If you’re looking for where to watch Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, you should probably grab a box of tissues first. Maybe two. Honestly, this isn't just a "true crime" movie. It’s a gut-punch that stays with you for years. I first saw it years ago, and I still can’t think about the Bagby family without getting a lump in my throat. It’s raw. It’s fast-paced. It’s completely devastating.
Finding a place to stream it isn't too hard, but the platforms change constantly. As of early 2026, you have a few solid options to catch this masterpiece by Kurt Kuenne.
Where to watch Dear Zachary documentary right now
You can actually watch Dear Zachary for free if you don't mind a couple of ads. It’s currently available on Tubi and Pluto TV. These are the "FAST" (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) services that have become huge lately.
If you have a library card, check Hoopla. It’s usually on there, and the best part is it's high-def and ad-free. It’s one of those hidden gems of the streaming world that more people need to use. Seriously, go get a library card.
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For those who want to skip the ads and just own the thing—or rent it in high quality—you’ve got the usual suspects:
- Apple TV (iTunes): Available for rent or purchase.
- Amazon Prime Video: You can usually rent it for a few bucks.
- Google Play / YouTube Movies: Reliable for a quick rental.
- Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu): They often carry the 10th Anniversary Edition.
Speaking of the 10th Anniversary Edition, if you’re a physical media collector, Oscilloscope Laboratories still sells the Blu-ray and DVD on their website. It’s worth it for the special features alone. There’s a video epilogue that provides updates on the case and the legal changes that happened because of this film.
Why everyone tells you to go in blind
You’ve probably seen people on Reddit or Twitter saying, "Don't look it up, just watch it." They aren't kidding. The documentary starts as a tribute to Andrew Bagby, a man murdered in 2001. His best friend, Kurt Kuenne, decided to interview everyone who knew Andrew so that Andrew’s unborn son, Zachary, would know who his father was.
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It starts as a love letter. Then it turns into a legal thriller. Then... well, then it becomes something else entirely.
The editing is frantic. It mirrors the chaos and the grief of the Bagby family. Kurt Kuenne didn't just direct this; he composed the music, did the editing, and narrated it. It’s incredibly personal. That’s why it feels different from a slick, over-produced Netflix docuseries. It’s a home movie that grew into a national outcry for judicial reform.
Is it on Netflix or Hulu?
Kinda, but mostly no. Dear Zachary was a staple on Netflix "Instant" back in the early 2010s. That’s actually how it built such a massive cult following. But these days, it’s rarely on the big-name subscription platforms. Licensing deals for documentaries like this usually favor the free-with-ads services or boutique distributors like Oscilloscope.
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Don’t waste twenty minutes scrolling through Max or Disney+ looking for it. It’s just not there. Stick to Tubi or a digital rental if you want to see it tonight.
The real-world impact of the film
Most documentaries are forgotten a week after you watch them. This one changed the law. In Canada, they passed Bill C-489, also known as "Zachary’s Bill." It basically changed how bail is handled in cases where a person is accused of a serious crime and has a child in their care.
David and Kathleen Bagby, Andrew’s parents, are the heart of the story. Their resilience is honestly unbelievable. They turned the most horrific imaginable grief into a political movement. If you want to dive deeper after watching the film, David Bagby wrote a book called Dance with the Devil: A Memoir of Murder and Loss. It’s even more detailed—and even more infuriating—than the documentary.
Helpful tips for your first viewing
- Hydrate. I’m not joking. You will cry.
- Check your settings. The audio can be quite fast and loud in some sections. Keep the remote handy.
- Watch with someone. This is a hard movie to process alone. You'll want to talk about it afterward.
- Avoid the Wikipedia page. There are massive spoilers in the first three sentences.
To get started, head over to Tubi or Pluto TV for the free version, or search Apple TV if you want the cleanest 4K-ish experience. If you’re in Canada or the UK, the availability might shift slightly, but the digital rental stores like Google Play are your safest bet. Once you've finished the film, look up the Zachary Bagby Scholarship or the Andrew Bagby Scholarship if you want to support the causes the family set up.