Ch-check it out: Apple TV Plus acquires Beastie Boys documentary by Spike Jonze

Beastie Boys Story
(Image credit: Apple / Atiba Jefferso / Glen E. Friedman)

Hey ladies (and gentlemen), get ready to shake your rump because Apple has announced the acquisition of Beastie Boys Story, a new (and official) documentary about the legendary group that's set to arrive on Apple TV Plus on April 24. Fans will also be able to catch a special cut of the documentary at selected IMAX theatres from April 3.

Directed by Academy Award-winner Spike Jonze (Her, Being John Malkovich), Beastie Boys Story has been made with the direct involvement of the band's surviving members, Mike D (Mike Diamond) and Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz).

According to Apple's announcement, the documentary is described as a 'live documentary experience" that will explore the band's 40 years together.

Given Jonze's long-time friendship and history with the Beastie Boys (he directed the classic music videos for Sabotage and Sure Shot), you can expect the documentary to be a revealing and intimate portrait of the group and its inner workings.

The acquisition is part of a big push on Apple's part to secure high profile original music documentaries for its platform. It follows the Cupertino company's recent $25 million purchase of the exclusive rights to an upcoming Billie Eilish documentary, as detailed by The Hollywood Reporter.

Apple TV Plus has some pretty strong competition in that department, though – Netflix has announced that its highly-anticipated Taylor Swift documentary Miss Americana will arrive on the platform on January 31.

Stephen Lambrechts
Senior Journalist, Phones and Entertainment

Stephen primarily covers phones and entertainment for TechRadar's Australian team, and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming in both print and online for over a decade. He's obsessed with smartphones, televisions, consoles and gaming PCs, and has a deep-seated desire to consume all forms of media at the highest quality possible. 


He's also likely to talk a person’s ear off at the mere mention of Android, cats, retro sneaker releases, travelling and physical media, such as vinyl and boutique Blu-ray releases. Right now, he's most excited about QD-OLED technology, The Batman and Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga.