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Painkiller

  • TV Mini Series
  • 2023
  • TV-MA
  • 48m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
34K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,716
13
Matthew Broderick in Painkiller (2023)
A scripted drama and limited series about the origins of the opioid crisis
Play trailer2:30
2 Videos
25 Photos
True CrimeCrimeDrama

The causes and consequences of America's opioid epidemic unfold in this drama following its perpetrators, victims and an investigator seeking the truth.The causes and consequences of America's opioid epidemic unfold in this drama following its perpetrators, victims and an investigator seeking the truth.The causes and consequences of America's opioid epidemic unfold in this drama following its perpetrators, victims and an investigator seeking the truth.

  • Creators
    • Micah Fitzerman-Blue
    • Noah Harpster
  • Stars
    • Uzo Aduba
    • Matthew Broderick
    • Taylor Kitsch
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    34K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,716
    13
    • Creators
      • Micah Fitzerman-Blue
      • Noah Harpster
    • Stars
      • Uzo Aduba
      • Matthew Broderick
      • Taylor Kitsch
    • 222User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations total

    Episodes6

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season2023

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    Official Trailer
    Painkiller
    Trailer 2:27
    Painkiller
    Painkiller
    Trailer 2:27
    Painkiller

    Photos25

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    + 19
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Uzo Aduba
    Uzo Aduba
    • Edie Flowers
    • 2023
    Matthew Broderick
    Matthew Broderick
    • Richard Sackler
    • 2023
    Taylor Kitsch
    Taylor Kitsch
    • Glen Kryger
    • 2023
    Dina Shihabi
    Dina Shihabi
    • Britt Hufford
    • 2023
    West Duchovny
    West Duchovny
    • Shannon Schaeffer
    • 2023
    Sam Anderson
    Sam Anderson
    • Raymond Sackler
    • 2023
    Carolina Bartczak
    Carolina Bartczak
    • Lily Kryger
    • 2023
    Jack Mulhern
    Jack Mulhern
    • Tyler Kryger
    • 2023
    Ana Cruz Kayne
    Ana Cruz Kayne
    • Brianna Ortiz
    • 2023
    Ron Lea
    Ron Lea
    • Bill Havens
    • 2023
    John Rothman
    John Rothman
    • Mortimer Sackler
    • 2023
    Clark Gregg
    Clark Gregg
    • Arthur Sackler, Sr.
    • 2023
    Brian Markinson
    Brian Markinson
    • Howard Udell
    • 2023
    David Tompa
    David Tompa
    • Conference Room Lawyer
    • 2023
    John Ales
    John Ales
    • Dr. Gregory Fitzgibbons
    • 2023
    Noah Harpster
    Noah Harpster
    • Dr. Curtis Wright
    • 2023
    Vivienne Markowski
    • Toddler Kaylee
    • 2023
    Olivia Markowski
    • Toddler Kaylee
    • 2023
    • Creators
      • Micah Fitzerman-Blue
      • Noah Harpster
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews222

    7.433.7K
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    Featured reviews

    8old52

    A Sackler Story, May They Burn in Hell

    This is a well done, dark journey into an American hell created by an evil family and their soulless minions. While it is disgraceful that the endless suffering of the victims and their families has been turned into entertainment, this is important. The world needs to see what happens when an evil family is allowed to destroy America for profit. This covers the same material as Dopesick but a different take. Same info and honestly I enjoyed both. The portrayal of the Sacklers in both is not flattering. Truly evil people. The actors were amazing. A list talent and great writing. Highly recommend this and every American should see it.
    7themiddleofnowhere-44868

    dopesick is better

    This story has already been dramatised by hulu in dopesick so redoing the exact same thing, when the first time it was done so immaculately, is bound to not go that well...this is a much more superficial version in the sense that it is created with a more entertaining aspect than adherence to the actual truth and it is also squeezed in only 6 episodes when there is so much more to cover. It is an ok show, with few good performances, like Richard Sackler's role, but only because the story behind it is so fascinating, otherwise there is nothing great to hold the viewer. It is like when Jennifer Lawrence was booked to play Elizabeth Holmes in the film Bad Blood but after seeing The Dropout and Amanda Seyfried's performance, she said "what's the point in redoing something that has been done so well?" and quit...So if you want the best version of this story, check out Dopesick.
    6privatechrisnylan

    Poor man's Dopesick

    It's not bad and quite enjoyable. The problem here for anyone who has taken the time to watch the massively superior Dopesick is that they have watched Dopesick. This version of events seems quite rushed and doesn't come close to the nuanced performances and detailed storytelling of Dopesick. It's hard to put your finger on the why this fails to be as impactful as Dopesick but it fails big time. After watching Dopesick I did quite a bit of research on the subject matter and found the storytelling to be quite accurate in that production. I feel so sorry for all the people whose lives have been ruined by this travesty and genuinely feel Dopesick does a much better job of telling this unfortunate story.
    hoet88

    Low grade version of the TV Show "Dopesick"

    Honestly we had Dopesick showing the same story about the opioid crisis in USA. And everyone thought that was fire !

    This garbage show is nothing more than a Netflix revisited story about opioids. And won't win any Emmy.

    This show is saved by Matthew Brodrick of course, that's enjoyable to see him back on the screen. But man the rest of the cast can't help the poor attempt of this show.

    I don't know if Netflix had the idea before or after Hulu to make this happen, but man they missed it with this one (again).

    Some plots are explained/shown as if the viewer had an IQ of an oyster.

    Better pass than waste your time people !
    7tlwgvlle

    Painkiller so-so

    Painkiller is a rather fantistical retelling of a sad story that is all too familiar to many of us. It doesn't compare very favorably with Dopesick, counting on flashy visuals that almost overwhelm a compelling narrative. The acting is excellent, as are the technical aspects, and the show is, in it's way, entertaining. It's always a pleasure to watch Matthew Broderick. The most moving aspect of the series may be the heartfelt disclaimers that introduce each episode. As the deplorable Sacklers have now been shielded from further lawsuits, they will now be able to slink off the stage to enjoy their off-shore millions. None have served jail time, none have been prosecuted. Perhaps the only bit of satisfaction is to see the Sackler name obliterated from the many art museum wings and hospitals that they funded with their ill gotten fortune. Disgrace is their only legacy.

    More like this

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    8.6
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    7.6
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This series is based on Barry Meier's book Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic and the New Yorker article "The Family That Built the Empire of Pain," by Patrick Radden Keefe.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Coffee with Scott Adams: CWSA 12/10/23 The Hoax List Gets Longer & Trump Starts to Look Inevitable. Bring Coffee (2023)

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    FAQ17

    • How many seasons does Painkiller have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 10, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Netflix Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Таблетка від болю
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Blue Harp
      • Film 44
      • Grand Electric
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 48m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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