Priest: Defenders of the Faith promises to be more than just a retrospective.

Netflix to Premiere New Judas Priest Documentary “Priest: Defenders of the Faith” on December 6, 2025

Netflix has officially announced the upcoming release of a highly anticipated music documentary, Priest: Defenders of the Faith, which will make its global debut on December 6, 2025. The film offers a compelling and in-depth look at the legendary British heavy metal band Judas Priest, whose groundbreaking sound, bold imagery, and electrifying live performances helped define an entire genre.

Formed in Birmingham, England in the early 1970s, Judas Priest emerged as one of the most influential acts in heavy metal history. Known for their soaring vocals, intricate dual-guitar work, thunderous rhythms, and unmistakable leather-and-studs aesthetic, the band played a critical role in shaping the sound and visual language of metal music. With iconic albums like British Steel, Screaming for Vengeance, and Painkiller, Judas Priest carved out a legacy that has spanned over five decades.

Priest: Defenders of the Faith aims to tell the definitive story of the band’s evolution, triumphs, and struggles. It is a collaborative effort between two high-profile names in the music world: guitarist Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, and acclaimed music documentarian Sam Dunn, best known for his work on Metal:

A Headbanger’s Journey and Iron Maiden: Flight 666. The partnership brings together Morello’s deep passion for heavy metal with Dunn’s proven ability to tell powerful, historically rich music stories.

The documentary is set to feature never-before-seen archival footage, rare backstage moments, and candid interviews with the band’s members—past and present—as well as commentary from fellow musicians, critics, and industry insiders. It will trace the band’s beginnings in the industrial heartland of England through their rise to international stardom, including their influence on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and their lasting impact on generations of metal fans and musicians.

A central element of the film will focus on the personal journey of lead vocalist Rob Halford, whose powerful voice and charismatic presence helped cement Judas Priest’s identity. The documentary will also touch on Halford’s public coming out in the late 1990s and how it resonated within a genre not always associated with LGBTQ+ representation. This aspect of Halford’s story is expected to provide a deeper, more human layer to the band’s narrative, highlighting both the barriers they broke and the obstacles they faced.

Another major topic in the film is the band’s resilience in the face of controversy. In particular, the documentary will revisit the events surrounding one of the most dramatic legal cases in rock history—the 1990 trial in which Judas Priest was accused of placing subliminal messages in their music that allegedly influenced two young men to take their own lives. While the band ultimately prevailed in court, the ordeal had a profound impact on them, raising complex questions about artistic responsibility, censorship, and the power of music.

For fans who want to get a head start on understanding this pivotal chapter, the 1992 documentary Dream Deceivers offers a poignant look at the trial and the emotional toll it took on all parties involved. That film will serve as a valuable companion to the new Netflix documentary, offering additional context to one of the darkest moments in the band’s long career.

As Priest: Defenders of the Faith nears its release, anticipation continues to build among longtime fans and newcomers alike. The documentary is expected not only to celebrate the band’s musical accomplishments but also to explore the cultural significance of their work, their identity, and their place in the larger story of rock and heavy metal.

In a music landscape that has seen countless shifts, Judas Priest remains a towering figure—a band whose influence can be felt in everything from thrash metal to power metal and beyond. With over 50 million albums sold worldwide, a Grammy Award under their belt, and a long-overdue induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, their legacy is as powerful today as ever.

Priest: Defenders of the Faith promises to be more than just a retrospective. It’s a celebration of a band that refused to conform, a tribute to their fans, and a testament to the enduring power of heavy metal.