The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox

Last updated

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox.jpg
Promotional poster
Genre Biographical drama
True crime
Created byK.J. Steinberg
Based onWaiting to Be Heard: A Memoir
by Amanda Knox
Starring
Composer Jeff Russo
Country of originUnited States
Original languages
  • English
  • Italian
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
Cinematography
Editors
  • Lara Johnston
  • Nicholas Wong
  • Lauren Brandon
Production companies
  • Good Talk Productions
  • The Littlefield Company
  • Alt Ending Productions
  • 20th Television
Original release
Network Hulu
ReleaseAugust 20, 2025 (2025-08-20) 
present

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is an American true crime biographical drama miniseries created by K.J. Steinberg. It is based on the true story of Amanda Knox and her wrongful conviction in the murder of Meredith Kercher. It stars Grace Van Patten as Knox, as well as Sharon Horgan, Francesco Acquaroli, Giuseppe De Domenico, John Hoogenakker, and Roberta Mattei. [1] The eight-episode series premiered on Hulu on August 20, 2025. [2]

Contents

Premise

The series follows the eponymous American college student, who arrives in Italy for her study abroad only to be wrongfully imprisoned for murder weeks later. The series traces Amanda’s relentless fight to prove her innocence and reclaim her freedom, and examines why authorities and the world stood so firmly in judgment. [3]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Episodes

No.Title [6] Directed byWritten by [7] Original release date [6]
1"Amanda" Michael Uppendahl K. J. SteinbergAugust 20, 2025 (2025-08-20)
American college student Amanda Knox embarks on her study abroad trip in Italy. The morning before Amanda is supposed to leave on a romantic excursion with her new Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, things take a sinister turn.
2"Ci vediamo più tardi"Michael UppendahlK. J. SteinbergAugust 20, 2025 (2025-08-20)
Under mounting pressure, the police try to break Amanda and Raffaele, while Edda races to reunite with her daughter.
3"The Guardian of Perugia" Cate Shortland Sam Rubinek & Nate BurkeAugust 27, 2025 (2025-08-27)
As Amanda, Raffaele, and Patrick Lumumba enter prison, Giuliano Mignini, their prosecutor, continues to build his case against them while the media’s reporting turns Amanda into a monster.
4"All You Need Is Love"Cate ShortlandWes TaylorSeptember 3, 2025 (2025-09-03)
A wrench is thrown in Mignini’s case and the search for a new suspect, Rudy Guede, begins. As the highly anticipated trial unfolds, Amanda’s choices continue to be scrutinized by the press.
5"Mr. Nobody" Natalia Leite Mary LawsSeptember 10, 2025 (2025-09-10)
As the trial continues and Raffaele’s days in prison turn to months and years, his heartbreaking history unfolds. Raffaele is urged to separate his defense from Amanda’s before the verdict is delivered.
6"Colpevole"Natalia LeiteSofya Levitsky-WeitzSeptember 17, 2025 (2025-09-17)
After the verdict, Amanda falls into a depression, resigning herself to making the best of life in prison. As her appeal approaches and new facts come to light, Amanda decides she will not make the same mistakes that she made in her first trial.
7"U were there" Quyen Tran Teleplay by: Rebekah Barnett & Mary Laws
Story by: Rebekah Barnett
September 24, 2025 (2025-09-24)
8"Libertá"Quyen TranK. J. Steinberg & Amanda Knox October 1, 2025 (2025-10-01)

Production

Development

In March 2024, it was reported that Hulu had ordered a limited series about Amanda Knox. Produced by 20th Television and The Littlefield Company, with series creator K.J. Steinberg, Warren Littlefield, Lisa Harrison, Ann Johnson, Graham Littlefield of The Littlefield Company, Monica Lewinsky, Knox and Christopher Robinson serving as executive producers. [8] By September 2024, the series was being referred to by the title of Amanda, [5] and the working title Blue Moon. [9] The series was retitled to The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox along with the release of the trailer in July 2025. [4]

Casting

Upon the initial announcement, Margaret Qualley had signed on to portray Knox in the series and serve as an executive producer. [8] Qualley had exited the project by April 2024 due to scheduling conflicts, [10] and Grace Van Patten took over the role in June. [11] In September 2024, Sharon Horgan joined the cast as Edda Mellas. [5] John Hoogenakker, Francesco Acquaroli, Giuseppe De Domenico and Roberta Mattei were also added to the cast later that month. [12] In March 2025, Rebecca Wisocky, Joe Lanza and Crosby Fitzgerald were cast in recurring roles as Knox's cellmate Cecilia, Knox's stepfather Chris Mellas and Knox's best friend Madison, respectively. [13]

Filming

Principal photography was scheduled to begin in October 2024. [10] By November 2024, the series began filming in the Italian city of Perugia. [9]

Release

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox premiered on Hulu with the first two episodes on August 20, 2025, with the following six episodes being released weekly. [14] Internationally, the series was made available to stream on Disney+. [15]

Reception

Viewership

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox ranked No. 2 on Hulu's "Top 15 Today" list—a daily updated list of the platform's most-watched titles—on August 23. [16] Streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol, which monitors daily updated VOD charts and streaming ratings across the globe, reported that two days after its debut, the series ranked No. 2 globally across Disney+ and Hulu, behind only Alien: Earth . [17] JustWatch, a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 20 million users around the world, reported that The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox was the second most-streamed series in the U.S. from August 18–24. [18] The following week, from August 25–31, it remained the second most-streamed series. [19]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 71% of 28 critics' reviews are positive. [20] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 59 out of 100, based on 17 critic reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [21]

Robert Lloyd of Los Angeles Times stated that The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox dramatizes the sensational case surrounding Amanda Knox with a mix of tension, style, and uneven storytelling. He found that the series captures the extreme pressures Knox faced, from prolonged interrogations and false confessions to public scrutiny and media sensationalism, while also highlighting the broader miscarriage of justice. Lloyd appreciated the performances, particularly Grace Van Patten and Francesco Acquaroli, noting how they brought depth and humanity to their roles. He praised the series' ambitious direction and inventive visual techniques, though he found some stylistic choices—like abrupt tonal shifts and varied narrative approaches—occasionally distracting. [22] Lucy Mangan of The Guardian said that The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox effectively traces Knox's journey from her arrest to eventual exoneration, illustrating how prejudices, media sensationalism, and prosecutorial missteps combined to create a miscarriage of justice. She appreciated the show's propulsive narrative and efforts to humanize certain figures, such as prosecutor Giuliano Mignini. Mangan praised Grace Van Patten's performance, highlighting her ability to capture the character's naivety, overconfidence, and emotional turmoil across both English and Italian dialogue. Although she noted some unevenness in the script and stylistic choices—particularly the mannered, Wes Anderson-lite openings—Mangan found that the series succeeds in conveying the intensity and human cost of Knox's ordeal. [23]

References

  1. "DISNEY+ DEBUTS TRAILER AND KEY ART FOR ORIGINAL LIMITED SERIES "THE TWISTED TALE OF AMANDA KNOX" STREAMING AUGUST 20TH". Disney Press . July 31, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  2. Finder, Moriel Mizrahi (August 20, 2025). "When to Watch 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox'—The True-Crime Drama Everyone Will Be Talking About". Elle . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  3. "The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox". Hulu Press. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Petski, Denise (July 31, 2025). "Grace Van Patten Transforms Into Wrongfully Convicted Amanda Knox In 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox' Trailer". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Andreeva, Nellie (September 19, 2024). "Sharon Horgan Joins Hulu's Amanda Knox Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Shows A-Z – The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox on Hulu". The Futon Critic . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  7. "The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox". Writers Guild of America West . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Rice, Lynette (March 7, 2024). "Hulu Orders Amanda Knox Limited Series From KJ Steinberg; Margaret Qualley To Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Vivarelli, Nick (November 11, 2024). "Amanda Knox Hulu Series Prompts Uproar While Filming in Perugia, the Italian City Where Meredith Kercher Was Murdered". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (April 16, 2024). "Margaret Qualley Exits Hulu's Amanda Knox Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  11. Hailu, Selome (June 13, 2024). "Grace Van Patten to Play Amanda Knox in Hulu Limited Series Following Margaret Qualley's Exit". Variety . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  12. Otterson, Joe (September 26, 2024). "Amanda Knox Hulu Series Adds Four to Cast". Variety. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  13. Petski, Denise (March 4, 2025). "Rebecca Wisocky, Joe Lanza & Crosby Fitzgerald Join Hulu's Amanda Knox Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  14. Directo-Meston, Danielle (August 20, 2025). "Where to Stream 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox' Online". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  15. Palmer, Roger (July 30, 2025). ""The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox" Trailer Released". WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  16. Klein, Brennan (August 23, 2025). "Hulu's New Action-Packed Heist Movie With 44% RT Score Quickly Debuts On The Top 10 Streaming Charts". Screen Rant . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  17. Bythrow, Nick (August 22, 2025). "74% RT Score True Crime Show With Divisive Reactions Climbs Streaming Charts". Screen Rant . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  18. Gruenwedel, Erik (August 26, 2025). "JustWatch: Hulu Actioner 'Eenie Meanie,' 'Alien: Earth' Top Weekly Streaming Through Aug. 24". Media Play News . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  19. Gruenwedel, Erik (September 2, 2025). "JustWatch: Netflix's 'The Thursday Murder Club,' Hulu's 'Alien: Earth' Top Weekly Streaming Through Aug. 31". Media Play News . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  20. "The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  21. "The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  22. "Review: 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox' dramatizes the events around a case that drew a media spectacle". Los Angeles Times . August 19, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  23. Mangan, Lucy (August 20, 2025). "The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox review – shockingly tense TV from Knox and Monica Lewinsky". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved September 4, 2025.