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Limited Series – Black Bird

Play trailer 2:20 Poster for Limited Series – Black Bird Jul 2022 Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 80 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Inspired by actual events, when high school football hero and decorated policeman’s son Jimmy Keene is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum security prison, he is given the choice of a lifetime — enter a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane and befriend suspected serial killer Larry Hall, or stay where he is and serve his full sentence with no possibility of parole. Keene quickly realizes his only way out is to elicit a confession and find out where the bodies of several young girls are buried before Hall’s appeal goes through. But is this suspected killer telling the truth? Or is it just another tale from a serial liar?
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Black Bird — Limited Series

Black Bird — Limited Series

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Critics Consensus

Dennis Lehane's penchant for authentic grit is on full display in Blackbird, an absorbing prison drama distinguished by its moral complexity and elevated by an outstanding ensemble.

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Critics Reviews

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Kristen Lopez IndieWire 08/22/2022
B+
It’s a tone poem more than a plot-driven television show. It interrogated masculinity in a way that invited people in with a crime story, only to leave them with a call for deeper introspection about how we all move through the world. Go to Full Review
Andrew Male The Times (UK) 08/05/2022
This is Egerton’s show and he is utterly convincing as a man with nothing left to save him but the art of the con. Go to Full Review
Nick Schager The Daily Beast 07/30/2022
There may be more serial killer screen performances in movies and TV than there are actual serial killers, and yet Paul Walter Hauser’s turn in Black Bird is one for the ages. Go to Full Review
Samantha Schuster Cinéfilo Serial Sep 30
4/5
It's one of those compelling, intriguing, and powerful series about a real-life event that's beautifully captured by its protagonists and the world they've built around them. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Tamma Moksha The Hindu 06/12/2024
If you are a Mindhunter fan who has still not gotten over not getting a third season of your favourite show, Black Bird can provide some much-needed closure. Go to Full Review
Pramit Chatterjee Digital Mafia Talkies 07/20/2023
3/5
[Taron] Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser are the poster boys of Black Bird, and they earn the hell out of that spot. Both of them physically and psychologically transform into their respective roles and play off of each other so beautifully. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Alpha B. @RT16438397 May 2 Great performances all around. Especially Paul Walter Hauser See more Jill A @jitylu Apr 5 Incredible acting. Didn't think about their acting abilities for even a second. Brought characters to life. Story was captivating and even more so because it was based on a true story. Recommend this show highly. See more Roxana G. @RT31179363 Mar 14 Jimmy Keene is an absolute hero! He brought justice to so many peoples lives! This TV miniseries had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end! Great cinematography work and superb acting all around! See more Painiscoming Y @RT98130907 Mar 11 "Black Bird is not just a great show—it's a powerful testament to real courage and redemption. Jimmy Keene's true story is brought to life brilliantly, showing how one man, facing his own prison sentence, stepped up in the most dangerous way possible to befriend a suspected serial killer and help uncover the locations of buried victims. His bravery gave closure to grieving families by helping locate bodies that might never have been found otherwise. Taron Egerton's performance captures Jimmy's charisma and inner strength perfectly, while the entire cast (especially Paul Walter Hauser as the chilling Larry Hall) delivers edge-of-your-seat tension. As someone who knows the real Jimmy (a writer and producer on this project), I'm blown away by how authentically this portrays his heroism. A must-watch true-crime masterpiece—5 stars!" See more Omar Y @omerm Feb 21 I didn’t expect Black Bird to hit me this hard. What starts as a tense crime story slowly folds into something much deeper and more emotional. The pacing is tight, the writing is smart, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps pulling you in episode after episode. Perfect binge-watch material. Taron Egerton’s performance is absolutely outstanding. You can feel every layer of his character — the confidence, the fear, the manipulation, and then that moment of emotional collapse. That crying scene? Brutally real. It didn’t feel like acting; it felt like watching a human break in real time. That scene alone deserves awards. The psychological tension between the characters is what really makes the show special. It’s not just about crime — it’s about power, trust, and the emotional cost of playing a dangerous game with someone who has nothing to lose. Dark, intense, beautifully acted, and surprisingly emotional. See more jus w @3boyz Jan 30 As a guy who thought he check out one episode, Black Bird absolutely wrecked my sleep schedule—in the best way. James Keene’s story is gripping, and I found myself holding my breath during conversations… which is not normal behavior on my couch. Dark, tense, and wildly addictive—five stars, zero regrets, would lose sleep again. See more Read all reviews
Black Bird — Limited Series

My Rating

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jul 8, 2022 Pilot Jimmy Keene is living in the fast lane -- until he gets a 10-year prison sentence; behind bars, he's approached about a high-stakes deal for freedom. Details Episode 2 Aired Jul 8, 2022 We Are Coming, Father Abraham Agent McCauley prepares Jimmy for the mission; Detective Miller questions Larry about the missing women, leading to a polygraph test. Details Episode 3 Aired Jul 15, 2022 Hand to Mouth Struggling with his transition to maximum security prison, Jimmy initiates a friendship with Larry; new holes in Larry's stories are uncovered. Details Episode 4 Aired Jul 22, 2022 WhatsHerName In the aftermath of a prison riot, Jimmy and Larry find themselves with time to learn more about each other. Details Episode 5 Aired Jul 29, 2022 The Place I Lie Jimmy's mounting fear and paranoia compel him to provoke Larry; McCauley and Miller have a breakthrough; Larry's therapist grows concerned. Details Episode 6 Aired Aug 5, 2022 You Promised Jimmy reaches his breaking point; Larry becomes suspicious; McCauley and Miller talk to an important person in Larry's life. Details
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Season Info

Creator
Dennis Lehane
Executive Producer
Dennis Lehane, Taron Egerton, Michaël R. Roskam, Bradley Thomas, Dan Friedkin, Ryan Friedkin, Richard Plepler, Scott Lambert, Alexandra Milchan, Kary Antholis, Jimmy Keene
Network
Apple TV
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jul 8, 2022