Heavy metal institution Iron Maiden are set to bring their colossal legacy to the big screen this spring with a new feature documentary, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition. Unveiled today by Trafalgar Releasing, the film will open in North American cinemas for a limited run beginning May 7, 2026. Tickets go on sale March 18.
Directed by Malcolm Venville (known for Churchill at War) and produced by Dominic Freeman, whose credits include Spirits in the Forest – A Depeche Mode Film, Burning Ambition traces the band’s extraordinary rise from East London pubs to global stadium dominance.
Formed in 1975, Iron Maiden have become one of rock’s most enduring forces. Across five decades, they’ve released 17 studio albums, sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and played nearly 2,500 concerts in 64 countries – a touring footprint that would make most bands dizzy.
The documentary promises to chronicle “one of the most iconic journeys in music history,” charting not just commercial milestones but the cultural movement that grew around Maiden‘s galloping riffs, operatic storytelling and indelible mascot, Eddie.
In addition to the band’s own reflections, Burning Ambition features on-camera appearances from high-profile admirers including Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Chuck D. Each speaks to Iron Maiden‘s influence across genres, generations and continents – a testament to how far their shadow stretches beyond heavy metal.
Alongside the title announcement, the first official artwork has been unveiled. Created by artist Albert “Akirant” Quirantes, the newly released key art delivers a dramatic first visual statement for the film, capturing the scale and theatricality that have defined Maiden‘s aesthetic since the ’70s.
The film arrives mid-stride in Iron Maiden‘s ongoing two-year Run For Your Lives world tour. The trek recently saw the band return to London Stadium for a triumphant homecoming show – just a short distance from where they first formed in East London five decades ago.
And 2026 shows no signs of slowing down. Among more than 50 global dates next year is the newly announced EddFest, a one-off celebration set for July 11 at Knebworth Park. The historic English venue will host what promises to be a suitably epic gathering in honor of Maiden‘s milestone era.
From pub stages to parklands, from cult heroes to cultural titans, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition looks poised to bottle the lightning of a band who turned heavy metal into high art – and never once looked back.
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