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Entertainment • TV Series

Unbelievable

Unbelievable is an American limited television series that premiered on Netflix in 2019.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Unbelievable is an American limited television series that premiered on Netflix in 2019. Based on true events, it follows a young woman accused of lying about a rape and two female detectives investigating related attacks. The series stars Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, and Merritt Wever.

Premise

The series follows the aftermath of a rape report made by Marie Adler and the later investigation by two detectives into a series of similar sexual assaults. Its story is presented as a dramatization of real events.

Production

Unbelievable was created by Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman, and Michael Chabon. It was released as a Netflix limited series in 2019 and consists of eight episodes.

Source material

The series is based on the 2015 investigative article An Unbelievable Story of Rape and the later book A False Report. These works examine police handling of sexual assault allegations and related cases.

Reception

The series was widely described by critics as a serious and well-regarded true-crime drama. It received major awards recognition, including Emmy nominations.

Key facts

  • Unbelievable is a limited series inspired by true events.
  • It centres on Marie Adler, a young woman whose rape report is not believed by police.
  • Two detectives, Karen Duvall and Grace Rasmussen, later investigate a pattern of similar assaults.
  • The series stars Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, and Merritt Wever.
  • It premiered on Netflix on September 13, 2019.
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Canadian context

The series was adapted from investigative journalism by North American outlets and was widely available to Canadian Netflix subscribers. Its themes of sexual violence, policing, and survivor credibility have relevance for Canadian viewers and public discussion.

Frequently asked questions

What is Unbelievable about?
It is about a young woman accused of lying about a rape and two detectives who later uncover linked assaults.
Is Unbelievable based on a true story?
Yes. Netflix and other sources describe it as being inspired by true events and based on investigative reporting.
When was Unbelievable released?
It premiered on Netflix on September 13, 2019.
How many episodes does Unbelievable have?
It has eight episodes.
Who stars in Unbelievable?
Key cast members include Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, and Merritt Wever.

References

  1. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80153467
    Supports: Limited series status, premise, cast, and inspiration from true events
  2. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/unbelievable/1000491468/
    Supports: 2019 release, one season, Netflix, genre, and synopsis
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/show/unbelievable/umc.cmc.4av6001iz5z5akbmjrlvst4zv
    Supports: Series synopsis, main cast, and release year
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/unbelievable
    Supports: Network, genre, release date, and executive producer information
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7909970/
    Supports: TV mini-series classification, release date, genre, and synopsis
  6. Google Play — https://play.google.com/store/tv/show/Inacredit%C3%A1vel?id=B37574D09E92FD0BSH
    Supports: Creators, executive producers, release date, source material, and series format
  7. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/13/arts/television/review-netflix-unbelievable.html
    Supports: Basis in the 2015 article, storyline, and real-world context