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Surviving R. Kelly

2019 – 2023Show3 seasons15 episodesTV-14

CrimeDocumentary
78
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic836.6Rotten Tomatoes–82%

A nerve-racking, deeply moving documentary series about society and everyday modern life, with standout characters.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you're watching with family

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

3 seasons · 15 episodes · best: S1E3 "Sex Tape Scandal" 7.7

Episodes

7.6
6.7
7.0

Story

Celebrated as one of the greatest R&B singers of all time, R. Kelly’s genre defining career and playboy lifestyle has been riddled with rumors of abuse, predatory behavior, and pedophilia. Despite damning evidence and multiple witnesses, to date, none of these accusations have seemingly affected him. For the first time ever, survivors and people from R. Kelly’s inner circle, are coming forward with new allegations about his sexual, mental, and physical abuse. They are now finally ready to share their full story and shed light on the secret life the public has never seen.

Feels like

  • Investigative Documentary
  • True Crime Series
  • Shocking & Disturbing
  • Social Reckoning
  • Survivor Testimonies
  • Psychological Trauma
  • Music Industry Expose
  • High Tension
  • Adult Themes

Cast

4 of 4 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Nigel Bellis, Astral Finnie
Written by
Nigel Bellis, Astral Finnie

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 3, 2019 · January 3, 2023 · Ended

First aired
January 3, 2019
Last aired
January 3, 2023
Status
Ended
Length
3 seasons · 15 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery, Suicide Themes
Genres
Documentary, Crime
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
13 countries

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Surviving R. Kelly?"

Questions about Surviving R. Kelly

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Surviving R. Kelly?

PhiloThe RokuHooplaA&E Crime CentralLifetime Movie ClubTubi TV

In the United States, Surviving R. Kelly streams on Philo, A&E Crime Central, and Lifetime Movie Club, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Hoopla, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 7 other countries.

Is Surviving R. Kelly worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78 (IMDb 7.4 and Metacritic 83).

Which season of Surviving R. Kelly is best?

Season 1, with an IMDb average of 7.6. Season 2 is the weakest at 6.7. The highest-rated episode is Sex Tape Scandal (season 1, episode 3) at 7.7, and the lowest is Bring Our Girls Home (season 2, episode 5) at 6.5.

Is Surviving R. Kelly okay for kids?

TV-14Sexual contentStrong languageDisturbing imagerySuicide themes

Better for older viewers: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for sexual content, strong language, disturbing imagery, and suicide themes, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

How long does it take to watch Surviving R. Kelly?

13 h

About 13 hours: 15 episodes in 3 seasons of about 50 minutes each, aired from 2019 to 2023.

Will I feel good after watching Surviving R. Kelly?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is Surviving R. Kelly plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.