Miniseries · HBO Max
The Staircase
There is no truth without lies.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Colin Firth
Michael Peterson
8 eps
Toni Collette
Kathleen Peterson
8 eps
Michael Stuhlbarg
David Rudolf
8 eps
Dane DeHaan
Clayton Peterson
8 eps
Olivia DeJonge
Caitlin Atwater
8 eps
Patrick Schwarzenegger
Todd Peterson
8 eps
Sophie Turner
Margaret Ratliff
8 eps
Odessa Young
Martha Ratliff
8 eps
Rosemarie DeWitt
Candace Zamperini
8 eps
Tim Guinee
Bill Peterson
8 eps
Vincent Vermignon
Jean-Xavier de Lestrade
8 eps
Parker Posey
Freda Black
8 eps
Juliette Binoche
Sophie Brunet
8 eps
Giovanni Pucci
Remy
8 eps
Josh Drennen
Francis Borden
1 eps
Olek Krupa
Werner Spitz
1 eps
Joel McKinnon Miller
Larry Pollard
4 eps
Maria Dizzia
Lori Campbell
6 eps
Susan Pourfar
Deborah Radisch
5 eps
Justice Leak
Tom Maher
6 eps
Cullen Moss
Jim Hardin
5 eps
Cory Scott Allen
Art Holland
6 eps
Jason Davis
Fred Atwater
4 eps
Trini Alvarado
Patty Peterson
5 eps
Frank Feys
Denis Poncet
5 eps
Teri Wyble
Sonya Pfeiffer
4 eps
Robert Crayton
Ron Guerette
6 eps
Donny Boaz
Tyrone Lacour
2 eps
Samuel Ray Gates
Big Ray
2 eps
Mike Forbs
BK
1 eps
Paul Teal
Brad Wolgamott
3 eps
Nick McCallum
James the Masseur
1 eps
William Ngo
Make-Up Artist
1 eps
Hannah Pniewski
Becky
2 eps
Myke Holmes
Duane Deaver
2 eps
Kevin Sizemore
Mark Zamperini
2 eps
Kate Sanford
Veronica Hunt
2 eps
Daniela Lee
Devon
2 eps
Andre Martin
Yves
1 eps
Deena Wade
Margaret Blair
1 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How The Staircase actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
The Staircase reads strongest on Serialized, Character Depth and Bingeability.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
An exploration of the life of Michael Peterson, his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E04
Common Sense
After an unexpected homecoming, a critical discovery rocks the Peterson household. Michael’s fate hangs in the balance as the trial ends.
- Directed by Antonio Campos
- Written by Craig Shilowich, Emily Kaczmarek
S01E06
Red in Tooth and Claw
In 2006, Sophie pursues a far-fetched new theory about the night of Kathleen’s death. Then, in 2017, Michael grapples with compromising his principles in exchange for his freedom.
- Directed by Leigh Janiak
- Written by Emily Kaczmarek
S01E02
Chiroptera
While working on his defense, Michael considers an opportunity to tell his story in a documentary. Then, after learning shocking information about her stepfather, Caitlin wrestles with doubts.
- Directed by Antonio Campos
- Written by Maggie Cohn
S01E07
Seek and Ye Shall
After a body with similar injuries to Kathleen’s turns up at the county morgue, Sophie continues her quest to uncover what really happened to Kathleen. Meanwhile, Martha decides to dig into her fraught past, despite pushback from Margaret.
- Directed by Antonio Campos
- Written by Maggie Cohn
S01E05
The Beating Heart
In the aftermath of the verdict, the Petersons struggle with the court’s decision, and Michael finds solace in an unlikely friendship from thousands of miles away.
- Directed by Leigh Janiak
- Written by Craig Shilowich
S01E01
911
In 2001, author and aspiring local politician Michael Peterson is charged with murder after the suspicious death of his wife Kathleen.
- Directed by Antonio Campos
- Written by Antonio Campos
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S01E08
America's Sweetheart or: Time Over Time
- Directed by Antonio Campos
- Written by Antonio Campos
S01E07
Seek and Ye Shall
- Directed by Antonio Campos
- Written by Maggie Cohn
S01E06
Red in Tooth and Claw
- Directed by Leigh Janiak
- Written by Emily Kaczmarek
S01E05
The Beating Heart
- Directed by Leigh Janiak
- Written by Craig Shilowich
S01E04
Common Sense
- Directed by Antonio Campos
- Written by Craig Shilowich, Emily Kaczmarek
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Craig ShilowichProducer
- Carol CuddyExecutive Producer
- Antonio CamposExecutive Producer
- Maggie CohnExecutive Producer
- Christina M. FitzgeraldProducer
Writing
- Craig ShilowichWriter
- Antonio CamposWriter
- Maggie CohnWriter
- Emily KaczmarekWriter
Direction
- Antonio CamposDirector
- Leigh JaniakDirector
Cinematography
- Michael SvitakDirector of Photography
- Lyle VincentDirector of Photography
Music
- Saunder JurriaansOriginal Music Composer
- Danny BensiOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- NetflixStreaming
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- HBO Max Amazon ChannelStreaming
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- YouTube TVStreaming
- Netflix Standard with AdsStreaming
- HBO MaxStreaming
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Our editors' suggestion for the show you should start tonight — and why.
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Never stop watching
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