Acclaimed comedian and storyteller Mike Birbiglia is back with a brand-new Netflix special — and this time, it’s more intimate than ever. Titled The Good Life, Birbiglia’s fourth Netflix hour premieres globally on May 26, 2025, continuing his signature blend of comedy, theater, and deeply personal storytelling.
After earning an Emmy nomination for 2023’s The Old Man & The Pool, Birbiglia returns with a set that feels less like a routine and more like a confessional. In The Good Life, he unpacks the emotional and often humorous ripple effects of his father’s recent stroke, while reflecting on his own journey through fatherhood — a topic that proves both poignant and painfully funny.
“Over the years I’ve done a lot of personal shows,” Birbiglia says, “but somehow this one is the most personal because it’s not in my past. It’s my life right now. So there’s really no filter.”
That filter-free approach fuels a set full of raw honesty, vulnerable detours, and Birbiglia’s signature rhythm — a style that The New York Times once described as “Birbiglian.” The result is a deeply resonant hour that may be his most emotionally connected work yet.
A Landmark in Birbiglia’s Comedy Career
The Good Life marks Birbiglia’s fourth Netflix special and his sixth one-hour special overall. His Netflix catalogue includes:
- Thank God for Jokes (2017)
- The New One (2019)
- The Old Man & The Pool (2023 – Emmy-nominated)
- The Good Life (2025)
Beyond Netflix, his earlier specials — My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend (2013) and What I Should Have Said Was Nothing (2008) — helped solidify his reputation as a comedian who turns life’s most personal moments into storytelling gold.
Directed by long-time collaborator Seth Barrish, and produced by Best Kept Secret, The Good Life was crafted with the help of trusted creatives like designer Beowulf Boritt and lighting designer Aaron Copp, creating a minimalist theatrical space where every word carries weight.
What Makes The Good Life Stand Out
Unlike past specials that reflect on stories from Birbiglia’s past, The Good Life lives in the immediacy of the present. There’s an urgency to the hour — one that underscores the fragility of life and the constant recalibration that comes with parenthood, health scares, and trying to hold it all together with humor.
There’s also a universal quality to the material. Whether or not you’re a parent, Birbiglia’s reflections on generational responsibility, aging, and identity will resonate. And as always, he mines even the darkest material for moments of absurd, relatable hilarity.
Where and When to Watch
Mike Birbiglia: The Good Life premieres globally on Netflix on May 26, 2025. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his work, this special promises a thoughtful, laugh-out-loud hour that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Special Details:
- Title: Mike Birbiglia: The Good Life
- Release Date: May 26, 2025
- Director: Seth Barrish
- Production Company: Best Kept Secret
- Executive Producers: Mike Birbiglia, John Skidmore, Joe Birbiglia
- Designers: Beowulf Boritt (Scenic), Aaron Copp (Lighting)
- Previous Netflix Specials:
- Thank God for Jokes (2017)
- The New One (2019)
- The Old Man & The Pool (2023)
