The One About Matthew Perry
NZ release: 27 October 2026
Drug references and offensive language Rated on: 27 October 2026
What’s it about?
A three-part documentary about Friends star Matthew Perry that goes behind the scenes of his life and fame to reveal the actor's decades-long battle with addiction.
The facts
- Directed by Mary Robertson
- English language
- Runtime: Three episodes that are each around 60 minutes
- The documentary features interviews with Matthew’s younger sister, some of his friends and ex-girlfriends, and footage from many interviews with Matthew Perry himself
Why did it get this rating?
This documentary series was self-rated by Netflix. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.
Drug references
There is a lot of discussion about Matthew Perry's decades-long struggle with alcoholism and addiction to pain medication. We hear from people close to him about how it affected his health, behaviour, relationships, and career. Video footage from over the years shows the physical effect this had.
We learn about his many times going to rehab centres over many years, as well as how he became an advocate for public understanding about addiction. People speak about his deep commitment to and struggle for sobriety.
Heavy drug use causes him to be hospitalised with a ruptured colon, leading to nearly die and be in a coma for two weeks. This happens at a time people close to him thought he was sober, so the testimony is affecting.
There is news footage and emotional interviews relating to his death in 2023, which was from a fentanyl overdose that resulted in multiple criminal charges.
Offensive language
There is occasional use of offensive language, in both comedic and frustrated contexts. This includes the word "f*ck".
Helplines
The discussions of substance use disorder 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:
Further information
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