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Season 1 – Pee-wee as Himself

Play trailer 2:13 Poster for Season 1 – Pee-wee as Himself 2025 Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Driven by a soul-baring interview with Paul Reubens, the man behind the iconic character Pee-wee Herman, PEE-WEE AS HIMSELF is the definitive portrait of the comedic performer, and a window into his never before discussed personal life. Determined to correct the record and tell the factual story of his life, Reubens excavates his kaleidoscopic influences, origins in the circus and avant-garde performance theater, and career choices, while reflecting on the reasoning behind, and the consequences of, severing his beloved alter ego from his authentic self.
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Pee-wee as Himself — Season 1

Pee-wee as Himself — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Blessed to have the late Paul Reubens feature in candid conversation, Pee-wee as Himself is a revelatory glimpse at the complicated man behind a beloved comic creation.

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Critics Reviews

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David Bianculli NPR "Pee-wee As Himself" makes clear that Paul Reubens was a control freak of sorts, and at the end, Reubens finally gets in the last word unfiltered. It's worth hearing, and for this HBO documentary, it's just the right coda. Jun 4, 2025 Full Review Eric Deggans NPR In the end, Pee-wee as Himself offers a touching portrait of an artist who rarely revealed himself publicly -- in the process, explaining why sharing his personal story was so difficult in the first place. Jun 2, 2025 Full Review Judy Berman TIME Magazine [Matt] Wolf’s greatest contribution is in faithfully documenting his open, sometimes ugly dialogue with a figure who was widely known yet never, until now, understood. Jun 2, 2025 Full Review Andrew Sanford Pajiba Suddenly, the last little bit of magic in my life was removed from my life, and I didn’t even know it was still lingering there. That’s how it should be. Jun 25, 2025 Full Review Diego Batlle Otroscines.com Pee-wee as Himself is not only a visceral and stark profile...but also an honest, ruthless and uncompromising look at the cynicism, hypocrisy and lack of humanity of both the Hollywood culture and the tabloid media. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 4/5 Jun 24, 2025 Full Review Rachel Ho Exclaim! 'Pee-wee as Himself' captures the nuanced humanity of a complicated comedian who both hid behind and was trapped by a character that took on a life of its own. Jun 17, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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BENITA M. Pure nostalgia. My heart felt both sadness and joy for the man that instilled much laughter that had greatly impacted my youth. I grieved both Pee Wee Herman and Paul Reubens. I’m glad he made this documentary. It’s one that shouldn’t be missed. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/28/25 Full Review Adam P If you were a fan of, or knew of, Pee-Wee Herman/Paul Reubens, this is a must watch. A very well done in depth portrait of who the man was behind the character and how he came to be. Paul Reubens bares all. All questions are answered, rumors laid to rest, and history told. WATCH THIS DOCUMENTARY! Pee-Wee As Himself is Paul/Pee-Wee's last word. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/25/25 Full Review Lane M One of the best documentaries I have ever seen, very well done. I really enjoyed this. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/23/25 Full Review Dan L. Tortured artist Pee-wee! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/28/25 Full Review Joe B Seemed like a bit of a controlling pr*ck. Who knew? 5 stars. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/13/25 Full Review Mike P Startling documentary about Paul Reubens AKA Pee Wee Herman. It amazing to see the man behind Pee Wee unvarnished; with all his real clothes, real voice, real persona; all on full display here; for the first time; all of which he kept assiduously concealed throughout his life... Watching him finally give us the truth is nothing short of miraculous. His life is amazing; his showbiz rags to riches story is inspiring; his personality is warm and inviting; the whole thing is just a great, positive experience. We see his professional arc from art school, to the Groundlings, to Stand up comedian to movie star; to TV star; to national institution. It's great. I highly recommend this!! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Pee-wee as Himself — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Matt Wolf

Director

Matt Wolf

Executive Producer

Josh Safdie

Executive Producer

Benny Safdie

Executive Producer

Ronald Bronstein

Executive Producer

Eli Bush

Executive Producer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 23, 2025 Part One Part one details Reubens' childhood and desire to be an actor, inspired by such television shows as "Howdy Doody," "Captain Kangaroo," and "I Love Lucy." He finds acceptance at CalArts, where he hones his performance art skills. At the Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings, Reubens creates the alter ego of Pee-wee Herman and puts on a live late-night show that becomes a cult sensation and evolves into a popular tour. The hit 1985 film "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" makes him a global sensation. Subsuming himself into the character of Pee-wee, Reubens hides his personal life, and recognizes too late that fame makes for a complicated companion. Details Episode 2 Aired May 23, 2025 Part Two Reubens' profile continues to grow with an Emmy®-winning weekly Saturday morning television show "Pee-wee's Playhouse," which unabashedly celebrates diversity and nonconformity. The episode explores the casting, production design, and creative process of the show that ran for five seasons. Reubens talks candidly about his fame as a pop culture icon and the lows he endured as he faced rumors, vilification, and the vitriol of the media. Reemerging as a cult figure with cameo roles in films and TV shows, a Broadway revival of his Pee-wee stage show, and a final Pee-wee film, Reubens refuses to have his legacy be defined by media scandals based on false rumors. He shares final words with the public, reinforcing his lifelong dream to bring joy, creativity, and acceptance to everyone. Details
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Pee-wee as Himself — Season 1

Pee-wee as Himself: Exclusive Sneak Peek - Natasha Lyonne Pee-wee as Himself: Exclusive Sneak Peek - Natasha Lyonne 0:55 Pee-wee as Himself: Documentary Series Trailer Pee-wee as Himself: Documentary Series Trailer 2:13 View more videos
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Pee-wee as Himself — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Matt Wolf
Executive Producer
Matt Wolf, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Kyle Martin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 23, 2025