Jean-Michel Basquiat rocketed to international acclaim in the mid-1980s, riding early success in street art to the peaks of the New York art scene. While his life was cut short by an accidental overdose at 27, his legacy has only grown since; his work now commands record auction prices and his image is woven into the fabric of global pop culture. 

Now the definitive documentary on the artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, makes its world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival, before arriving later this year on Netflix. 

Read on for everything to know about Jean-Michel Basquiat. 

Photo from JMB Estate

What is the documentary about?

Jean-Michel Basquiat is a reclamation of what has been lost in the legacy of a globally renowned artist. Through untold memories from close friends and family, never-before-seen works, and rare archival imagery, this film demystifies the story of Basquiat and rediscovers the man behind it all, Jean-Michel.

Who directed Jean-Michel Basquiat?

The documentary marks Quinn Whitney Wilson’s directorial feature debut alongside her co-director Viridiana Lieberman, editor of the Oscar-nominated documentary The Perfect Neighbor.

“Jean-Michel Basquiat’s legacy is undeniable,” the directors say. “We see his art everywhere, from the most historical museums to the clothing moving through the streets. Yet the myth and the man are not one and the same, and across the decades ‘Basquiat’ has become a moniker that doesn’t capture the entire person. His origins have hardened into an ever-growing mythology, and it’s long overdue to meet him in all the multifaceted and powerful ways he moved through this world. That’s our goal with this film, and we couldn’t imagine a better home than Netflix, whose global reach matches his own.”

How is Basquiat’s family involved with the documentary?

The Jean-Michel Basquiat documentary is supported by and approved by the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. This is the first documentary approved by the artist’s estate, which is co-administered by his sisters, Jeanine Heriveaux and Lisane Basquiat.

“We, his family, are deeply proud to see Jean-Michel’s full humanity brought to light with such care, intention, and respect,” Heriveaux and Basquiat say. “Thank you to the Boardwalk team for their partnership and a very special thank-you to Quinn Wilson and Viri Lieberman for their leadership, creativity, and commitment to a project well done.”

A Boardwalk Pictures, Indus Valley Media and Radiant Media Studios production, in association with Interscope Films and H.Wood Media and Laurel Canyon Pictures, Jean-Michel Basquiat is produced by Jordan Wynn, Andrew Fried, Harlin Lawal, Lana Barkin, Dane Lillegard, Ileen Sheppard Gallagher, Will Cohen, Quinn Whitney Wilson, and David Laven. Executive producers include Jeanine Heriveaux, Lisane Basquiat, Rob Guillermo, Nihaar Sinha, Louis Krubich, Dan Fried, Ray Maiello, Travis Kelce, Rhodes McKee, John Janick, Steve Berman, Michelle An, John Terzian, Jeremy Allen, Katherine L. Oliver, Lindsay Firestone, Anthony Konigbagbe, James Cunningham, Emi Stewart, Max Allman, J.M. Harper, Henrik Molin, and Ron Beck.

Stay tuned for more updates on Jean-Michel Basquiat ahead of its streaming premiere later this year.