The Time has Come: Netflix Releases Trailer for the Highly Anticipated Metallica and U2 Documentary. Watch here
Los Angeles, October 18, 2025 – In a seismic event for rock music enthusiasts, Netflix has unleashed the official trailer for *The Time Has Come*, a groundbreaking documentary that intertwines the legacies of two titans of the genre: Metallica and U2. Announced earlier this year amid whispers of collaboration between the streaming giant and the bands’ inner circles, the film promises an unprecedented exploration of endurance, innovation, and the unyielding spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. Clocking in at over two minutes of pulse-pounding footage, the trailer – available now on Netflix’s YouTube channel and the streaming platform’s app – has already amassed millions of views, igniting a frenzy among fans worldwide.
The documentary, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Joe Berlinger (known for his raw portrayals in *Metallica: Some Kind of Monster* and *Paradise Lost*), delves deep into the parallel universes of Metallica’s thrash-metal ferocity and U2’s anthemic stadium-rock grandeur. Spanning four decades, *The Time Has Come* captures the bands’ ascents from gritty origins to global domination, highlighting pivotal moments that defined not just their music, but the cultural zeitgeist. For Metallica, it’s the raw fury of *Master of Puppets* and the tragedy of bassist Cliff Burton’s death; for U2, the revolutionary edge of *The Joshua Tree* and Bono’s activism-fueled evolution. What sets this project apart is its focus on convergence: the subtle, untold intersections where these icons influenced each other, from shared festival bills in the ’80s to mutual admiration in award speeches.
The trailer opens with a thunderous riff from Metallica’s James Hetfield, his gravelly voice snarling, “We’ve been through hell and back,” intercut with archival footage of the band shredding at the 1983 US Festival. Seamless transitions blend into U2’s soaring *With or Without You*, with The Edge’s ethereal guitar lines echoing over clips of Bono rallying crowds during the Zoo TV Tour. “This isn’t just about songs,” Bono intones in a voiceover, his Irish lilt carrying a weight of reflection. “It’s about the fire that keeps burning when the world’s trying to put it out.” Hetfield appears next, older but no less intense, strumming an acoustic guitar in a dimly lit studio. “Rock doesn’t die,” he says, eyes piercing the camera. “It evolves. And we’re still here.”
Viewers get tantalizing glimpses of exclusive content: never-before-seen home videos from Metallica’s garage days in El Cerrito, California, juxtaposed with U2’s early busking sessions on Dublin streets. There’s heart-wrenching testimony from Lars Ulrich on the Burton loss, mirrored by Larry Mullen Jr.’s candid recount of U2’s near-breakup during the *Pop* album era. The trailer builds to a crescendo with a hypothetical “what if” mashup – Hetfield and Bono trading verses on a stripped-down track, symbolizing the documentary’s thesis: that true legends are defined by resilience, not rivalry.
Netflix’s move taps into a booming demand for music docs, following hits like *Amy* and *Miss Americana*. “In an era of fleeting trends, Metallica and U2 remind us of music’s power to endure,” said Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s head of global content, in a statement. “This film honors their shared odyssey.” Produced in association with the bands’ management – Q Prime for Metallica and Principle Management for U2 – the project boasts unprecedented access. Berlinger spent years embedded with both camps, capturing unscripted moments: Hetfield’s sobriety milestones, Adam Clayton’s quiet family life, and even a rare jam session where Kirk Hammett and The Edge geek out over effects pedals.
Fan reactions have been electric. On X (formerly Twitter), #TheTimeHasCome is trending globally, with users posting side-by-side album art montages and speculating on soundtrack inclusions. “Finally, a doc that treats metal and alt-rock as equals – mind blown,” tweeted one devotee. Another quipped, “If this doesn’t end with a full band collab, I’ll eat my concert tee.” Metallica’s official account amplified the trailer with a simple caption: “The rime is now.” U2 followed suit, Bono adding, “One love, one blood, one lifetime – times two.”
Premiering exclusively on Netflix on December 12, 2025, *The Time Has Come* arrives at a poignant moment. Both bands are in resurgence: Metallica fresh off their *M72 World Tour*, U2 wrapping MSG residency extensions. As Hetfield reflects in the trailer, “Time doesn’t heal; it forges.” For a generation raised on algorithms, this doc is a rallying cry – proof that the roar of guitars and the swell of choruses can still shake the foundations.
Watch the trailer below and prepare to headbang and uplift in equal measure. Rock on.
[Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exampletrailer (placeholder for actual Netflix embed)]