The Crime of the Century poster
Documentary•
Crime•
Drama

All Episodes of The Crime of the Century

HBO

Browse all episodes of The Crime of the Century

All Episodes of The Crime of the Century

A searing indictment of Big Pharma and the political operatives and government regulations that enable over-production, reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates.
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Season 1

  • Part One
    8.3/10356 votes

    Part One

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 5/10/2021

    A look at how Purdue Pharma worked with the FDA to get OxyContin approved for wider use, promoting the highly profitable pain medication's safety without sufficient evidence, and creating a campaign to redefine pain and how it's treated.

    Director: Alex Gibney

    Writer: Alex Gibney

  • Part Two
    8.2/10324 votes

    Part Two

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 5/11/2021

    A spotlight on the mass marketing of the synthetic opioid fentanyl examines the connections between drug manufacturers and government policy. Video of sales retreats and promotional material reveals a deep cynicism among company employees and a disregard for the widespread, nefarious corporate practices.

    Director: Alex Gibney

    Writer: Alex Gibney