Painkiller (2023)
A searing Netflix limited series that traces the human and institutional forces behind America's devastating opioid epidemic.
Painkiller - Series Information
- Original Title: Painkiller
- First Air Year: 2023
- Last Air Year: 2023
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Crime
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 6
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: August 10, 2023 (United States - TV-MA), August 10, 2023 (Canada - 18+), August 10, 2023 (United Kingdom - 15), August 10, 2023 (Germany - 16), August 10, 2023 (France - 16), August 10, 2023 (India - A), August 10, 2023 (New Zealand - 16), August 10, 2023 (Australia - MA 15+), August 10, 2023 (Brazil - 16), August 10, 2023 (Mexico - C), August 10, 2023 (Spain - 16), August 10, 2023 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: Netflix
- Alternative Titles: Medicina Letal (MX)
- Production Companies: Film 44, Jigsaw Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
Painkiller - Plot
The causes and consequences of America's opioid epidemic unfold in this drama following its perpetrators, victims and an investigator seeking the truth.
Painkiller - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the story of the opioid crisis come to life:
*Do not use as directed.
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Painkiller - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Uzo Aduba
- Matthew Broderick
- Taylor Kitsch
- Dina Shihabi
- West Duchovny
- John Rothman
- Clark Gregg
- Jack Mulhern
- Sam Anderson
- Tyler Ritter
Executive Producers
- Alex Gibney
- Patrick Radden Keefe
- Eric Newman
- Peter Berg
- Noah Harpster
Painkiller - FAQs
Is Painkiller based on a true story?
Painkiller is based on two nonfiction works: Patrick Radden Keefe's New Yorker article 'The Family That Built an Empire of Pain' and Barry Meier's book Pain Killer. The series dramatizes real events surrounding Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family, and the devastating opioid epidemic they helped ignite across the United States.
Is Painkiller worth watching on Netflix?
Painkiller delivers a gripping, infuriating portrait of corporate greed and human suffering. Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick anchor the series with compelling performances, and its six-episode format keeps the pacing tight. For viewers interested in the opioid crisis or prestige crime drama, it's a compelling and emotionally resonant watch.
Who plays Richard Sackler in Painkiller?
Matthew Broderick portrays Richard Sackler, the Purdue Pharma heir who became the face of the company's aggressive OxyContin marketing campaign. Broderick's understated, unsettling performance captures the character's detachment from the human cost of the epidemic his family's company helped create.
Where can you stream Painkiller?
Painkiller is available to stream on Netflix, including on the Netflix Standard with Ads plan. All six episodes of the limited series were released simultaneously on August 10, 2023, so you can watch at your own pace from start to finish.
How does Painkiller portray the opioid epidemic?
The series weaves together three narrative threads: the Sackler family's calculated push to market OxyContin, a federal investigator (Uzo Aduba) piecing together the trail of harm, and ordinary Americans like Glen Kryger whose lives are shattered by addiction. This multi-perspective structure makes the systemic tragedy feel both sweeping and deeply personal.
Who are the main actors in Painkiller?
The series stars Uzo Aduba as DEA investigator Edie Flowers, Matthew Broderick as Richard Sackler, and Taylor Kitsch as Glen Kryger, a working-class man drawn into addiction. The supporting cast includes Dina Shihabi, Clark Gregg, West Duchovny, Jack Mulhern, and Tyler Ritter as US Attorney John Brownlee.
How was Painkiller received by critics?
Critics offered a mixed but largely respectful reception. Many praised Uzo Aduba's performance and the series' moral urgency, while some noted it covers familiar ground given Hulu's Dopesick arrived two years earlier. Its frank, unflinching approach to corporate culpability and human cost earned it a dedicated audience on Netflix.
What are similar shows to Painkiller?
If Painkiller resonated with you, Dopesick (Hulu) offers a complementary deep dive into the same opioid crisis. For other gripping legal and crime dramas, Goliath and Hightown are strong picks. Fans of investigative procedurals may also enjoy Vigil and Five Days for their tense, character-driven storytelling.
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