Netflix Sets Streaming Debuts for Greta Garbo and ABBA Docs in the US
Garbo: Where Did You Go? and ABBA: Against the Odds
Netflix has just confirmed it’ll be the streaming home to two documentary features in May 2025, marking the first time they’ve streamed on a service in the United States. Let’s dive into them:
May 11th
ABBA: Against the Odds
Marking the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Eurovision victory in 2024, this documentary features unprecedented rare access to the SVT archives and rare footage from behind the Iron Curtain. The documentary reveals how ABBA not only conquered the world stage but also faced significant criticism in their home country. It includes privileged insights from those close to the band, along with exclusive interviews and content that was either lost or never broadcast. ABBA: Against The Odds offers a fresh and intimate look at the legendary pop group, shedding new light on the people behind the music as they navigated the highs and lows of fame.
James Rogan, who directs with his own Rogan Productions, is behind the documentary, which the BBC distributed last May. It continues to stream the title on BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, as well as on other broadcasters across Europe. The documentary has a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes.
May 14th
Garbo: Where Did You Go?
Lorna Tucker (Westwood: Punk Icon, Activist, Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son) writes and directs this 90-minute feature documentary on the Hollywood actress often described as an icon, Greta Garbo. The Swedish-American actress is best known for roles in movies throughout the 1930s, including Ninotchka, Camille, and Queen Christina. Actress Noomi Rapace also plays a role in the movie, narrating from Garbo’s own words.
The synopsis for the documentary continues, “With unprecedented access to archive, including a collection of intimate letters to her closest confidante; personal testimony from those that knew her; stylized, impressionistic re-enactments of key moments in her life; and a bold and ambitious set recreation of her solitary Manhattan apartment, we get to the real woman behind the icon – this film will be the definitive portrait of Greta Garbo.
The movie has also been referenced in some corners of the internet as Greta Garbo: Leave Me Alone, although Netflix will be carrying it as Where Did You Go?
Speaking with Cineuropa late last year following the world premiere at the 35th Stockholm International Film Festival, director Tucker spoke with the outlet about wanting to work on the documentary and her connection to Greta Garbo. “I don’t want to say that I know who she was,” Tucker says, adding, “but I want to make sure that people can see that these gods that we create are terribly human, moany and depressed, and far from always knowing what they’re doing.”
Garbo: Where Did You Go? was produced by the Embankment Films and Mylla Films. Fremantle handles its sales.
As we’ve been covering, it’s going to be a busy month for new documentaries on Netflix. We just reported that Netflix has acquired the exclusive rights to the documentary short The Quilters, with a planned release in May, in addition to other Original features and series including A Deadly American Marriage (May 9th), multiple new Untold docs, Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds (May 23rd), Britain and The Blitz (May 5th), and Karol G: Tomorrow was Beautiful (May 8th) among others…
We’ll keep you posted on everything coming to Netflix throughout May 2025 as and when we learn more in our main preview for the month. Let us know in the comments if you’ll be checking out either of these documentaries.