Ben Stiller directs his most personal film yet, a heartfelt documentary about his legendary comedian parents in Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost.

If you’re a comedy nerd, you know the names of the duos that left their mark: Abbott and Costello. Laurel and Hardy. Burns and Allen. Hope and Crosby. Martin and Lewis. Nichols and May. Stiller & Meara. Key and Peele. The list goes on. So when I heard that Ben Stiller had directed a documentary about his parents, my interest was instantly piqued. Thanks to the Jewish holidays, I was delayed in watching my screener—but better late than never.

Ben Stiller traces the remarkable lives and partnership of his parents, comedy legends Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, reflecting on how their work shaped both pop culture and the Stiller family itself. In doing so, he turns the lens inward, exploring their enduring influence and the timeless lessons passed from one generation to the next.

I don’t know when I was first introduced to the work of either Jerry Stiller or Anne Meara—maybe while watching an episode of Seinfeld. By the time The King of Queens premiered on CBS in 1998, I was already familiar with Jerry’s work and, of course, Ben Stiller’s. Regardless, I loved taking this trip down memory lane and hearing Ben and Amy reminisce about their parents’ lives.

Stiller & Meara weren’t just a comedy partnership—they were soulmates. They were married for 62 years, until Anne passed in 2015, followed by Jerry in 2020. Jerry’s death early in the pandemic became the spark for Ben to direct this documentary. At the time, Ben had been separated from Christine Taylor since 2017. The pandemic led the family to move back into the house together, and they ultimately reconciled during the making of this film.

The duo made their mark in the 1960s, especially after Nichols and May broke up at the start of the decade. By the 1970s, their act had ended—partly because performing together was starting to strain their marriage. They later shifted to TV and film roles, but you sense that it wasn’t the same creative fulfillment.

The film is beautifully edited by Adam Kurnitz. Stiller and his team had a daunting task: shortly after Ben and Amy visit their parents’ apartment, we learn that Jerry had kept every cassette tape he ever recorded. Thankfully, family associates had organized these recordings in Jerry’s later years. Thanks to that audio, the film brings Stiller & Meara back to life through conversations with each other and with their family. Archival video clips supplement the tapes, often cutting to Ben and Amy reflecting on the moments.

We’re also lucky that Jerry saved three-quarter-inch tapes and VHS recordings—many shows at the time didn’t preserve archives. These interviews provide a compelling alternative to the typical “anchor interview,” letting Stiller & Meara speak for themselves and connecting past and present seamlessly.

In many ways, Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost is Ben and Amy saying goodbye to their parents. The project began with documenting the apartment during the pandemic before its eventual sale, and Ben wisely brought in cameras to preserve the space and its memories. Take  clip from The Mike Douglas Show, for instance. It shows both of them playing the violin, while Ben points out to his sister in present day that it will appear onscreen.

The film also sheds light on how Stiller & Meara’s marriage shaped Ben. When he first met Christine Taylor, he had a deep awareness of what his parents endured, which informed how he approached his own relationships. Making this documentary allowed him to reflect not only on his parents but also on the values they instilled in him and his own parenting.

Despite the limitations of the pandemic—private funerals and no public memorials—Ben Stiller wisely chose to create a full-length documentary rather than a simple tribute reel. The result is moving, heartfelt, and a fitting farewell to two comedy legends. This is exactly the kind of film any parent might hope their children would make, especially if they share a life in show business. Even if it ends up being Ben Stiller’s only documentary, it’s a triumph. If you don’t have Apple TV yet, now’s a perfect reason to subscribe—Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost is truly worth watching.

DIRECTOR: Ben Stiller
FEATURING: Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Ben Stiller, Amy Stiller, Christine Taylor, Ella Stiller, Quinn Dempsey Stiller, Christopher Walken, John Guare

Apple TV released Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost in theaters on October 17, 2025, and streaming on October 24. Grade: 4/5

Please subscribe to The Solzy Report and visit Dugout Dirt.