Skip to content
Bramble

Entertainment

Netflix releases trailer for Matthew Perry documentary The One About Matthew Perry

Netflix released a trailer on 29 September for The One About Matthew Perry, a three-part series on the late Friends actor that premieres October 27. In it his sister says he spent $7 million trying to get sober.

7 outlets · 3L · 2C · 2R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 3). New coverage since the last version from Digital Spy, IJR.

Image: Radio Times
Image: The A.V. Club
Image: IJR
Image: Digital Spy
Image: Rolling Stone
Image: Daily Mail
Image: The Independent

1 / 7

The story, neutrally told

Netflix released a trailer on 29 September for The One About Matthew Perry, a three-part series about the late Friends actor. The series premieres on Netflix on October 27. In the trailer, Perry's sister, Mia Perry Bowick, says he spent $7 million trying to get sober and that this showed how seriously he took his disease.

The Independent adds that Perry wrote in his 2022 memoir that he spent over $7 million on 15 rehab stints, and said in an interview that year that the figure was closer to $9 million. The trailer also uses archive audio of Perry saying that fame did not fix what was inside him. The film is directed by Mary Robertson, and friends David Pressman and Roger Castillo appear in it.

Rolling Stone and IJR report that none of Perry's Friends costars took part, and Rolling Stone says the film also covers how he tried to help others in recovery. Perry died in October 2023 aged 54; outlets describe the cause as the acute effects of ketamine, an accidental overdose, or drowning after a ketamine overdose. The Daily Mail gives the most background on his addiction and the aftermath, including that five people have been convicted over his overdose.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left3 outlets

Framing
Trailer news centred on the emotional tone and the family's remarks, with fuller context from The Independent.
Emphasis
Perry's own archive words, his sister's statement, who is interviewed, and Perry's own earlier figures (The Independent).
Leaves out or plays down
Little on the criminal case or the details of his addiction history.
Charged language
“poignant”
For example
“Matthew Perry’s family and friends remember the late actor’s incredible talent, generosity, and long battle with addiction in the poignant new trailer” — Rolling Stone
“Get ready to laugh and cry” — The A.V. Club
“Matthew Perry spent millions trying to get sober before his death, according to his sister.” — The Independent

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Straightforward first-look report placing the film as the first in-depth documentary on Perry.
Emphasis
The announcement, director's statement and sister's statement.
Leaves out or plays down
Omits Perry's addiction history detail, the convictions and his 2022 figures.
For example
“marks the first in-depth documentary about the actor” — Radio Times

Right2 outlets

Framing
Leads with the $7 million figure; the Daily Mail adds a long addiction chronology and the convictions, while IJR adds career and production detail.
Emphasis
Addiction history: 15 rehab stints, 6,000 AA meetings, Vicodin doses, and the prosecutions.
Leaves out or plays down
The Independent's note of the higher $9 million figure is not mentioned.
Charged language
“'Ketamine Queen'”“poignant”
For example
“Matthew Perry's family have revealed he spent $7million trying to get sober.” — Daily Mail
“He went to rehab fifteen times. He attended roughly six thousand Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.” — IJR