O.J.: Made in America

Ezra Edelman's sprawling documentary traces OJ Simpson's rise from NFL star and media darling to a figure at the center of a media frenzy when he stands accused. It follows the courtroom drama, the swirl of headlines, and how the case laid bare the fault lines of race, celebrity, policing, and the justice system in America. Through a vast array of interviews, archival footage, and expert commentary, the film situates Simpson in the broader story of the times, showing how public opinion can be shaped by spectacle as much as evidence. It also follows tensions within the legal teams and the evolving media narrative as the case drags on, revealing how memory and myth accumulate around a public figure.

Directed by Ezra Edelman, this 2016 documentary premiered at Sundance and was released by ESPN Films as part of the 30 for 30 series, later reaching a broad audience through television and streaming. Its approach mixes archives with new voices.

It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and earned multiple Emmy nominations, underscoring its impact as a cumulative portrait of a defining American case. Its win at the Oscars marked a rare triumph for a long form work from ESPN Films and a standout achievement in documentary storytelling.

The film sharpened national conversations about race, fame, and the justice system, turning a courtroom saga into a social history lesson. Its careful use of archival material and testimony set a standard for future long form documentaries and inspired renewed interest in documentary storytelling. It invites viewers to question narratives.

Critics praised its scope and depth, noting how it weaves legal, cultural and media angles into a cohesive whole. Main themes include how public perception shifts under media pressure and how power and race intersect with justice in America, and historical context.