Robbie Williams' biopic,Better Man,has arrived in cinemas with an R-rating that indicates a mature depiction of the singer’s rise to fame. Directed by Michael Gracey, best known for his work onThe Greatest Showman,Better Mandepicts the true story of British singer, Robbie Williams, who began his career in the 1990s as a member of pop group Take That. Upon themovie’s release in January 2025,Better Manwas highly praised for its screenplay, soundtrack, and depiction of the highs and lows of Williams' professional and personal life before he became one of the most successful British singers of all time.
The events depicted throughout the biopic also offer a blend of comedy, drama, and tragedy, assisted by the believable performances by thecast ofBetter Man. The movie carries a significantly higher rating than previouslysuccessful music biopics, as it deals with highly explicit themes that may be unsettling and disturbing for younger viewers. With Williams being depicted as a CGI chimp, there may be some confusion about whom the movie is truly for, butBetter Man’srating means that parents should approach this movie with caution.
Better Man Is Rated R For Drug Use, Strong Language, Sexual Content, Nudity & Some Violence
Better Man’s Rating Reflects On The Dark Aspects of Robbie Williams' Career
Better Manhas been rated R by the MPA for “drug use, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some violent content.” The rating provided by the MPA heavily indicates the movie is only suitable for adults.Better Manis reported to have a severely high level of profanity and strong language and depictions of alcoholism, while there are moderate depictions of sexual content throughout the movie. Heavy scenes of violence and drug use are also included, while the story focuses on the themes of mental health, death, and abortion, which may be upsetting for some viewers.
In thetrailer forBetter Man, the characters use various profanities, including the F-word on several occasions; there is also a brief glimpse of Williams using an obscene hand gesture. The F-word is spoken over 100 times throughout the movie, along with other slang words. There are also some scenes depicting suicide attempts.The movie offers insight into the darker aspects of Robbie Williams' early career, but with the strong use of profanities and the intense themes covered, it’s clear thatBetter Manis a potentially disturbing movie in many ways.
Parents Should Not Bring Their Children To See Better Man
Robbie Williams has been open about his mental health and the struggles he faced with drug and alcohol addiction during his time in Take That and as a solo artist, which is central to the movie (viaIndependent). InBetter Man, Williams, as a CGI chimp, relives the difficulties he faced as a child after his parents split up, and the pressure he felt to prove himself to everybody around him. The heavy presence of death, addiction, and alcoholism depicted throughout makes it understandable why the movie was rated R by the MPA.
With such use of profanities and graphic depictions of violence,Better Manis definitely not a suitable movie for young viewers. Parents and young adults over the age of 18 will be able to attend the movie, but they may also be upset by the visuals of gore, drug abuse, and suicide attempts through the use of weapons, which are too frightening for children. WhileBetter Mandoes offer a brilliant and harrowing insight into the life and career of one of Britain’s most successful artists, parents should be advised to not allow children under the age of 18 to watch the movie.
Better Man
Cast
Directed by Michael Gracey, Better Man explores the life and career of singer Robbie Williams through his own eyes.
