I Just Killed My Dad is Netflix's latest shocking true crime doc — and it’s 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

I Just Killed My Dad on Netflix promo image
(Image credit: Netflix)

Netflix has become the go-to streaming service for true crime in recent months with a string of feature-length and docuseries exploring shocking real-world stories. And the streamer now has a new true crime series that is already making serious waves. 

I Just Killed My Dad only landed on Netflix on Tuesday (August 9) but it’s already surged into the streamer’s most-watched list and is currently ranked at No.2, behind only The Sandman. That puts it ahead of new releases like Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99 and the new season of teen drama Riverdale

What is I Just Killed My Dad about?  

Coming from Skye Borgman, the director of Abducted in Plain Sight and Girl in the Picture, I Just Killed My Dad centers on Anthony Templet a seemingly ordinary 17-year-old boy who one evening got his hands on two guns and shot his father. He then proceeded to call the police on himself and calmly wait for them to arrive on the curb outside his house. 

The truth behind this seemingly unmotivated killing is slowly revealed, and as you’d expect from a Netflix true crime documentary there are plenty of twists and turns along the way. Templet may initially be viewed by investigators as nothing more than a cold-blooded killer, but there’s more to this story than meets the eye. 

What do critics say about I Just Killed My Dad?  

I Just Killed My Dad has come out of the gate, boasting a strong set of initial reviews. Right now the true crime doc scores a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and viewers seem impressed as well with its audience score currently standing at 100%. 

Lucy Mangan of the Guardian was very complimentary about the mini-series, saying: “Borgman lays it all out before us with her customary consummate skill. She lets the participants speak their truths, while weaving in the practicalities and difficulties of the case via interviews with the lawyers.”

CNN’s Brain Lowry was similarly positive, declaring: “There are enough twists in Netflix's latest true-crime docuseries to keep audiences engaged.” Brain Tallerico of RogerEbert.com was a little more mixed but did still note that “Borgman has a remarkable ability to get a very shy, quiet young man to open up as much as possible.”

Nick Hilton of the Independent compared I Just Killed My Dad to Borgman’s previous Netflix docs: “As a thematically linked companion piece to last month’s hit Girl in the Picture, which twisted and turned every few minutes until its viewers felt like a tangle of fairy lights, it is a sleeker, more introspective project.”

Should you stream I Just Killed My Dad? 

True crime fanatics won’t need any convincing with this one, I Just Killed My Dad is another compelling entry in the genre. With a shocking murder at its center and plenty of unexpected revelations as the layers are peeled back, don’t be surprised if you end up binge-watching the entire three-episode series in a single sitting. 

However, viewers less enamored with true crime might want to give this one a skip, it’s definitely not seeking to convince anybody who’s not already on the true crime bandwagon. Of course, considering true crime is so popular on Netflix, we’d wager that most subscribers have at least some interest in the genre, and in that case, I Just Killed My Dad is more than worth a look.  

Read next: Never Have I Ever is a hit on Netflix — and it's 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. And this John McAfee documentary has just arrived on Netflix, and it's already climbing the top 10 list

TOPICS
Rory Mellon
Entertainment Editor (UK)

Rory is an Entertainment Editor at Tom’s Guide based in the UK. He covers a wide range of topics but with a particular focus on gaming and streaming. When he’s not reviewing the latest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing hot takes on new gaming hardware, TV shows and movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting far too emotionally invested in his favorite football team. 

Read more
(L to R) Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie in "American Murder: Gabby Petito" on Netflix
Netflix’s latest true crime show just went straight to No. 1 — and it’s guaranteed to shock you
Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence
'Adolescence' is a gripping new Netflix show that's already hit No. 1 — and it’s 98% on Rotten Tomatoes
Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in "Adolescence"
Netflix just got my favorite show of 2025 so far — you need to binge-watch this crime drama right now
Peter Eggers as John in "The Breakthrough"
Netflix just got a new crime thriller show that’s already climbing the top 10
Shailene Woodley as Eleanor Falco in "To Catch a Killer"
Netflix just added a crime thriller you (probably) haven’t seen — and it’s packed with mystery
Hanna Ahlander (Carla Sehn) stands in a crowd in Netflix's "The Åre Murders"
Netflix’s new crime drama is a compelling mystery series — and it's made to be binged
Latest in Netflix
Gerard Butler as Detective Nick "Big Nick" O'Brien in "Den of Thieves 2: Pantera"
Netflix top 10 movies — here’s the 3 worth watching right now
Michelle Buteau in Survival of the Thickest season 2
Netflix’s most underrated comedy ‘Survival of the Thickest’ is back — and I couldn’t be happier
Ensemble cast members of Netflix's "The Residence" cast peak around a doorway
Netflix top 10 shows — here's the 3 worth watching right now
(L-R) Ambika Mod as Emma Morley and Leo Woodall as Dexter Mayhew in One Day on Netflix
5 Netflix shows I wish I could erase from my memory just to relive them again
Tom Hiddleston as Robert Laing in "High Rise" now streaming on Netflix
5 best Netflix movies in March you haven't watched yet
Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane in Between the Temples
My favorite rom-com from the last year is one you probably haven't heard of — and it's now streaming on Netflix
Latest in News
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Friday, March 28 (#656)
Reddit logo and Reddit logo on phone
Reddit, X and MLB.TV were down — live updates on outage
Nintendo Switch 2 console, Joy-Con controllers and dock
The Switch 2's mysterious "C" button may have just been confirmed by Nintendo
Nintendo Switch virtual game card
Nintendo just announced 'Virtual Game Cards' ahead of Switch 2 launch
Gerard Butler as Detective Nick "Big Nick" O'Brien in "Den of Thieves 2: Pantera"
Netflix top 10 movies — here’s the 3 worth watching right now
Graphic screen displaying malware detection warning
This dangerous new Windows malware hides from your antivirus while impersonating a popular PC brand