Bruce Springsteen is one of America’s most beloved rock legends, but his latest big-screen tribute, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, hasn’t quite found its rhythm at the box office. Starring The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White as “The Boss,” the film tells the story behind Springsteen’s haunting 1982 album Nebraska — but despite its star power and heartfelt story, ticket sales are fading fast.
The movie opened in fourth place last weekend, bringing in $8.8 million from more than 3,400 theaters across North America. That’s not terrible for a drama, but things took a downturn this week. According to Deadline, the film’s earnings dropped 57% in its second weekend, pulling in just $3.8 million and slipping down to seventh place on the box office charts.
Worldwide, Deliver Me from Nowhere has made about $30.5 million so far — well below its $55 million production budget, not even counting marketing costs. Still, the film had one major local impact: it was mostly shot in New Jersey, Springsteen’s home state, and boosted the local economy by an impressive $42 million during production.
Directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), the film dives deep into a specific and emotional period of Springsteen’s life. Coming off the success of his 1980 album The River, which gave him his first Top 10 hit with Hungry Heart, Springsteen took an unexpected turn. Instead of recording another upbeat rock album, he retreated to a rented farmhouse in New Jersey and recorded haunting, lo-fi songs that would become Nebraska.
Those tracks told dark, personal stories inspired by Springsteen’s own struggles and his complicated relationship with his father. The movie captures that side of him beautifully — showing how Nebraska became not just an album, but a turning point in his life and career. Jeremy Allen White’s performance as Bruce has been praised for its emotional depth, with Stephen Graham, Gaby Hoffman, Odessa Young, and Jeremy Strong rounding out the talented cast.
Unfortunately, despite strong performances and heartfelt storytelling, the film hasn’t managed to draw large crowds. Part of the reason may be timing — this Halloween season has been dominated by other releases, including Regretting You (based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel) which topped the box office with $8.1 million, and Black Phone 2, a horror sequel that earned $8 million over the same weekend.
Even older hits are making a comeback — the 40th-anniversary re-release of Back to the Future earned $4.7 million, coming in ahead of Deliver Me from Nowhere.
While box office numbers aren’t everything, it’s clear the film hasn’t connected with mass audiences the way Springsteen’s music always has. Still, fans of The Boss might appreciate the intimate look at one of his most creative and vulnerable periods.
As for those waiting to see it at home, reports suggest Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere will likely hit streaming platforms soon — giving fans another chance to experience Bruce’s story, perhaps from the comfort of their own “Nebraska”-style solitude.
In the end, the movie might be struggling in theaters, but its spirit — like Springsteen himself — still stands for artistic honesty, heart, and resilience.