Netflix has unveiled the trailer for its upcoming documentary Tina: What’s Love Got to Do With Survival, offering an in-depth and emotionally raw look into the life of one of music’s most iconic and resilient performers. The documentary is set to premiere on September 9, 2025, strategically timed to mark the 40th anniversary of Tina Turner’s groundbreaking 1984 solo album Private Dancer, which catapulted her into global superstardom and redefined the trajectory of her career.
The trailer opens with a striking black-and-white scene: Tina stands alone on a dimly lit stage, her silhouette motionless as the opening notes of “River Deep – Mountain High” echo hauntingly in the background. Her voice, reflective and steady, introduces the film’s deeper narrative with a bold statement: “You think you know my story. But you’ve only heard the radio version.” That single line sets the tone for a documentary that promises not just a celebration of Tina Turner’s musical achievements but an intimate, unfiltered account of her personal struggles, inner strength, and ultimate transformation.
The film delves far beyond the public image of Turner as a high-energy performer and chart-topping legend. It traces her journey from her early days in Nutbush, Tennessee, through her tumultuous marriage and musical partnership with Ike Turner, her courageous decision to walk away from abuse with nothing but her name, and her hard-fought comeback as a solo artist in her 40s. The documentary weaves together never-before-seen archival footage, handwritten letters, personal photographs, and intimate voiceover narration recorded by Turner herself before her passing in 2023.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay and produced in collaboration with Turner’s estate and her longtime partner Erwin Bach, Tina: What’s Love Got to Do With Survival promises to present a multidimensional portrait of a woman who endured, evolved, and ultimately found peace far from the spotlight. One moment in the trailer shows Tina in her Swiss home, quietly gardening alongside Erwin, far removed from the frenzy of fame. In another, she reflects candidly on the cost of survival and the toll of her past: “I didn’t think I’d live past 50… not because I couldn’t. But because I wasn’t sure I wanted to.”
The film also confronts the darker chapters of her life with honesty and sensitivity, giving space to her experiences with domestic violence, racism, depression, and ageism in the entertainment industry. Yet, it is not a story of tragedy—it is a story of triumph. The trailer builds to scenes of her electric performances in the ’80s and ’90s, showing a woman who not only reclaimed her voice but reshaped her destiny on her own terms.
Industry insiders and early viewers have already begun praising the documentary for its powerful narrative and emotional weight. Critics are calling it a “masterclass in resilience” and “a defining portrait of womanhood, survival, and self-love.” Fans, meanwhile, are welcoming the chance to see Tina’s story told in her own words, unfiltered by tabloid headlines or dramatized biopics.
Tina: What’s Love Got to Do With Survival is expected to resonate not only with longtime fans but also with a new generation unfamiliar with the full scope of Turner’s influence. With its raw storytelling and deeply human focus, the documentary stands as both a tribute and a final love letter from an artist who broke boundaries, shattered stereotypes, and inspired millions around the world.
The film will be available exclusively on Netflix beginning September 9, 2025.
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