'The One About Matthew Perry' Review: Remembering the Man Behind the Laughter
By Romey Norton - October 28, 2026
TV - Premium TV
Matthew Perry was one of television’s most recognisable faces, becoming a household name through his unforgettable portrayal of Chandler Bing in Friends. Across ten seasons, his impeccable comic timing and brilliantly dry delivery helped make the sitcom a cultural phenomenon, while films such as Fools Rush In and The Whole Nine Yards demonstrated his appeal beyond Central Perk. He also showed a more vulnerable side in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, offering an honest account of his struggles with addiction. Now, Netflix’s The One About Matthew Perry looks beyond the fame, the laughter, and the familiar one-liners to explore the man behind them. It is an emotional rollercoaster, and one that left me reflecting on both his extraordinary talent and the devastating impact of addiction.
What I particularly appreciated about this documentary series is its decision to centre Matthew himself, rather than relying on appearances from his Friends co-stars. While it might have been tempting to bring the surviving cast members together to reminisce about their time on the show, I think their absence is the right choice. Their presence would inevitably have drawn attention back to Chandler, the character audiences know and love, rather than allowing us to understand Matthew Perry as an individual. This is not a reunion special; it is an attempt to understand a person whose life was considerably more complicated than the character he played. However, we do hear from producer and writer Jeff Strauss, who worked with Matthew on Friends.
Instead, the series draws on accounts from his friends (Roger Castillo, David Pressman and Marjorie Harris Newman) and family, alongside archival interviews and footage that help piece together his journey. The series also features unreleased photos and videos from the Perry family’s private archive. We follow his rise to fame and gain a deeper understanding of the personal struggles that continued behind the scenes. The contrast between the success everyone could see and the difficulties he was experiencing privately is particularly affecting. Fame can make someone seem as though they have everything, but it offers no guarantee of happiness, stability or good health.
The series does not shy away from Matthew’s addiction, and that is where much of its emotional weight lies. We learn more about the challenges he faced and the circumstances surrounding his behaviour, giving viewers a fuller picture of a man who struggled for much of his life. Rather than simply presenting a tragic story about a celebrity who died too young, the documentary encourages us to look beyond the headlines and consider the person experiencing those difficulties.
What makes this especially powerful is the way his story reminds us that addiction is rarely a straightforward battle. It can be isolating, destructive and incredibly difficult for both the person affected and those who love them. There is a sadness in watching someone with so much talent, opportunity and affection from the public continue to struggle. Yet I also think it is important not to reduce Matthew’s life to his addiction. He achieved an enormous amount, made people laugh around the world and was clearly much more than the challenges he faced.
One of the series’ greatest strengths is the contribution from his sister, Mia Perry Bowick, who comes across as genuinely likeable and becomes a guiding presence throughout the documentary. Her perspective brings warmth and intimacy to a story that could otherwise feel dominated by fame and public scrutiny. This becomes especially powerful in the final episode, when she talks about Matthew’s funeral. It is an intimate and heart-breaking moment that brings the series’ themes into sharp focus. Her contribution gives the series an emotional grounding, reminding us that behind every headline is a family dealing with a deeply personal loss.
The archival material also helps bring Matthew’s story to life. Seeing footage and interviews alongside the recollections of those closest to him creates a connection between the public figure and the person being remembered. It allows us to revisit his humour and charisma while recognising the difficulties that existed beyond what audiences saw. These moments are a reminder of just how much he had to offer, both professionally and personally.
Across the three episodes, we are building to his shocking, untimely but not surprising death. After this awful segment, we then follow the case against the people who were selling the drugs (Ketamine) to him and how his friends and family dealt with the court hearings so soon after losing Perry. This section isn’t long, and the series is clever enough not to turn into a true-crime series. But it does tie up nicely.
I thoroughly enjoyed The One About Matthew Perry, although enjoying it feels like an odd word to use for something that is, at times, so heart-breaking. It is engaging, deeply personal, and difficult to watch without thinking about the wider consequences of addiction. There are moments of warmth and affection, but also a lingering sadness at what was lost.
Matthew Perry deserves to be remembered for far more than the circumstances of his death. The One About Matthew Perry allows us to do just that, celebrating his talent while acknowledging the struggles that shaped his life. It is a moving tribute to a man who made the world laugh, and a powerful reminder of the human being behind the laughter.
All three episodes of 'The One About Matthew Perry' are available to watch on Netflix.
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Romey Norton
Senior Writer
Romey is a senior writer for Film Focus Online, covering the latest film reviews, news, features and interviews, with a passion for all things cinema.
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