Netflix’s AKA Charlie Sheen docuseries is a masterclass in selective memory and charming amnesia

By Prateek Sur, December 3 2025—

Netflix attempts to unravel the enigma that is Charlie Sheen, but does it truly confront the chaos, or merely offer a sanitized, self-serving stroll down memory lane? Prepare for a journey through celebrity excess, with a surprising lack of genuine turbulence.

AKA Charlie Sheen purports to trace the meteoric rise, spectacular fall and subsequent attempts at recovery of Hollywood’s most notorious bad boy, Charlie Sheen. It promises an intimate look into his life, from his early acting days alongside his father and brother, Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, through his unparalleled success on shows like Two and a Half Men, to his highly publicized battles with addiction, HIV diagnosis and public meltdowns.

The narrative is largely driven by Charlie Sheen himself, interspersed with interviews from family members, former wives and colleagues. The series aims to present a raw and honest account, but one might wonder if it’s more a carefully curated retrospective than a tell-all. Will it truly peel back the layers of the legend, or simply reinforce the myth of a charming rogue who just happened to stumble into a few “problems”? Well, you, as an audience, are left by Netflix to ponder over that!

Charlie Sheen himself is, unsurprisingly, the star of his own show. Now seven years sober, he presents a remarkably charming and affable persona, recounting tales of excess with a wistful smile that suggests a fond remembrance rather than deep regret. It’s a performance honed over decades in the public eye, and he delivers it with effortless charisma.

Charlie Sheen’s childhood friend, Tony Todd, offers a genuinely touching perspective, visibly pained by memories of Charlie Sheen’s darkest days.

Jon Cryer, Charlie Sheen’s co-star from the hit sitcom Two and a Half Men, provides a dose of much-needed reality, his bone-deep weariness a stark contrast to Sheen’s polished recollections.

Sheen’s ex-wives, Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller, along with his children, offer bracingly honest accounts, yet their enduring love for him shines through, making their contributions all the more poignant.

While these supporting cast members attempt to provide a more balanced view, the spotlight remains firmly on Sheen, whose performance of self-reflection often feels more like a carefully orchestrated monologue.

Andrew Renzi’s direction of AKA Charlie Sheen is a masterclass in controlled narrative. The script, largely dictated by Charlie Sheen’s own recollections, frames his life in three neat acts: “Partying,” “Partying with problems” and “Just problems.” This tidy categorization, while convenient, feels less like an honest dissection and more like a gentle suggestion. Despite its access, the documentary often glides over the more terrifying aspects of Charlie Sheen’s past, which include domestic violence accusations, restraining orders, parental failures and claims of exposing partners to HIV. It’s not that Renzi hasn’t shown these aspects, but they’ve been showcased with such a delicate touch that it borders on evasion. It’s as if Renzi were handed a delicate antique and instructed not to smudge the patina.

The technical aspects, including editing and archival footage, are competent, creating a slick package. While Sheen’s charm carries the narrative, one can’t help but notice the conspicuous absence of genuine contrition or deep self-examination. It’s certainly a reflective piece, but one where the reflection seems to avoid scrutinizing the cracks.

The docuseries delves into the darker side of celebrity life and will serve as a reminder for all those dreaming of being in the film and television industry that all that glitters is not always gold.

To sum it up, AKA Charlie Sheen is a fascinating, somewhat frustrating, look at a life lived in the extreme. It’s a docuseries that offers plenty of entertainment value, largely due to Sheen’s undeniable charisma and the sheer spectacle of his past life. However, for those hoping for a deep dive into genuine accountability or an exploration of the consequences of his actions, it might leave you feeling unfulfilled. It’s less a confessional and more a carefully constructed narrative of resilience, where the “problems” are acknowledged but rarely truly dissected.

While the docuseries allows for glimpses of the pain and concern felt by his family and friends, the overall impression is that of a celebrity managing his narrative rather than fully confronting his past. It’s a compelling watch for anyone interested in the phenomenon of Charlie Sheen, but perhaps best viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism and an appreciation for the art of selective storytelling.