A new year brings a revealing new look at one of comedy’s most complicated icons. “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” pulls back the curtain on the actor who helped define an era of television and film. It explores the rise and the personal struggles that shaped his career. From his “Saturday Night Live” breakout to becoming a box-office staple, and the controversies that followed. Here’s how to watch the documentary and what to expect from its unfiltered look at Chevy Chase’s legacy.
How to Watch the Chevy Chase Documentary
It’s a new year, and it’s a new documentary. “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” is a bold and deep look into one of Hollywood’s great enigmas. The movie takes a look at Chevy Chase’s rise from breakout star at “Saturday Night Live” to box-office royalty. It takes a deep dive into the complexities and challenges that have helped to shape his legacy.
For those wanting to check out this new film, it will premiere on Thursday, January 1 at 8 p.m. ET on CNN, per a press release from CNN. It will also be available to stream live on CNN.com and on any CNN-connected TV and mobile apps.
The documentary will be available to stream the following day for subscribers to CNN’s new streaming offering.
‘I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not’ Details
The documentary comes from two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner Marina Zenovich. She unpacks how the man once crowned America’s comedy golden boy eventually became its favorite cautionary tale.
“I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” is a story about a performer with outsized gifts. He could make a nation laugh, but he couldn’t always outrun his own contradictions. His movies are still popular to this day, often being quoted and rediscovered by new generations.
In the press release, Zenovich said, “I’ve always loved a challenge, and Chevy certainly offered one. I wanted to understand the real person behind the guarded, conflicted man we’ve often seen on camera. Beneath the bravado, I found someone deeply human, with layers of humor and emotion that make him far more complex than his public persona may suggest.”
Celebrity Interviews
The documentary includes some very revealing interviews with collaborators and confidants of Chase. This list includes Lorne Michaels, Goldie Hawn, Dan Aykroyd, Ryan Reynolds, Beverly D’Angelo, Kevin Smith, Martin Short, and more.
In addition, Chase and his family will be interviewed. Zenovich cuts through the legend to reveal the complicated man beneath the smirk we all see.
Viewers will also see rare home movies, decades of archival footage, and intimate new moments that show Chase at his most unguarded. It’s said to be a riveting look at fame, fallout, and the fine line between genius and self-destruction.
“I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” premieres at 8 p.m. ET on January 1, 2026, on CNN. Viewers can also stream live on CNN.com or on any CNN-connected TV and mobile apps. It will also be available to stream the next day on CNN’s new streaming subscription.
