Iron Maiden's 'The Number of the Beast' makes its screen debut in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple with Ralph Fiennes dancing semi-naked to the iconic metal track, creating an unforgettable scene that left audiences cheering and clapping in the cinema.
Director Nia DaCosta had chosen the song for its unique ability to evoke a sense of unpredictability, making it perfect for her film about satanists. The 28-minute rendition of 'The Number of the Beast' is a masterclass in building tension, with Clive Burr's jarring drum patterns adding to the scene's erratic energy.
Iron Maiden rarely licenses their music for use in films and TV shows, due to concerns about being mocked or taken out of context. However, DaCosta convinced Dave Shack, one of Phantom Music Management's representatives, that this was a different story. The band had always maintained control over their music, using it as a key part of their brand.
The scene was shot over three nights, with the editor working quickly to prepare a cut. DaCosta recalled feeling an immediate impact from the first edit, knowing that the song would be used effectively in the film. When asked if he was happy with the result, Shack's response was unmistakable - "People stood up and clapped for it!"
Iron Maiden's music has been featured in several recent high-profile productions, including Stranger Things, where their 1983 track 'The Trooper' saw a massive surge in streaming numbers after its appearance in the finale. The band's use of music as an integral part of their brand remains key to their success.
According to Shack, music budgets are often the last thing considered in film production, and this has historically led Iron Maiden to turn down licensing opportunities. However, DaCosta was able to secure a deal that worked for both parties, resulting in one of the most memorable needle drops in cinematic history.
Iron Maiden's 50th anniversary world tour is currently underway, with their iconic music continuing to be celebrated by new audiences. Shack acknowledges it was chance that Stranger Things and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple coincided with these events, but notes that Iron Maiden are always looking for validation from a new audience - and it seems they have found it in spades.
Director Nia DaCosta had chosen the song for its unique ability to evoke a sense of unpredictability, making it perfect for her film about satanists. The 28-minute rendition of 'The Number of the Beast' is a masterclass in building tension, with Clive Burr's jarring drum patterns adding to the scene's erratic energy.
Iron Maiden rarely licenses their music for use in films and TV shows, due to concerns about being mocked or taken out of context. However, DaCosta convinced Dave Shack, one of Phantom Music Management's representatives, that this was a different story. The band had always maintained control over their music, using it as a key part of their brand.
The scene was shot over three nights, with the editor working quickly to prepare a cut. DaCosta recalled feeling an immediate impact from the first edit, knowing that the song would be used effectively in the film. When asked if he was happy with the result, Shack's response was unmistakable - "People stood up and clapped for it!"
Iron Maiden's music has been featured in several recent high-profile productions, including Stranger Things, where their 1983 track 'The Trooper' saw a massive surge in streaming numbers after its appearance in the finale. The band's use of music as an integral part of their brand remains key to their success.
According to Shack, music budgets are often the last thing considered in film production, and this has historically led Iron Maiden to turn down licensing opportunities. However, DaCosta was able to secure a deal that worked for both parties, resulting in one of the most memorable needle drops in cinematic history.
Iron Maiden's 50th anniversary world tour is currently underway, with their iconic music continuing to be celebrated by new audiences. Shack acknowledges it was chance that Stranger Things and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple coincided with these events, but notes that Iron Maiden are always looking for validation from a new audience - and it seems they have found it in spades.
. I mean, sure, their fanbase is die-hard, but come on, that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple scene was pure magic and anyone can appreciate a good dose of epicness 
! I'm surprised they didn't get sued by someone who's never listened to the guy before for "stealing" the track 
. And honestly, I think it's kinda awesome that Iron Maiden is finally getting some mainstream recognition for their iconic sound - it's about time 
!
... but what if she was just trying to cash in on the whole "metal" vibe and Iron Maiden's iconic status? 
. Anyway, I do agree that Clive Burr's drum patterns added a really interesting layer of tension to the scene, but only because it totally clashed with Fiennes' awkward dance moves 
I mean, who wouldn't want to see Ralph Fiennes dancing semi-naked to 'The Number of the Beast' 
? It's like the perfect blend of dark and metal. And can we talk about how rare it is for Iron Maiden to license their music for a film? I know they're super protective of their brand, but in this case, it was totally worth it 
. It's awesome to see them getting more validation from new audiences 
... now let's get back to the tour 
especially with clive burr's drum patterns adding to the tension it's like they're performing live in the cinema 
my friend who loves dark fantasy movies is gonna freak out over this scene btw has anyone else seen 28 years later? 
. It just goes to show that Iron Maiden's music is still as powerful and iconic today as it was when they first started out back in the day 
I'm still reeling from the whole thing! I mean, can you imagine watching Iron Maiden's 'The Number of the Beast' come to life on the big screen? 
I'm not surprised that audience members were cheering and clapping - that song just has this infectious power to it.
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to see more of Ralph Fiennes in a semi-naked leather jacket, rocking out to 'The Number of the Beast'? 
That scene with Ralph Fiennes dancing semi-naked to 'The Number of the Beast' is giving me LIFE!!!! 
. Can we get more metal music in movies pls?! 
.
And what's with the 'validation from a new audience' thing? Don't they already know how much their fans love them? I need some sources on this one before I buy into it 
.
. I mean, you don't often see bands like them letting go of control over their art like that. It's all about authenticity and ensuring the music doesn't get watered down or used for the wrong reasons. And DaCosta must've done her homework, because it really worked out in this case. The fact that people actually stood up and clapped during the screening is a testament to how iconic their songs can be – even after all these years 
. It's no wonder the audience stood up and clapped when that song came on! My kids would've loved that scene in their metalhead phase 
.
. It's like they think we're all just going to magically stumble upon what we're looking for without any effort. I swear, if I have to spend another minute searching for a thread that doesn't exist... I'm outta here 
.
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i'm not really into metal music but iron maiden's songs are all over my spotify playlist 
is that song even on netflix yet? wanna watch 28 years later but dont know if its worth it 
I am literally SHAKEN by this movie scene 
. 
. And can we talk about the fact that people literally STOOD UP AND CLAPPED 
. And I'm so glad that Stranger Things and 28 Years Later helped them reach a whole new audience