Even asA Complete Unknowncontinues to make waves at the box office, fellow music biopicBetter Manappears to have reached the end of the line after just 10 days in wide release. Based on the life and career of the British pop-starRobbie Williams, the film has failed to find an audience not only in the United States, but also in Europe.Better Manisone of the more expensive music biopics of recent times, with a large amount of money presumably being spent on the CGI required to present Williams as a chimpanzee. The movie witnessed a tragic fall in its second weekend of domestic wide release, and was out-performed by films that have been playing in theaters for months.
Better Mangrossed around $255,000this weekend,dropping by a whopping 76% from its first weekendof wide release, when it grossed around $1 million. The film’srunning domestic total stands at just $1.8 million. This weekend, it was out-performed by the animated filmThe Wild Robot, which debuted back in September. This was its 17th weekend in domestic theaters; the movie has been available on digital streaming platforms for months. That didn’t stop it from earning $97,000 on its 115th day of release, whileBetter Mangrossed $80,000. Globally, the music biopic has generated around $12 million so far.
What makes its box office failure all the more tragic is the fact thatit earned excellent reviews. The movie holds a “fresh” 88% approval rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. The film’s audience score stands at a slightly better 90%. So, why did it flop? There’s an argument to be made that Williams isn’t as popular in the United States as he is in Europe. Plus, concealing whatever recognizability he has behind a chimpanzee probably hurt the film’s chances of success.In his review, Collider’sMatthew Donatodescribed it as “a gimmick that somehow never wears thin, which is situationally miraculous.”
Music Biopics Have Been Having a Dream Box Office Run Lately
Better Manis directed byMichael Gracey, who previously madeThe Greatest Showman. StarringHugh Jackman, that film defied a difficult production and a soft opening to ultimately gross over $450 million worldwide.Better Manwas independently funded ona reported budget of $110 million, with Paramount picking up the domestic distribution rights for around $25 million.The Wild Robot, on the other hand, remains one of the best-reviewed movies of last year. It has grossed over $320 million globally, and remains a favorite to pick up an Oscar nomination this week. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Better Man
Directed by Michael Gracey, Better Man explores the life and career of singer Robbie Williams through his own eyes.
