The film traces the jazz legend’s seven-decade career
The HBO Original documentary Paul Anka: His Way, directed and produced by Emmy-winning filmmaker John Maggio (HBO’s Mr. Saturday Night), debuts on Monday, December 1st at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
From teen idol to chart-topping songwriter, Anka has spent seven decades as one of the most prolific musicians in the world, and he’s still going. Part road movie and part living biography, the film traces the iconic Canadian’s journey through stardom and constant reinvention in an ever-changing industry.
Featuring archival performances of Anka’s songs by genre-spanning music legends, including Buddy Holly, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, and more, the film follows Anka as he performs around the world and chronicles his journey from his childhood in Ottawa, Canada, to becoming a global musical sensation. The film reveals Anka to be the artistic force behind a wide range of surprising hits and genres, from the theme for NBC’s The Tonight Show to the iconic hit “My Way.” As new musicians emerged over the years and threatened to eclipse his career, Anka worked to expand his reach by collaborating with artists such as Drake and covering popular songs like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” At age 84, Anka continues to tour.
The film was directed by John Maggio and produced by Monica Berra. It is a production of Ark Media Production in association with Blue Ant Studios, with executive producers including Caroline Kimmel, Irving Azoff, Lawrence Mestel, and Randy Lennox, among others.
