Painkiller

Painkiller season 1 on Netflix
Watch Painkiller on Netflix
Status:
Ended
Season 1:
Ended on August 10, 2023
Watched: 0%
0 of 6 Episodes
I'm caught up!
Notification Preferences

Notes:

Season: 1
# Air Date Episode Name Watched?
E1 Aug 10, 2023 The One to Start With, The One to Stay With
E2 Aug 10, 2023 Jesus Gave Me Water
E3 Aug 10, 2023 Blizzard of the Century
E4 Aug 10, 2023 Is Believed
E5 Aug 10, 2023 Hot! Hot! Hot!
E6 Aug 10, 2023 What’s in a Name?
Mark Series:
Watched / Unwatched
Mark Season 1:
Watched / Unwatched
Production Note - Limited Series
Production Type:
Limited Series

Painkiller is a standalone Limited Series that concluded its 6-episode run in August 2023. This high-stakes production offers a comprehensive dramatization of the opioid crisis, meticulously blending investigative journalism with visceral human tragedy. By adapting the reporting of Barry Meier and Patrick Radden Keefe, the series provides a definitive narrative on the rise of OxyContin and the subsequent legal battles. Its prestige status is cemented by powerhouse performances from Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick, capturing the intersection of corporate greed and public health failure. As a self-contained narrative, it serves as a haunting historical record, earning critical acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of a systemic American catastrophe. The production remains a singular, finished work designed to provoke lasting societal reflection.

Based on the non-fiction book by Barry Meier and the New Yorker article 'The Family That Built an Empire of Pain' by Patrick Radden Keefe.
Confidence: 100% Last Refined: March 2026
Why Watch:
"A historical deep-dive into the corporate origins of the opioid epidemic through a dramatized lens."
Series Analysis:
Netflix's Painkiller arrived as a sharp indictment of the pharmaceutical industry, cementing its place in the era of accountability television. By dramatizing the origins of the opioid crisis, the series forced a global audience to confront the mechanics of corporate negligence. Its legacy lies in its refusal to look away from the human cost of OxyContin, using a blend of fictionalized characters and factual legal battles to illustrate a systemic failure. Unlike traditional procedurals, Painkiller functions as a permanent digital archive of a public health disaster, ensuring the names of those responsible remain etched in the collective memory. While the limited series concludes its narrative, the ongoing legal ripples of this tragedy mean the story is never truly over. Set a reminder for any future revivals, spin-offs, or news.
Tone: Analytical, somber, and historically significant. Last Updated: March 2026
Featured Characters (6)
See All (7)
Network:
Netflix
Seasons:
1
Years:
2023 - 2023
Genre:
Mini-Series, Drama, Crime
Rating:
TV-MA
Support us on Facebook

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password