The film reveals “Priest in all its metal glory”
Judas Priest in 1979
Production company Banger Films broke the news of the premiere, writing on Facebook: “Super proud to announce that our Judas Priest doc ‘The Ballad of Judas Priest’ will premiere at Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival this February. Beyond excited for all our German metalheads to get the first look.”
The 76th Berlinale takes place in the German capital from Thursday 12th to Sunday 22nd February 2026.
The Ballad of Judas Priest is co-directed by acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Sam Dunn (Iron Maiden: Flight 666, Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage) and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello in his directorial debut.
© Live Nation
Judas Priest in 2025
Judas Priest said of the documentary: “We have lived and breathed metal for over five decades, and finally in this documentary we are summoning our congregation to officially witness our lives uncensored, in a never-before-seen way…the cassock comes off, revealing Priest in all its metal glory!”
Co-directors Tom Morello and Sam Dunn add: “While some may know Judas Priest for their huge hits that have shaped the heavy metal genre, there is so much more to their story.
“Tracing their incredible 50-year journey, this film will capture how Judas Priest both defined the sound and look of metal but also made it a more inclusive place along the way. We are grateful to the band for allowing us such intimate, unfiltered access to their lives and look forward to bringing this film to the metal masses around the world.”
The Ballad of Judas Priest is a play on the title of the Bob Dylan song ‘The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest’, which Priest named themselves after 56 years ago.
Judas Priest headline Bloodstock at Catton Park in Derbyshire on Sunday 9th August 2026.