Introduction

In an unusual cinematic venture, the biopic "Better Man," which chronicles the life of British pop icon Robbie Williams, has stumbled significantly at the U.S. box office. The film, released nationwide recently after a UK premiere, opts for an unexpected twist—replacing Williams with a CGI chimpanzee. This bizarre artistic choice hasn’t resonated well with audiences and has not helped in elevating the underwhelming writer of the film’s narrative.

Box Office Performance

Making its debut in theaters across the United States on January 10, "Better Man" seeks to tell the story of Williams, who first gained fame as part of the boy band Take That, before launching a successful solo career. However, the filmmakers' decision to feature a digital monkey as the lead character has raised eyebrows and provoked confusion among potential viewers. The portrayal appears to be a metaphor for Williams' own self-acknowledged feelings of being "less evolved" than his peers, yet the nonchalant acceptance of a chimpanzee in the universe of the film makes it difficult to gauge its intended message.

As reported by Variety on January 12, the film debuted at a disheartening number 14 at the box office. It grossed a mere $1.1 million combined from North American audiences—not a flattering figure when many are surprised that there are even 14 films currently screening. In contrast, while "Better Man" fared slightly better in the UK, accumulating approximately $4.7 million, it still pales before its staggering production cost of over $100 million. As many industry insiders would agree, CGI chimpanzees don’t come cheap—and when they fail to capture an audience, the losses are amplified.

Future Prospects

In light of this flop, there is speculation that the film may soon transition to streaming platforms. Will it eventually become a cult classic? Perhaps in a decade or so, audiences might reminisce about the peculiar monkey movie based on a not-so-popular UK pop star. Who knows? After all, film history is littered with forgotten flops that gain unexpected notoriety years later. For now, though, "Better Man" stands as a cautionary tale about the risks of experimental storytelling in biopics, especially when they feature digital primates instead of engaging human performances.

Conclusion

As the box office returns continue to roll in, it remains clear: when it comes to biographical films, it seems a real human touch may be the key to keeping the audience's interest.