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Capturing the Friedmans

Play trailer Poster for Capturing the Friedmans 2003 1h 47m Documentary Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 152 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
The Friedmans seem at first to be a typical family - until one Thanksgiving while they are gathered at home preparing for a quiet holiday dinner, a police battering ram splinters the front door and officers rush into the house searching every corner and seizing boxes of the family's possessions. Arnold and his 18-year-old son Jesse are both arrested. As the police pursue the investigation, and the community reacts, the fabric of the family begins to disintegrate, revealing disturbing questions.
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Capturing the Friedmans

Capturing the Friedmans

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Critics Consensus

A haunting depiction of a disintegrating family, and a powerful argument on the elusiveness of truth.

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Critics Reviews

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Amy Taubin Film Comment Magazine Apr 10, 2018
There's no doubt that the film delivers the emotional equivalent of a kidney punch, but that's as much a result of the filmmaker's attitude-better suited to entomological research-as it is to the Friedmans themselves. Go to Full Review Will Self London Evening Standard Jan 9, 2018
While with any number of... documentaries one can happily say "wait until it turns up on the small screen", with Capturing the Friedmans it is well worth sitting in the dark to find out the extent to which you think you are being deliberately kept there. Go to Full Review Geoff Pevere Toronto Star Jul 25, 2003
4/5
Without a doubt a disconcertingly engrossing, difficult-to-shake experience. Go to Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site Feb 16, 2021
Capturing the Friedmans has generated widespread interest in part because it provides one of the few glimpses to be found in the contemporary cinema of present-day life in America. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 4, 2020
3.5/4.0
This is a sad film, but nearly a must-see. Go to Full Review Hollis Griffin Common Sense Media Jan 1, 2011
5/5
Captivating and intense. Mature teens+. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Russell A @Rallen117 Oct 19, 2025 It seemed like the documentary was more about sympathizing with the child molesters rather than saying what they did was wrong. It was really weird. I guess if you are also a child molester you would like this documentary but it has a really weird ending almost celebrating them. See more Tyler G @tylergross121 Nov 25, 2024 A one-of-a-kind documentary. You aren't left with any convincing answers and there is no Perry Mason moment. As the double entendre title suggests, it is as much about a criminal case as it is about a family being recorded as they fall apart. It is really, really good. See more Shael @RT90874798 Dec 26, 2023 A masterful narrative that changes your perception of the potent and widespread impact of abusive cycles. See more Gareth v @geewah Jun 19, 2023 A haunting and gruelling doco that will stay with you long after you see it. Structured around home movies of the Friedmans, this doco plays out like a mystery and is the best doco of 2003. See more d p @Wolfgang_Keen Jan 13, 2023 Film about child molesters that, bizarrely, paints them as the victims. Utterly sick. See more Thomas M @TMProofreader Nov 26, 2022 The best documentary movie ever made! See more Read all reviews
Capturing the Friedmans

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Cast & Crew

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Andrew Jarecki

Director

David Friedman

Actor

Jesse Friedman

Actor

Elaine Friedman

Self

Andrew Jarecki

Producer

Marc Smerling

Producer

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Capturing the Friedmans

Exterior shot of Great Neck, New York. Friedman family home movie still from Capturing the Friedmans. Seth, Jesse, and David Friedman as young boys with mother Elaine Friedman of Capturing the Friedmans. Arnold Friedman (father), Elaine Friedman (mother) and their three boys, Jesse (left) David (middle), and Seth (right) at David Friedman's bar mitzvah, from Capturing the Friedmans Capturing the Friedmans (2003) Capturing the Friedmans (2003) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The Friedmans seem at first to be a typical family - until one Thanksgiving while they are gathered at home preparing for a quiet holiday dinner, a police battering ram splinters the front door and officers rush into the house searching every corner and seizing boxes of the family's possessions. Arnold and his 18-year-old son Jesse are both arrested. As the police pursue the investigation, and the community reacts, the fabric of the family begins to disintegrate, revealing disturbing questions.
Director
Andrew Jarecki
Producer
Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling
Distributor
Magnolia Films
Production Co
Magnolia Pictures, HBO Theatrical Documentary
Genre
Documentary, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 30, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.1M
Runtime
1h 47m
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