Billy Idol Should Be Dead Documentary Set for Worldwide Theatrical Release in 2026
The official Billy Idol documentary, titled Billy Idol Should Be Dead, has received confirmation of a theatrical release scheduled for early 2026. Worldwide distribution rights for the film have been acquired by Evan Saxon Productions (ESP), a company specializing in international distribution of independent cinema. The project is produced by Live Nation Studios, with acclaimed filmmaker Jonas Åkerlund, a three-time Grammy Award winner, serving as director.
The film presents a large-scale and candid portrait of the life and career of rock music legend Billy Idol, tracing his journey from his youth in England and his early days with the punk band Generation X to his meteoric rise in the 1980s, when he became one of the defining figures of the MTV era. The documentary features previously unreleased archival footage, rare video materials, and new interviews with the musician himself, his family members, longtime collaborators, and key figures from his creative circle.
Billy Idol Should Be Dead premiered in the summer of 2025 as part of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The screening at one of the most prominent film festivals in the United States secured the film a qualifying theatrical run and opened the door for awards consideration. Following its festival debut, plans were announced for a wide international theatrical release spanning North America, Europe, and other global territories.
A significant focus of the documentary is its musical component. The film includes a new original song by Billy Idol, “Dying To Live, ” written specifically for the project. The track was created in collaboration with J. Ralph, an Academy Award–nominated composer, along with guitarist Steve Stevens and musicians Tommy English and Joe Janiak. The song was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, while the film itself received a nomination from the Hollywood Music In Media Awards as one of the year’s top music documentary projects.
The documentary does not limit itself to chronicling success and fame. Billy Idol Should Be Dead explores the dark periods of the artist’s life, including struggles with addiction, reckless behavior, internal conflicts, and situations that repeatedly placed his life in danger. This unfiltered and honest examination of Idol’s personal history forms the emotional core of the film and directly inspired its title.
Today, Billy Idol is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of rock music. Beginning his career within London’s late-1970s punk scene, he went on to become a central figure of the “Second British Invasion” in the United States and has maintained creative relevance for decades. The documentary highlights not only the scale of his legacy but also his ability to reassess his own journey while remaining a vital presence in contemporary music culture.
The theatrical release of Billy Idol Should Be Dead in 2026 is already being described as one of the most anticipated events for fans of rock documentaries, music history, and Billy Idol’s work.
