Sony Music Vision, in association with Sony Music Entertainment UK and Epic Records, has today, May 21, 2025, announced the production of “The Ballad of Judas Priest,” a new feature documentary chronicling the epic journey and lasting impact of the Grammy-winning English heavy metal legends. The film will be co-directed by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Sam Dunn and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who makes his directorial debut.
The documentary aims to celebrate Judas Priest‘s profound influence on music and culture, which extends far beyond the metal genre. It will explore their passion, resilience, and enduring legacy, featuring unforgettable anthems and pop culture staples like “Breaking the Law” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming.”
Judas Priest themselves expressed their enthusiasm for the project, promising an unprecedented look into their world: “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 shared their vision for the film, stating, “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.”
Rising from humble, working-class roots in Birmingham, UK, Judas Priest is widely credited as one of the true pioneers of the heavy metal genre in the 1970s. Over their five-decade career, they have sold more than 50 million records and released 19 studio albums. Their immense contributions were recognized with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. With their acclaimed 2024 album Invincible Shield, which garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance, Judas Priest also became the first heavy metal band to release studio albums 50 years apart.
“The Ballad of Judas Priest” is a production of Banger Films, with Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn serving as producers. Executive producers include Tom Morello, Rick Krim, Sheila Stepanek, and Jayne Andrews. Tom Mackay, Krista Wegener, and Abby Davis serve as executive producers for Sony Music Vision, with Sylvia Rhone executive producing for Epic Records. The film will be presented and distributed by Sony Music Vision.
As they continue to celebrate their monumental career, Judas Priest is also set to embark on a co-headlining tour across 22 North American cities with Alice Cooper this fall.
