Most know Pee-wee Herman as a uniquely innocent character in a little gray suit and a red bowtie. His personality was so powerful that few looked to the man behind it, Paul Reubens, who was far more complex than his onscreen persona. That story is the subject of a new two-part documentary by Matt Wolf, who recorded more than 40 hours of interviews with Reubens before the comedian unexpectedly cut off contact with the director. Reubens died shortly after, in 2023, due to a cancer he had secretly battled for years. “More than anything,” said Reubens, “the reason I wanted to make a documentary was to let people see who I really am.” Added to his own commentary are interviews with friends and colleagues. Pee-Wee as Himself tells the story of Reubens’s rise to fame while also revealing a man who kept much of himself hidden from the public eye. —Jeanne Malle