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IMDbPro

The Staircase

Original title: Soupçons
  • TV Series
  • 2004–20182004–2018
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 10h 29m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
24K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,075
189
Michael Peterson in The Staircase (2004)
The compelling story of Michael Peterson, a crime novelist accused of killing wife Kathleen after she is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home.
Play trailer2:24
4 Videos
99+ Photos
DocumentaryCrimeDrama
The high-profile murder trial of American novelist Michael Peterson following the death of his wife in 2001.The high-profile murder trial of American novelist Michael Peterson following the death of his wife in 2001.The high-profile murder trial of American novelist Michael Peterson following the death of his wife in 2001.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
24K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,075
189
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Stars
      • Michael Peterson
      • David Rudolf
      • Ron Guerette
    Top credits
    • Stars
      • Michael Peterson
      • David Rudolf
      • Ron Guerette
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 228User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Episodes13

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season

    Videos4

    The Staircase - Trailer
    Trailer 2:24
    The Staircase - Trailer
    The Staircase
    Trailer 1:03
    The Staircase
    The Staircase
    Trailer 2:09
    The Staircase
    The Staircase: Season 1
    Trailer 3:32
    The Staircase: Season 1

    Photos570

    Michael Peterson, Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, Todd Peterson, Caitlin Atwater, and Martha Ratliff in The Staircase (2004)
    Michael Peterson and David Rudolf in The Staircase (2004)
    David Rudolf in The Staircase (2004)
    Michael Peterson in The Staircase (2004)
    Michael Peterson in The Staircase (2004)
    The Staircase (2004)
    Orlando Hudson in The Staircase (2004)
    David Rudolf in The Staircase (2004)
    Roger A. Nichols in The Staircase (2004)
    Mary Jude Darrow in The Staircase (2004)
    Jim Hendrix in The Staircase (2004)
    Martha Ratliff in The Staircase (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Peterson
    Michael Peterson
    • Self
    11 episodes11 eps • 2004–2018
    David Rudolf
    David Rudolf
    • Self…
    11 episodes11 eps • 2004–2018
    Ron Guerette
    Ron Guerette
    • Self…
    10 episodes10 eps • 2004–2013
    Martha Ratliff
    Martha Ratliff
    • Self…
    10 episodes10 eps • 2004–2018
    Margaret Ratliff
    Margaret Ratliff
    • Self
    9 episodes9 eps • 2004–2013
    Tom Maher
    Tom Maher
    • Self - Defense Attorney
    8 episodes8 eps • 2004
    Bill Peterson
    Bill Peterson
    • Self
    8 episodes8 eps • 2004
    Clayton Peterson
    Clayton Peterson
    • Self…
    8 episodes8 eps • 2004–2013
    Todd Peterson
    Todd Peterson
    • Self…
    8 episodes8 eps • 2004–2013
    Orlando Hudson
    Orlando Hudson
    • Self…
    8 episodes8 eps • 2004–2018
    Freda Black
    Freda Black
    • Self
    9 episodes9 eps • 2004–2013
    Jim Hardin
    Jim Hardin
    • Self
    9 episodes9 eps • 2004–2013
    Arthur Holland
    Arthur Holland
    • Self…
    7 episodes7 eps • 2004
    Patricia Peterson
    Patricia Peterson
    • Self
    7 episodes7 eps • 2004–2013
    Kerry Sutton
    Kerry Sutton
    • Self
    6 episodes6 eps • 2004–2013
    Lori Campbell
    Lori Campbell
    • Self - Kathleen Peterson's Sister…
    6 episodes6 eps • 2004–2013
    Caitlin Atwater
    Caitlin Atwater
    • Self
    7 episodes7 eps • 2004–2013
    Margie Fargo
    Margie Fargo
    • Self - Jury Expert
    5 episodes5 eps • 2004
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

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    7.2
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    8.1
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    Making a Murderer
    8.6
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    An American Murder Mystery: The Staircase
    7.4
    An American Murder Mystery: The Staircase
    Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez
    7.4
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    Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist
    7.5
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    The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
    8.6
    The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
    Tiger King
    7.5
    Tiger King
    The Staircase II: The Last Chance
    7.4
    The Staircase II: The Last Chance
    Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer
    8.0
    Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer
    Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey
    7.4
    Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey
    Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
    7.1
    Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film editor Sophie Brunet had a 15-year relationship with the subject Michael Peterson, lasting from 2002 until May 2017. Jean-Xavier de Lestrade claims her involvement never influenced her editing.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Staircase II: The Last Chance (2013)

    User reviews228

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    This happens more than you realizr
    I went through a similar ordeal with law enforcement and the assistant DA that wanted to win a promotion to DA. My son was accused of a crime that he did not do and they had zero evidence and and he had never had any brush with the legal system but they wanted a good case that would make headlines. I had always trusted the law enforcement system and believed you are innocent until proven guilty but it the opposite. You are guilty and we had to spend $247,000 on legal costs before he was found not guilty by a jury of 12. The state wasted so much money and we are still paying off those we borrowed money from and he was also on 3rd party for a whole year. It was over four years ago now but I still suffer from depression and anxiety from this horrible, unbelievable failure of our legal system. I will never trust it again nor will any of my family. I don't even care whether Michael Peterson is guilty or innocent. Just the lies and misconduct of the procsecution team was glaring and oh so familar. They , too, did not care if he was guilty or innocent: they just wanted to win. Instead, everybody lost. The hundreds of thousands of dollars the state spent could have been spent on public "pretenders" for those pitiful prisoners that came into court chained together and their only choice was a plea bargain, which always meant guilty
    helpful•85
    26
    • janashedlock
    • Jun 18, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Official site
      • Official Netflix
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Death on the Staircase
    • Filming locations
      • Durham, North Carolina, USA
    • Production company
      • Maha Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      10 hours 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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