They Call Me Magic is a four-part American documentary television miniseries about the life and career of basketball player Earvin "Magic" Johnson. It features interviews with Johnson, his family, and public figures including Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Snoop Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson, and former U.S. President Barack Obama.[1]
| They Call Me Magic | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Directed by | Rick Famuyiwa |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Apple+ |
| Release | April 22, 2022 |
The series was directed by Rick Famuyiwa and produced by XTR and New Slate Ventures, in association with Delirio Films, and H.Wood Media for Apple TV+.[2]
Premise
editThey Call Me Magic offers an in-depth look at Earvin "Magic" Johnson's life, from his early years in Lansing, Michigan; his rise to NBA stardom with the Los Angeles Lakers; to his HIV diagnosis and how that changed public perceptions; and his later work as a business mogul and community activist. It includes interviews with Johnson, family, peers and various public figures.
Production
editThey Call Me Magic was directed by Rick Famuyiwa, with Jordan Fudge, Jeremy Allen, Bryn Mooser and Christina McLarty serving as executive producers.[3] Johnson stated that the idea for the documentary series was partly inspired by the success of Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance. While Jordan’s series focused primarily on athletic achievements, Johnson wanted his documentary to place greater emphasis on his family life, personal relationships, and different stages of his career.[4]
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "June Bug" | April 22, 2022 |
| 2 | "Buck" | April 22, 2022 |
| 3 | "Earvin" | April 22, 2022 |
| 4 | "Magic" | April 22, 2022 |
Release
editA trailer for the series was released on March 12, 2022, featuring interviews and archival footage set to Sugarhill Gang's Apache and Norah Jones' My Heart Is Full (Silo x Bettina Bergstrom Remix).[5] It had its premiered at the South by Southwest festival in the same month,[6] and all four episodes became available on Apple TV+ on April 22, 2022.[5]
Reception
editOn Rotten Tomatoes, They Call Me Magic has a 69% approval rating based on 13 critic reviews. The critics consensus states: "They Call Me Magic is too overextended to be truly spellbinding, but Magic Johnson proves a charming narrator of his own life in a docuseries that should be mandatory viewing for basketball fans."[7]
It was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score), with composer Terence Blanchard credited.[8][9]
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ Hibberd, James (2022-03-12). "Apple TV+ Debuts First Trailer for Magic Johnson Doc 'They Call Me Magic'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (2022-03-12). "'They Call Me Magic' Trailer: Earvin "Magic" Johnson's Life & Career Celebrated In Rick Famuyiwa's Apple Docuseries". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ "They Call Me Magic". SXSW 2025 Schedule. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ Hailu, Selome (2022-03-12). "Magic Johnson on How Michael Jordan's 'The Last Dance' Inspired His New Apple Docuseries". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ a b Krystaf, Lauren (2022-04-14). "'They Call Me Magic': Everything You Need to Know About the Magic Johnson Docuseries". Collider. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ Taylor, Savannah M. "Magic Johnson Documentary Series 'They Call Me Magic' to Premiere at SXSW". EBONY. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ "They Call Me Magic: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ "Apple scores record-breaking 52 Emmy noms for "Ted Lasso," "Severance," and more". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ "Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) 2022 - Nominees & Winners". Television Academy. Retrieved 2025-09-27.