This is a fan-made documentary about the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, their history, and their interaction with the fans. It is not an official documentary made by the band. It is a mix of interviews and video clips from live concerts around the world and backstage, and it also has a lot of graphical Eddie sequences.
Eddie has been the band's mascot since the beginning. Iron Maiden have always been pretty shy and have protected their privacy. The image of Eddie has been something to hide behind. This documentary doesn't really change this. We do not get very close to any of the band members. It is however obvious that they are a bunch of nice fellas, who like each other a lot, and they get along well most of the time. They all have a strong ambition and a very hard dedication to their work. Band boss Steve Harris makes it clear that the band is the most important thing, and if you are not in it 100%, then you've got to go.
The movie follows the band from when their career was starting to pick up speed in England back in 1980 and we visit all the major events along the way:
- How the first singer Paul Di'Anno sadly had to go because he wasn't in it 100%.
- How Bruce Dickinson replaced him.
- How drummer Clive Burr was replaced by Nicko McBrain.
- How they went to mega stardom and how endless touring took its toll and made guitarist Adrian Smith and Bruce decide to quit the band for some years.
- This made room for guitarist Janick Gers and singer Blaze Bayley to join the band.
- As we all know, Bruce and Adrian came back and Blaze had to leave again.
- With Bruce back, Iron Maiden restored their name as one of heavy metal's greatest bands.
- Bruce won his battle against cancer and also became an airline captain who flew the band's tour plane around the world.
- The story ends with Nicko leaving the band and retiring his musical career. Simon Dawson has now replaced him.
The movie includes a lot of interviews with various fans and celebrities who tell what Maiden means to them. It also contains a lot of humor. There is nothing in the documentary that we didn't know already, but it is actually nice enough to have the story (re-)told through old video clips and interviews. It is well put together for a fan-made documentary and I'm glad I went and saw it in the cinema.
Iron Maiden did mean a lot to me, especially back in the 1980s when I was a teenager. I still think Paul Di'Anno was their best frontman, but I (almost) understand why Steve Harris had to make that hard choice. If he hadn't, Iron Maiden probably wouldn't have become the mega band they still are today. I saw Iron Maiden play a great gig here in Copenhagen last year and I plan to see them again this summer at the Copenhell Festival.
"Oh well, wherever, wherever you are
Iron Maiden's gonna get you, no matter how far"
Rating: 
Band: Iron Maiden
Movie Title: Burning Ambition
Director: Malcolm Venville
This Release: 2026
Genre: Documentary
RunTime: 106
Actors: Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Nicko McBrain, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Janick Gers, Blaze Bayley, Paul Di'Anno, Rod Smallwood
Movie Format: Cinema
Content Type: Movie Review
Language: 
Updated: 2026-05-09 22:16
Created: 2026-05-09 21:27
