When the world lost Ozzy Osbourne in July 2025, it wasn’t just the end of an era for heavy metal—it was the closing chapter of a life that had become legend. Now, with two major documentaries set to premiere within days of each other, fans and newcomers alike are being offered an unprecedented look behind the curtain at the man who became the face of Black Sabbath and the first family of rock. The timing, the rivalry, and the stories within these films have made their arrival a cultural event all its own.
Paramount+ will debut Ozzy: No Escape From Now on October 7, 2025, in the United States and worldwide (with the exception of Japan), just five days after the BBC finally airs its own much-anticipated documentary, Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, on October 2. According to Deadline, the BBC documentary had originally been scheduled for mid-August but was pulled from the air at the last minute to honor the Osbourne family’s wishes during their time of mourning. A BBC spokesperson told RadioTimes.com, “Our sympathies are with the Osbourne family at this difficult time. We are respecting the family’s wishes to wait a bit longer before airing this very special film.”
That sensitivity has only heightened anticipation. Coming Home will air at 9 p.m. GMT on BBC One and iPlayer, offering what the network describes as “unique and intimate access” to the Osbourne family—Sharon, Jack, and Kelly—over a three-year period. According to the BBC, the documentary captures the family’s emotional rollercoaster as Sharon and Ozzy attempt to fulfill their long-held dream of moving back to the UK, all while Ozzy battles to regain enough strength to perform. The film, originally conceived as a series titled Home to Roost, evolved into a one-hour special as Ozzy’s health deteriorated, focusing on the family’s resilience and love in the face of adversity.
Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, said, “We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family. The film captures an intimate glimpse into their journey as they prepare to return to the UK. It features family moments, humour, reflection and shows the enduring spirit that made Ozzy a global icon. We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy’s fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”
One of the most poignant moments in the BBC film comes from Kelly Osbourne, who reflects on her father’s vulnerability: “Iron man wasn’t really made of iron.” The documentary doesn’t shy away from the hard truths—the impact of Ozzy’s Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019, his struggle to get fit enough for a final performance, and the family’s emotional response to his declining health. The hour-long special also captures the story of Ozzy’s reunion with Black Sabbath at the Back To The Beginning farewell concert in Birmingham, just weeks before his death—a moment that, as the BBC notes, is told through “unique and intimate access” to the entire Osbourne clan.
Meanwhile, Paramount+ is positioning Ozzy: No Escape From Now as the “definitive account” of the rock icon’s final six years. Directed by Tania Alexander and produced in close collaboration with the Osbourne family, the feature-length documentary promises a raw and unfiltered look at Ozzy’s life behind the headlines. According to Far Out Magazine, the trailer alone is an emotional journey, with Sharon Osbourne admitting, “Ozzy’s big regret is that he never really said goodbye to his fans.”
The film delves deep into the aftermath of Ozzy’s devastating fall in February 2019, which led to multiple corrective surgeries and forced him to cancel his two-and-a-half-year farewell tour. Jack Osbourne is candid about the toll it took on his father, saying, “After the surgery, he’s far worse.” The documentary also chronicles Ozzy’s determination to keep making music, spotlighting the creation of his final studio album, Patient Number Nine, in 2021. Despite being unable to tour due to mobility issues, Ozzy poured his energy into the studio, with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith recalling, “Kelly was very emotional, ‘That was my dad again. Oh my god, he’s having a great time’. Well, of course, he’s making music. He’s doing what he loves to do.”
Contributions from an all-star cast of friends and collaborators—including Tony Iommi, Billy Corgan, Zakk Wylde, James Hetfield, Robert Trujillo, Billy Idol, Tom Morello, and Duff McKagan—add layers of perspective to Ozzy’s journey. The documentary doesn’t just recount the facts; it captures the spirit of a man who, as he says toward the end of the trailer, “If my life is coming to an end, I can’t complain. I’ve had a great life.”
Both documentaries cover the same climactic event: Ozzy’s emotional reunion with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Birmingham, a concert that served as a final gift to his fans before his passing on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76 from a reported heart attack. The BBC film, in particular, is described as being “full of love, laughter and tears and the kind of unforgettable family moments that we’ve come to expect from the Osbournes,” offering a “remarkably candid and uplifting tribute to one of the world’s true icons.”
The rivalry between the two documentaries has not gone unnoticed. The Sun reported that some Osbourne family members were concerned the BBC team was rushing their project to beat Paramount to air. Ultimately, the BBC delayed its film, heavily reworking it from the originally planned series to a single, focused special. The Paramount+ production, on the other hand, is produced by Echo Velvet in partnership with the Osbournes and MTV Entertainment Studios, with Sharon Osbourne among the executive producers—a stamp of personal family involvement that’s hard to ignore.
For fans, the nearly back-to-back premieres are a bittersweet opportunity to say goodbye. Ozzy’s funeral in Birmingham drew crowds of mourners and family, a testament to the enduring impact of a man who, for decades, seemed larger than life. Yet, as these documentaries make clear, even rock’s “Iron Man” was not invulnerable. Through laughter, tears, and the unfiltered honesty of those closest to him, both films promise to give Ozzy’s fans what he himself regretted never offering: a proper farewell.
As the world tunes in this October, the dual documentaries stand as a testament to Ozzy Osbourne’s indelible mark on music, family, and popular culture—a legacy, finally, with no escape from now.
