Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

Play trailer

2:26

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

2025

1h 38m

Documentary

Biography

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Marlee Matlin was born into a hearing family, like roughly 95% of Deaf people. Growing up in Illinois, she faced episodes of isolation and abuse. She found joy in performing at a local deaf theater. In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award and was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old. Reflecting on her life in her primary language of American Sign Language, NOT ALONE ANYMORE explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer. As a child, filmmaker Shoshannah Stern was inspired to believe that a deaf woman like herself could pursue a career as an actor after seeing Matlin win her Oscar. Stern's directorial debut is an intimate, honest, and loving conversation between two profoundly connected people that weaves together Matlin’s first-person account with interviews from those who know her best.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Filled with heart and layered introspection, Shoshannah Stern's directorial debut traverses the trailblazing career of Marlee Matlin and deftly showcases the ways in which both are Not Alone Anymore.

Read Critics Reviews

Peter Adams

Sight & Sound

Nov 4, 2025

Rather than positioning her achievements as history-making firsts, we should instead be looking to a future in which such representational milestones are no longer noteworthy; a world in which Matlin is Not Alone Anymore.

Go to Full Review

Guy Lodge

Observer (UK)

Oct 7, 2025

The ongoing scourge of Hollywood ableism is confronted with thoughtful candour and good humour in this conventionally assembled but affecting documentary portrait of the resilient star.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Aug 13, 2025

4/5

The sometimes difficult career and achievements of the actress and activist Marlee Matlin is the subject of this engrossing documentary portrait.

Go to Full Review

James Mottram

Radio Times

Nov 5, 2025

4/5

With well-chosen clips (including Matlin on Sesame Street!), and interviews frequently conducted in sign language, this is a casually trailblazing work.

Go to Full Review

Alex Vena

Decider

Oct 16, 2025

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore‘s primary use of ASL creates an astute awareness of the barriers experienced by the Deaf community on a daily basis. Not to mention, Matlin’s story is one more than worthy of a feature-length documentary.

Go to Full Review

John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Aug 16, 2025

94/100

This blind film critic is deeply affected, and proud to call this one of the best films of 2025.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Chelsea

Jul 18, 2025

Loved this documentary! So much rich Deaf culture and history not made for hearing only but for and by the Deaf community.

See more

C L.

@charleylang Dec 18, 2025

gorgeous. insightful. inspiring.

See more

Dan C

@cinemacriterion Sep 3, 2025

A great documentary. Truly enjoyed this!

See more

Jesús S

@Jessan Aug 26, 2025

Wow! Real mindset honestly with Marlee.

See more

Vincent S.

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Aug 15, 2025

Beautiful, moving and inspiring! Go Marlee!

See more

John T.

@JohnTesnohlidek Aug 8, 2025

Exceptional! Such beautiful insight into such an important trailblazer.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Shoshannah Stern

Director

Marlee Matlin

Self

Bonni Cohen

Producer

Justine Nagan

Producer

Shoshannah Stern

Producer

Geralyn White Dreyfous

Executive Producer

My Mom Jayne

100%

95%

My Mom Jayne

Watchlist

TRAILER

for My Mom Jayne

Steal This Story, Please!

97%

%

Steal This Story, Please!

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Steal This Story, Please!

Pamela, a Love Story

96%

92%

Pamela, a Love Story

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Pamela, a Love Story

Art for Everybody

100%

%

Art for Everybody

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Art for Everybody

Third Act

100%

%

Third Act

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore: Trailer 1

2:26

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Marlee Matlin was born into a hearing family, like roughly 95% of Deaf people. Growing up in Illinois, she faced episodes of isolation and abuse. She found joy in performing at a local deaf theater. In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award and was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old. Reflecting on her life in her primary language of American Sign Language, NOT ALONE ANYMORE explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer. As a child, filmmaker Shoshannah Stern was inspired to believe that a deaf woman like herself could pursue a career as an actor after seeing Matlin win her Oscar. Stern's directorial debut is an intimate, honest, and loving conversation between two profoundly connected people that weaves together Matlin’s first-person account with interviews from those who know her best.

Director: Shoshannah Stern
Producer: Bonni Cohen, Justine Nagan, Shoshannah Stern, Robyn Kopp
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Actual Films
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 12, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $106.1K
Runtime: 1h 38m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings