New Red Hot Chili Peppers Documentary Headed to Netflix

The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers explores the band's origins and the lasting impact of founding guitarist Hillel Slovak.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A new documentary tracing the origins of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the lasting impact of founding guitarist Hillel Slovak is set to premiere on Netflix on March 20. Directed by Ben Feldman, the film revisits the band's early days in the 1980s Los Angeles music scene, spotlighting the childhood bond between bassist Flea and singer Anthony Kiedis that helped spark one of rock's most enduring careers.

Why it matters

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the most influential and successful rock bands of the past few decades, and this documentary promises to provide a rare, personal look at the relationships and creative vision that defined the band's identity long before global fame followed.

The details

The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers draws on interviews with founding members and those close to Slovak, exploring how his creative vision shaped the group's signature sound before his death from a drug overdose in 1988 at age 26. The film was first screened at the Cannes Film Festival and has since had private showings in New York and Los Angeles.

  • The documentary will premiere on Netflix on March 20, 2026.
  • The film was first screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
  • Private showings of the documentary were held in New York and Los Angeles prior to the Netflix premiere.

The players

Red Hot Chili Peppers

An American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983, known for their signature blend of funk, punk, and alternative rock.

Hillel Slovak

The founding guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose creative vision is said to have shaped the band's signature sound before his death in 1988 at the age of 26.

Flea

The bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, known for his childhood friendship with lead singer Anthony Kiedis that helped spark the band's formation.

Anthony Kiedis

The lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, known for his childhood friendship with bassist Flea that helped spark the band's formation.

Ben Feldman

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

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What they’re saying

“It's a true honor to partner with Netflix to bring The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to a global audience. 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 (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

The documentary will premiere on Netflix on March 20, 2026, giving fans around the world a chance to explore the origins and lasting impact of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The takeaway

This documentary promises to provide a rare, personal look at the relationships and creative vision that defined the Red Hot Chili Peppers' identity long before they became one of the most influential and successful rock bands of the past few decades, highlighting the enduring power of the bonds forged in adolescence.