

Hollis Griffin

Common Sense Media

01/01/2011

5/5

Captivating and intense. Mature teens+.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Russell A

@Rallen117 Oct 19

It seemed like the documentary was more about sympathizing with the child molesters rather than saying what they did was wrong. It was really weird. I guess if you are also a child molester you would like this documentary but it has a really weird ending almost celebrating them.

See more

Tyler G

@tylergross121 11/25/2024

A one-of-a-kind documentary. You aren't left with any convincing answers and there is no Perry Mason moment. As the double entendre title suggests, it is as much about a criminal case as it is about a family being recorded as they fall apart. It is really, really good.

See more

Shael

@RT90874798 12/26/2023

A masterful narrative that changes your perception of the potent and widespread impact of abusive cycles.

See more

Gareth v

@geewah 06/19/2023

A haunting and gruelling doco that will stay with you long after you see it. Structured around home movies of the Friedmans, this doco plays out like a mystery and is the best doco of 2003.

See more

d p

@RT26402042 01/13/2023

Film about child molesters that, bizarrely, paints them as the victims. Utterly sick.

See more

Thomas M

@TMProofreader 11/26/2022

The best documentary movie ever made!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Andrew Jarecki

Director

David Friedman

Actor

Jesse Friedman

Actor

Elaine Friedman

Self

Andrew Jarecki

Producer

Marc Smerling

Producer

Mike Wallace Is Here

95%

86%

Mike Wallace Is Here

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Mike Wallace Is Here

Grizzly Man

93%

85%

Grizzly Man

Watchlist

Venus and Serena

77%

69%

Venus and Serena

Watchlist

Born Into Brothels

95%

91%

Born Into Brothels

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Jason Biggs’ Five Favorite Films

Magnolia Digs Into the Crayon Box

View more photos

Synopsis

The Friedmans seem at first to be a typical family - until one Thanksgiving while they are gathered at home preparing for a quiet holiday dinner, a police battering ram splinters the front door and officers rush into the house searching every corner and seizing boxes of the family's possessions. Arnold and his 18-year old son Jesse are both arrested. As the police pursue the investigation, and the community reacts, the fabric of the family begins to disintegrate, revealing disturbing questions.

Director: Andrew Jarecki
Producer: Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling
Distributor: Magnolia Films
Production Co: Magnolia Pictures, HBO Theatrical Documentary
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 30, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.1M
Runtime: 1h 47m

Most Popular at Home Now