Stream 'You Had to Be There': all the streaming options for the Martin Short documentary
Wondering when and where you can watch Martin Short’s You Had to Be There documentary—you’re not the only one chasing its release, streaming home, and viewing options.
The 1972 Godspell troupe that launched a generation of comics gets rebuilt from the ground up in You Had to Be There — director Nick Davis stitches together fresh interviews, long-lost party recordings, and a secret audio tape of a live performance to drop you back in that tiny Toronto theater with Martin Short, Eugene Levy, and their soon-to-be-famous friends. The documentary, backed by Judd Apatow, is rolling out quietly, not everywhere at once.
Opened Sept. 18, 2026 in select U.S. theaters; no streaming date announced.
Where it ’s playing now
For the moment, the film is only in select U.S. theaters via Greenwich Entertainment, and the run is already winding down in many cities. If you’re outside a big market, screenings may be scarce — and you won’t find it on the big streaming homes just yet:
While you wait: Short on Netflix
If you’re itching for more from that crew, Marty, Life Is Short has been streaming on Netflix since May 12, 2026. The feature-length portrait of Martin Short comes from director Lawrence Kasdan, produced by Imagine Documentaries with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer as executive producers, and mixes never-before-seen archival footage with new interviews. It tracks Short from Saturday Night Live to Jiminy Glick and his current renaissance, with appearances by Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, John Mulaney, and Tom Hanks, and it also addresses personal loss, including the death of his wife, Nancy Dolman, in 2010.
Digital plans
A digital release for You Had to Be There may not be far off — there’s an unconfirmed report pointing to November 20, 2026, though Greenwich Entertainment hasn’t announced anything. When it does land online, expect initial rental and purchase options on:
Subscription streaming could follow later, depending on deals, but for now the only reported digital target is November 20, 2026.