Billy Idol Should Be Dead – MVD Visual (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2025
Director: Jonas Åkerlund
Cast: Billy Idol, Brendan Bourke, Joan Broad, Jane Broad, Tony James, Derwood Andrews, Perri Lsiter, Keith Forsey

Release Date: November 3rd, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 125 Minutes 16 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English, LPCM Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Billy Idol Should Be Dead is an intimate, unflinching and wildly entertaining portrait of Billy Idol, the punk provocateur who became one of rock & roll's most recognizable and enduring stars. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker and music-video visionary Jonas Åkerlund, the documentary looks beyond Idol's trademark sneer, peroxide hair and leather-clad image to examine the ambition, excess, danger and resilience behind a career spanning nearly five decades.

Beginning with Idol's emergence from the British punk movement as a member of Generation X, the film follows his transformation into an international solo star whose fusion of punk attitude, hard rock and the visual possibilities of the MTV era produced such defining songs as "White Wedding," "Rebel Yell," "Dancing with Myself," "Eyes Without a Face" and "Mony Mony." Rather than simply revisiting the hits, Åkerlund traces the experiences behind them and the contradictions of an artist who repeatedly pushed himself to extremes while continuing to evolve and perform.

The story encompasses extraordinary success as well as the darker consequences of rock & roll excess, including Idol's near-death experiences and the personal and professional upheavals that could easily have ended his career. What emerges is as much a survival story as a music documentary: an examination of how Idol endured the volatility surrounding his fame and remained an active creative force long after many of his contemporaries disappeared from the spotlight.

Idol is joined by an exceptional group of friends, collaborators and fellow musicians who provide perspective on his music, personality and influence. Participants include longtime guitarist Steve Stevens, Miley Cyrus, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, The Who's Pete Townshend, Nile Rodgers, Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump and Perri Lister, among others. With Åkerlund bringing the perspective of a filmmaker deeply versed in both music and visual culture, Billy Idol Should Be Dead presents the story of a genuine rock survivor who lived through nearly everything the mythology of rock & roll could throw at him--and somehow came out the other side." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Billy Idol Should Be Dead comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.3 GB

Feature: 22 GB

This documentary is a combination of newly shot interviews and archival material. When it comes to the archival material, the quality varies, and the best-looking footage consists of the newly shot interviews.

Audio: 5/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a LPCM stereo mix in English. Both tracks sound clear, balanced, and robust when they should. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this are limited to a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 29 seconds, LPCm stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

Billy Idol Should Be Dead offers an in-depth exploration of both Billy Idol's music and the man behind the iconic persona. The story of Billy Idol is linked to the rise of music videos; he was one of the first artists to capitalize on MTV and the exposure it offered recording artists. Jonas Åkerlund has extensive experience with music videos, having directed dozens of them, making him a perfect choice to direct Billy Idol Should Be Dead.

Although Billy Idol Should Be Dead covers Billy Idol's life from birth to the present, it does not unfold in a linear way. The documentary tells Billy Idol’s story via archival footage, animation reenactments of events, and newly shot interviews with Billy Idol, people who worked with him, his family, and friends. While the highlight for most will be seeing old clips and hearing the music, the moment that connects the strongest is when Billy Idol discusses his family, notably his father.

Documentaries serve two primary purposes: to connect fans' nostalgia for the subject being explored or to bring someone new into the fold. Billy Idol Should Be Dead does both of these things extremely well.

Billy Idol Should Be Dead is an excellent documentary and MVD Visual gives it a solid audio/video presentation. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer