Grammy-winning filmmaker Jonas Åkerlund brings rock history to life in Billy Idol Should Be Dead, the full-length documentary that chronicles the wild life and enduring legend of punk icon Billy Idol.
Blending rare archival footage with interviews featuring Idol’s collaborators and peers, the film pulls back the curtain on the snarling punk provocateur who became a global superstar.
Billy Idol Should Be Dead premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, then went on to screen at events such as Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom, and now comes roaring to U.S. theaters with an official wide release set for February 26, 2026.
Billy Idol Should Be Dead follows the electric rise of Billy Idol from his gritty beginnings in the punk rock underground to the blazing heights of global fame. Through never-before-seen archival clips and intimate interviews with Idol, his family, and fellow artists, the documentary delves into the challenges he faced — from personal trials and brushes with death to the creative forces that shaped his iconic sound and fierce stage presence. It is an unvarnished look at a life lived on the edge and a legacy that still reverberates.
In a recent review from Loud and Clear Reviews, the film is praised for offering “a detailed look at the singer’s rise to fame and why he remains an icon in the punk rock scene.” The review explained, “What stands out about Billy Idol Should Be Dead is just how informative the documentary is. The film clocks in at just under two hours, which gives us plenty of time to take an extensive, closer look at Idol’s incredibly successful career. You can tell how much his friends and other singers in the industry respect and love his music. The film features many other well-known recording artists who admire Billy Idol’s work, with Miley Cyrus and Billie Joe Armstrong even making appearances.”
Watch the official trailer for Billy Idol Should Be Dead above (and teaser trailer below)
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