There’s a new movie out called Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie, and the first thing you need to know about it is that it has absolutely nothing to do with Kurt Cobain or his legendary grunge rock band. Instead, it’s a mockumentary film from comedians Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol. Johnson made a splash in the film world with his 2023 movie BlackBerry, and now he’s returned to the form with an early contender for the best movie of 2026.
Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie, as indicated by its title, is based on a show. The show was, of course, called Nivanna The Band The Show. It followed the exploits of a fictionalized version of Matt and Jay who are trying to get their band, called Nirvanna The Band, on stage at Toronto’s Rivoli Theater. The show was originally released online from 2007-2009, and then a sequel show aired on TV in 2017 and 2018.
The convoluted nature of the whole enterprise is kind of a feature and not a bug, and to be honest, it’s not very important that you know it to enjoy the movie. The part that does matter is that these guys have been rolling cameras on this idea for decades now, and they make good use of that old footage in their new movie, which.. Again.. Can absolutely be enjoyed without knowing anything about the project. In fact, that’s how I first saw the movie myself.
Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie is one of the most thrilling and surprising experiences I’ve had at the movies in years. It’s the most I’ve laughed at a movie this decade by far, and it’s also technically incredible. The way Johnson weaves old footage and new footage into the movie, adding special effects and top-tier punchlines all over the place, was a genuine triumph of filmmaking.
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is out now.
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