The Staircase (2004)

Crime · Documentary · Drama

Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, presents a gripping courtroom thriller, offering a rare and revealing inside look at a high-profile murder trial. In 2001, author Michael Peterson was arraigned for the murder of his wife Kathleen, whose body was discovered lying in a pool of blood on the stairway of their home. Granted unusual access to Peterson's lawyers, home and immediate family, de Lestrade's cameras capture the defense team as it considers its strategic options. The series is an engrossing look at contemporary American justice that features more twists than a legal bestseller.

IMDb rating: 7.8 (29,555 votes)
Seasons: 1
Streaming (US): Netflix
Language: EN
Type: TV series

Browse seasons by rating shape → Open in Rising Shows app → View on IMDb

Ratings refreshed Jul 3, 2026 · 1 season indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (2004)

7.52 avg 13 episodes 7.4 → 7.6 48 min avg

Season 1 episodes — IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Crime or Accident?	7.4	661
2	Secrets and Lies	7.4	602
3	A Striking Coincidence	7.4	578
4	A Prosecution Trickery	7.5	542
5	A Weak Case	7.6	536
6	The Prosecution's Revenge	7.5	529
7	The Blowpoke Returns	7.6	525
8	The Verdict	8.0	548
9	Reopening the Case	7.5	468
10	The Last Chance	7.7	481
11	Looking For Closure	7.2	446
12	Between Despair and Anger	7.3	429
13	Flawed Justice	7.6	442