Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story
NZ release: 23 October 2026
Offensive language and suicide themes Rated on: 23 October 2026
What’s it about?
Blurring the line between performance and personal crisis, comedian Maria Bamford turns her mental health journey into material that’s riotously funny and ultimately inspiring. What emerges is a portrait of an artist transforming vulnerability into creative strength through honesty.
The facts
- Directed by Judd Apatow (Bridesmaids) and Neil Berkeley
- English language
- Runtime: 116 minutes
- A documentary about the life and work of Maria Bamford, a stand-up comedian, actor, and voiceover actor known for her work in Adventure Time, BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth, and Lady Dynamite
Why did it get this rating?
This documentary film was self-rated by Netflix. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.
Mental illness and suicide themes
Maria Bamford discusses her real-life experiences with mental illness. This includes:
- Distressing intrusive thoughts (involving violent and sexual imagery) that are a symptom of OCD and which she had experienced since childhood
- Frank discussion of prescribed medications for psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety
- Hospitalisation of her mother and herself due to mania, suicide ideation, and depression
- Discussion of recurring suicide ideation and the importance of seeking support, while acknowledging the limitations of the current health systems
Offensive language
The occasional offensive language (words like 'sh*t', 'sh*tty', and 'f*ck') mostly appears in a comic context.
Helplines
The mental illness and suicide themes could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on screen, please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:
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