Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop is one of my all-time favourite films. It’s the perfect encapsulation of why the 1980s is the best decade in cinematic history, and I admittedly even have a soft spot for the franchise it went on to spawn. So much so, in fact, that in my professional life I recently awarded the new RoboCop: Rogue City game a shiny 9/10. That’s why I’ve been excited for RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop since it first cropped up on my radar earlier this year.

This four-episode series charts the entire history of the film, from its inception at the writing stage to the multimedia franchise it went on to birth. With unparalleled levels of access and a surprising frankness and honestly, it’s absolutely perfect for fans of the film who simply can’t get enough of Alex Murphy.

The four hour-and-a-bit-long episodes roughly chart the film’s inception, followed by a hugely in-depth analysis of the final product, and wrap up by exploring its legacy. It’s as thorough as anybody could hope for, but if the thought of a five-hour series looking at just one film sounds like it could spread itself too thin, I can guarantee that was never a concern.

These episodes zip by, thanks to the sharp direction from Eastwood Allen and Christopher Griffiths. They manage to extract the most interesting tidbits and splice them within the chronology of the production, meaning there’s always something entertaining to learn about. Whether it’s details on The Terminator‘s success at Orion giving them the confidence to greenlight RoboCop or actual audio logs of Peter Weller screeching and stropping on set, the amount of access here is staggering. Credit has to go to Allen and Griffiths not only for the sheer breadth of detail they managed to extract, but how coherently it’s all put in sequence.

Simply put, absolutely everyone is back to discuss RoboCop across these hour-long episodes. Each and every living star gives their say, from the enigmatic but clearly abrasive Weller to Kurtwood Smith, a gentle and intelligence presence who’s a far cry from the sinister Clarence Boddicker. My only regret is that RoboDoc doesn’t unite them all for a roundtable, however brief: obviously that comes with a city-load of logistical problems, but when there’s so much back-and-forth from different perspectives recounting on-set disputes, that interaction would’ve been fascinating.

It’s Weller and director Paul Verhoeven who steal the show, with each of their clear reverence for the film shimmering through in their interviews. Weller is more than willing to re-enact key sequences or lines of dialogue, and Verhoeven’s jittery passion makes it clear that while not the easiest director to work with, he knew exactly what he wanted from RoboCop and would do anything to achieve it.

As hinted at, RoboDoc isn’t just nostalgia propaganda. Allen and Griffiths make it very clear throughout that production was tumultuous, with Orion always hovering over about to pull the plug. It’s fascinating to hear about how badly Verhoeven clashed with ‘Robo Team’ – the group of crew dedicated solely to Robo and his suit – and the corners that had to be cut. From filming in Texas to avoid using union workers they’d otherwise have to pay residuals to Robo’s rubber chin strap disappearing when he takes off his helmet, they’re the sort of tidbits you can only find out from those who lived and breathed RoboCop.

On a pure filmmaking level too, RoboDoc is so brazenly entertaining. As an interviewee swans off on an illustrious anecdote the film occasionally animates these sequences, almost as a what-if type storyboard. It’s incredible to watch, and proves just how much reverence the directors have for the source material. Scenes are intercut with their on-screen counterparts, visualising the stories or observations in play, and the odd splicing of one person’s side of an argument with the other’s is pure, unfiltered playground drama.

Obviously, if you aren’t too heavily into RoboCop you may not get quite as much from this series. It goes through absolutely everything with a fine-tooth comb, from the “I’d buy that for a dollar” sequence to the Japanese manga origins of Robo’s suit design. But it’s not intended for those only tangentially invested: it’s for those who already know and are bored by the classic story of Verhoeven initially binning the script, ready to learn even more.

To that end, it’s hard to think of a better film documentary than RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop. It’s expansive, indulgent, and bursting at the seams with valuable information and love for the film. It’s an absolute must-watch for fans of the franchise, and testament to just how special Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 classic is.

RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop is out now on digital services, and special edition Blu-Ray on December 18, 2023.