Envision a biographical film centered on a musical artist whose every album has achieved the number one spot, who has set the Guinness World Record for the highest number of tickets sold in a single day, and who boasts a career spanning three decades. It certainly appears to be a potential blockbuster, does it not? However, when a movie about this artist premiered in early January, it was met with an almost complete lack of audience attendance in numerous theaters. This narrative details the first box office failure of 2025, a film that has encountered an enigmatic reception at the American box office.

2025's first box office bomb

Better Man, a musical directed by Michael Gracey, chronicles the life of British singer Robbie Williams. In an unconventional portrayal, the character of Robbie is represented not by a human actor but by a CGI monkey. The role is brought to life by Jonno Davies through motion capture technology, with both Williams and Davies providing the voice. The film had a limited release during the final weekend of 2024 and garnered positive reviews, including an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. Subsequently, Better Man was widely released on January 10. However, it has proven to be a box office failure. With a production budget of $110 million, the film has only managed to earn $15 million globally and is approaching the conclusion of its theatrical run. Its performance in North America has been particularly poor, accumulating just $1.9 million over four weeks, despite reports indicating that Paramount invested over $20 million for the distribution rights.

The curious case of Better Man in the US

The film's lack of success in the United States has been largely attributed to the minimal recognition of Robbie Williams in that market. While the singer enjoys significant fame in the UK, he remains relatively obscure in the US. Following the film's release, social media was inundated with memes questioning its appeal, with one tweet stating, "Why would people watch a film about a dude nobody knows?" The Sentinel highlighted that the debut of his biopic on Boxing Day has underscored this issue, indicating that the 'Angels' singer is not as widely recognized in America, resulting in confusion among audiences regarding his identity and his depiction as a primate in the film.

Deadline Hollywood also reported that the film struggled in the UK, despite Williams's popularity there, with Better Man grossing only $6 million. Some critics have suggested that the use of a CGI chimpanzee as a gimmick did not resonate with viewers, who found it difficult to connect with either the star or the film, contributing to its poor reception.

Although Better Man is still screening in select theaters globally, its performance has been overshadowed by smaller films such as The Brutalist and The Last Showgirl, which have fewer showings. Its daily revenue in the US has now fallen below $100,000.

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