Noah Kahan: Out of Body
July 20th, 2026
MOVIE: NOAH KAHAN: OUT OF BODY
STARRING: NOAH KAHAN, BERNIE SANDERS
DIRECTED BY: NICK SWEENEY
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 94 MINUTES
Last week, the city of Chicago was buzzing because Noah Kahan was in town performing at Wrigley Field. To my surprise, I had never heard of Noah Kahan, nor had I ever listened to his music. The traffic, the sold-out shows, and the excitement surrounding his visit were enough to make me curious, so I sat down to watch Netflix’s new documentary, Noah Kahan: Out of Body. It didn’t take long to recognize Kahan’s immense talent, but it wasn’t his music that won me over—it was his humanity. Director Nick Sweeney captures an artist who is remarkably honest about his family, his music, and his fears about where success may take him. With a refreshing sense of humility, Noah Kahan seems destined for even greater heights.
The documentary opens with Kahan preparing to perform at the legendary Fenway Park in Boston, a city that has played an important role in his life and a venue perfectly suited to his musical style. Yet instead of basking in the moment, Kahan lies on the grass in right field, barely speaking out of fear of straining his voice before the show. Those nerves are a constant presence throughout the film, and they’re something the Vermont native never tries to hide. He’s equally candid about his family history, discussing his parents’ divorce, the accident that left his father in a coma, his relationship with his three siblings, and how those experiences have shaped his songwriting. Out of Body gets remarkably close to its subject, leaving few stones unturned in exploring who Kahan is and how he arrived at this moment.
From a documentary standpoint, Out of Body is fairly conventional, following the familiar blueprint of many Netflix music documentaries. There are talking-head interviews with Kahan’s manager, production assistant, fiancée, and family, interspersed with behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals, songwriting sessions, and life on the road. Too often, these films become polished puff pieces that present artists almost exclusively in a positive light, and that criticism applies here as well. There is little conflict or tension, and at nearly two hours, the film stretches beyond what its material can support. Within the first hour, the audience already understands what makes Kahan unique, and the documentary spends much of its remaining runtime reinforcing points it has already made.
What separates Out of Body, however, is how genuinely self-made Kahan’s success feels. He found his audience during the COVID pandemic, using platforms like TikTok and Instagram to share his songwriting process and connect directly with fans. He represents the modern music industry, where discovering an artist is only a click away. Still, the documentary also makes it clear that no amount of social media can replace talent or a relentless work ethic. Every success shown on screen feels earned.
Perhaps the film’s greatest strength is its focus on Kahan’s commitment to mental health advocacy. He has invested in mental health charities, organized events with Senator Bernie Sanders, and consistently uses his platform to encourage open conversations with fans. Out of Body is ultimately a celebration of Noah Kahan and everything he represents. I may not have known much about his music going in, but after seeing the sincerity with which he approaches his career and the genuine care he has for his fans, it’s easy to understand why so many people admire him. Now it’s time to listen to the albums and finally catch up with everyone else.
3 STARS
NOAH KAHAN: OUT OF BODY IS NOW PLAYING ON NETFLIX.
Written by: Leo Brady
