Red Hot Chili Peppers Documentary Coming to Netflix

The Ben Feldman-directed doc will focus on the band's early years and the death of original guitarist Hillel Slovak

Published on Jan. 30, 2026

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A new documentary about the rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is coming to Netflix. Directed by Ben Feldman, with input from band members Anthony Kiedis and Flea, the film will chronicle the band's origins as childhood friends in 1980s Los Angeles and the tragic death of original guitarist Hillel Slovak. The documentary, titled "The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers", is set to premiere on March 20.

Why it matters

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the most influential and successful rock bands of the past few decades, with a devoted global fanbase. This documentary promises to offer an intimate look at the band's formative years and the personal struggles they faced, particularly the loss of a founding member. It provides fans with a deeper understanding of the band's history and the bonds that have kept them together over the years.

The details

Directed by Ben Feldman, the documentary will focus on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' early days as childhood friends in Los Angeles in the 1980s, as well as the death of original guitarist Hillel Slovak, who died of a heroin overdose in 1988. The film features input from band members Anthony Kiedis and Flea, and is authorized by the band. While the official premiere date is March 20, the documentary secretly screened for prospective buyers at last year's Cannes Film Festival.

  • The documentary is set to premiere on March 20, 2026.
  • The documentary secretly screened for prospective buyers at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025.

The players

Ben Feldman

The director of the Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary "The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers".

Anthony Kiedis

The lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who provided input for the documentary.

Flea

The bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who provided input for the documentary.

Hillel Slovak

The original guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who died of a heroin overdose in 1988.

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What they’re saying

“At its heart, this is a deeply relatable story—about the friendships that shape our identities and the lasting power of the bonds forged in adolescence. What's less relatable, of course, is that here those friends went on to create one of the greatest rock bands in history.”

— Ben Feldman, Director (Variety)

The takeaway

This documentary promises to offer fans a unique and intimate look into the formative years of one of rock music's most iconic bands. By focusing on the band's origins and the personal struggles they faced, particularly the tragic loss of a founding member, the film provides a deeper understanding of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' enduring legacy and the bonds that have kept them together over the decades.