(Updated 01/08/2025)
Just last month, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN proved that a straightforward musical biopic can be effective, moving, even sublime. But for the adventurous artist, a different path is just as viable — the path of complete insanity. BETTER MAN is the story of the rise and fall and rise of singer Robbie Williams.
If you're not familiar with the pop music scene in the UK you might not know Williams. He's a superstar in the UK and Europe thanks to his work as part of the boy band Take That and his subsequent solo efforts. Lack of familiarity is no big deal here, though, as, like a great pop song, BETTER MAN has a crazy hook: Williams appears in the movie as a chimpanzee.
Williams has always had a streak of self-effacing, sometimes strange humor. One of his videos, for the song "Rock DJ," featured Williams stripping in front of a roller rink of unamused women before getting their attention by graphically taking off literally everything — right down to his skeleton. He's the sort of artist who isn't going to do anything the "normal" way.
But being inclined to do something and actually pulling it off are two very different things. BETTER MAN pulls it off, spectacularly. Check out the trailer below and more footage from the movie as well.
What's the Better Man Release Date?
Paramount Pictures will release BETTER MAN in movie theaters on January 10, 2025.
Watch the Trailer for Better Man
First off, know that this trailer for BETTER MAN is red-band thanks to language. But it also gets the movie's unique and over-the-top energy across in an infectious, irresistible way.
BETTER MAN is a rags to riches to rags to riches story that covers Williams's childhood, his early days with Take That, and his solo career. Throughout, the artist's signature sense of humor is dominant.
Better Man Dazzles With Musical Choreography
While the whole idea of Robbie Williams visualizing himself as a chimpanzee is the obvious hook for BETTER MAN, it's not the core appeal of the movie. What really sets this biopic apart is the dazzling and intricately-staged musical numbers. Williams's deep song catalog comes to vivid life on screen thanks to the hyper-real license granted by that chimpanzee face.
In other words, because the movie is already somewhat detached from reality, director Michael Gracey — who also made THE GREATEST SHOWMAN — takes every chance to stage dance sequences in bold and dynamic ways.
And while the song "Rock DJ" is in the movie, you don't have to worry about seeing a simian version of Williams tearing his own skin off. The movie stages the number on the streets of London — you can get a taste of it just above.
Who's in the Cast of Better Man?
Robbie Williams narrates the movie as himself, as suggested by the trailer. But Jonno Davies performed the motion capture and voice work as "Robbie Williams" in chimpanzee form while Adam Tucker did some extra singing for "Robbie." And Carter J. Murphy did the voice of young Williams.
Additionally, Steve Pemberton and Kate Mulvany play Robbie's parents, Peter and Janet Williams, while Alison Steadman plays Betty Williams, Robbie's grandmother who was a strong presence in his life.
The members of Williams' breakthrough band, Take That, are played by Jake Simmance as Gary Barlow, Liam Head as Howard Donald, Jesse Hyde as Mark Owen, and Chase Vollenweider as Jason Orange. And Damon Herriman plays Take That manager, Nigel Martin-Smith, while Raechelle Banno co-stars as Nicole Appleton, who was in the band All Saints and becomes Robbie's fiancée.
Finally, Tom Budge plays Guy Chambers, Robbie's songwriting partner.
Oasis Shows Up in Better Man, Too
A relatively famous tabloid story about Williams caught him hanging out with the Gallagher brothers at Glastonbury after Williams bailed on Take That, which sped one of the group's breakups. In BETTER MAN, Leo Harvey-Elledge plays Liam Gallagher, and Chris Gun plays Noel Gallagher.
BETTER MAN opens on January 10.
All images courtesy of Paramount Pictures.