The Jinx (TV series)

This article is about the true crime documentary series. For the children's comedy series, see Jinx (TV series).
The Jinx
Promotional poster for the first season, titled The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.
Also known as
  • The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (season 1)
  • The Jinx: Part Two (season 2)
Genre
Created by
Written by
  • Andrew Jarecki
  • Marc Smerling (season 1)
  • Zac Stuart-Pontier
  • Sam Neave (season 2)
Directed byAndrew Jarecki
Opening theme
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
  • Jason Blum (season 1)
  • Zac Stuart-Pontier
  • Andrew Jarecki
  • Nancy Abraham
  • Lisa Heller
  • Sara Rodriguez
  • Kyle Martin (season 2)
Producers
  • Marc Smerling
  • Andrew Jarecki
  • Charlotte Kaufman (season 2)
  • Sam Neave (season 2)
Cinematography
  • Marc Smerling
  • David Paul Jacobson
Editors
  • Zac Stuart-Pontier
  • Sam Neave
  • Lance Edmands
  • David Tillman
Running time38–57 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseFebruary 8, 2015 (2015-02-08) –
May 26, 2024 (2024-05-26)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

The Jinx is an American true crime documentary television series about New York real estate heir Robert Durst, a convicted murderer.[1][2] The first season, subtitled The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, debuted on HBO on February 8, 2015, and it consists of six episodes.

The series was directed by Andrew Jarecki, who had previously directed the feature fictional film All Good Things (2010), which was inspired by Durst's biography.[3] Durst had professed admiration for the film and telephoned Jarecki after its release, offering to be interviewed (this conversation was recorded and incorporated into the documentary). Durst sat with Jarecki for more than 20 hours, over several years, despite having never previously cooperated with any journalist.

The Jinx gained widespread exposure when Durst was arrested on first-degree murder charges for the death of his friend Susan Berman the day before The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst finale aired.[4]

In November 2023, HBO announced that The Jinx: Part Two, a six-episode continuation of the series, was in production with the same producers and director. It premiered on April 21, 2024.[5] Part Two covers the eight years since 2015, including Durst's trial, new interviews, and prison calls.[6]

  1. ^ Bagli, Charles V. (September 17, 2021). "Robert Durst Found Guilty of Murder After Decades of Suspicion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Hale, Mike (February 6, 2015). "'The Jinx,' 6-Part HBO Documentary on Robert Durst". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  3. ^ Dwyer, Jim (January 1, 2015). "Douglas Durst, in Rare Move, Speaks About Robert Durst Ahead of HBO Documentary". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2015. Mr. Durst said he refused many times to be interviewed for the documentary because the same filmmakers all had previously made a feature film based on the Dursts, All Good Things, which he believed distorted the truth, and would not give him assurances that the HBO series would not be twisted by his brother's fabrications.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYT arrest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Strause, Jackie (March 27, 2024). "'The Jinx — Part Two' Revisits Bombshell Robert Durst Hot Mic Confession". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (November 2, 2023). "'The Jinx – Part Two' Sets 2024 Debut on HBO, Covers Eight More Years of Robert Durst Investigation". Variety. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.