Pee-wee as Himself
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:20:15 PM Wikipedia source
Pee-wee as Himself is a 2025 American documentary series directed and produced by Matt Wolf. It follows the life and career of actor and comedian Paul Reubens, best known for portraying the character Pee-wee Herman. It was released on May 23, 2025, on HBO and Max.
Infobox
Directed by
Matt Wolf
Music by
Jon Brion Michael Penn
Country of origin
United States
Original language
English
No. of episodes
2
Executive producers
Matt Wolf Josh Safdie Benny Safdie Ronald Bronstein Eli Bush Candace Tomarken Kyle Martin Nancy Abraham Lisa Heller Sara Rodriguez
Producer
Emma Tillinger Koskoff
Cinematography
David Paul Jacobson
Editor
Damian Rodriguez
Running time
100–102 minutes
Production companies
HBO Documentary Films Elara Pictures First Love Films Polari Pictures
Network
HBO
Release
May 23, 2025 (2025-05-23)
Tables
· Episodes
1
1
No.
1
Title
"Part One"
Directed by
Matt Wolf
Original release date
May 23, 2025 (2025-05-23)
U . viewers
(millions)
0
Reubens discusses his childhood, his beginnings in comedy, the origins of Pee-wee Herman, and the creation of Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Throughout the documentary, Reubens has some clashes with Wolf over his interview style and his inability to have creative control. Reubens also, for the first time, publicly comes out as gay, and describes his pers
Reubens discusses his childhood, his beginnings in comedy, the origins of Pee-wee Herman, and the creation of Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Throughout the documentary, Reubens has some clashes with Wolf over his interview style and his inability to have creative control. Reubens also, for the first time, publicly comes out as gay, and describes his pers
No.
Reubens discusses his childhood, his beginnings in comedy, the origins of Pee-wee Herman, and the creation of Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Throughout the documentary, Reubens has some clashes with Wolf over his interview style and his inability to have creative control. Reubens also, for the first time, publicly comes out as gay, and describes his pers
2
2
No.
2
Title
"Part Two"
Directed by
Matt Wolf
Original release date
May 23, 2025 (2025-05-23)
U . viewers
(millions)
0
Reubens discusses working on Pee-wee's Playhouse and the failure of Big Top Pee-wee, the latter of which has Reubens acknowledge his desire for full control likely playing a role in the film's failure. Reubens' friends and colleagues talk about his scandals and arrests and his return to playing Pee-wee. At the end, a caption reveals that after 40 h
Reubens discusses working on Pee-wee's Playhouse and the failure of Big Top Pee-wee, the latter of which has Reubens acknowledge his desire for full control likely playing a role in the film's failure. Reubens' friends and colleagues talk about his scandals and arrests and his return to playing Pee-wee. At the end, a caption reveals that after 40 h
No.
Reubens discusses working on Pee-wee's Playhouse and the failure of Big Top Pee-wee, the latter of which has Reubens acknowledge his desire for full control likely playing a role in the film's failure. Reubens' friends and colleagues talk about his scandals and arrests and his return to playing Pee-wee. At the end, a caption reveals that after 40 h
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original release date | U . viewers (millions) | |
| 1 | "Part One" | Matt Wolf | May 23, 2025 (2025-05-23) | 0 | |
| Reubens discusses his childhood, his beginnings in comedy, the origins of Pee-wee Herman, and the creation of Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Throughout the documentary, Reubens has some clashes with Wolf over his interview style and his inability to have creative control. Reubens also, for the first time, publicly comes out as gay, and describes his pers | |||||
| 2 | "Part Two" | Matt Wolf | May 23, 2025 (2025-05-23) | 0 | |
| Reubens discusses working on Pee-wee's Playhouse and the failure of Big Top Pee-wee, the latter of which has Reubens acknowledge his desire for full control likely playing a role in the film's failure. Reubens' friends and colleagues talk about his scandals and arrests and his return to playing Pee-wee. At the end, a caption reveals that after 40 h | |||||
· Reception › Accolades
2025
2025
Year
2025
Award
Gotham TV Awards
Category
Outstanding Original Film, Broadcast, or Streaming
Recipient(s)
Matt Wolf and Emma Tillinger Koskoff
Result
Won
Primetime Emmy Awards
Primetime Emmy Awards
Year
Primetime Emmy Awards
Award
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
Category
Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Matt Wolf, Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Paul Reubens, and Candace Tomarken
Recipient(s)
Won
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Year
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Award
Matt Wolf
Category
Won
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
Year
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
Award
Damian Rodriguez
Category
Won
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program
Year
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program
Award
Daniel Timmons, Ian Cymore, Ryan Billia, Jeremy S. Bloom, Kelly Rodriguez, Eric Caudieux, and Jonathan Zalben
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program
Year
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program
Award
Johnny Mathie
Category
Nominated
TCA Awards
TCA Awards
Year
TCA Awards
Award
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information
Category
Pee-wee as Himself
Recipient(s)
Won
2026
2026
Year
2026
Award
Film Independent Spirit Awards
Category
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
Recipient(s)
Matt Wolf, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Paul Reubens (posthumous), Candace Tomarken, Kyle Martin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez (executive producers)
Result
Won
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 2025 | Gotham TV Awards | Outstanding Original Film, Broadcast, or Streaming | Matt Wolf and Emma Tillinger Koskoff | Won | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special | Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Matt Wolf, Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Paul Reubens, and Candace Tomarken | Won | ||
| Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program | Matt Wolf | Won | |||
| Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program | Damian Rodriguez | Won | |||
| Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program | Daniel Timmons, Ian Cymore, Ryan Billia, Jeremy S. Bloom, Kelly Rodriguez, Eric Caudieux, and Jonathan Zalben | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program | Johnny Mathie | Nominated | |||
| TCA Awards | Outstanding Achievement in News and Information | Pee-wee as Himself | Won | ||
| 2026 | Film Independent Spirit Awards | Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series | Matt Wolf, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Paul Reubens (posthumous), Candace Tomarken, Kyle Martin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez (executive producers) | Won |
References
- Warner Bros. Discoveryhttps://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/whats-new-max-may-0
- Mashablehttps://mashable.com/video/pee-wee-as-himself-trailer
- The Advocatehttps://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/paul-reubens-gay
- The Village Voicehttps://web.archive.org/web/20230804011731/https://www.villagevoice.com/persecuting-pee-wee/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2025/05/26/pee-wee-as-himself-director-had-no-idea-paul-reubens-was-dying/https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2025/05/26/pee-wee-as-himself-director-had-no-idea-paul-reubens-was-dying/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2021/03/hbo-paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-documentary-safdie-brothers-1234712332/
- Warner Bros. Discoveryhttps://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/max/max-unveils-new-brand-spot-never-seen-footage-hbo-and-max-originals
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2025-01-23/sundance-pee-wee-herman-as-himself-paul-reubens-arrests
- Programming Insiderhttps://programminginsider.com/friday-ratings-pacers-knicks-nba-eastern-conference-finals-game-two-on-tnt-sports-improves-upon-game-one-audience/
- Sundance Film Festivalhttps://festival.sundance.org/program/film/675335e163b94358e2c220e1
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2024/12/sundance-film-festival-lineup-2025-movies-1236200107/
- Pee-wee as Himselfhttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pee_wee_as_himself/s01
- Pee-wee as Himselfhttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/pee-wee-as-himself/season-1
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2025-gotham-tv-awards-nominations-nominees-list-1236203266/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/06/2025-gotham-tv-awards-winners-list-1236420759/
- "Pee-wee as Himself"https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/pee-wee-as-himself
- POVhttps://povmagazine.com/pee-wee-as-himself-leads-documentary-emmy-nominations/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/tv/news/television-critics-association-awards-2025-winners-the-pitt-1236493489/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/news/spirit-awards-2026-nominations-1236596640/