Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

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2:26

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

Jun 2025

1h 38m

Documentary

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Marlee Matlin was born into a hearing family, like roughly 95% of Deaf people. Growing up in Illinois, she faced episodes of isolation and abuse. She found joy in performing at a local deaf theater. In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award and was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old. Reflecting on her life in her primary language of American Sign Language, NOT ALONE ANYMORE explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer. As a child, filmmaker Shoshannah Stern was inspired to believe that a deaf woman like herself could pursue a career as an actor after seeing Matlin win her Oscar. Stern's directorial debut is an intimate, honest, and loving conversation between two profoundly connected people that weaves together Matlin’s first-person account with interviews from those who know her best.

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Critics Consensus

Filled with heart and layered introspection, Shoshannah Stern's directorial debut traverses the trailblazing career of Marlee Matlin and deftly showcases the ways in which both are Not Alone Anymore.

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Peter Adams

Sight & Sound

Nov 4

Rather than positioning her achievements as history-making firsts, we should instead be looking to a future in which such representational milestones are no longer noteworthy; a world in which Matlin is Not Alone Anymore.

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Guy Lodge

Observer (UK)

Oct 7

The ongoing scourge of Hollywood ableism is confronted with thoughtful candour and good humour in this conventionally assembled but affecting documentary portrait of the resilient star.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Aug 13

4/5

The sometimes difficult career and achievements of the actress and activist Marlee Matlin is the subject of this engrossing documentary portrait.

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James Mottram

Radio Times

Nov 5

4/5

With well-chosen clips (including Matlin on Sesame Street!), and interviews frequently conducted in sign language, this is a casually trailblazing work.

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Alex Vena

Decider

Oct 16

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore‘s primary use of ASL creates an astute awareness of the barriers experienced by the Deaf community on a daily basis. Not to mention, Matlin’s story is one more than worthy of a feature-length documentary.

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John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Aug 16

94/100

This blind film critic is deeply affected, and proud to call this one of the best films of 2025.

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Chelsea

Jul 18

Loved this documentary! So much rich Deaf culture and history not made for hearing only but for and by the Deaf community.

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C L.

@charleylang 17h

gorgeous. insightful. inspiring.

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Dan C

@cinemacriterion Sep 3

A great documentary. Truly enjoyed this!

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Jesús S

Aug 26

Wow! Real mindset honestly with Marlee.

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Vincent S.

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Aug 15

Beautiful, moving and inspiring! Go Marlee!

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John T.

@JohnTesnohlidek Aug 8

Exceptional! Such beautiful insight into such an important trailblazer.

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Shoshannah Stern

Director

Marlee Matlin

Self

Bonni Cohen

Producer

Justine Nagan

Producer

Shoshannah Stern

Producer

Geralyn White Dreyfous

Executive Producer

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Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Marlee Matlin was born into a hearing family, like roughly 95% of Deaf people. Growing up in Illinois, she faced episodes of isolation and abuse. She found joy in performing at a local deaf theater. In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award and was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old. Reflecting on her life in her primary language of American Sign Language, NOT ALONE ANYMORE explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer. As a child, filmmaker Shoshannah Stern was inspired to believe that a deaf woman like herself could pursue a career as an actor after seeing Matlin win her Oscar. Stern's directorial debut is an intimate, honest, and loving conversation between two profoundly connected people that weaves together Matlin’s first-person account with interviews from those who know her best.

Director: Shoshannah Stern
Producer: Bonni Cohen, Justine Nagan, Shoshannah Stern, Robyn Kopp
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Actual Films
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 12, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $106.1K
Runtime: 1h 38m

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