The Manhattan Alien Abduction: True Story and Plot Explained - Netflix Tudum

  • Deep Dive

    The Manhattan Alien Abduction: True Story and Plot Explained

    The series investigates one woman’s claims that she was taken by aliens from her Manhattan apartment in 1989.

    By Ingrid Ostby
    Nov. 5, 2024

In 1989, New York City resident Linda Napolitano said she was abducted by aliens outside her high-rise apartment. The occurrence, known as the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction, was reportedly witnessed by over 20 people and became highly publicized. But did it really happen, or was it all a hoax? From Vivienne Perry (Meet Me in the Bathroom) and series director Daniel Vernon (Nail Bomber: Manhunt), The Manhattan Alien Abduction investigates the case and features an interview with Napolitano.

Popular Now

  • New on Netflix in July 2026
    A man and woman in pioneer clothing sit together outdoors on grass, next to a campfire tripod and a basket, with dry prairie landscape in the background under a clear sky.

When will The Manhattan Alien Abduction be released?

Stream all three episodes now

Where can I find the trailer for The Manhattan Alien Abduction?

Check it out at the top of this page.

Carol Rainey stands on the Brooklyn Bridge in an image from the series ‘The Manhattan Alien Abduction.’

What happens in The Manhattan Alien Abduction?

The docuseries retraces the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction, which allegedly happened to a woman named Linda Napolitano in November 1989 who said she was taken from her apartment in Lower Manhattan. She reported the incident to UFO researcher Budd Hopkins, who later claimed to have found over two dozen witnesses who saw Napolitano that night floating above her building. Hopkins, who used hypnosis techniques to help Napolitano recover memories of the alleged abduction, was married at the time to filmmaker Carol Rainey, now a vocal doubter of the incident. The series chronicles Napolitano’s relationship with Rainey and Hopkins, the case’s journey into the mainstream press, and the widespread public skepticism surrounding it. 

A woman floats above her bed.

Is The Manhattan Alien Abduction based on a true story?

Yes. The series investigates the alleged 1989 alien abduction of Linda Napolitano.

Who was Budd Hopkins? 

Budd Hopkins was a ufologist who investigated alien abductions by those who reportedly witnessed them. As part of his research, he also organized support groups for those who identified as abductees and used hypnotic regression on them to trigger memories of what they experienced.

Where does The Manhattan Alien Abduction take place?

The events of the docuseries take place in New York City.

Award-Winning Documentaries to Stream NowReady to feel inspired?
Related Tags

Shop The Manhattan Alien Abduction

Go to Netflix Shop

Discover More Deep Dive

  • Everything to Know About the True Crime Docuseries Worst Neighbor Ever
    The Worst Ever franchise is back with deadly tales of the people next door.
  • Are you ready to step back into a world of pure imagination this fall?
  • New series Instadocs answers the burning questions on everyone’s minds.
  • The series features interviews with Becky Hill and witnesses from the 2023 trial. 
  • These celebs are going behind bars to earn their redemption.
  • The lore of Liam, Maggie’s husband, is finally revealed.
  • A new group of couples will soon be playing house with a trial spouse.
  • A father unleashes his secret skills when his daughter goes missing.

Discover More Documentary

  • “There’s a danger to romance. Here, that danger is material.”
  • The pair at the center of the new doc are still together — and still climbing.
  • Start your Fourth of July holiday with stories that define the American spirit.
  • A suburb is scandalized by a violent stalking plot. Who was really behind it?
  • Plus Louis C.K.: Ridiculous, Survival of the Thickest, Heroes, Ali, and more.