The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

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Season 1
  • Network:
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 17, 2018
Season #: 1, 2
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 202 Ratings

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  • Summary: The second installment of Ryan Murphy's anthology focuses on the 1997 murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace (Edgar Ramirez) by Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss). Penelope Cruz stars as Donatella Versace with Ricky Martin as Gianni's partner, Antonio D'Amico.
  • Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Robert Rorke
    Jan 4, 2018
    100
    “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” is more personal and heartfelt than Murphy’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” and proves that when it comes to seductive allure laced with menace, no one in TV is Murphy’s match.
  2. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Kelly Lawler
    Jan 16, 2018
    88
    Versace marries the extravagant with the violent. Even when the series stretches its plot too thin, bold direction mostly makes up for it, ensuring that there is always something to look at, either beautiful or repulsive. The series is grounded by sublime performances from its cast.
  3. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Jan 22, 2018
    80
    The details are less familiar than the O.J. Simpson trial, the subject of Crime Story's acclaimed first season, which makes the reverse chronology of the parallel narratives even more compelling and disturbing. [22 Jan - 4 Feb 2018, p.12]
    All this critic's reviews
  4. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Jan 9, 2018
    75
    The quality of Smith’s script is honored effectively through the direction of the series, by Matt Bomer, Gwyneth Horder-Payton and series creator Ryan Murphy, and through exquisite performances, beginning with that of Darren Criss. ... Ramírez is equally convincing as Versace. His physical resemblance to the designer is uncanny, but the performance is what makes the story so credible.
  5. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Michael Haigis
    Jan 16, 2018
    75
    The series is defined by an unsettling unreality that evokes the morbid interest that surrounded these events in real time. With its dogged adherence to authenticity, it creates the feeling of witnessing something illicit, suggesting that we're complicit in fulfilling Cunanan's quest to make an impression, by opting to relive his spree at all.
  6. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Dan Fienberg
    Jan 3, 2018
    70
    The Assassination of Gianni Versace juggles three storylines and an innovative crimes-in-reverse structure in a way that yields a disturbing character study and an assortment of strong performances. Still, through eight of the nine episodes, it isn't quite as convincing or thematically unified as The People v. O. J. Simpson.
  7. Collider
    Reviewed by: Chris Cabin
    Jan 17, 2018
    40
    What might have been a furious reflection on the worth of style and aesthetic as compared to the humanity encased within such frames and settings is boiled down to an extensive Wikipedia page, more interested in the facts of the case than why the case was so important and shocking to the zeitgeist in the first place.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 26
  3. Negative: 3 out of 26
  1. broadwaybabyxo
    Jan 18, 2018
    10
    Came into ACS: Versace expecting to be disappointed after the first season. It blew me away. The acting (Darren Criss & Penelope Cruz areCame into ACS: Versace expecting to be disappointed after the first season. It blew me away. The acting (Darren Criss & Penelope Cruz are standouts), the cinematography, the directing, the intense edge-of-your-seat storytelling. One of the best premiere episodes I've seen. Excited to see more!… Expand
  2. celeste8730
    Feb 3, 2018
    10
    I wasn't expecting to like season 2 after the first season of OJ - but I was totally wrong! I like it just as much because it went a totallyI wasn't expecting to like season 2 after the first season of OJ - but I was totally wrong! I like it just as much because it went a totally different route. Very cinematic and strong acting performances, led by Darren Criss and Penelope Cruz. Looking forward to the rest of the season.… Expand
  4. charbent201
    Jun 7, 2018
    10
    I've been hearing such great buzz about this show. I really don't know why I've waited this long. It's undoubtedly the best show of the year -I've been hearing such great buzz about this show. I really don't know why I've waited this long. It's undoubtedly the best show of the year - maybe one of the best series in the past decade. The depth of the show is incredible, and the best part about it is that it is actually SAYING something. The acting is just stellar across the board - Darren Criss is utterly magnetic (never saw him in anything - a future star no doubt); Edgar Ramirez was spot-on with his emotional performance; Penelope Cruz stole every scene she was in; and the rest of the supporting cast (Fern, Wittrock, Briones, Light, Alder) were fantastic. I can't say enough. Do yourself a favor and watch.… Expand
  5. LanaLang
    Jan 18, 2018
    10
    I'm an outlier in that I didn't love the first season of this show (though I did think it was good, just not great), so I went into thisI'm an outlier in that I didn't love the first season of this show (though I did think it was good, just not great), so I went into this season with modest expectations. I am happy to be proven wrong. Maybe this type of season - manhunt vs. courtroom is just more my speed, but I'm already hooked. in particular, I was impressed with Ricky Martin and Darren Criss. Just stellar. Looking forward to seeing more from Edgar Ramirez and Penelope Cruz as well.… Expand
  6. cherold
    Jun 16, 2018
    9
    Wildly cinematically stylish season is quite different from season one but just as riveting. The structure is fascinating as the seriesWildly cinematically stylish season is quite different from season one but just as riveting. The structure is fascinating as the series continually travels back in time. The lead is terrific and the study of psychopathy is first rate.… Expand
  7. don_Lorenzi
    Jan 25, 2018
    8
    Extravagant, violent & exquisite performances. The Assassination of Gianni Versace is visually stunning and narratively satisfying. TheExtravagant, violent & exquisite performances. The Assassination of Gianni Versace is visually stunning and narratively satisfying. The performance of Darren Criss is intense and provocative at the same time, while Penelope Cruz is very sexy blonde in the role of a young Donatella Versace. Visually the show is amazing, warm and cold colors blend perfectly with the fairly glamouros dark storytelling.… Expand
  8. tvaaaa
    Mar 1, 2018
    0
    It's going nowhere, sadly. Waste time. Ryan, you can do much better.........

See all 26 User Reviews

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