‘Trailer for Pee-Wee as Himself’: Introducing Paul Reubens, the mastermind behind your beloved playhouse.
As Pee-Wee Herman, Paul Reubens delighted generations of children through his series Pee-wee’s Playhouse and movies like Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Big Top Pee-Wee, and Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday. Meanwhile, on late night talk shows and during his sold-out stage show, The Pee-Wee Herman Show, he captivated adults, making them feel like kids again. But who was the man behind the bowtie?
Directed by Matt Wolf, Pee-Wee as Himself is a two-part documentary that features in-depth interviews with Reubens and his friends, reflecting on his life, his loves, his work, and the scandals that repeatedly stalled his career. The trailer above highlights the hesitation Reubens felt in relinquishing his story to Wolf’s vision for the documentary. While the tension between filmmaker and subject is central to Pee-Wee as Himself, the resulting documentary offers fans a unique insight into the late, great Reubens.
In a review from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, it was noted, "Pee-wee as Himself is not a simple love letter to the iconic character or Reubens. That would suggest Wolf goes easy on either, fawning over them without reservation. This is something greater." You can experience all that it offers when Pee-Wee as Himself becomes available for streaming next month.
Mark your calendars: Pee-Wee as Himself: Part One premieres May 23 from 8:00-9:40 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max, followed by Part Two at 9:40-11:20 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max.
