Chris Farley doc sets Twitter on fire

The Spike TV premiere of the film about the late comedian triggers  emotional social media reaction

I Am Chris Farley from directors Brent Hodge and Derik Murray opened in theaters late last month. But it wasn't until the documentary hit TV that reaction exploded on Twitter.

Within hours of the film's debut Monday on Spike TV, Twitter recorded more than 18,000 Tweets under the hashtag #IAmChrisFarley. 

Goosebumps at this documentary . I loved it every second of it #IAmChrisFarley

— Nathaniel Angel (@yaboin8) August 11, 2015

The last 10 minutes or so of #IAmChrisFarley are especially heartfelt

— Brad (@brad_obrien1) August 11, 2015

Many Tweets reflected an emotional reaction to the film, which contains interviews with Farley's family members, as well as cast members from Saturday Night Live including including Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Jon Lovitz and David Spade, Farley's co-star in  Black Sheep (1996) and Tommy Boy (1995).

Fredy Ramos Tweeted, "This doc is so good but dang, makes me so sad that he's no longer with us."

Fellow comedian Will Sasso, who appears in the documentary, Tweeted, "Impossible to put into words the happiness Chris Farley brought to millions."

Daniel Fenton wrote the film "is incredibly touching, such a shame he died so young."

A drug overdose took Farley's life in 1997, at the age of 33.

Chris Farley on Saturday Night Live. Photo from NBC

Another Chris Farley character from SNL. Photo from NBC

#IAmChrisFarley is beautiful. What a man. So much joy & beauty. http://t.co/slTl9JgxsW

— blair roberts (@btotherock) August 11, 2015

Spike TV will re-air the Farley documentary on Thursday night at 8pm.

Here are a selection of Tweets reacting to Monday's broadcast.

La Dee Freakin' Da! #IAmChrisFarley pic.twitter.com/u8sOEKqYdY

— Pego (Boo Science) (@BooScience) August 11, 2015

Great documentary. Poor guy. #IAmChrisFarley

— Telly J. Lucio (@Tellyigoham) August 11, 2015

#IAmChrisFarley makes its tv debut right now. Impossible to put into words the happiness Chris Farley brought to millions. 9/8c @spike

— Will Sasso (@WillSasso) August 11, 2015

That shake he had when Letterman said 'things are getting better and better for ya aren't they?" Is what broke me #IAmChrisFarley

— Chris Gilkerson (@cgilk09) August 11, 2015

Watching #IAmChrisFarley laughing and weeping at the same time. What could have been. Miss him terribly. #Legend.

— Bizcuit (@Bizcuitman) August 11, 2015