A tragic look at Tim Bergling, the shy Swedish kid who made $20 mil. per year DJing before plummeting into darkness.
Thanks to Norine Hendricks for putting this one on my radar.
If you like EDM docs, my doc partner, Rob Kelly, created this List of The Best-of EDM Documentaries (he’s up to 12 of them!).
Trailer for “Avicii – I’m Tim”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- At the peak of his fame, Avicii quit performing live in 2016—despite making over $20 million a year—to escape the crushing pressure of the EDM touring machine.
- After a technical glitch at a major festival, the huge crowd booed Avicii—something that deeply scarred him and fueled his anxiety.
Watch “Avicii – I’m Tim”
You can watch “Avicii – I’m Tim” on Netflix with a subscription.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 92/100 (Users), n/a (Critics)
Director’s Note: Directed by Henrik Burman (who also made the excellent doc “Yung Lean: In My Head”). Burman specializes in pulling back the curtain on Scandinavian music icons.
Release Date: April 2024 (Netflix)
My Review of “Avicii – I’m Tim”
The Setup
From his first breakout hit “Levels,” Avicii was booked around the world nonstop. Behind the scenes, he was deeply introverted and prone to anxiety. The doc shows how this mismatch between personality and profession slowly crushed him.
Instead of a celebration of EDM success, the film becomes a posthumous warning about burnout, addiction, and how badly fame can warp a life.
More Highlights from the Doc
- The film sparked backlash when Avicii’s close friend and former roommate, Sean Eriksson, said it left out key truths about Tim’s addiction and his family’s role in it.
- Aloe Blacc talks about writing “Wake Me Up” and how Tim didn’t expect it to become one of the biggest songs of the decade.
- Chris Martin reflects on Avicii’s “pure melodic instinct” and why Coldplay wanted to collaborate with him on “A Sky Full of Stars.”
- Tim’s decision to quit touring and retreat into music production was treated like a career-ending move—but for him, it was survival.
Cameos – Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Sean Eriksson, his friend and roommate in LA, claims the film softens Tim’s addiction struggles and skips how overworked he really was in the final year.
- A nurse in Oman (where Tim died) gives details about his final hours that weren’t covered in the press at the time.
- Rare home videos show Tim making beats as a teenager in Stockholm, surrounded by family—but barely speaking to them.
Wrap Up
If you only knew Avicii for his beats, this doc will stop you in your tracks. It’s not just about a DJ—it’s about the cost of being someone you’re not, at a volume the world won’t turn down.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc