Most documentaries about artists are about how they made it.

This one is about what happens after.

I watched Out of Body last night and it’s not what you expect.

It’s not an artist spotlight.
It’s not a highlight reel.

It’s a documentary about what it actually feels like to become successful and realize that doesn’t fix anything.

And that’s what makes it so good.

What Out of Body Actually Is

At its core, this isn’t really about music.

It’s about family, mental health, identity, and what happens after you get everything you thought you wanted.

You get this incredibly intimate look into Noah Kahan’s life, his hometown, and the people around him.

Nothing feels filtered. Nothing feels like it’s trying to protect his image.

It just feels real.

The Moment That Changes Everything

There’s a scene where he’s sitting there, shirtless, talking about his body.

And he says:

“body dysmorphia, body image, or whatever I have.”

That moment alone is something you almost never see from someone at his level.

Not polished. Not packaged. Not turned into a message.

Just honest.

He talks about dealing with it for 15 years. He talks about how he’s done himself a disservice by not opening up about it.

And then, in the middle of that conversation, the chair he’s sitting on breaks.

It’s funny for a second. But it also says everything.

Because that’s the tension he’s living in.

The line between laughing at yourself and actually being hurt by it.

Why This Documentary Feels Different

You’re watching someone who is successful enough to hide all of this, and choosing not to.

Most people at that level don’t.

Because once you’ve built an image that works, there’s pressure to protect it.

Not question it. Not complicate it.

That’s what makes this rare.

You see him talk about depression, anxiety, dissociation, therapy, and the gap between talking about mental health and actually taking care of yourself.

At one point, he admits that he talks about mental health all the time but isn’t actually doing what he needs to do for himself.

That’s one of the most honest things anyone says in the entire film.

It’s the same gap a lot of people feel in their own lives, where you understand something intellectually but still struggle to actually live it, which is something I’ve written about in How Do You Stop Overthinking Everything? and why awareness alone isn’t enough to change behavior.

The Reality of Success No One Talks About

There’s a moment where he plays Fenway Park.

His biggest dream. The biggest show of his life. Fireworks, crowd, everything.

And then you watch what happens after.

He gets in the car. Drives away. Goes back to normal life.

That shift from 100 to 0 is jarring.

And then four months later, he’s at one of the lowest points he’s been mentally.

And that’s the part no one prepares you for.

You spend your whole life thinking the goal is to get there.

No one tells you how disorienting it can feel once you do.

It’s the same feeling a lot of people hit in different ways, especially when things are supposed to feel good but don’t, which is something Is It Normal to Feel Lost After College? explores further.

Success and Failure Feel the Same

This is where the documentary hits something deeper.

It reminds me of something Elizabeth Gilbert talks about.

Success and failure both pull you so far away from yourself that your only goal becomes getting back to center.

That’s exactly what you’re watching.

You see him at the highest high. You see him at a low that looks almost identical internally.

And the throughline is simple.

He’s just trying to get back to himself.

The Studio Scene That Stays With You

There’s a moment where he’s recording “The Great Divide.”

His voice keeps cracking. He keeps restarting.

And you can feel the frustration building.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not impressive.

It’s uncomfortable.

But that’s what makes it powerful.

Because you never see that part.

You never see how hard it is for someone to come back to their craft after success.

The Line Between Humor and Self-Destruction

Another thing he touches on that feels very real.

He doesn’t know where the line is between making fun of himself and actually hurting himself by doing it.

He invites people to laugh with him.

But it affects him more than he lets on.

That’s a dynamic a lot of people understand, but almost nobody talks about clearly.

It’s Not Just About Him

There are smaller moments that hit just as hard.

A kid talking about overcoming OCD. His mom saying he’s doing great.

That moment alone is enough to get you.

Because it reminds you what this is really about.

People trying to get better.

The Bigger Takeaway

You don’t see successful guys talk like this.

Most of them avoid it.

Because talking like this would break the image that got them there.

The version of themselves people expect. The version that looks like it has everything figured out.

You don’t see them sit in it, name it, and admit it.

And because he does, it makes it easier for everyone else to do the same.

That’s what makes this feel different. It’s not just honest. It’s rare.

Final Thoughts

I genuinely think this is one of the most vulnerable and honest portrayals of success I’ve seen.

It shows the highs, the doubts, the frustration, and the reality behind everything.

Not the version people post.

The version they usually hide.

And that’s what makes it powerful.

FAQ

Is Noah Kahan’s Out of Body worth watching?
Yes. It’s one of the most honest music documentaries out right now, especially around mental health and fame.

What is Out of Body about?
It explores Noah Kahan’s life, his rise to fame, and his struggles with mental health, identity, and success.

Is it more about music or personal life?
It leans heavily into personal life, family, and mental health rather than just music.

Does Noah Kahan talk about mental health in the documentary?
Yes. He openly discusses anxiety, depression, dissociation, and body dysmorphia.

What makes this documentary different?
Its level of vulnerability. It doesn’t feel curated or protected. It feels real.