The Truth About Jussie Smollett? 2025 Movie Review
Netflix’s The Truth About Jussie Smollett? Is a documentary that promises clarity but delivers confusion. Instead of peeling back the layers of one of the most infamous scandals in recent pop culture, the film drowns in its own indecision, choosing sensationalism over substance.
The biggest problem is its refusal to commit to facts. Rather than presenting clear evidence or investigative depth, it leans heavily on speculative interviews and insinuations. By giving airtime to contradictory voices without providing meaningful analysis, the film feels less like journalism and more like a conspiracy podcast brought to life.
The tone is equally muddled. At times, it wants to be a serious legal drama; at others, it panders to tabloid-style “gotcha” storytelling. The result is a documentary that feels directionless and self-indulgent, more interested in provoking controversy than offering viewers any meaningful understanding of the case.
Even the participation of Smollett himself does little to salvage the project. His on-camera defenses are presented without challenge, making the film feel sympathetic to him in ways that strain credibility-especially given the mountain of testimony and legal proceedings that paint a very different picture. Meanwhile, the Osundairo brothers’ testimonies, while compelling, are handled with the same hands-off approach, leaving viewers with little to no framework to weigh competing accounts.
Ultimately, The Truth About Jussie Smollett? Is a frustrating watch. It raises questions it can’t answer, speculates without evidence, and mistakes ambiguity for insight. Instead of illuminating the truth, it exploits the controversy for attention, leaving viewers more exhausted than enlightened.
