--- title: "American Crime Story: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # American Crime Story (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 7 reviews: 7 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are uniformly positive. Most critics single out the performances, with Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran and Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark named again and again, and several remark that the series is more disciplined and fact-based than they expect from Ryan Murphy. The Guardian goes furthest, calling it the finest thing Murphy has produced. There is broad agreement that the series uses the trial to say something about race, celebrity, the media and the justice system, and that it treats the prosecutors with sympathy. The reservations are small and mostly about casting. The Hollywood Reporter finds John Travolta the weak link and notes a campy streak; Collider is unconvinced by Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson, though Vulture counts him among the strengths. Variety notes minor fumbles without dwelling on them. The spread is narrow: nobody is negative, and the argument is over which performances land rather than whether the series does. ## The Telegraph Rating 5/5. 3 February 2016. Calls it timely, expertly executed and smartly cast entertainment that depicts the calm before the storm of the OJ Simpson case and leaves viewers with an unpleasant taste regarding celebrity culture and media. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/02/03/the-people-v-oj-simpson-american-crime-story-review-expertly-exe/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2016. Praises the series as the finest thing Ryan Murphy has produced, a wonderfully acted treatise on race, celebrity and justice based on the OJ Simpson case. Highlights its insightful fictionalised private moments and sympathetic portrayals of prosecutors amid media frenzy and racial tensions. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/feb/02/the-people-v-oj-simpson-ryan-murphy-american-dream) ## Vulture — Matt Zoller Seitz Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2016. The series excels at exploring race, class, domestic violence, celebrity, and the justice system through sharp details and intersections of these themes. It features strong performances across the board, especially Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. and Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran, while balancing empathy for characters with the reality of the crimes. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/01/tv-review-the-people-v-oj-simpson.html) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 January 2016. The critic praises the series as arresting from the start, with mostly superb performances and a disciplined approach to the true story that sets it apart from other Ryan Murphy projects. Minor fumbles are noted, but the overall execution is seen as strong and timely. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/the-people-v-o-j-simpson-american-crime-story-review-fx-john-travolta-cuba-gooding-jr-ryan-murphy-1201684402/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2016. The review highlights strong performances from Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance while noting John Travolta's weaker turn, calling the drama entertaining overall despite some campy elements. It appreciates the nuance and humanity brought to the true events. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/people-v-oj-simpson-american-856052/) ## The Times — Andrew Billen Rating ★★★★☆. 16 February 2016. Notes the comic perspective on the scandal of the acquittal and faults LA’s racist cops and courts, portraying Simpson as a high-maintenance buffoon in a flawed system while praising the overall drama. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/tv-review-the-people-v-oj-simpson-american-crime-story-the-not-so-secret-life-of-the-manic-depressive-ten-years-on-t3jcq7xg5) ## Collider — Allison Keene Rating ★★★★. 1 February 2016. The critic finds the series refreshingly understated and fact-based, commending its detailed retelling and standout performances from Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark and Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran, while critiquing some casting choices like Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson. [Read the review](https://collider.com/american-crime-story-the-people-vs-oj-simpson-review-ryan-murphy/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md