The Ballad of Judas Priest
Sam Dunn & Tom Morello / United States / 2026 / 98 min
Put on your studded belt and leather vest! 50 entertaining years of rock history with the iconic heavy metal legends that changed the sound and style of heavy metal forever.
Legendary Judas Priest is one of the world’s most beloved and enduring forces in heavy metal. And when lead singer Rob Halford rides onto the stage on a motorbike, you understand why! Hits like ‘Breaking the Law’ and ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Coming’ are power anthems of rebellion and resilience and with their 50 years in the rock spotlight, Priest has been one of the genre’s most style-defining bands.
It all began 50 years ago in working-class England and spans a period where the band developed their own unique sound and signature style with leather vests and mirrored sunglasses. But the story of Priest is also the story of how Rob Halford came out as gay on MTV and paved the way for others in the macho world of rock, and how the band navigated a subliminal messages trial in 1989 that was a flashpoint in America’s culture wars and a defining moment for artistic freedom. The film is directed by metal expert Sam Dunn and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, and the fans featured include everyone from Jack Black and Metallica to Run-D.M.C., The Smashing Pumpkins and the late Ozzy Osbourne.
