The story of British punk rock trailblazer Billy Idol is heading to theaters. The rights to the new documentary ‘Billy Idol Should Be Dead’ have been acquired by Evan Saxon Productions, with a United States theatrical release set for Feb. 27. Directed by three-time Grammy winner Jonas Åkerlund and produced by Live Nation Studios, the film debuted at several festivals in 2025 ahead of a wider 2026 rollout.
Through never-before-seen archival footage and candid interviews with Idol, his family, peers and collaborators, the documentary traces his evolution from Generation X frontman to MTV-era global superstar. It captures the velocity of his rise and the personal battles that shaped him across five decades in music. The result lands as a powerful and heartfelt portrait that demands to be experienced on the biggest screen possible.
“Billy Idol is a larger-than-life artist who changed the face of pop culture and music history during his 50-year career,” said Evan Saxon. “From Generation X to now, he’s still selling out arenas around the globe. We are honored to work with Another Planet’s Laurence Freedman and Live Nation to bring the powerful and heartfelt documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead to his fans on the biggest cinema screens worldwide.”
The documentary also features the song “Dying To Live,” written by Idol and J. Ralph alongside longtime collaborators Steve Stevens, Tommy English and Joe Janiak. The track was named to the shortlist for Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards, adding another chapter to a career that continues to resonate across generations.