Robin Williams’ $441M Comedy With His Most Unforgettable Performance Finds a New Streaming Home

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Movie fans won’t have to wait much longer to see one of the year’s best films! It’s coming to Netflix on February 1st.

The movie, directed by Chris Columbus and written by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon, is based on Anne Fine’s 1987 novel, Madame Doubtfire. It tells the story of a loving but somewhat immature voice actor who loses his wife because of his unpredictable behavior.

Okay, so this movie’s got a really clever premise. Basically, this dad, Daniel, is totally heartbroken about being divorced and losing time with his kids. He comes up with this wild plan – he transforms himself into this sweet, older British nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire, and actually gets hired by his ex-wife, Miranda (played by Sally Field!), to look after his own kids. It’s a hilarious and surprisingly touching way for him to stay involved in their lives.

The movie stars alongside Williams and Field, and features Lydia, Chris, and Natalie as Daniel and Miranda’s children. Harvey Fierstein plays Daniel’s brother, Frank, with Scott Capuro as Frank’s partner, Jack. Pierce Brosnan appears as Stud Dunmeyer, Miranda’s new romantic interest, and Robert Prosky plays Jonathan Lundy, the CEO of a television network.

When Mrs. Doubtfire came out in 1993, it was a huge hit with both critics and audiences. The film made over $441 million in theaters, which was remarkable considering it only cost $25 million to make.

The film Mrs. Doubtfire received 22 nominations for major awards and won 12 of them. Some of the awards it won include Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor (Robin Williams), a Nastro d’Argento Award for Best Male Dubbing (Carlo Valli), and both the 20/20 Award and an Academy Award for Best Makeup, recognizing the work of Greg Cannom, Ve Neill, and Yolanda Toussieng.

Currently, “Mrs. Doubtfire” has a 70% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 54 reviews from critics. Viewers seem to agree, giving the film a 77% rating based on over 250,000 user reviews.

Why One Mrs. Doubtfire Star Wants to Bring Robin Williams Back Through AI

In 2025, Matthew Lawrence, known for his role in Mrs. Doubtfire, expressed interest in honoring the late Robin Williams. He said he’d like to do something special with Williams’ iconic voice, with the blessing of his family, to celebrate its lasting impact on a generation.

Looking back on my time working with Robin Williams on Mrs. Doubtfire, I realize those months were a crash course in filmmaking and performing. It wasn’t just about learning the technical side of things; Robin genuinely took me under his wing. He really believed in me, and that kind of mentorship is invaluable, especially when you’re starting out. He invested in people, and I felt incredibly lucky to be one of them.

Lawrence shared that the person really opened up and detailed his life story, teaching him not only about performing, but also the technical side of filmmaking. He explained how substance use negatively impacted his cognitive function, and Lawrence said he’ll never forget the conversation.

Robin Williams’ daughter, Zelda Williams, who is also an actress and director, has expressed her frustration with AI-generated content. She asked people to stop sending her videos created by AI that feature her late father, explaining she doesn’t want to see them and finds them upsetting. She believes her father wouldn’t approve of this practice.

Mrs. Doubtfire will be available for streaming on Netflix beginning Feb. 1.

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2026-01-18 21:08