Netflix’s ‘The One About Matthew Perry’ Documentary: A Deeper Look at the Man Behind Chandler Bing

Matthew Perry spent decades as one of television’s most recognizable faces, yet the full scope of his life remained largely unknown to the public. Now, a new Netflix documentary aims to change that. The One About Matthew Perry, a three-part series, promises to reveal the man behind the iconic role of Chandler Bing through private family footage and personal accounts from those closest to him.

A Documentary Built on Personal Archives

Premiering October 27, 2026—one day before the third anniversary of Perry’s death—the series draws heavily from the Perry family’s private collection. Unreleased photographs and videos offer a glimpse into moments away from the spotlight, while his sister, Mia Perry Bowick, provides one of the documentary’s most intimate perspectives.

Bowick explained that she needed time before feeling ready to share what it was like to love her brother through the different stages of his life. Her contribution centers on seeing him “as a whole person,” rather than simply as Chandler Bing or someone who struggled with addiction.

The documentary also features close friends David Pressman and Roger Castillo, along with former girlfriends and professional collaborators from various periods of Perry’s career. This combination of testimony and archival material gives the series access to aspects of his life that were largely absent from his public persona.

Three Episodes, Three Facets of a Life

The series is divided into three episodes: The One About Love, The One About Laughter, and The One About a Friend. The titles deliberately echo the naming convention used throughout Friends, while giving the familiar format a more personal purpose.

Director Mary Robertson, an Emmy Award winner, said the series was created to explore the person audiences did not fully know. “Through his many films, TV and stage performances and his unforgettable portrayal of Chandler Bing, he made millions of us laugh, connect and feel a little less alone,” Robertson said. She added that Perry “also gave us so much more by bravely speaking about addiction,” while noting that the public only knew part of his story.

The episodes look beyond Friends, tracing Perry’s early television career and the audition that helped launch his path to sitcom stardom. Former NBC Entertainment president Warren Littlefield and Season 1 writer Jeff Strauss are among those who recount that period. His film and stage work, later television projects, and experiences in recovery are also examined.

Beyond the Headlines

The One About Matthew Perry arrives after several documentaries and projects attempted to examine the actor’s death and struggles with addiction. Some of those releases were criticized for focusing on the circumstances surrounding his passing without offering enough insight into the person behind the headlines. Netflix’s new series takes a different approach.

The documentary revisits the scale of Perry’s battle with addiction, including the estimated $9 million he said he spent on treatment over three decades in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. In the documentary’s trailer, Perry can be heard reflecting on his complicated relationship with fame, saying, “I said God, you can do anything you want to me, just please make me famous.” After becoming famous, he adds, “God did not forget the other part.”

A Legacy of Advocacy and Honesty

While his career made him a global television star, the documentary also focuses on the work Perry pursued during recovery. He founded Perry House in 2013, transforming his Malibu home into a sober living facility for men. He also became an outspoken advocate for addiction treatment, testified before Congress about drug treatment policy, and developed a one-man stage show based on his experiences.

His 2022 memoir further documented the realities of his addiction and recovery, selling more than a million copies in its first week. Those efforts became an important part of how Perry wanted to use his public platform.

By bringing together his family’s private archive with testimony from people who knew him personally, The One About Matthew Perry is positioned as an attempt to examine the actor’s life in full—from his rise to international fame and his years as Chandler Bing to his struggles, relationships, recovery, and efforts to help others.

Produced by Maxine Productions, part of Sony Pictures Television, and directed by Mary Robertson, The One About Matthew Perry premieres globally on Netflix on October 27, 2026.