83%
12 Reviews
Tomatometer
71%
50+ Ratings
Audience Score
For five years, between 1975 to 1980, the Yorkshire Ripper murders cast a dark shadow over the lives of women in the North of England. It was a time of national hysteria. 13 women were dead and the police seemed incapable of catching the killer. No one felt safe – and every man was a suspect.
Chronicling the twists and turns of the largest police manhunt in British police history, this evocative four part series re-examines the crimes within the context of England in the late 1970s: a time of radical change, de-industrialisation, poverty, masculinity and misogyny, all of which contributed to the Ripper evading capture for so long.
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Watch The Ripper — Limited Series with a subscription on Netflix.
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Cast & Crew
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Episode 1
Aired Dec 16, 2020
Once Upon a Time in Yorkshire
In the 1970s, the brutal murders of sex workers in economically depressed areas of the United Kingdom spark little public interest, until a teenager is also killed.
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Episode 2
Aired Dec 16, 2020
Between Now and Dawn
As the killer continues to prey upon women, police hope that tire tracks and a victim's 5-pound note may finally lead to a suspect.
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Episode 3
Aired Dec 16, 2020
Reclaim the Night
Police release phone calls and handwriting samples from a suspect; women protest law enforcement's ongoing inability to catch the Ripper.
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Episode 4
Aired Dec 16, 2020
Out of the Shadows
More than five years after the first attack, the police finally make an arrest, setting off a media frenzy and accusations of a bungled investigation.
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The Ripper: Documentary Series Trailer
The Ripper: Documentary Series Trailer
1:48
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The Ripper
The Ripper
The Ripper
The Ripper
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Craig Mathieson
The Age (Australia)
With an evocative mix of archival material and testimony from many who were involved in aspects of the case, the narrative reveals both monstrous crimes and an ineffective response.
Jan 5, 2021
Full Review
Ed Power
Daily Telegraph (UK)
Beyond pandering to a ghoulish fascination with Sutcliffe, there really is little reason for it to exist.
Rated: 2/5
Dec 29, 2020
Full Review
Ryan Lattanzio
indieWire
It becomes as challenging for the viewer to distinguish between the victims as it did for investigators... But the series nimbly shows how economic despair caused by a rapidly over-industrialized England forced women... into the streets.
Rated: B
Dec 29, 2020
Full Review
Sayan Ghosh
The Hindu
Netflix’s true-crime documentary series is a moving piece on human incompetence and mass murder.
Sep 27, 2023
Full Review
Nick Levine
NME (New Musical Express)
Vile and Wood's methodical approach means The Ripper is sometimes plodding; then again, they deserve credit for honing in on each police failing even when they become repetitive.
Rated: 3/5
May 7, 2021
Full Review
Steve Murray
ArtsATL
What's smart and sensitive about The Ripper, directed by Jesse Vile and Ellena Wood, is that its focus isn't on Sutcliffe.
Feb 2, 2021
Full Review
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Gareth v
While it covers the crimes in detail, it's greatest strength is when it delves into the procedural errors that lead to Sutcliffe roaming free for so long, as well as the effect his crimes had on the community, particularly the women.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
06/28/23
Full Review
Chip M
Absolutely fascinating true crime documentary that not only paints the facts in an easily digestible way. It also does a fantastic job of shining a light on both the complete ineptness of various police forces and the utterly nonsensical misogyny that clouded every aspect of the investigation. Warning - this is a documentary that will make you utterly furious at certain turns, but well worth the ire if you're a true crime buff.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
04/22/21
Full Review
georgan g
Sad to what the misogynistic police did b4 they tripped across the misogynistic killer.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
J B
"Cops" being said by people in Yorkshire reeks of fed lines. Utter titillation of a terrifying real tragedy.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
01/29/21
Full Review
a a
Decent crime doc. Takes some weird social turns that don't really fit and in all honesty is very light on the evidence. So overall it doesn't really know what it is. The story itself is interesting enough to force you to finish it.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
Audience Member
If you like real life crime shows then this is for you. This is not one and done. It goes deep into the victims and police work gone awry.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
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