How long does it take to bury the truth? In Seven Seconds, a moment of human error spirals into a tragedy that exposes the deep fractures of America’s racial divide. Set in Jersey City, this gripping Netflix miniseries begins with the hit-and-run of a Black teenager by a white police officer – an accident quickly buried beneath layers of lies, loyalty, and institutional rot. As protests rise and tempers flare, a mother’s grief turns into a relentless pursuit of truth, giving Regina King one of the most powerful roles of her career.
Created by Veena Sud (The Killing), Seven Seconds transforms a crime drama into something far more profound – a raw and unflinching portrait of race, guilt, and redemption in modern America. It’s not just another police procedural; it’s a slow burn that questions how justice is defined and who it ultimately serves. It digs into the emotional aftermath of violence – the silence between confession and forgiveness, the spaces where justice falters. Every frame aches with tension, every silence carries weight.
In just ten episodes, the show builds a smooth plot that stays with you long after, confirming itself as one of Netflix’s most shocking offerings in recent years. Here’s everything you need to know about Seven Seconds, from plot and cast to reviews and release date. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
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Seven Seconds – all the key details
- Title: Seven Seconds
- Format: Miniseries
- Runtime: 1 season (10 episodes)
- Genre: Crime drama, social thriller
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: February 23, 2018
- Creator: Veena Sud
- Lead cast: Regina King, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Russell Hornsby, Beau Knapp
- Produced by: Fox 21 Television Studios, Netflix
Seven Seconds – the story
It all begins with what seems like a minor accident: a white police officer, momentarily distracted behind the wheel, strikes a Black teenager riding his bike. Panic takes over, and instead of calling for help, he tries to hide what happened, drawing in fellow officers who choose loyalty over integrity. From that moment, a chain of lies unfolds – igniting racial tension, institutional cover-ups, and a courtroom battle that tests the limits of justice. At the heart of the story is the Butler family, portrayed by Regina King and Russell Hornsby, parents shattered by the loss of their son, Brenton. Their grief feels real, raw, and overwhelming – a quiet storm that powers every scene.
Seven Seconds – the cast
Regina King’s performance was particularly praised, earning her an Emmy award and a Golden Globe. Her character represents the pain and anger of a mother confronting a system that seems to deny justice to those who have already lost everything. At the same time, the show follows prosecutor KJ Harper (Clare-Hope Ashitey), a fragile and self-destructive woman who sees the case as an opportunity for redemption, and detective “Fish” Rinaldi (Michael Mosley), her unlikely but effective partner. Their dynamic keeps the investigative side of the story alive, while the underlying themes – institutional racism, corruption, loss of trust – push the viewer to reflect far beyond the screen.
What reviews say about Seven Seconds
Few shows capture systemic injustice with the same urgency and depth. Seven Seconds unfolds like a novel – layered, patient, and devastatingly human. Its strength lies in Sud’s writing and the phenomenal performances: Regina King (who won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress) delivers a portrayal of maternal pain that’s almost unbearable in its honesty, while Clare-Hope Ashitey gives quiet brilliance to the overworked prosecutor fighting a losing battle.
For many viewers, it was impossible to look away from the screen, so much so that enthusiastic and outraged comments flooded the social networks. Some called it “a series that wounds and enlightens at the same time“, while others admitted to having binged it in two days.
The pacing is deliberate, almost meditative, allowing the viewer to sit in discomfort and moral ambiguity. This isn’t an easy watch, and it isn’t meant to be. Sud turns familiar crime-drama tropes into a mirror for American society – showing how justice bends, how people break, and how silence becomes complicity.
Beyond the investigation, the series dives deep into grief, guilt, and the cost of truth in a world where justice often depends on who gets to tell the story. Regina King’s award-winning performance anchors it all with raw intensity, turning pain into power and silence into defiance. This is television at its most human – bold, empathetic, and impossible to look away from.
Visually restrained but emotionally volcanic, Seven Seconds belongs among Netflix’s finest limited series of the past decade – the kind of show that stays with you long after the credits fade.
Is Seven Seconds based on a true story?
Seven Seconds is not based on a specific true story, but it’s inspired by the 2013 Russian film The Major by Yuriy Bykov. Creator Veena Sud reimagined that premise within the context of American society, where racial divisions and police violence continue to dominate public debate. The series echoes countless real-life cases involving law enforcement and young Black victims, exposing the painful cycle of silence, guilt, and systemic inequality. While fictional, its emotional truth feels devastatingly real – reflecting the same moral fractures that headlines keep reminding us of.
Why watch Seven Seconds
If you appreciated When They See Us, The Killing, or American Crime, this is the next essential series to add to your list. Seven Seconds blends crime drama and social commentary with a rare emotional honesty. Its pacing is deliberate, its tone somber, but its impact unforgettable.
Where to watch Seven Seconds
Seven Seconds is available on Netflix now ► Watch on Netflix
