Movie audiences on each side of the ocean seemingly thought higher of seeing Robbie Williams’ biopic, “Better Man,” throughout its opening weekend.
The shiny biopic, which revisits the fast and rocky life and profession of the “Rock DJ” performer – albeit with Williams portrayed as a CGI monkey – failed to draw followers, bringing in an estimated $10 million worldwide in opposition to an alleged $110 million price range.
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Robbie Williams’ ‘Higher Man’ Bombs, Regardless of Presumably ‘Saving’ The Biopic Style
Within the days and weeks main as much as the discharge of Williams’ “Higher Man,” critics praised the undertaking as one of many higher biopics in latest reminiscence.
Directed by Michael Gracey (“The Best Showman”) with Williams himself narrating the amplified take of his life story, the movie was famous as being each modern and enjoyable, partially as a consequence of its very human topic being offered as an anthropomorphic monkey, (Williams defined in a number of interviews that the animal is commonly how he sees himself).
One glowing evaluate of “Higher Man,” written by Liz Shannon Miller, the senior leisure editor of Consequence with Sound, notes the movie as one which “[saves] the music biopic.”
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“Taking the ‘Paddington’ method to its protagonist immediately imbues the film with a cheeky vitality,” she writes, “an vitality that even newcomers to Williams’ story will come to seek out very apt.”
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A Spotlight From ‘Higher Man’ Options One Of Robbie Williams’ Greatest Hits With Bolstered Power
A shining instance of the foolish but spectacular vibe of “Higher Man” resides in a scene themed on an early level in Williams’ lengthy profession.
After reaching an inflow of latest fame with Take That, the boyband that gave Williams his begin, the group breaks right into a vigorous efficiency of “Rock DJ,” one of many singer’s most notable hits, set on London’s well-known Regent Road.
Although solely a minute of the scene is offered on-line, Consequence’s Miller says the total sequence is well the most effective choices of 2024 cinema.
Take a look at the clip above.
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Some Say Robbie Williams’ Film ‘Flopped’ In America As a result of He’s Unknown Right here
One frequent thread of why Williams’ “Higher Man” failed to attach with American audiences alleges that the singer is not as famous right here as elsewhere.
On X, a number of customers claimed they weren’t shocked to be taught the film introduced in round $1 million stateside on its opening weekend.
“Does anybody in America even know who Robbie Williams is?” one individual requested.
One other X consumer shared, “A biopic a few singer who’s removed from a family identify in most components of the world, portrayed as a lackluster CGI chimpanzee, is underperforming—what a shocker!”
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Purportedly pushing the declaration of Williams’ lack of American notoriety was Kat Blaque, a YouTube persona and leisure commentator. In a short video linked to an extended tackle a separate topic, she responded to followers who referred to as her out for stating America, as an entire, was unfamiliar with Williams.
“We simply flat out don’t know who he’s,” she specified by way of a textual content overlay. “I genuinely thought [‘Better Man’] was a movie a few monkey who grew to become a pop star with music by Lin-Manuel Miranda!”
Robbie Williams Is Identified And Profitable In America
Whereas there may be fact in Williams’ being an even bigger attract the UK, he has had some success on our shores.
In 1995, Take That’s single, “Again for Good,” would attain No. 7 on the BillboardHot 100 chart. It’s now thought of a staple of American grownup up to date radio.
About 4 years later, Williams’ solo hit, “Millennium,” could be pushed as the primary single from “The Ego Has Landed,” a compilation for American audiences that includes songs from two of Williams’ albums. It might peak at No. 72 on our shores – an admirable feat for music launched earlier than the streaming period.
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A second single, the ballad “Angels,” would turn into Williams’ most acknowledged American providing, hitting No. 53 on our shores. 5 years later, in 2004, singer Jessica Simpson lined the inspirational tune for a re-release of her “In This Pores and skin” LP.
To assist push “Higher Man” in America, Williams appeared on “Dick Clark’s New Yr’s Rockin’ Eve” by way of satellite tv for pc, the place he carried out “Rock DJ.”
He was additionally shortlisted for an Oscar for Greatest Authentic Tune – “Forbidden Highway” from “Higher Man.” Sadly, it was disqualified as a consequence of having “incorporated material” from one other track unrelated to the undertaking.
A Streaming Date Window Has Been Shared For ‘Higher Man’
Although a precise date is unsure, experiences state that Williams’ “Higher Man” ought to stream on Paramount + on or round February 11, 2025 (because the movie is a Paramount launch).
As of now, “Higher Man” remains to be enjoying in theaters. See the trailer above.