The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel release date has been confirmed. The documentary will premiere on March 20, 2026, on Netflix, following its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 13, 2026.
Netflix unveiled the official trailer and key art alongside the announcement.
The film focuses on Hillel Slovak, the original guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and a central figure in the band’s earliest years in Los Angeles.
The documentary revisits the band’s beginnings during the late 1970s and early 1980s, examining the friendships and musical experiments that shaped the group before its later global success.
Watch the Trailer
The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel release date is set for March 20, 2026, when the documentary will debut on Netflix.
The film will first appear at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival on March 13, marking its world premiere before arriving on the streaming platform one week later.
The documentary is directed by Ben Feldman, whose previous work includes Bug Out and Rich & Shameless.
The Story Behind The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel
The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel documentary centers on the band’s early years and the role of guitarist Hillel Slovak.
Slovak helped shape the group’s early sound, contributing to the funk-driven style that became associated with the band’s first recordings.
The film revisits the Los Angeles music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Slovak, bassist Flea, and vocalist Anthony Kiedis formed a close creative partnership.
The documentary describes them as a found family of misfits, working together during a period when the band’s identity and sound were still developing.
The film explores the group’s early performances, their first tours, and the albums that helped establish the Red Hot Chili Peppers within the broader rock landscape.
The documentary highlights his work on two early Chili Peppers albums:
- Freaky Styley
- The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
The film also revisits the band’s early touring experiences and the Los Angeles music scene at the time.
Interviews Featured in The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel
The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel documentary includes interviews with musicians who were closely connected to Slovak and the band during its early years.
Participants include:
- Flea, bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Anthony Kiedis, the band’s frontman
- Jack Irons, former drummer for the band and later a member of Pearl Jam
- Alain Johannes, musician and member of the band Eleven
- George Clinton, the funk pioneer who worked with the group during its early recordings
The interviews offer perspectives from collaborators and friends who witnessed the band’s development in Los Angeles.
The Filmmakers Behind the Documentary
The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel documentary is directed by Ben Feldman.
The film is produced by Marc D’Agostino, with executive producers Dan Braun, Josh Braun, David Blackman, James Slovak, and Ben Feldman.
John Tarquinio handled editing duties.
The production examines the band’s early history through archival material and interviews with musicians who were present during those years.
The Poster
Key Details: The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel
- Release date: The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel premieres on Netflix March 20, 2026.
- Festival premiere: The documentary debuts at the SXSW Film Festival on March 13, 2026.
- Director: Ben Feldman (Bug Out, Rich & Shameless).
- Producer: Marc D’Agostino.
- Executive producers: Dan Braun, Josh Braun, David Blackman, James Slovak, and Ben Feldman.
- Featured participants: Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Jack Irons, Alain Johannes, and George Clinton.
- Subject: The documentary examines the early years of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the role of guitarist Hillel Slovak in shaping the band’s formation and early music.
