Straight from the Tribeca Film Festival and now playing on Disney+ is Marvel Studios’ “Stan Lee”. Stan Lee provided me with a moral compass when the rest of the world did not. He was often the one with the vision to tell the stories that shaped the way every day people could go out into the world and make better choices about the world they wanted to see reflected back to them. This film is a great way to get to know the man behind the characters, the books, and the cameos.
ABOUT THE FILM STAN LEE
From Marvel Studios and acclaimed director David Gelb, “Stan Lee” is the official documentary film about Stan “The Man” Lee and his journey to become one of the most influential people in the world of comic books and pop culture. Tracing his life from his challenging upbringing as Stanley Lieber to the meteoric rise of Marvel Comics, “Stan Lee” tells Stan’s story in his own words. Using only archival material—from personal home video, interviews and audio recordings—the film examines Stan’s origin story and what emerged from it: a far-reaching universe of stories with three-dimensional characters that have resonated with people all over the world. In this way, “Stan Lee” is both a story of comics and passion, and an intimate portrait of a man, his philosophy and its lasting impression.
When you think of artists that have pushed the art of comic books forward, you think of Stan Lee. When the Marvel Comics visionary passed away in November 2018, he left behind a storied legacy and some of the most iconic characters of popular culture. He also left behind a trove of personal footage and recorded recollections of his career that were never seen by the public. Until now, that is.
Director David Gelb weaves this footage together to tell the story of Lee’s life, both successes and pitfalls alike. Voice recordings are accompanied by archived interview clips, newsreels, and even clay models that immerse fans in his incredible yet complicated mind. Some of the writer’s closest colleagues, like Flo Steinberg, also provide their voices to this engaging documentary, which offers an intimate look at arguably the most influential comic publisher of all time. Considering the Marvel brand is one of the most prominent cornerstones of pop culture, everyone should hear from the man who made it all possible, and this film does just that. Excelsior!––Cara Cusumano
Will you like Stan Lee?
My friend Kami at The Momma Diaries has a great review of the film up on her site. Check it out to see if it will be appropriate for your household and if it is, enjoy a wonderful night in with Disney+ and Stan Lee!
Official trailer:
ABOUT DISNEY+
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ offers an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content.
With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service, as part of the Disney Bundle in the U.S. that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, or as part of Combo+ in Latin America with Star+, the standalone general entertainment and sports streaming service in the region. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.
About Tribeca Festival
The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and XR. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances.
The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual Tribeca Festival will celebrate its 22nd year from June 7–18, 2023 in New York City.
