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Summary Matt Wolf's two-part documentary about the life and career of Paul Reubens, best known for his work as Pee-Wee Herman, includes interviews, archival footage and never-before-seen photographs. [Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 23 Jan 2025 and set to air on HBO on 23 May 2025]
Pee-wee as Himself
Season 1 Premiere: May 23, 2025
7.8
Summary Matt Wolf's two-part documentary about the life and career of Paul Reubens, best known for his work as Pee-Wee Herman, includes interviews, archival footage and never-before-seen photographs. [Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 23 Jan 2025 and set to air on HBO on 23 May 2025]
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Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
82
100% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
82
100% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Pee-wee as Himself is a fascinating, endearing, and moving portrait.
In the end, if “As Himself” is necessarily incomplete, it stands as a tribute to Reubens’s genius and complexity. It lets the boy we all knew be joined by the man who — however ambivalently — wished we could have known him better.
It’s probably not the doc HBO and Wolf likely originally envisioned. But documentary filmmaking is a process of discovery, so good on Wolf for embracing Reuben’s wariness and integrating the doubt into the fabric of Pee-Wee’s complicated and engaging personal story.
It’s a rewarding tour of the life and career of a person who long remained private about things that weren’t really anybody’s business, yet one day decided to talk about (some of) them, and had much to say about the things he shared with everyone.
Wolf has made a documentary that stands up well alongside HBO’s recent run of “Difficult Funny Men” documentaries focused on the likes of Garry Shandling and George Carlin. As seen here, Reubens was difficult and welcoming, juvenile and reflective, brilliant and flawed, and I’m betting an entirely different documentary could have been made about him as an entirely different person, which only adds to the fascination.
Overall, “Pee-wee as Himself” is a worthwhile documentary for fans of Pee-wee Herman and for folks who want to know more. But even at its most entertaining, it can be an emotionally difficult viewing experience.
If the rise aspect of this two-parter ends up being slightly more compelling than the fall and subsequent series of mini-phoenix ascents that dominate Part Two, it’s worth noting that the back half is just as personal and psychologically intriguing.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 5 User Ratings
7.8
80% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Mixed
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20% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 5 User Ratings
7.8
80% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
20% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
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Production Company:
- Elara Pictures
- HBO Documentary Films
Initial Release Date: May 23, 2025
Number of seasons: 1 Season
Rating: TV-MA
Genres:
Awards
Gotham TV Awards
• 1 Nomination