Judas Priest Documentary to Premiere at Hot Docs Festival

The new film chronicles the heavy metal band's five-decade career.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 5:00am

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The Ballad of Judas Priest, a new documentary co-directed by Sam Dunn and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, is set to have its Canadian premiere at the 2026 Hot Docs Festival in Toronto. The film includes interviews with the band and previously unpublished footage from their personal archives, as well as appearances from fellow rockers Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and Jack Black.

Why it matters

Judas Priest is considered one of the pioneering bands that helped define the heavy metal genre, and this documentary provides an in-depth look at their influential career spanning over 50 years. The film's premiere at the prestigious Hot Docs Festival will bring wider attention to the band's legacy and the evolution of heavy metal music.

The details

The Ballad of Judas Priest had its world premiere in February at the Berlin International Film Festival, with Morello, Dunn, and Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford in attendance. The first clip of the film was shared on YouTube ahead of the Berlin premiere. Morello praised Judas Priest's cultural impact, saying 'Heavy metal music is the music that made me love music, and Judas Priest are culturally really the creators of heavy metal, co-creators of it musically with Black Sabbath. But as far as a cultural force, creating a community that is metal, that is Judas Priest.'

  • The Ballad of Judas Priest will have its Canadian premiere at the 2026 Hot Docs Festival in Toronto, which runs from April 23 to May 3.

The players

Judas Priest

A pioneering heavy metal band formed in 1969 and considered one of the co-creators of the heavy metal genre.

Sam Dunn

Co-director of the documentary The Ballad of Judas Priest.

Tom Morello

Co-director of the documentary The Ballad of Judas Priest and guitarist for the band Rage Against the Machine.

Rob Halford

Frontman of the heavy metal band Judas Priest.

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What they’re saying

“Heavy metal music is the music that made me love music, and Judas Priest are culturally really the creators of heavy metal, co-creators of it musically with Black Sabbath. But as far as a cultural force, creating a community that is metal, that is Judas Priest.”

— Tom Morello, Co-director of The Ballad of Judas Priest

What’s next

Tickets for the 2026 Hot Docs Festival in Toronto, where The Ballad of Judas Priest will have its Canadian premiere, will go on sale in early April 2026.

The takeaway

The Ballad of Judas Priest documentary provides an in-depth look at the influential career of one of heavy metal's pioneering bands, showcasing their lasting impact on the genre and the metal community. Its premiere at the prestigious Hot Docs Festival will bring wider recognition to Judas Priest's legacy and the evolution of heavy metal music over the past five decades.