When They See Us (2019)

Plot Summary

In 1989, a jogger was assaulted and raped in New York's Central Park, and five young people were subsequently charged with the crime. The quintet, labeled the Central Park Five, maintained its innocence and spent years fighting the convictions, hoping to be exonerated. This limited series spans a quarter of a century, from when the teens are first questioned about the incident in the spring of 1989, going through their exoneration in 2002 and ultimately the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014. The cast is full of Emmy nominees and winners, including Michael Kenneth Williams, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman, and Blair Underwood. Oscar nominated and Emmy winner Ava DuVernay co-wrote and directed the four episodes.

Release Date

Also Known As (A.K.A.)

Certification

Sensitive content guide

Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards (2019)

Primetime Emmy 2019

Winner

Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie or Special

Aisha Coley Billy Hopkins Ashley Ingram

Primetime Emmy 2019

Nominated

Outstanding Limited Series

Ava DuVernay Jeff Skoll Jonathan King Jane Rosenthal Robert De Niro Berry Welsh Oprah Winfrey

Primetime Emmy 2019

Nominated

Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

Kris Bowers

Primetime Emmy 2019

Nominated

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie

Joe DeAngelis Chris Carpenter Jan McLaughlin

Primetime Emmy 2019

Nominated

Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie

Bradford Young

Primetime Emmy 2019

Nominated

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie or Special

John Benson Susan Dudeck Bruce Tanis Chase Keehn Jesse Pomeroy Naaman Haynes Bobbi Banks Elliott Koretz Matthew Wilson Suat Onur Ayas Jen Monnar Dawn Lunsford Alicia Stevenson