Robin Williams’ Underrated Black Comedy To Exit Netflix

A 1997 dark comedy, featuring Robin Williams, is scheduled to be removed from Netflix’s library this month. Written, directed, and starring Woody Allen, the film follows a writer who uses his real-life incidents for fiction, alienating his friends and family.

Deconstructing Harry leaves Netflix in April

Deconstructing Harry will not be streaming on Netflix from Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The film centers on an author named Harry Block, who is experiencing writer’s block for his new book. During therapy, he dreads an upcoming ceremony in his honor at his former university, as he has no one to share the occasion with. Because Harry’s previous works are inspired by people from his past, he has alienated friends and family, who now keep their distance. He asks his ex-wife, Joan, to attend the ceremony with their son, Hilliard, but she refuses.

Later, Harry invites a hooker he recently slept with to join him. Before they leave, his acquaintance, Richards, unexpectedly joins their road trip to the university. In a desperate move, Harry abducts his son to bring him along. As they travel, Harry reflects on his past through a series of fictionalized scenes. In those scenes, people from his life appear as altered versions of themselves.

The film draws inspiration from Allen’s own 1980 film, Stardust Memories, which was inspired by Federico Fellini’s 1963 film 8½. All three films have the same premise, though the latter two are about filmmakers.

Deconstructing Harry features Allen as Harry, Robin Williams as Mel, Hazelle Goodman as Cookie, Bob Balaban as Richard, Eric Lloyd as Hilliard, and Kirstie Alley as Joan, among others.

The film was released in the United States on December 12, 1997. Despite its unique structure, both critics and audiences responded warmly to the story. It currently holds a respectable 73% Tomatometer score and an impressive 83% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it wasn’t a commercial success. It ended its theatrical run with $10.6 million in gross against a $20 million budget, per Box Office Mojo.

Source: Comingsoon.net