Born to flop: ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’ fails due to Bruce Springsteen's dullness for a biopic
Bruce Springsteen is undeniably talented and brilliant, yet he comes across as quite dull. The new biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, starring Jeremy Allen White from “The Bear,” has grossed only $19.4 million worldwide—disappointing for a Disney film about such an iconic American music legend who has sold over 128 million albums in 52 years.
While those who watched the film generally like it, with an 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, ticket sales have been low. The issue seems to be that audiences are not eager to see Bruce's story on the big screen.
Why the lack of interest?
- Springsteen is a great songwriter but also a mostly drama-free and introspective figure.
- After a short marriage to Julianne Phillips, he’s been with his wife Patti Scialfa for 34 years, a stable personal life that lacks dramatic tension.
- The film ends when Springsteen is only 32 and dealing with anxiety, missing the more eventful later stages of his life.
This approach results in a biopic that’s more of a quiet, thoughtful insight into his early struggles rather than a dramatic, popcorn-worthy story or a typical Oscar contender.
“Deliver” doesn’t even get as far as that. It ends when Springsteen is just 32 and is struggling with anxiety. That’s not exactly a pass-the-popcorn formula. Or, for that matter, an Oscars rubric. At best, it’s a thoughtful-insight manual.
Author’s summary: The film’s subdued tone and focus on Springsteen’s early life fail to capture the excitement needed for a successful biopic, leading to underwhelming box office results despite critical approval.