Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe is available to rent online. It had a limited theatrical release on September 21 & 24, 2025.
By Elazar Abrahams
As we enter the new year, I find myself with a large backlog of articles that still need to be written. See, I got married in September, and while 2025 was incredible because of that, it also meant that TV and City took a backseat. That’s valid, but there’s so much great entertainment out there that deserves to be shared with our readers. On top of that, I also accepted screeners and press tickets for a number of projects. Those perks come with the expectation that this site will be covering them, and I feel quite bad about that. Many of the shows and movies have long since premiered, and the theatrical productions closed as scheduled. Still, it feels only right to sit down, put pen to paper (or keyboard to screen, rather) and get these pieces out into the world. Let’s hope 2026 will bring more great times and excuses, and more good art into all our lives.
One of those coveted screening links that hit my inbox last summer was for Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe, a new music documentary about the legendary Italian vocalist. I went into the movie wanting a nice, easy watch. Bocelli is a global phenomenon for a reason, and music docs usually have a built-in advantage. Great voice, big career, big emotions, and a life story that, on paper, should carry you through.
But I have to be honest. I was bored.
The documentary, directed by Cosima Spender, is very polished and very respectful. It’s the kind of film that treats its subject like a legend first and a complicated human second. There’s nothing wrong with admiration, especially when you’re dealing with someone whose entire public image is built around inspiration and uplift. The problem is that the movie rarely digs deeper than that surface layer.
Instead, it plays like a cinematic tribute meant to reassure fans that Bocelli is exactly who they want him to be. It’s warm, it’s sincere, and it’s carefully curated. That makes it perfectly pleasant in small doses, especially when it leans into the performance side and reminds you why people show up for him in the first place. But across a full feature runtime, that same carefulness becomes a drag. I kept waiting for the documentary to find a sharper angle, a stronger narrative pull, or even just a moment of surprise that made Bocelli feel newly understood.
And to be clear, I’m not asking for a takedown. Not every doc needs to expose scandal or manufacture conflict. But there’s a difference between being kind and being content to stay shallow. For me, this one lands on the shallow side.
If you’re already a Bocelli devotee, you’ll probably have a much better time than I did. You’re getting access, a glossy overview, and plenty of reverence. If you’re a casual viewer looking for a documentary that reveals something surprising about an artist you only know from the headlines and the holiday specials, this may not deliver.
I give Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe a C.
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