Robert Downey Jr.’s New Movie Is Heading To Netflix

The documentary about Robert Downey Jr. and his father has been picked up by Netflix.

By James Brizuela | Published

Robert Downey Jr. helped bring to life a movie about his father (Robert Downey Sr.), which is aptly titled, Sr., which has now been acquired by Netflix and will be released on the streaming platform this fall. The movie focuses on RDJ’s father and his accomplishments as a filmmaker, but more than that, the documentary is also meant to go heavily into the relationship between the father and son and focuses on generational dysfunction. This could explain a bit about the troubles that RDJ got into while he was an up-and-coming actor in the 1980s and 1990s.

The film is being produced by Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey, per the production company they founded called Team Downey. Sr. is meant to bring to life RDS’s contribution to filmmaking in the 1960s, especially his importance in the field of counterculture, as the director is most well-known for his parody of 1969 Madison Ave., in a movie called Putney Swope.

Chris Smith is the director for Sr., and the man famously worked on Fyre, Bad VeganOperation Varsity Blues, and Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond. Smith discussed covering a film about Robert Downey Jr. and his father, stating that “What started as a straightforward documentary quickly devolved into anything but knowing what I know now, it’s really the only way you could attempt to make something on the two Downey’s.”

robert downey jr.

Team Downey has also had success on Netflix, as Robert Downey Jr. and his wife’s production company helped to produce Sweet Tooth, which is now entering its second season on the streaming platform. The same can be said for director Chris Smith, as his documentary Fyre, was one of the biggest films that Netflix has ever seen. This new documentary about RDS should be quite successful, and the idea is to ensure that the documentary is up for Academy Award consideration.

Sr. officially debuted at the Telluride Film Festival, which saw Robert Downey Jr. in attendance, as it has been revealed that he is meant to go on the road with the film for its Oscar push. The documentary will screen at the New York Film Festival next, which is set to take place on October 10th and 11th, and then it will head to Netflix. We would assume that the documentary is going to be streamed around November or December on the streaming platform.

Robert Downey Jr. lost his father in July of 2021 at the age of 85 years old, and we expect that this documentary means the world to the actor, as his father was clearly very special to him. RDJ is also going to be giving everyone a more detailed look at the relationship between him and his father via the documentary, so we would imagine the film is going to be special to those who have been fans of RDJ through the years, and those who are now fans of him because of his time at Marvel.

We are more than excited to see Sr., and how it showcases one of the most dynamic relationships between a father and son in cinema history. Watch for the documentary during the holiday season on Netflix and expect Robert Downey Jr. to showcase the film more on his social media platforms.