NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The story of was inherently cinematic 鈥� what started as fodder for a triumphant sports biopic abruptly became something much darker and complex as following the killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
It's little wonder then that Simpson's many-chaptered life 鈥� his football career, acting forays, murder trial, acquittal, civil liability judgment, sports memorabilia robbery conviction and finally, 鈥� has spawned a
Much of it rests firmly in the dubious realm of the lurid and sensational, from the widely panned horror movie that posits Brown Simpson was murdered by a serial killer to Simpson's own hypothetical confessional book, The Simpson case is ubiquitous in pop culture, too, with direct portrayals in countless TV shows like 鈥淭he Simpsons鈥� (no relation), a name-check in Jay-Z's 鈥淭he Story of O.J.鈥� and a direct throughline to the Kardashians' reality television and business empires. the Pulitzer Prize winner convicted of stabbing his own wife, even adapted the case into a television movie, 鈥淎merican Tragedy.鈥�
You won't find any of those on this list. Here, instead, The Associated Press has collected 10 documentaries, television shows, books and podcasts exploring Simpson's life and influence with key insights.
鈥淥.J.: Made in America鈥�
This list isn't ordered, but if you only have the appetite for one piece of media, set aside roughly eight hours Directed by Ezra Edelman for ESPN Films, the five-part project aired on ABC and ESPN covers the so-called trial of the century in explicit details, but it takes three parts just to get there. 鈥淥.J.: Made in America鈥� contextualizes Simpson's life, career and notoriety with It became the longest movie to win an Oscar where Edelman dedicated his statuette to Brown Simpson, Goldman, their families and the victims of police brutality.
鈥淥.J.: Made in America鈥� is and is available for purchase on other online platforms.
鈥淛une 17th, 1994鈥�
Another installment of ESPN Films' 鈥�30 for 30,鈥� the 2010 documentary clocks in much shorter, at less than an hour. The documentary takes its title from the date of but it doesn't rehash it. Instead, 鈥淛une 17th, 1994鈥� captures that day through the lens of the other sports events happening that day, including Arnold Palmer's final U.S. Open round and the start of the World Cup. In ranking it as the best 鈥�30 for 30鈥� in 2014, Rolling Stone magazine said it shows 鈥渉ow viewers process television, and how the media struggles to make sense of events that have no clear outcome.鈥�
鈥淛une 17th, 1994鈥� is
鈥淥.J. Simpson: Juice on the Loose鈥�
Directed by George Romero 鈥� yes, he of the and a zombie movie godfather 鈥� this 1974 documentary follows Simpson as an up-and-coming running back. As the only entry on this list produced before Simpson's descent into notoriety, it's an untainted glimpse into Simpson's early life and early fame.
鈥淥.J. Simpson: Juice on the Loose鈥� isn't available to stream on traditional platforms, but can be found on
鈥淭he People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story鈥�
The first installment of anthology series, the FX miniseries aired the same year as 鈥淥.J.: Made in America,鈥� making 2016 a banner year for reigniting conversation around the case 鈥� and reigniting the celebrity of key characters. The 10-episode show focused on the trial itself, casting Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson, John Travolta as Robert Shapiro and David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian.
鈥淭he People v. O.J. Simpson鈥� is
鈥淭he Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson鈥�
FX's 鈥淭he People v. O.J. Simpson鈥� was adapted from 1996 book about the trial. Toobin, a lawyer, was a New Yorker staff writer who extensively covered the trial that catapulted him into one of the most high-profile legal analysts. The New York Times bestseller is often praised as the most comprehensive book about Simpson's trial.
More information about where to find 鈥淭he Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson鈥� can be found on the
鈥淲ithout A Doubt鈥�
It seems as if nearly every person tangentially connected to the Simpson trial put out a book about it at some point. Quality varies, but one worth checking out is from the lead prosecutor on the case who attracted criticism for her performance and wound up quitting law after the trial. She was paid $4 million for her 2016 memoir and has since pivoted to and even
More information about where to find 鈥淲ithout A Doubt,鈥� written with Teresa Carpenter, can be found
鈥淗is Name Is Ron: Our Search for Justice鈥�
Written by with William and Marilyn Hoffer, the book was originally published in 1997. The Goldmans have remained vocal about what they deem a miscarriage of justice in the decades with their attorney saying Thursday that Simpson The description opens with: 鈥淭his book is not about OJ. Simpson or his 鈥楧ream Team.鈥� This book is not another rehash of the 鈥楾rial of the Century.鈥欌�� Instead, it's the Goldmans' story.
More information about where to find 鈥淗is Name Is Ron鈥� can be found on the
鈥淎nother City, Not My Own鈥�
The only novel on this list comes from the 鈥� it's fiction, sure, but it's also 鈥渁 novel in the form of memoir,鈥� as it's subtitled. Dunne covered the Simpson trial for Vanity Fair and, in the book, mixes characters from his own imagination 鈥� like reporter Gus Bailey from his previous books 鈥� with real-life figures, like the Goldmans and journalists like and It's thinly fictionalized, but beyond recounting the trial, the 1997 novel offers a hazy reckoning with the alienating glitz and grime of the Los Angeles of its time.
More information about where to find 鈥淎nother City, Not My Own鈥� can be found on the
鈥淐onfronting: O.J. Simpson鈥�
Over the course of 10 episodes, reflects on her brother's killing and sits down with lawyers, investigators, witnesses and jurors to get 鈥渁nswers to questions that have been haunting her since the trial,鈥� according to the podcast description. The 2019 podcast covers everything from the civil case to the ever-haunting specter of grief. 鈥淐onfronting鈥� is an anthology, with the second season focusing on the Columbine school shooting.
鈥淐onfronting: O.J. Simpson鈥� is
鈥淵ou're Wrong About鈥�
Perhaps the most frustrating entry on this list because its Simpson series still remains unfinished, but 鈥淵ou're Wrong About鈥� 鈥� a podcast dedicated to upending conventional narratives 鈥� has produced hours and hours of episodes about the Simpson case. If you're looking for a deep dive that dispels popular myths about the case, this is a good listen. The Simpson episodes are hosted by Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes, the latter of whom has since left the show.
鈥淵ou're Wrong About鈥� is available on
Mallika Sen, The Associated Press
