Jeremy Allen White‘s latest film charts a pivotal era in the life and musical career of the legendary Bruce Springsteen. Deliver Me From Nowhere is a haunting and transcendental work that brings to life the equally haunting and evocative making of the singer’s 1982 Nebraska album.
But despite the bold tone, impactful story, strong performance, and rich artistry of the film, it falls short of the best music biopic on Rotten Tomatoes. That honor solely, and rightfully, goes to Taron Egerton‘s Rocketman, a daunting piece of work that continues to be one of the most fantastically brilliant and radiant biopics ever made.
Jeremy Allen White’s Moving Biopic Fails to Trump Taron Egerton’s Rocketman
Rocketman is as wild and audacious as its subject. In that regard, the Taron Egerton film refuses to be toned down or filtered when it comes to the sensitive and harrowing aspects of Elton John’s life. The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes says:
It’s going to be a long, long time before a rock biopic manages to capture the highs and lows of an artist’s life like Rocketman.
With a rating of 89%, Rocketman is perhaps the most masterfully crafted, raw, ethereal, and stirring biopic ever crafted on a musician’s life.
However, Jeremy Allen White’s Deliver Me From Nowhere stumbles when it comes to representing the highs and lows of its subject’s life. The film acts as a snapshot of Springsteen’s career, showing only a part of his musical journey that focuses little on the music and has very little of Springsteen in its plot.
With its 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere falls blatantly short of impressing on the same scale as Elton John’s deeply personal and transcendental story told in Rocketman.
What Critics Are Saying About Jeremy Allen White’s Bruce Springsteen Biopic
The Springsteen biopic is currently drawing mixed reviews from the critics. Outlets like Clash Magazine, NME, and the Daily Telegraph are speaking highly of the film, while some others are disappointed by the film’s unrealized potential.
The Sun writes:
Unlike many films of the genre, the music is not overused. But this often clunky, overwritten production is a waste of a potentially fascinating subject, which we never really get to know.
The London Evening Standard criticizes the film, saying:
Much like any artist profile, you can’t just fill it with ‘how’s, you also need the ‘why’s, and that’s where things flounder.
Meanwhile, others like Clash applaud the film’s valiant effort, claiming:
With plenty of fan service sprinkled in, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere walks a familiar path to deliver an unexpectedly impactful message about the price of artistry. Overall, they did The Boss proud.
The Daily Telegraph also chimes in with equal praise:
[Jeremy] Strong – so earnestly committed to his own process – has found a role that lets him applaud how art gets made. And in [Jeremy Allen White], too, something primal and touching stirs.
With a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Deliver Me From Nowhere is equal parts frustrating and mesmerizing. And while some find themselves impressed and touched by the visceral and soulful rendition of the musician’s life on screen, others are haunted by the film’s lack of courage to dig deeper into its subject’s fascinating life.
Below is a table comparing Rocketman and Deliver Me From Nowhere in terms of their critical and box office performance:
Rocketman is currently streaming on TNT and TBS.
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere will premiere on October 24, 2025.
