Netflix is spicing up its documentary slate with a new film about the Red Hot Chili Peppers, set to premiere on March 20.
Directed by Ben Feldman (“Bug Out,” “Rich & Shameless”), “The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers” examines the gritty, formative years of the Los Angeles band, and the influence of original guitarist Hillel Slovak, who died in 1988. The film features interviews with bandmates Flea and Anthony Kiedis, as well as others who were close to Slovak, who discuss the band’s early evolution and the deep bond of their childhood friendship.
The film will provide a rare, intimate glimpse into the rock music force behind songs like “Under the Bridge” and “Californication.” With a career spanning more than 40 years, Red Hot Chili Peppers have become one of the highest-selling bands in history, hawking more than 120 million records worldwide.
Produced by Asta Entertainment, Submarine Entertainment and Polygram Entertainment, “The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers” was secretly screened at Cannes Film Festival last year as it was quietly shopped to buyers. The doc then had invite-only screenings in Los Angeles and New York before landing at Netflix.
“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,” Feldman said in a statement. “What’s less relatable, of course, is that here those friends went on to create one of the greatest rock bands in history. I’m profoundly grateful to the band and to Hillel’s family for their trust and generosity, and to Netflix for helping bring this story to the world stage.”
Marc D’Agostino serves as a producer, and John Tarquinio is the editor. Executive producers include Dan Braun, Josh Braun, David Blackman, James Slovak and Feldman.
View a still from the documentary below.
Courtesy of Netflix ©2026