‘The Staircase’ Episode Guide: How Many Episodes Are in HBO Max’s Series?

When The Staircase docuseries premiered in 2004, it made an impact. Not only was it one of the very first true crime documentaries to gain mainstream attention. It also proved that international audiences were willing to sit through a multi-hour documentary if the subject matter was fascinating enough. Now 18 years later, this genre-changing title is coming to television once more, this time as a scripted series.

Wondering when you can expect episodes of The Staircase on HBO Max? We have you covered.

How Many Episodes Are in The Staircase on HBO Max?

Altogether, there will be eight episodes in this HBO Max limited series. Since there are already 13 hourlong episodes in the original documentary series, that’s almost a full 24 hours of content about this one true crime case.

When Do New Episodes of The Staircase Premiere?

Because this is HBO Max we’re talking about, The Staircase has a somewhat confusing release schedule. The first three episodes of this eight-episode limited series will premiere on the streaming service Thursday, May 5. After that, the show will release one episode a week. Want a guide to when you can expect every episode? We have you covered:

• Episode 1, “911”: Thursday, May 5
• Episode 2, “Chiroptera”: Thursday, May 5
• Episode 3, “The Great Dissembler”: Thursday, May 5
• Episode 4, “Common Sense”: Thursday, May 12
• Episode 5, “The Beating Heart”: Thursday, May 19
• Episode 6: Thursday, May 26
• Episode 7: Thursday, June 2
• Episode 8: Thursday, June 9

How to Watch The Staircase on HBO Max

The only way to watch this one is through HBO Max. Fortunately, there’s a high chance you already have this streaming service even if you don’t think you do. If you’re subscribed to HBO through any way, you have access to its maxed out option. For those using HBO Go, just enter your cable username and password into the site or app.

What if you truly don’t have any version of HBO? It’s pretty easy to solve that problem. The basic version of HBO Max with ads costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. Want to upgrade to the ad-free option? That will cost you either $14.99 a month or $149.99 a year. Sadly, neither option comes with a free trial, so you can’t try this one out before you commit.

Will The Staircase Be on Netflix? Will It Be on Hulu?

No, this limited series won’t be on Netflix or Hulu. Because this is an HBO Max original, it’s exclusive to this streaming service.

Who’s in the Cast of The Staircase?

This isn’t just a high-profile case. The Staircase comes with a truly impressive cast. Colin Firth, best known for his work in Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and Mamma Mia!, plays Michael Peterson. A novelist and crime reporter, Peterson was convicted of murdering his second wife in 2003. Portraying that wife is none other than Toni Collette. Before playing Kathleen Peterson, Collette starred in The United States of Tara, Knives Out, Hereditary, and Little Miss Sunshine.

Speaking of The United States of Tara, this series serves as a bit of a reunion as it brings together Collette and Rosemarie DeWitt. Similar to the Showtime series, DeWitt plays Collette’s in-series sister, Candace Hunt Zamperini. Additionally, the limited series stars Juliette Binoche (Certified Copy), Parker Posey (Waiting for Guffman), Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones), Odessa Young (The Daughter), Patrick Schwarzenegger (The Long Road Home), Dane DeHaan (Lisey’s Story), and Michael Stuhlbarg (Fargo, Dopesick). Basically, if there’s a character actor you adore, they’re probably in this project from Antonio Campos and Maggie Cohn.

Is There a Trailer for The Staircase?

There certainly is. Check it out above.

Where Can I Watch The Staircase Documentary?

At the moment, the only way to stream this genre-changing docuseries is on Netflix.