As a casual Eminem fan, I don’t love every track in his catalog, but I respect him as an artist who rose from nothing to global dominance almost overnight. His influence runs so deep that “Stan,” from the 2000 song of the same name, was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2017 to describe an obsessive fan. Growing up with constant exposure to Marshall Mathers’ music, media presence, and some of the funniest interview antics in rap, I had to check out the new Paramount+ documentary, Stans, which unpacks his career, fame, struggles, and, most importantly, his loyal worldwide fanbase.
Stans is a strong entry in Eminem’s catalog, but one Rotten Tomatoes review summed it up best despite the glowing praise elsewhere: “At its core, it’s a documentary produced by Eminem’s production company, which is primarily about how Eminem is awesome and how Eminem’s fans all think he’s awesome.”
The review goes further, calling Stans an exercise in brand maintenance rather than a true documentary, and I’m inclined to agree. Still, anyone curious about the life and times of Slim Shady will find it worth the watch.
Stans Defined In A Positive Light
Though “Stan” often carries a negative connotation, diehard Eminem fans wear the title as a badge of honor. Several are interviewed in the film, sharing how Eminem’s music carried them through rough childhoods, from bullying to broken homes. They credit Mathers for channeling his volatile upbringing into music that served as therapy for them as much as for him.
Juxtaposed with archival footage and new interviews, Mathers pulls back the curtain and talks openly about his struggles with fame, substance abuse, and his desire for privacy when he’s not performing.
Stans Is 100% Fan Service
Aside from chronicling the Stan lifestyle, Stans brings in artists and entertainers like Ed Sheeran, Carson Daly, LL Cool J, and Adam Sandler, all speaking positively about their interactions with Mathers. Look closely (don’t blink, or you’ll miss it) and you’ll even catch a nod from Devon Sawa, who portrayed Stan in the iconic music video 25 years ago. Framing Eminem’s public missteps and meltdowns as a positive part of his lore, everyone involved has nothing but praise for the impact he had on their lives.
Shifting back to the fans, Eminem’s downward spiral leading to his 2007 overdose is framed as a story of triumph, and letting go of what no longer serves you. In one of the more touching sequences, Mathers talks at length about wanting to be there as his daughters grew up, inspiring countless addicts to clean up for the same reason.
Not A True Documentary, But A Must-See For Fans
While Stans falls short as a traditional documentary, nothing about it feels lazy or phoned in. It’s a carefully constructed narrative made entirely for the fans, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. By showing the world just how devoted his fanbase is, we get a heartwarming tale of people who felt voiceless until they found connection through Eminem’s music. As long as fandom doesn’t spiral into unhealthy parasocial territory, these Stans come across as anything but harmful.
Stans is a Paramount+ exclusive, and can be streamed with an active subscription.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
