Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore
Directed by Shoshannah Stern
Where to Watch Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore
- Kevin WardJuly 1, 2025A moving and deeply personal retrospective, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore offers a compelling look at the weight of history resting on one person’s shoulders. At just 21, Marlee Matlin became the youngest Best Actress winner in Oscar history and the first deaf performer to take home the award. But rather than simply celebrating that milestone, the documentary examines the complicated reality of being thrust into the role of de facto spokesperson for the Deaf community—before she fully understood what that responsibility would entail. Matlin’s reflections are candid and unvarnished, revealing both the triumphs and frustrations of navigating an industry that struggled to see beyond her disability. Despite breaking barriers, she found that doors didn’t open as widely as they should have, leaving her to fight for representation not just for herself but for others who would come after her. The film also explores her pivotal involvement with CODA, the 2021 Sundance breakout that went on to win Best Picture, where she championed authentic Deaf representation both on and off-screen. In a poetic full-circle moment, CODA led to Troy Kotsur’s historic Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor—finally, 35 years later, recognizing another deaf performer at the Academy Awards. I adore Matlin as an actress and really loved this doc. More than just a career retrospective, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone captures the evolution of Matlin’s identity—not just as an actress, but as an advocate. It’s both inspiring and sobering, a reminder of how far Hollywood has come and how much further it still needs to go. Really excellent double feature with Deaf President Now!
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore Trivia
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore was released on October 14, 2025.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore was directed by Shoshannah Stern.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore has a runtime of 1h 38m.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore was produced by Justine Nagan, Robyn Kopp, Bonni Cohen, Shoshannah Stern.
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, Marlee explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer.
The key characters in Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore are Self (Marlee Matlin), Self (Randa Haines), Self (Sian Heder).
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore is rated Not Rated.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore is a Documentary, Biography film.