Academy Award winning director Spike Jonze has teamed up with surviving Beastie Boys members Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz for a new film titled Beastie Boys Story. This film will be released via Apple, and will open exclusively in select IMAX theaters for a limited engagement April 3, before premiering on Apple TV+ on April 24.
This new film will explore the band’s relationship and friendship throughout their decades within the music industry. This latest release comes on the heels of the 26th anniversary of the release of Beastie Boys’ #1 charting 1994 album, Ill Communication. The album marked a growth for the band, as it blended elements of hip hop, punk rock, jazz and funk, playing a little more with experimentation than their previous album releases.
Jonze has been a long-time collaborator and friend of the classic hip hop trio, and worked as the director for their classic hit single, “Sabotage,” which was featured on Ill Communication. This film is co-written by Jonze, Diamond and Horovitz and is produced by Grammy Award winner Jason Baum, Amanda Adelson and Jonze. Diamond, Horovitz, Dechen Wangdu-Yauch, John Silva, John Cutcliffe, Peter Smith, Thomas Benski, Dan Bowen, Sam Bridger, Michele Anthony, David Blackman and Ashley Newton serve as the executive producers for this upcoming project.
Another documentary released by Amazon, based on the group’s recording of Ill Communication was released last year in celebration of the album’s 25th anniversary. The group recently had a set of six EPs re-released in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Paul’s Boutique.