Netflix Is Removing a Cult Comedy Starring Two SNL Favorites
If you want to check out an underrated gem in the Saturday Night Livealumni catalogue before it leaves Netflix, it's going to have to be Documentary Now!, and not Documentary Later! (get it?)
Documentary Now!, the mockumentary series that parodies popular documentaries, stars SNLcontemporaries Bill Hader and Fred Armisen, along with Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren, the latter serving as narrator, as they take viewers through a three-season cinematic odyssey of some of the most revered, influential, and tropes of real-world documentaries. Every episode spoofs a new style of documentary, taking the original concept and running away with it in the most fun way possible.
Take the first episode, named "Sandy Passages," for example - a direct parody of the cult 1975 doc Grey Gardens, but instead of "Little Edie" and "Big Edie" Bouvier-Beale, Hader and Armisen portray two aging, isolated socialites in a decaying home. If that sounds like it has to be seen to be believed, you're in for a treat, whether you're a Grey Gardens devotee or total novice. The pilot episode perfectly portrays the parody format of the series, taking the horror-like elements of the original doc (one you don't have to watch beforehand to enjoy an episode) and elevating them for comedic purposes to showcase the zany, even sometimes predatory, filmmaking style of the original.
In addition to Hader, Armisen, and Mirren, Documentary Now! includes guest appearances from Anne Hathaway, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Michael Keaton, John Mulaney, Owen Wilson, Peter Fonda, and countless others, in addition to fellow former SNL cast members Maya Rudolph, Aidy Bryant, and Taran Killam. It's a fun-filled, star-studded cinematic chameleon perfect for any comedy or cinema geek.
Originally produced by IFC and aired on AMC, Documentary Now! leaves Netflix this May in the U.S., although it may be available on streaming services in other territories.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 4:50 PM.