Billy Idol Should Be Dead

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Billy Idol Should Be Dead

2025

1h 58m

Documentary

Music

Biography

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8 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Rock icon Billy Idol bares it all in this electrifying documentary. Through never-before-seen archival and personal interviews with Idol, his family, peers and collaborators, the documentary digs deep into his emergence as a prototypical punk rocker, his meteoric rise as a global superstar in the MTC era, and the myriad of challenges Idol had to overcome to not just survive, but to remain on of the most beloved figures in rock n roll, almost fifty years into his career.

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Johnny Loftus

Decider

Apr 7

Billy Idol Should be Dead is a walk through decades of rock history that benefits hugely from interviews with the man himself. Billy Idol is funny and charming to a fault in this documentary, even when describing his deepest, darkest moments.

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Pat Stacey

Irish Independent

Mar 24

4/5

That [Billy Idol is] alive and well and the subject of musician/director Jonas Åkerlund’s fantastically entertaining and sometimes quietly moving two-hour documentary is a reason to be happy.

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Emma Vine

Loud and Clear Reviews

Mar 2

3.5/5

Billy Idol Should Be Dead offers a detailed look at the singer’s rise to fame and why he remains an icon in the punk rock scene.

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Sherin Nicole

AWFJ.org

Nov 3

From gorgeously crisp interviews—in rich black and glowing white—to lush but cheeky animated sequences that play out like fever dreams, weaving...its portrait of a man who’s danced with death too many times, yet emerged not just alive but truly living.

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Oct 28

As a documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead is essentially a cinematic update of Billy Idol's 2014 memoir, with some added perspectives and a few new revelations. It's meaningful in some areas and shallow in other areas.

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Mike McGranaghan

Aisle Seat

Oct 4

A fascinatingly full portrait of an ‘80s musical giant.

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Bill & Carmen

Mar 8

Due to weather and feeling a little bit sick my wife and I almost did not go, but we are so glad we did, GREAT show. We had seen Billy and Joan Jett last year and he is hilarious, a great entertainer, and this movie just reinforces all his legend. The animated sequences were amazing and the historical photos and film were excellent. I would buy a copy of this show today!

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chingoo815

Mar 5

it was great! well put together and surprisingly the animations were some of my favorite parts. me and GF absolutely loved it.

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Anna

Mar 5

What a great film. Loved seeing the vintage clips of the punk era. Love the new songs. What great memories I have of growing up with Billy Idols music.

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A. Peck

Mar 2

Well done BFI! Excellent documentary on the life of an icon! Truly showing so much vulnerability and what it was like to be a true rockstar of that era! So glad I got to see it on the big screen! Keep rocking Billy!!

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Linda

Mar 1

I've followed Billy's career since 1980. I absolutely love him and this documentary was well done. Although I already knew everything in the film it was nice seeing it all put together in film. I'd see it again.

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Kelli

Mar 1

Very well done. Interesting from beginning to end. The last 2 songs were a profound statement on where hes at in life today. I definitely recommend this rockumentary. In fact I texted a couple of my music minded friends last night when I left the theater and recommended they see it.

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Jonas Akerlund

Director

Billy Idol

Self

Jonas Akerlund

Producer

Mark Monroe

Producer

Laurence Freedman

Producer

Violaine Etienne

Producer

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Synopsis

Rock icon Billy Idol bares it all in this electrifying documentary. Through never-before-seen archival and personal interviews with Idol, his family, peers and collaborators, the documentary digs deep into his emergence as a prototypical punk rocker, his meteoric rise as a global superstar in the MTC era, and the myriad of challenges Idol had to overcome to not just survive, but to remain on of the most beloved figures in rock n roll, almost fifty years into his career.

Director: Jonas Akerlund
Producer: Jonas Akerlund, Mark Monroe, Laurence Freedman, Violaine Etienne, Orian Williams, Ryan Kroft, Jessica James Batista, China Chow
Distributor: Fremantle
Production Co: Serial Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Music, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 24, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 58m