4 Netflix Documentaries Worth Your Weekend in May 2025

Key Takeaways

• Marty, Life Is Short is a 101-minute biography of Martin Short directed by Lawrence Kasdan
• The documentary features interviews from Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy, and John Mulaney
• Netflix's weekend documentary lineup also includes titles about the Portland Trail Blazers and children lost in Colombia

Netflix's scripted shows are dominating the Top 10 right now. Lord of the Flies and the new season of Devil May Cry are pulling most of the attention. But if you want something grounded in reality this weekend, the platform's documentary section has fresh arrivals worth your time.

Four documentaries stand out for U.S. subscribers streaming between May 15-17. The lineup includes a biography of one of comedy's greatest performers, a car crash mystery, a survival story from the Colombian jungle, and a look at the notorious Portland Trail Blazers of the 2000s.

Marty, Life Is Short: The Martin Short Biography

The headliner this weekend is Marty, Life Is Short. Director Lawrence Kasdan, known for The Big Chill and Raiders of the Lost Ark, turns his camera on his longtime friend Martin Short. The 101-minute documentary traces Short's career from his youth in Toronto through SCTV, Saturday Night Live, and his recent success with Only Murders in the Building.

Short's iconic characters get their due. Ed Grimley, the sweaty lawyer Nathan Thurm, and the men's synchronized swimming Olympic hopeful Lawrence Orbach all appear in archival footage and home video. But Kasdan doesn't shy away from the darker chapters of Short's life.

The documentary covers Short losing his brother in a car accident when he was young. Both his parents died by the time he was 20. His wife, Nancy Dolman, passed away in 2010. Kasdan weaves these tragedies into the story of how Short became one of comedy's most enduring performers.

The interview list reads like a comedy hall of fame. Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy, and John Mulaney all share their perspectives on Short. For anyone who grew up watching his work, this is the definitive portrait of the man behind the characters.

The Lost Children

The Lost Children tells the story of children who survived being lost in the Colombian jungle. Details on this one are sparse in Netflix's current lineup, but survival documentaries in this vein tend to combine personal testimony with recreations of the ordeal.

The Portland Trail Blazers Story

The 2000s Portland Trail Blazers earned the nickname "Jail Blazers" for reasons that had nothing to do with basketball. This documentary examines the team's notorious era, when talent and controversy collided in ways that still echo in NBA discussions today.

A Car Crash Mystery

Rounding out the weekend's documentary options is a film investigating a car crash mystery. True crime and investigative documentaries remain Netflix's bread and butter, and this entry promises the kind of head-shaking revelations the genre is known for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Martin Short documentary on Netflix?

Marty, Life Is Short runs 101 minutes.

Who directed the Martin Short documentary?

Lawrence Kasdan, director of The Big Chill and Raiders of the Lost Ark, directed the film.

What celebrities appear in Marty, Life Is Short?

Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy, and John Mulaney are among those interviewed.

When did Martin Short's wife Nancy Dolman die?

Nancy Dolman passed away in 2010. The documentary covers this and other personal tragedies in Short's life.

Source: How-To Geek