Prime Video Releases True Crime Series The Promise
The three-part documentary details a daughter's decades-long investigation into her mother's 1989 shooting.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Documentary
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Prime Video has released a new three-part docuseries titled The Promise: Finding My Mother's Killer. The series follows Pooneh Entezari as she investigates the 1989 shooting death of her mother, Effie Entezari.
Why it matters
The docuseries highlights Pooneh Entezari's 35-year effort to prove the innocence of her father, Mike Entezari, who served 25 years in prison for the crime. It provides a detailed look at the original police investigation and the detention of the victim's son.
The three-part docuseries currently holds the sixth position on the Prime Video documentary TV shows chart. It explores the 1989 shooting death of Effie Entezari and the 25-year incarceration of Mike Entezari.
The players
Pooneh Entezari
She is the daughter who led a multi-decade independent investigation into her mother's death.
Effie Entezari
She is the victim whose 1989 shooting death serves as the subject of the documentary.
Mike Entezari
He is the father of Pooneh Entezari who served 25 years in prison following a conviction related to the death of Effie Entezari.
The details
The series documents the independent investigation led by Pooneh Entezari, who spent 35 years seeking justice for her mother. It also examines the police process and the month-long detention of the victim's son following the fatal 1989 shooting.
Timeline
Effie Entezari was shot dead in 1989.
The documentary series was released on Prime Video in 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This series fits into the broader industry shift toward serialized, investigator-led true crime documentaries on streaming platforms. It capitalizes on the sustained audience demand for multi-part investigations into historical legal cases.
The docuseries is available for streaming on Prime Video for all current subscribers. Viewers can access all three episodes immediately to follow the 35-year investigation.
The takeaway
The series illustrates the immense personal and temporal commitment required to challenge past legal convictions independently. It serves as an example of how streaming platforms provide a venue for families to bring renewed public attention to long-standing cold or contested cases.
Further reading
For more on the latest factual entertainment releases, visit the United States Documentary section.
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Do you feel true crime documentaries prioritize entertainment over the sensitivity of real-life victims?
