Netflix’s New Matthew Perry Documentary Promises an Intimate Look Beyond Chandler Bing

Few sitcom characters have left as lasting a cultural fingerprint as Chandler Bing, and few actors have had their personal struggles so publicly intertwined with their most beloved role. In the years since Matthew Perry’s death, streamers and networks have repeatedly revisited his story, each attempt trying to capture something different about a man whose comedic brilliance often existed alongside deeply private pain.

Those previous efforts, including Peacock’s ‘Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy’ and various investigative specials, tended to focus heavily on the circumstances surrounding his 2023 death and the criminal case that followed. Netflix’s upcoming project appears to be taking a notably different approach, leaning instead into the people who actually knew him best.

That new documentary, titled ‘The One About Matthew Perry,’ is officially set to premiere on Netflix on October 27. The three-part docuseries centers on intimate testimonies from Perry’s close family and friends, with his sister, Mia Perry Bowick, serving as the series’ key voice throughout, alongside previously unreleased photos and videos pulled directly from the Perry family archive.

According to Netflix’s official description, the series “traces his journey from rising comedic star to the man the world still loves as their favorite Friend,” while also promising “candid new details on his private struggles, honoring the legacy of honesty and advocacy he leaves behind.” That framing suggests a project more interested in fully humanizing Perry than simply retracing the final chapter of his life.

Perry Bowick spoke openly about how long it took her to feel ready to participate in a project like this. “It’s taken time for me to feel ready to share these memories and what it was like to love Matthew through all the complexity of his life, to see him as a whole person, not just as Chandler, and not just as someone who struggled with addiction,” she said in a statement.

She continued by reflecting on her brother’s broader impact on her own life, describing him as someone with “a beautiful heart and a generous spirit” who could still make people laugh and feel loved even during his darkest moments. Perry Bowick expressed hope that the series would give both those who knew him personally and fans who loved him from afar a deeper appreciation for who he truly was.

Director Mary Robertson, known for helming ‘Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV’ and producing ‘Framing Britney Spears,’ leads the project as director and executive producer through her Maxine Productions banner, which operates under Sony Pictures Television. Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman, and Aaron Saidman round out the executive producing team, with Lora Moftah serving as co-executive producer.

It remains unclear at this stage whether any of Perry’s ‘Friends’ castmates will appear in the documentary, though Netflix has confirmed the project will include interviews with some of his lifelong best friends and longtime creative collaborators. Given Perry’s decades-long career spanning film, television, and stage, the series appears positioned to explore corners of his life and work that previous documentaries haven’t fully addressed.

Perry died in October of 2023, with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office later determining the cause to be the acute effects of ketamine. Five individuals were subsequently sentenced in connection with supplying him the drug, a case that’s already been the subject of extensive prior media coverage.

With ‘The One About Matthew Perry’ positioning itself as a more personal, family-driven portrait rather than another retelling of the investigation, the series offers fans a chance to revisit his legacy through the eyes of the people who loved him most. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, know that support is available, and I’m happy to help point you toward resources if that would be useful.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!