Greetings again from the darkness. “The needle in the arm.” That’s how Paul Anka describes the will and the need to carry on after all of these years. How many years, you ask … well, he’s the only singer/songwriter to have a Billboard charting song in seven consecutive decades. Paul Anka is now 84 years old and documentarian John Maggio shows us that Anka is still going strong, still touring, still writing songs, and still loving what he does.
The Canadian born Anka came to the United States with $100 in his pocket and almost immediately signed a recording contract. Not long after, he had his first number one hit, “Diana”, and became part of the new wave of teen idols with Pat Boone, Frankie Avalon, and Bobby Darin. This was on the heels of the legendary Rat Pack – Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Dean Martin. Musical tastes were evolving, and one thing that stands out in this documentary is Paul Anka’s ability and desire to evolve. When the British Invasion hit (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, etc), Anka transitioned from teen idol to renowned songwriter, actor, and international entertainer.
Director Maggio chooses wisely in putting Paul Anka front and center and walk us through this fabulous and unique career that began in the 1950’s and continues today. Anka is direct and charismatic and honest as he walks us through the various phases. How fascinating that one man has written over 900 songs, recorded more than 130 albums and sold more than 90 million units. How many songwriters can say they have had their songs recorded by Frank Sinatra, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Jackson, and even Doja Cat, Justin Timberlake, and Drake? And that’s just naming a few and leaves out the highly familiar theme song to “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”.
What’s truly remarkable is that Paul Anka’s career would be documentary-worthy if it only covered his personal career (which began at age 15) of performing on stage (which he still does). Sure, he’s the guy who wrote “My Way” (at age 25), but hearing Anka tell the story behind the song is a thrill. Anka is matter-of-fact when discussing his first divorce, as well as the challenges of balancing family life with the career. He seems humble when discussing his accomplishments with Frankie Avalon, and serious when informing us of his commitment to health all these years. This remarkable man continues to live a remarkable life … and he’s done it ‘his way’.
Premieres on HBO on December 1, 2025
Movie Reviews from the Dark 
Great reviews as always. I don’t normally take any interest in watching documentaries but this sounds promising to me. I have always found the lives of musicians to be fascinating. I love movies depicting the lives of famous musicians. The premise for this movie reminds me a lot of the film “Elvis”. Released in 2022, Baz Luhrmann’s biopic celebrated the legacy of Elvis Presley. Elvis seems to have a lot in common with Paul Anka. So, this seems like the kind of movie that I would enjoy. Will definitely consider checking it out.
Here’s why I loved “Elvis”:
Paul Anka is amazing for two things: the sheer number of songs he’s written, and his longevity as a performer.