The film tells the story of the making of the original Broadway production of Merrily We Roll Along.

[2] Merrily We Roll Along is a 1981 musical based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.

[3] Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened features interviews with the creators and original cast of the now-classic show as well as rare and never before seen footage from the rehearsal process.

[7] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter called the film a “lovingly assembled documentary” and stated that “Mickey and Judy would have loved it, bittersweet ending and all.”[2] Michael Schulman of The New Yorker called it a “moving documentary” and wrote: “It’s hard now to imagine the audience members who stormed out, exasperated, during the original run, but seeing the cast members reflect on the ordeal shows how devastating it was to realize they were on a sinking ship—and that those 'gods' Sondheim and Prince were mortal after all.”[4] Odie Anderson of the Village Voice said the film "is sure to satisfy theater wonks, Sondheim fans, curious moviegoers and lovers of Broadway.

"[5] Jude Dry of IndieWire gave the film an A rating, saying, "’Best Worst Thing’ is more than a story about a Broadway show; its most poignant moments examine the thrill of dreams coming true, and the inevitable comedown afterwards.