“Remembering John Candy: Rare Stories & Unseen Clips of the Beloved Comedy Legend Trending Today”

Fans of late comedy legend John Candy are about to get their most intimate look yet at the man behind the laughs. “John Candy: I Like Me,” a feature-length documentary directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, arrives on Prime Video worldwide on 10 October 2025 after a buzzy world-premiere run at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film blends never-before-seen home videos, outtakes from classics such as “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and “Uncle Buck,” and candid interviews with Candy’s children, colleagues and fellow Second City alumni. Early festival reactions call it a “heart-breaker that reminds you why he was Canada’s king of comedy,” while also confronting the health struggles and anxiety that shadowed Candy’s meteoric rise. Prime Video’s exclusive release strategy positions the documentary for a global audience that has been rediscovering Candy’s work on streaming platforms. Search interest for “John Candy movies on Prime” and “John Candy documentary” has spiked since the festival premiere, signaling pent-up demand for fresh insight into the actor’s life story. Director Colin Hanks—a longtime admirer who previously helmed music docs like “All Things Must Pass”—spent three years combing through Second City archives, SCTV sketches, and Hollywood studio vaults. Reynolds, who optioned the project through his Canadian-based production company, said in a statement that Candy “helped shape the sense of humor of an entire generation,” adding that the film is “a love letter to the power of kindness in comedy.” Beyond the screen, the renewed spotlight is driving a mini-boom in Candy-related content. A companion biography, “Sweet Guy: The Life and Legacy of John Candy,” hits bookstores the same week. Chicago’s Second City will mount a month-long tribute show featuring recreated SCTV bits, while streaming services report double-digit jumps in rentals of “Cool Runnings” and “The Great Outdoors.” For viewers eager to stream “John Candy: I Like Me” on day one, all you need is an active Prime Video subscription; the film will be available in 240 countries and territories with subtitles in over 30 languages. Industry analysts predict it could follow the path of recent nostalgia-driven docs like “Val” and “Roadrunner,” drawing both veteran fans and a younger demographic discovering Candy for the first time. Whether you grew up quoting “Those aren’t pillows!” or are just learning about the big-hearted Canadian who stole scenes with a smile, this documentary promises an unfiltered celebration of John Candy’s comedic genius—and a poignant reminder to, in the actor’s own words, “like yourself.”