By: Joseph Perry (Twitter/X)

Writer: When It Was Cool

Also Featured At: Gruesome Magazine, The Scariest Things, Horror Fuel, B&S About Movies, The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict, and Diabolique Magazine, and film magazines Phantom of the Movies’ VideoScope and Drive-In Asylum.

Film Reviews: Andy Kaufman Is Me and Billy Idol Should Be Dead (Tribeca 2025)

This year’s Tribeca festival featured two documentaries that should be of great interest to When It Was Cool readers. No matter what you have seen, read, or heard about Andy Kaufman and Billy Idol before, these films provide plenty of new insight into the two celebrities.

Andy Kaufman Is Me

Official synopsis: Through personal audio diaries and puppet animations, an intimate portrait emerges of the complex comedian Andy Kaufman, while those closest to him reveal the man behind his famous performances.

What sets Andy Kaufman Is Me apart from other documentaries about the controversial performance artist who preferred not to be considered a comedian is the access to previously unreleased cassette recordings that he made. Family members of Kaufman’s participate in director Clay Tweel’s film, providing deep perspectives on Kaufman’s childhood, breaking into performing, philosophies, personality, and personal life. 

Other interviewees include Kaufman’s friends, fellow performers, and more, including David Letterman and professional wrestler Jerry “The King” Lawler discussing the famous 1982 confrontation between the latter and Kaufman on Letterman’s Late Night talk show.

Some of the tapes include Kaufman discussing ideas for his unfinished, somewhat autobiographical novel The Huey Williams Story, brought to life by Tweel and Nicola Rowlands, the production designer for the puppets in the film. 

Anyone interested in Kaufman, comedy, or intriguing documentaries on highly unique personalities should seek out Andy Kaufman Is Me.

Billy Idol Should Be Dead

Official synopsis: Punk rocker Billy Idol's journey from underground star to pop icon unfolds in a documentary chronicling his fame, drug struggles, and powerful return to music.

The title of director Jonas Åkerlund’s documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead is no joke. The titular 1980s rock music icon reveals his brushes with The Grim Reaper that include drug overdoses, and a motor crash that almost cost him a leg. Idol frankly and openly discusses these revelations and others, including his marriage and children, one of whom he didn’t meet until the son’s adulthood. 

Talking heads include family members past and present, former bandmates, musicians who were influenced by idol, and entourage members who shared in or watched over Idol’s hard partying days. The documentary is a frank and revealing work, and a highly fascinating one. It’s interesting to see Idol as a loving grandfather who still takes to the stage, but as a wiser person than he was in his heyday.

Andy Kaufman Is Me and Billy Idol Should Be Dead screened as part of the 2025 Tribeca Festival, which ran June 4–15 in New York City. For more information, visit https://www.tribecafilm.com/.

Joseph Perry also writes for the websites Gruesome Magazine (gruesomemagazine.com), The Scariest Things (scariesthings.com), Horror Fuel (horrorfuel.com), B&S About Movies (bandsaboutmovies.com), The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict (gbvreviews.com), and Diabolique Magazine (diaboliquemagazine.com), and film magazines Phantom of the Movies’ VideoScope (videoscopemag.com) and Drive-In Asylum (etsy.com/shop/GroovyDoom). 

If you found this article interesting, consider becoming a Patreon supporter.  That is how When It Was Cool keeps our website and podcasts online, plus you get lots of bonus content including extra podcasts, articles, ebooks, and much more.  Check out our Patreon Page to see what's up!