Alright so Netflix dropped this Mike Tyson documentary and everyone’s buzzing about it. Figured I’d watch it myself and see what the fuss is about. Grabbed my laptop, made some popcorn, and hit play expecting some raw behind-the-scenes stuff.
My Watch Session Start to Finish
Clicked it right after dinner. First few minutes hit hard—old fight footage, Tyson talking straight to camera with that raspy voice. Immediately felt different than other sports docs. Less highlight reel, more… pain. They showed him in hospital beds, jail interviews, everything. Got kinda heavy fast.
Around the 30-minute mark though? My popcorn got cold. Started dragging when they dug into his business deals post-fighting. Too many talking heads repeating “he’s complicated” without saying anything new. Checked my phone twice—always a bad sign.
Midway point perked up when they showed his podcast clips. Man’s weirdly funny now! That bit about pigeons? Gold. But then it dropped again with all the spiritual guru talk. Felt like two different docs mashed together:
- The brutal rise and fall story
- The “wise old man” redemption arc
Switched positions on my couch like 5 times. Finished the whole thing but gotta say—last 20 minutes saved it. Seeing him frail and shaking in that neck brace? Chills. Raw honesty right there.
Straight Up Verdict
Worth watching? Yeah, but lower those expectations. Don’t go in thinking it’s another “Last Dance.” It’s messy, jumps around timelines, and honestly? Coulda been 30 minutes shorter. But when Tyson’s just talking unfiltered? Magic. His voice cracking describing his trainer’s death? Damn.
Ended up closing my laptop thinking “That dude’s lived 10 lives.” Flawed documentary for sure—some parts drag worse than round 12—but you won’t forget Tyson’s eyes. Haunted and hungry at the same time. Wild.
