Matthew Perry Netflix Documentary Series Streams Now
The three-part Netflix docuseries 'The One About Matthew Perry,' directed by Mary Robertson, is now streaming.
All three episodes of the Netflix docuseries 'The One About Matthew Perry' are now available to stream. The 2024 release, directed by Mary Robertson, has earned a perfect 5/5 rating. It provides a family- and friend-driven portrait of the late actor's life and his battle with substance abuse, culminating in his death from a ketamine overdose in the fall of 2023.
Narrative perspective and contributors
Mia Perry Bowick, Matthew Perry's younger half-sister and a psychotherapist, narrates the series. She was 14 years younger than her brother. Her perspective is joined by close friends like Roger Castillo and David Pressman, ex-girlfriends including René Ashton and Rome, and individuals he met in recovery. One is Tim Harrington, who lived at Perry's house for a year after meeting him in rehab. Another is West Huddleston, who worked with Perry on drug court advocacy.
The documentary does not feature any of Perry's 'Friends' co-stars or actor Hank Azaria. It is an unofficial portrait built from personal testimonies and Perry's own words. His sister recalls learning about his first rehab stint from a tabloid headline. She shares heartbreaking memories about his death on October 28, 2023. Perry was 54 years old.
Content focus and tone
The series chronicles Perry's addiction cycles from 1997 to 2023. It began when he started using prescribed painkillers after an on-set injury while filming 'Fools Rush In' in 1997. The documentary covers his 2018 sepsis-induced coma from opiate use, from which he emerged after three months in the hospital. It also notes he spent about seven million dollars on rehab over the years.
This is a sincere, non-exploitative examination. It situates his fame as Chandler Bing within a broader, more difficult life story. The tone focuses on the pain of trying everything for someone and still not being able to help them enough. It uses archival clips and talk show appearances where Perry told stories repeatedly. Perry's 2021 'Friends' reunion is noted as a source of anxiety for him due to online criticism.
Critical reception and legacy
The documentary has been received as a straightforward, non-sensational portrait. It is not a definitive celebration of his comic genius or a salacious account of his death. It does not create listicle content. Instead, it examines addiction and celebrity from outside the celebrity bubble. The series includes a quote from Lisa Kudrow about Perry, and references his 2022 memoir.
The series concludes with a discussion of his death and its legal aftermath. Perry's dealers and his live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, were convicted in connection with the ketamine overdose. Director Mary Robertson is known for 'Quiet on Set.' The documentary ends on this concrete point of legal consequence.
