When Netflix became a weapon in the fight for justice
Netflix released the documentary series Making a Murderer in December 2015, triggering an earthquake that would shake both the true crime world and the American legal system. Directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, the series followed Steven Avery and his 16-year-old nephew Brendan Dassey through one of the most controversial murder cases in modern American legal history—a case that took 10 years to document.
Steven Avery had already spent 18 years in prison for a rape he did not commit. When he was released in 2003, he filed a $36 million wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against Manitowoc County in Wisconsin. Two years later, he was arrested for the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach—timing so suspicious it became the series' central narrative.
Brendan Dassey's interrogation—a case of abuse of power
What shocked viewers most was not Steven Avery's case, but the treatment of his nephew Brendan Dassey. The 16-year-old boy with learning disabilities was interrogated for hours without an attorney or guardian present. Through footage from the interrogations, millions of viewers watched police use techniques that coerced the mentally vulnerable teenager into confessing participation in a murder.
Dassey's confession became the key evidence against both him and Steven Avery, even though it was filled with inconsistencies and details that didn't match the physical evidence. False confessions are a well-known phenomenon in the legal system, but never before had the public seen the process unfold so directly on screen.
19 million viewers in 35 days
Making a Murderer wasn't just watched—it became a global movement. Within the first 35 days, 19 million people viewed the series. Social media exploded with discussions about evidence, police methods, and Wisconsin's legal system. An online petition for Avery and Dassey's release collected 500,000 signatures in just a few weeks.
For the first time, a streaming documentary demonstrated the power to mobilize millions around a legal case. Netflix had proven that the platform could be more than entertainment—it could be a tool for activism.
In 2016, a federal judge actually overturned Brendan Dassey's conviction, ruling that his confession was coerced. The victory was short-lived—an appellate court decision in 2017 reversed the ruling—but the precedent was set. A Netflix series had directly influenced the legal system.
The criticism—bias versus impact
Making a Murderer also faced heavy criticism for being one-sided. Prosecutors and Teresa Halbach's family accused the directors of omitting crucial evidence against Avery and glorifying a murderer. True crime ethics suddenly became a legitimate topic of discussion.
But regardless of the criticism, the series had documented systemic problems: how evidence can be manipulated, how vulnerable suspects are treated, and how previous injustice can color new cases. Wisconsin's Department of Justice was forced to publicly defend their practices.
What did this case change?
Making a Murderer became the template for true crime as activism. The series proved that a Netflix documentary could mobilize global legal attention in ways traditional media never had. It opened a national debate about police interrogation methods, particularly when involving minors and people with cognitive disabilities.
Since 2015, Netflix and other streaming services have released hundreds of similar documentaries—from The Staircase to The Innocence Files—all following Making a Murderer's formula: in-depth research, slow narrative building, and focus on systemic failures rather than sensationalism.
The series also inspired legal reforms. Several American states have since introduced stricter rules for interrogations of minors, requiring an attorney or guardian to be present. Wisconsin's handling of the case became a case study in law schools.
The legacy of Avery and Dassey
Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey remain in prison. Their legal battles continue, documented in the series' second season from 2018. But their case lives on as proof that true crime content can be more than entertainment.
Making a Murderer changed expectations for the genre. Viewers now demand depth, nuance, and actual research. They expect documentaries to ask critical questions of the system, not just retell crimes.
And most importantly: The series proved that public attention still matters in the courtroom—even when the verdict doesn't change, shining light on cases can prevent future mistakes.
