The Day I Met El Chapo: The Kate del Castillo Story

Inside "The Day I Met El Chapo": Kate del Castillo’s Unfiltered Account of a High-Stakes Encounter

Netflix’s 2017 docuseries The Day I Met El Chapo: The Kate del Castillo Story pulls back the curtain on one of the most surreal chapters in modern celebrity-meets-crime history. Directed by Carlos Armella, the three-part miniseries offers actress Kate del Castillo’s firsthand account of her communications with Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán—and the fallout that followed. latestnetflix.com's read is that with a mix of personal interviews, archival footage, and dramatic reenactments, the series dives into the chaos, controversy, and consequences of del Castillo’s infamous 2015 meeting with the drug lord.

A Meeting That Shook Hollywood and Mexico

The series centers on del Castillo’s 2015 encounter with El Chapo, which she initially framed as an attempt to produce a biopic about the kingpin. According to the documentary, del Castillo—already a household name in Mexico for her telenovela roles—exchanged messages with Guzmán through intermediaries, eventually facilitating a face-to-face meeting in a remote jungle location. The encounter also included actor Sean Penn, whose Rolling Stone article about the experience later sparked a media firestorm .

The Day I Met El Chapo doesn’t shy away from the fallout. Del Castillo has been vocal about the legal and personal repercussions, including scrutiny from both Mexican and U.S. authorities. The series includes interviews with her father, actor Eric del Castillo, and other insiders who provide context on the actress’s motivations and the risks she took . While the documentary presents her side of the story, it also leaves room for ambiguity—particularly around whether the meeting was purely professional or if del Castillo was unwittingly used as a pawn in a larger game.

Behind the Scenes: A Star’s Perspective

The docuseries stands out for its raw, unfiltered approach. Del Castillo herself narrates key moments, offering a mix of defiance and vulnerability. In one segment, she addresses the backlash from Penn’s Rolling Stone piece, which she has publicly criticized for overshadowing her own role in the story. "I’m angry at Sean Penn," she says in a clip from the series, framing the meeting as her project, not his .

The series also features commentary from journalists, producers, and even del Castillo’s colleagues, who weigh in on the ethical and legal minefield she navigated. Sabina Berman, a Mexican playwright and screenwriter, appears in the documentary, adding depth to the cultural and political implications of the story . Meanwhile, del Castillo’s father, Eric, provides a more personal lens, reflecting on the family’s concerns during the ordeal.

Why the Series Still Resonates

The Day I Met El Chapo arrived at a time when true-crime documentaries were dominating streaming platforms, but it carved its own niche by focusing on the human drama behind the headlines. The series doesn’t glorify Guzmán or the drug trade; instead, it frames del Castillo’s story as one of unintended consequences—a celebrity caught in a geopolitical storm.

Critics and audiences were divided. Some praised the series for its bold storytelling and del Castillo’s willingness to confront the controversy head-on, earning it a 7.1/10 rating on SensCritique . Others questioned whether the documentary leaned too heavily into del Castillo’s perspective, leaving some questions unanswered. For instance, the series doesn’t delve deeply into the legal fallout she faced, including her temporary self-imposed exile in the U.S. to avoid Mexican authorities .

The Unanswered Questions

Despite its depth, the docuseries leaves a few threads dangling. The exact nature of del Castillo’s relationship with Guzmán remains murky—was she a naive participant or a calculated player? The series also doesn’t fully explore the role of Mexican media in shaping the narrative, though it does touch on the sensationalism that surrounded the story.

One thing is clear: The Day I Met El Chapo isn’t just about a meeting. It’s about power, perception, and the price of fame in a world where lines between celebrity and crime are dangerously blurred.