Justin Bieber's Believe
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Products | Concert film |
Justin Bieber's Believe is a 2013 American concert film serving as the follow-up to Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011), both centered on Canadian artist Justin Bieber. The movie was released in the United States and Canada by Open Road Films, premiering on December 18, 2013, ahead of its theatrical launch on December 25, 2013. With a production budget of $5 million, it accumulated $32.2 million globally, despite generally unfavorable critiques from reviewers.
Plot
As the continuation of Never Say Never, this film documents Bieber’s ascent to worldwide stardom during his Believe Tour. It incorporates fresh interviews that explore his dedication to music, personal relationships, and maturation under public scrutiny, combined with exclusive concert performances and behind-the-scenes moments. The documentary features discussions with Bieber’s mother Pattie Mallette, mentor Usher Raymond IV, manager Scooter Braun, fellow artist Ludacris, among others.
Background
Speculation about a sequel to Never Say Never emerged in May 2012, with Bieber hinting at the project. By January 2013, he officially announced the sequel through Twitter. Concert scenes were captured during the Believe Tour on January 26–27, 2013, at Miami’s American Airlines Arena. A production budget ranging from $4 to $5 million was confirmed by March 2013. On October 11, 2013, it was announced that Jon M. Chu would return as director. Bieber unveiled a teaser trailer on his kidrauhl YouTube channel featuring the phrase "There's more to his story" alongside the hashtag #BelieveMovie, confirming the title "Believe" and its Christmas Day release date. The official trailer was released on November 15, 2013. The next day, Jon Chu clarified via Instagram that the film would not be available in 3D as previously rumored. The Los Angeles premiere took place on December 18, 2013.
Cast
Primary
Supporting
- Scooter Braun
- Ryan Good
- Usher
- Pattie Mallette
- Jeremy Bieber
Cameos/Guest Appearances
- Mike Posner
- will.i.am
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Ryan Seacrest
- Jon M. Chu
- Nicki Minaj
- Big Sean
- Zach Galifianakis
- Ludacris
Box office
In the U.S., Believe earned $3.1 million during its opening three days and was forecasted to reach $4.5 million over five days. This outcome fell considerably short compared to Bieber’s previous film, which debuted with $12.4 million on its first day and totaled $29.5 million across its opening weekend. By day three, Believe generated only $790,000 and ranked 14th two days post-release. The domestic total closed at $6.2 million, with an additional $4.8 million internationally, summing to roughly $11 million worldwide.
Critical reception
The film received predominantly mixed or negative assessments. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 53% approval rating based on 15 reviews with an average score of 5.08/10; Metacritic assigns it a score of 39 out of 100 from 10 reviewers, signifying "generally unfavorable" feedback.
Reviewers pointed out the film’s promotional nature: Mark Hirsh of The Boston Globe described it as "damage control by way of distraction," while Todd Gilchrist of The Wrap characterized it as almost a hagiographic tribute to Bieber’s achievements and perseverance. David Edelstein from Vulture noted the documentary’s appeal primarily to devoted fans but suggested it offered limited insight for a wider audience.
Pamela McClintock of The Hollywood Reporter remarked that many fans chose not to see the movie, questioning the wisdom of releasing it during the congested holiday season. Stephanie Merry from The Washington Post criticized the documentary for failing to reveal much about Bieber’s personal or artistic complexity, awarding it one and a half stars out of five.
Mikael Wood at the Los Angeles Times indicated that although showcasing Bieber’s talent was not central to the film, committed followers might still appreciate it. Sheila O'Malley from RogerEbert.com rated it two and a half stars out of four, describing it as an inconsistent experience that could have delved deeper if not for its reverential tone toward Bieber.
Home media
Believe became available on Blu-ray and DVD starting April 8, 2014.