The Netflix true crime documentary “Car Crash: Who's Lying?” shocks with its rise to the top of the film charts

A true crime documentary about a fatal car crash has become the No. 1 film on Netflix in the UK and Ireland.

Car accident: who is lying? was originally produced for the BBC in 2018 but has been an unexpected hit since its release on the streaming service this month.

The documentary has films such as the acclaimed crime comedy HitManand Jordan Peele's Western-influenced horror Noto take first place in the daily updated rankings.

The BBC's official synopsis describes the programme as “a gripping documentary in a single narrative, telling the story of an unlikely group of friends from a close-knit community in Hampshire who suddenly find themselves at the centre of an intense police investigation”.

“By accessing previously unreleased police bodycam footage from the scene of the accident, viewers are taken directly into the aftermath of a catastrophic collision between a car and a tree on a dark country road,” it says.

The accident in question occurred near Southwick, Hampshire in January 2016 and claimed the life of a passenger.

On social media, viewers described the show as “raw,” with one writing: “Just Car accident: Who is lying on @netflix. It's a haunting reminder of the trauma that poor choices and dangerous driving can cause.

“It starts with an alarming statistic from @Brakecharity: 'Young people are three times more likely to die in a car crash than from guns, knives and alcohol.'”

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Another wrote: “Watch Car accident: who is lying? on Netflix. Be warned, it's a bit rough.”

In a review of the special at the time of its first broadcast, The IndependentSean O'Grady of praised the production.

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“Car accident: who is lying? is a gem and I strongly recommend you watch it on BBC iPlayer if you missed it,” he wrote. “It focuses on a single fatal road accident and tells the story of how the police were able to find out who was responsible and why. It's a mundane, if tragic, story but it's handled with such suspense and sensitivity that it's a must-see.

“I expect that with the rich new crop of police and surveillance footage, there will be many more 'true' dramas like this one. Car accident: who is lying? sets a high standard for the emerging genre.”

Car accident: who is lying? is now available to stream on Netflix in the UK and Ireland.