Michael Gracey’s Better Man is a bold and creative musical biopic that tells the life story of British pop icon, Robbie Williams. The film traces his journey from being a young star in the boy band, Take That to him becoming a global solo sensation. It also dives deep into his battles with fame, addiction, and mental health, and ultimately shows his path to redemption. What sets Better Man apart from other biopics is its unique visual twist.
Robbie is portrayed not by a human actor, but as a computer-generated chimpanzee. This bold artistic choice adds a symbolic layer to the storytelling, capturing the chaos, humour, and emotion of Robbie’s life. Now, with the film all ready for its OTT release in India, here’s everything you need to know about Better Man, including when and where to watch it, and what fans and critics are saying.
When and where to watch Better Man in India
Better Man will start streaming on Lionsgate Play and OTTplay Premium from August 29, 2025, in India. The movie had premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2024. After that it was theatrically released in the United States on December 25, 2024, by Paramount Pictures, and in the United Kingdom and Australia a day later, by Entertainment Film Distributors and Roadshow Films, respectively. It hit premium video (PVOD) on February 11, 2025, and became accessible on Paramount+ by March 11, 2025.
Better Man’s plot and story
Better Man takes a bold and creative twist on the traditional biopic format. Instead of casting an actor to play Robbie Williams, the movie portrayed him through a CGI chimpanzee, this is a quirky nod to his own description of feeling like a ‘performing monkey.’ This unique approach adds a layer of symbolism, giving viewers a deeper look into his struggles with fame, identity, childhood trauma, and personal growth. The movie is emotional, raw, and unlike anything audiences have seen before in a musical biopic.
Better Man’s critical and fan reception
Better Man received mixed reactions from audiences. Many praised its bold creativity, emotional depth, and unique musical moments. Critics appreciated it for its innovative storytelling. However, the film didn’t perform well at the box office, earning only about USD 22.5 million globally when it was made on a budget USD 110 million, making it a box office flop. Some viewers, especially in the U.S., found the concept too unusual and hard to connect with.
As time has passed, the movie has quietly, made a place in audiences’ heart. A user took to X and talked about the film, commenting, “I’m being so for real when I say Better Man is one of the best biopics of all time and you should all watch it if you value filmography,” another one said, “ Better Man is brilliant, fascinating to see a guy basically get up on stage and admit that he is worthless as an artist.”
Despite commercial failure, Better Man was also celebrated for its technical achievement. The movie earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. It also won eight AACTA Awards, including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay and more. It also became a BAFTA nominee for its visual effects. Better Man was a musical biopic that dared to use graphics over flesh to tell a powerful story of an iconic performer, and while the commercial success was not achieved by the film, it was widely appreciated.
What are your thoughts about Better Man’s OTT release in India?
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