comedy, film festivals, Jay McCarrol, Matt Johnson, movies, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, reviews, SXSW, SXSW Film and TV Festival
February 13, 2026
by Carla Hay
“Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie”
Directed by Matt Johnson
Culture Representation: Taking place in Toronto, in 2025 and in 2008, the comedy film “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” (based on the 2016-2018 TV series “Nirvanna the Band the Show”) features a predominantly white cast of characters (with some Asians and black people) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: Two musicians who perform as Nirvanna try book a gig at the Rivoli nightclub and find themselves transported from the year 2025 to 2008, the year they were supposed to play at the Rivoli, but the show was canceled.
Culture Audience: “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the movie’s headliners and mockumentaries that have a lot of improvisation.
You’ll know within the first 15 minutes of watching “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” if you want to stay for the rest of this wacky and hilarious ride. Part mockumentary, part “Back to the Future” tribute, this comedy follows two hapless musicians stuck in 2008, while trying to book a gig in Toronto, with their camper van as an unexpected time machine. Fans of comedy films directed by Christopher Guest or Sacha Baron Cohen will probably like “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” Everyone else might find the movie unappealing or an acquired taste.
Directed by Matt Johnson, “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” was co-written by Johnson and Jay McCarrol, who both star as versions of themselves in the movie. “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” had its world premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival. The movie takes place in 2025 and in 2008 in Toronto, where “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” was filmed on location. “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” is based on the 2016-2018 Viceland TV series “Nirvanna the Band the Show,” which was created by Johnson and McCarrol.
For the purposes of this review, the characters that Johnson and McCarrol play in the movie will be referred to by their first names, while the real Johnson and McCarrol will be referred to by their last names. “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” begins in 2008, when Matt and Jay (a musical duo called Nirvanna) are seen rehearsing in their living room. Matt is the vocalist who does improvised spoken word performances. Jay (nicknamed Bird) is a pianist/keyboardist. Their style of music can be described as indie pop/rock performance art.
Matt and Jay are excited because they’ve booked a gig at the Trivoli, a nightclub in Toronto. Matt is the hyper “ideas guy,” who writes a lot of his schemes on a whiteboard. Jay is more laid-back and sensible musical partner/best friend. Matt says excitedly, “I have a feeling things are going to work out for us.”
Seventeen years later, it’s revealed that Matt and Jay never did play at the Rivoli. Matt suddenly gets inspired to try booking a gig at the Rivoli again. He digs up an old idea, called Seventh Inning Skydive, a publicity stunt that would have Matt and Jay skydive from the CN Tower into Toronto’s SkyDome stadium during the seventh inning of a baseball game.
Jay is somewhat reluctant but goes along with this plan, which involves a lot of fast-talking and sneaking around to turn this plan into reality. Matt and Jay are all set to take the leap from the CN Tower when they see the SkyDome’s top start to close, making it impossible for Matt to skydive into the SkyDome during the seventh inning of the baseball game. It’s another failed attempt at Nirvanna’s 15 minutes of fame.
Back in their camper van, driver Matt crashes into a magazine dispenser. When Jay and Matt get out of the van, they see the 2008 versions of themselves hanging up Nirvanna flyers on street poles. Matt and Jay also see indications everywhere that it’s 2008, including a photo of Bill Cosby on a magazine and a movie theater playing “Hancock” and “The Hangover.” (This is a trivial mistake because “The Hangover” actually was released in 2009, not 2008.)
When Jay and Matt go back to their apartment, they see they have bottles of Orbitz, a non-carbonated drink brand that launched in 1996 and was discontinued in 1998. Jay and Matt are now convinced that it’s really 2008. They also find out that their camper van is a time machine. Matt wants to seize the opportunity to rewrite history and the fortunes of Nirvanna. But what does rewriting history mean if they can’t get back to 2025? Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Matt, Jay secretly booked a solo gig for himself.
This review won’t describe what happens in the rest of “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” because that would give away a lot of the movie’s jokes and comedic scenarios. It’s enough to say that Johnson and McCarrol do justice to the TV series with this movie, although some of the jokes start to wear a bit thin toward the end. Even with some flaws, “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” is worth watching for anyone who roots for underdogs and enjoys comedies that are made like absurd documentaries.
Neon released “Nirvannna the Band the Show the Movie” in select U.S. cinemas on February 13, 2026. A sneak preview of the movie was shown in U.S. cinemas on February 9, 2026.