Marty, Life Is Short

Play trailer

2:11

Marty, Life Is Short

2026

1h 41m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Marty, Life is Short, from director Lawrence Kasdan, is the definitive documentary on beloved comedian Martin Short. Using beautiful, intimate, never-before-seen archive footage alongside exclusive interviews with some of the most established and beloved stars, the documentary takes a look at one of the most influential comedians of a generation.

G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

May 14

1/4

Basically, Kasdan has created a celebration of his pal, whose life apparently consisted of little else besides acting in comedy projects onstage and onscreen and throwing parties with his rich and famous friends.

Go to Full Review

David Mack

Slate

May 14

One of the more interesting things that Marty, Life Is Short does to stand out from the slew of other recent biographical documentaries is adopt a slightly meta approach to the whole process.

Go to Full Review

Daniel Fienberg

The Hollywood Reporter

May 13

I’m sure there’s a dry, professionally distanced documentary to be made about Short’s career, his varied professional arc and his myriad achievements, but Life Is Short mostly isn’t that documentary.

Go to Full Review

Alex Maidy

JoBlo's Movie Network

3d

8/10

Marty, Life Is Short is a worthy tribute to the man whom I hope has many more years ahead of him, and hopefully filled with no more grief, as this documentary shows he has endured far more than he deserves. A great and positive love letter, I must say.

Go to Full Review

John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

4d

90/100

Loved it from start to finish.We should all be so lucky to have a friend like Marty, and every celebrity would be grateful to have a retrospective like Life Is Short.

Go to Full Review

Erik Childress

Movie Madness Podcast

May 17

3/4

Sometimes the best insight into a person’s soul exists within the amass of friends who seem to never miss a chance to be around them. Martin Short’s career speaks for itself, but this film is a lovely, if not especially a probing portrait of the man.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

James M

@RT66144318 4h

I will start off by saying I am a Martin Short fan and have been since SCTV. I've read his autobio and watch Only Murder's in the Building mainly for him and only secondly for the great Steve Martin which shows my devotion for the man we call Mr Entertainment Martin Short. So, you get that I am not going to give a negative review of this documentary. Well, actually it was terrible...no, I am kidding, but I wanted to surprise you, shock you and well I am already bored writing this and since you probably stopped reading it a while ago I stop here and just say watch Marty and bask in the warmth of his talent....too much?

See more

Lucas C.

@TheMovieConnoisseur007 15h

The Power of having Good Friends and a loving family.

See more

Scott M

@Scomo 18h

Marty made me laugh. Then he made me cry. That last pic with Nancy and Catherine O’Hara. Marty you turned me into a blubbering 70 year old wimp, I must say. And to Marty’s life long pal, Steve Martin who helped in my transition to cry baby, I don’t give a shit I where Tut was born or that he moved to Arizona or any other place. Waterworks going again as I write this. I feel completely mental. Give me a break!

See more

Raymond D.

@RT85986839 2d

Loved this Documentary. Funny and sad. Martin with all the tragedies in his life teaches us to remember that life is short and to enjoy family and friends while they are still here and even when they leave us. Love Laugh Live!

See more

Vincent S

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies 2d

This is a very funny, charming, heartfelt documentary on Martin Short's genius with a twinge of sadness. Watching this, I now know what a great and funny human being Martin Short is. This is a compelling and emotional documentary.

See more

Jason H

@RT50328122 2d

The third act - plus the dedication at the end - is heartbreaking.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Lawrence Kasdan

Director

Martin Short

Self

Sara Bernstein

Producer

Meredith Kaulfers

Producer

Christopher St. John

Producer

Lawrence Kasdan

Producer

Marty, Life Is Short: Trailer 1

2:11

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Marty, Life is Short, from director Lawrence Kasdan, is the definitive documentary on beloved comedian Martin Short. Using beautiful, intimate, never-before-seen archive footage alongside exclusive interviews with some of the most established and beloved stars, the documentary takes a look at one of the most influential comedians of a generation.

Director: Lawrence Kasdan
Producer: Sara Bernstein, Meredith Kaulfers, Christopher St. John, Lawrence Kasdan, Blair Foster
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Imagine Documentaries
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 12, 2026
Runtime: 1h 41m