Netflix’s “Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia” — Trailer, Release Date, and the Brutal True Story Behind the Stanfa–Merlino Feud
@studiovhypermedia In the ‘90s, Philly’s mob split in two — John Stanfa vs Joey “Skinny Joey” Merlino. Ambushes, drive-bys, betrayals… Netflix’s Mob War: Philadelphia vs The Mafia shows how the city became a battlefield. 💥🕵️♂️ #mobwar #philadelphia #mafia #netflixseries #truecrime ♬ original sound - Studio V Hypermedia Ent
We’re dialed in on Netflix’s new true-crime docuseries Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia, and we’ve attached our TikTok trailer cut below. The series premieres Wednesday, October 22, 2025, and tracks the 1990s street war for control of the Philadelphia mob between John Stanfa and Joey Merlino. Expect wiretaps, headline-grabbing hits, and the federal squeeze that followed. PhillyVoice+3Netflix+3Netflix+3
What the Netflix series covers
Netflix frames this as a three-part deep dive combining first-person interviews, archival footage, and case-file details—from Scarfo’s collapse to Stanfa’s rise, and the young “Skinny Joey” faction that challenged the throne. If you like Fear City or Monster, this lands right in your queue. Netflix+1
Title: Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia
Where to watch: Netflix (official title page + trailer)
Premiere date: Oct 22, 2025
Format: Three episodes (docuseries) Netflix+1
Backstory: Stanfa vs. Merlino — how Philly became a battleground
After the Scarfo era, John Stanfa seized control amid internal chaos. A younger rival, Joey Merlino, rallied a faction that refused to fall in line—setting off a cascade of ambushes and counter-ambushes that spilled onto city streets and the nightly news. On Aug. 5, 1993, gunmen wounded Merlino and killed his capo Michael “Mikey Chang” Ciancaglini; weeks later, a Schuylkill Expressway drive-by targeted Stanfa’s car during rush hour, injuring his son and signaling that no one was off-limits. The war dominated headlines, drew massive federal pressure, and ultimately helped reshape the Philly underworld. Wikipedia+2UPI+2
Why this docuseries matters
Beyond the gunfire, the Philly mob war is about power vacuums, generational ambition, surveillance, and informants—the ingredients that rewrote organized-crime playbooks in the ’90s. Regional outlets and Netflix’s own preview call out the “Shakespearean” stakes: shifting allegiances, family betrayals, and vendettas that changed Philadelphia—and the American mob—forever. Philadelphia Magazine+1
Watch our vibe cut (trailer attached)
We’ve embedded our TikTok-ready trailer cut below so you can feel the energy before the premiere. For social, we pair the official visuals with licensed cinematic cues to avoid mutes while keeping the tension and rhythm you expect from a mob doc trailer. For the full official audio, hit the Netflix title page. Netflix
Fast facts & SEO hits
Mob War Philadelphia vs the Mafia release date: October 22, 2025. Netflix+1
Who’s involved: Joey Merlino vs John Stanfa; 1990s Philadelphia mob war. PhillyVoice+1
Format: Three-part Netflix docuseries; true crime, crime TV, documentary series. Netflix
Official pages: Netflix Tudum preview + Netflix title page with trailer. Netflix+1
Studio V’s take
This isn’t nostalgia—it’s a forensic look at how a crime family tore itself apart in public. The Stanfa–Merlino feud shows how leadership gaps and aggressive federal tactics collided with a new media era to turn a local mob war into a national story. We’re in for the interviews, the wiretaps, and the never-before-seen context that only a focused three-parter can deliver. Netflix
Join the conversation
Philly locals: Where were you when the Schuylkill Expressway shooting hit the news?
True-crime fans: What question do you want this series to finally answer?
Drop your theories below, and catch our episode recaps here after the premiere.
Premieres Oct 22 on Netflix. Save it to your list, and watch our attached trailer cut now.