Netflix Documentary Chronicles Matthew Perry’s Rise and Struggle with Addiction

The three-part Netflix documentary The One About Matthew Perry offers an intimate look at the late actor’s life, focusing on his battle with addiction as a disease rather than a personal failing. Directed by Mary Robertson, the series premieres shortly after the third anniversary of Perry’s death in October 2023. The film features interviews with close friends, former girlfriends, and co-workers who speak about the Friends star on an intimate level.

A Tribute to Resilience

The documentary charts Perry’s rise from a young unknown actor auditioning in Los Angeles to becoming one of television’s most successful sitcom stars. It highlights his early struggles to find work and his eventual breakthrough role. While the series is exhaustive, it avoids tedium through high-quality interviews that provide a portrait of the man entire, including fond accounts from ex-girlfriends and family members like his half-sister Mia.

Framing Addiction as a Disease

Director Mary Robertson explicitly frames the narrative around a shared enemy: addiction itself. "The common enemy is a disease, not a person," Robertson states, distinguishing this project from her previous works which focused on individual villains. This approach aligns with Perry’s own transparency in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. By naming his struggles openly, Perry aimed to help others grappling with similar issues, humanizing addiction for audiences who may have witnessed his body transformations but did not fully understand his private battles.

Timing and Impact

The release timing is intentional, coinciding with the anniversary of Perry’s death at age 54. The series serves as both a loving tribute and a broader commentary on the thousands of addicts and their loved ones whose stories rarely make international headlines. Through these personal accounts, the documentary seeks to honor Perry’s legacy while shedding light on the complexities of recovery and loss.