Inside Lifetime’s I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco: Scandal, Survival, and Streaming

Few stories from the early 1990s have lingered in the public imagination quite like the Mary Jo Buttafuoco case. Now, Lifetime has brought the saga back into the spotlight with I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco, a television film that promises to revisit the events through the eyes of the woman at the centre of it all.

Revisiting a Notorious Crime

Directed by Heather Hawthorn Doyle, the film made its debut on 17 January at 8pm ET, offering viewers a retelling of a crime that once dominated headlines. The narrative is anchored by Mary Jo herself, who recounts the day her life was upended by a violent encounter with Amy Fisher, then just 17 years old. Fisher, involved in an affair with Mary Jo’s husband, Joey Buttafuoco, confronted Mary Jo at her home. What began as a confrontation quickly escalated, ending with Fisher shooting Mary Jo in the face with a semi-automatic pistol.

The aftermath was as harrowing as the act itself. Mary Jo was left with partial facial paralysis, and her family life unravelled under the glare of relentless media attention. The film doesn’t shy away from these details, instead choosing to focus on the personal cost and the scrutiny that followed.

Cast and Characters

Chloe Lanier steps into the role of Mary Jo, bringing a familiar face to audiences who may recognise her from NCIS: Hawaii or General Hospital. Maddy Hills portrays Amy Fisher, while Dillon Casey takes on the part of Joey Buttafuoco. Notably, Mary Jo herself serves as the film’s narrator, lending authenticity and a sense of immediacy to the unfolding drama.

Other cast members include Shay Galor, rounding out a group tasked with recreating one of America’s most infamous domestic scandals. The performances aim to capture not just the facts, but the emotional fallout that rippled through the Buttafuoco family and beyond.

Broadcast Details and Streaming Options

For those keen to watch, the film premiered on Lifetime in the United States and is now available to stream via several platforms. Viewers can find it on Hulu + Live, DirecTV Stream, and Philo. Additionally, the Lifetime Movie Club on the Amazon Channel offers the film on demand, making it accessible for those who missed the original broadcast.

Here’s a quick look at the essentials: the film is titled I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco, directed by Heather Hawthorn Doyle, and features a cast including Mary Jo Buttafuoco, Chloe Lanier, Maddy Hills, Dillon Casey, and Shay Galor. Ratings from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes are not yet available.

Will you be tuning in to see this much-discussed story from a new perspective?

I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco is now streaming on the Lifetime Movie Club on the Amazon Channel (US).