"Sr."
An affectionate and mischievous portrait of Robert Downey Sr. that turns a filmmaker’s unconventional legacy into a candid father-son conversation.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- warm
- irreverent
- candid
- reflective evening
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the documentary as a tender, funny, and intimate tribute that connects Robert Downey Sr.’s countercultural career with his relationship to Robert Downey Jr.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Robert Downey Sr. and Robert Downey Jr. appear as themselves, with the younger Downey reflecting on his father’s life and career.
The film presents Downey Sr. as a fearless director who shaped countercultural comedy in the 1960s and 1970s.
Interviews with Downey Sr., Downey Jr., Chris Smith, Alan Arkin, Norman Lear, and others carry the account of the filmmaker’s life and career.
The documentary combines tender father son reflections with candid, appropriately irreverent commentary about Downey Sr.’s unconventional career.
Films like "Sr.", and why
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities
intimate father son documentary built from candid interviews and personal creative history
The Movies That Made Us
reflective portrait of an influential filmmaker using interviews, archival context, and affectionate humor
Stories We Tell
emotionally candid documentary about family, artistic identity, and a complicated parent child bond
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond
warm, irreverent film biography centered on a boundary-pushing artist and his cultural legacy
Movie Details
- Director
- Chris Smith
- Release Date
- 2022-09-02
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (65)
Cast
- Robert Downey Sr.
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Chris Smith
- Alan Arkin
- Sean Hayes
- Norman Lear
- Lawrence Wolf
- Exton Elias Downey
- Avri Roel Downey
- Kevin Ford
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is "Sr." about?
- An affectionate and mischievous portrait of Robert Downey Sr. that turns a filmmaker’s unconventional legacy into a candid father-son conversation.
- What is "Sr." like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of "Sr." as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is "Sr." violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in "Sr.".
- What did critics think of "Sr."?
- Critics broadly praised the documentary as a tender, funny, and intimate tribute that connects Robert Downey Sr.’s countercultural career with his relationship to Robert Downey Jr.
- Which films are like "Sr."?
- Films with a similar feel include Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities, The Movies That Made Us, Stories We Tell, and Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond.
- How long is "Sr."?
- "Sr." runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch "Sr."?
- In United States, "Sr." streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
