Better Man
‘s streaming release date is now confirmed following its theatrical run. Directed by Michael Gracey, the 2024 musical takes a unique approach to the biopic genre, chronicling the life and career of British pop star Robbie Williams, but with a CGI chimpanzee playing the lead role. Williams and Jonno Davies lead the Better Man cast as the voice actors for the CGI chimp, with Davies also providing the motion capture performance. Despite glowing reviews from both critics and audiences, the film was a notable box office bomb, grossing just $20.3 million.
Now, Paramount announces that Better Man will land on Paramount+ on Tuesday, March 11. This streaming release date comes one month after the film’s release on VOD and about two-and-a-half months after its release in theaters on December 25.
What Better Man’s Streaming Release Means For The Movie
Positive Reviews Could Help It Succeed At Home
Made on an estimated budget of $110 million, a hefty sum likely attributable to the decision to make Williams a CGI chimp, Better Man may have been looking at a break-even point of $220 million. The movie grossed $18.3 million internationally, but its domestic gross of just $1.9 million is proof that Williams just isn’t a name that means very much to North American audiences. Still, the positive response to the movie suggests that it could end up being a stronger performer on home viewing platforms.
Critics widely praised the film for taking such big creative swings, which of course includes the decision to make a CG character the star. This positive response led to an 88% critics’ score and a 90% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. In an age when the music biopic can feel tired and predictable, Better Man was celebrated for shaking up the formula and offering something audiences have never seen before. In her Better Man review for ScreenRant, Mae Abdulbaki writes that she was surprised just how much the movie ended up impacting her:
It tells a cohesive story filled with lush visuals and extraordinary musical setpieces that make it an immersive watch. I walked away from Better Man feeling a bit annoyed that I hadn’t seen it sooner. Now that I have, I feel the need to sing its praises. Who knew that a musical biopic starring a CG-animated chimp as Robbie Williams would resonate this much?
Our Take On Better Man’s Streaming Release Date
Why Now Could Be The Perfect Time For The Unorthodox Biopic
Even if not all North American audiences are aware of who Williams is and his immense impact on the British music scene, Better Man is worth checking out because of the story it tells and the ambitious way it’s told. It has the elements to appeal to those who like both blockbuster spectacles and musicals.
Though Better Man doesn’t star any big-name actors, it does feature performances from Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Frazer Hadfield, Kate Mulvany, Raechelle Banno, and Damon Herriman.
With A Complete Unknown recently succeeding in theaters and scoring eight Oscar nominations, now may be the perfect time to watch a musician biopic that takes a radically different approach. It’s not clear whether Better Man will eventually find an audience in North America, but the film will evidently be a lot easier to watch at home when it lands on Paramount+.
Source: Paramount
