I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco (2026 Lifetime Movie)
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Cast: Chloe Lanier, Dillon Casey, Mary Jo Buttafuoco
Director: Heather Hawthorn Doyle
Writer(s): Gregg McBride
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Synopsis (via Lifetime)
For the first time ever, Mary Jo Buttafuoco tells her story in her own words. In May 1992, outside her Long Island home, Mary Jo was shot in the head by 17-year-old Amy Fisher – the mistress of her husband, Joey Buttafuoco.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Based on a True Story
The movie starts with the infamous altercation between Mary Jo Buttafuoco and Amy Fisher. Mary Jo Buttafuoco was shot in the face by her husband’s teenage lover.
Mary Jo Buttafuoco herself gives a straight-to-camera testimonial for the first time, telling her story. In retrospect, she sees the red flags with her husband Joe that she didn’t see at the time.
The movie flashes back to Mary Jo Buttafuoco and Joe’s first meeting and wedding. They seem to have it all. Mary Jo Buttafuoco quickly becomes pregnant after that and is committed to raising a family. Joey isn’t ready and is a perpetual teenager, going out and buying Mary Jo Buttafuoco lavish gifts to make up for his neglectful ways.
Enter Amy Fisher, the Long Island Lolita. She seduces Joey, waits till she is legal in the state of New York, and sleeps with a guy named Steven to get a gun. The movie and Mary Jo Buttafuoco are clear that they think Amy Fisher is a convincing slutty teenager. Not a goomed and neglected minor. (It’s an interesting take in 2026; this movie is the personification of “Okay, Boomer.”
After a few failed attempts, Mary Jo Buttafuoco tells her story in her own words. Amy meets a guy named Peter at a party and finally gets the gun. She convinces him to be her getaway driver and shoots Mary Jo Buttafuoco on her doorstep.
Mary Jo Buttafuoco wakes up with a bullet lodged in her head and a long road to recovery. She is quick to confront Joey about his affair, on a notepad. Mary Jo Buttafuoco suffers from permanent hearing loss and has to wear an eye patch. Joey denies having an affair flat out.
Detectives piece things together and quickly entrap Amy Fisher with Joey’s help. The story becomes a tabloid sensation, and Mary Jo Buttafuoco blames Amy Fisher for everything and gives Joey a public pass. She stands by her man. (She was raised CATHOLIC in the 60s and was on a lot of pain pills.)
It even gets to the point of Joey and Mary Jo Buttafuoco being on set for one of the THREE TV movies of the time. Mary Jo Buttafuoco has no anonymity. Even SNL makes fun of her in their sketches.
Amy Fisher’s trial takes place over a year after the crime. Mary Jo Buttafuoco testifies against her and is emotional in court. The judges go OFF on Amy Fisher and sentence her to 5-15 years in prison.
At Joey’s trial, he pleads guilty, and Mary Jo Buttafuoco isn’t by his side. He gets 6 months. Gross.
Mary Jo Buttafuoco becomes depressed and addicted to pills. Her kids just want their mother to be happy, but Mary Jo Buttafuoco is in the depths of dark, intrusive thoughts. She gets rid of the pills and checks herself into a rehab clinic, where she hits rock bottom and goes to group therapy.
After Mary Jo Buttafuoco divorces Joey, her mother stops talking to her for 4 months. She obviously isn’t in touch with Joey or Amy Fisher. Mary Jo Buttafuoco says her story is about survival and raising her family with a second husband, whom they also divorced.
Finally, Mary Jo Buttafuoco gets surgery to smile again. Good for her!
STRAY Thought
This case and its media circus of it’s magnatuide would not be possible today. It really was a product of the time.
Overall rating
Number of Kills: None (0 knives)
Lifetime Tropes: AMY FISHER, cheating husband,
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷🍷 (2 Glasses of Wine)
Should you watch it?
Pour it up (Give it a shot)
Put a Cork in It (Skip It!)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media at @LifetimeUncorked and @patrickmiguel.
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