Here Are Some Things I Think You Should Know About 'Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie’

Out of curiosity, I visited the official website of Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie to see how the people in charge of promoting this film are describing the plot. Here is what the official website says: "When their plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay accidentally travel back to the year 2008. Blah blah blah blah blah."

Now, look, I realize Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol's Nirvanna the Band act has a cult following and a modest to large built in audience. Actually, I need to correct myself a bit. I know all this now. When I first saw this (truly wonderful) film back in September at the Toronto International Film Festival, I did not know any of this. Honestly, I thought this movie had something to do with the actual band Nirvana. It does not. The only thing I knew for sure about this film was the word out of SXSW, where it premiered in 2025, was there was no way this film would ever be shown outside of film festivals because it's just too crazy. And Johnson and McCarrol certainly – wisely, I think – leaned into this notion.

To the point that the idea my only chance to see this movie ever in my life was at a press and industry screening at the Scotiabank Theater in Toronto certainly framed my decision to see this film.* It turns out that was a lie. Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie will be playing in theaters. If you've ever trusted me with your movie-going experience, I am telling you right now you should see Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. If you don't trust me with your movie-going decisions, or, more likely, don't have a strong opinion about my movie-going decisions one way or another, you're just going to have to go with your gut on this one. I will not be offended if you decline my advice. The truth is, I'll probably never even know.

*This actually has happened, even though I didn't know it at the time. An example was the Louis CK directed film, I Love You Daddy. I was at the film's premiere in Toronto, which was a really tough ticket because it was Louis CK's first directed feature film since Pootie Tang and his first directed feature film since becoming a beloved and critically acclaimed cultural figure. As you most likely know, shortly after this premiere, Louis CK would become no longer beloved and this film, to date, has never been released.

But, back to the description on Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie's official webpage: I'm not sure that's going to sell anyone on seeing this film. But that's the inherent problem with Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, seeing it "fresh" is part of its appeal. The other part of its appeal, that you'll never be able to see it, is now gone. Perhaps this should have still been attempted. "You never know, they might pull it out of theaters mid-movie. You'd better get in there as soon as humanly possible because you just don't know what they might do."

I'm going to get into more details about Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie than I probably should because I want you to see it. If you are already planning on seeing it, you can stop reading now.

First, more than one person has told me they are not going to see Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie because they do not know anything about the aforementioned comedy act that this is all based on. I try to explain that this is not at all required and that I, too, did not know anything about it. The problem is these people don't believe me because the title of the movie sure kind of insists that you do need to know this. The title is basically inside joke. Here is the problem with inside jokes: the people on the inside of the joke like them; the people on the outside of the joke do not like them. There are many more human beings on the outside of this joke than on the inside, so the title of this movie is basically an affront to society in general. That may pose a problem.

I'm assuming, for legal reasons, this movie could not be called Back to the Future Part IV, which would be the best title for this movie since it's the closest thing we will ever get to a fourth Back to the Future movie playing in theaters. Now, I'm sure you're thinking, well, time travel is involved, so of course that's why a comparison to Back to the Future is being made. That is not why I'm referencing Back to the Future. I'm referencing Back to the Future because a character in Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie literally watches Back to the Future then builds a replica of a flux capacitor that, when used in a moving vehicle that reaches the speed of 88 miles per hour, it goes back in time.

Matt (Matt Johnson) is always trying to come up with interesting or outrageous ways to promote the band he is in with Jay (Jay McCarrol). For instance, Matt devises a scheme to parachute off of the CN Tower into the open roof of a Toronto Blue Jays game. None of these ideas ever do anything to advance the popularity of their band. Matt eventually has the idea to build the aforementioned flux capacitor so they can pretend to be time travelers that have just shown up in the present. This, he feels, will bring attention to their band. The flux capacitor accidentally actually winds up working, sending Matt and Jay back to 2008, which is the year the two formed their band.

Here's what's great about a movie sending its two main characters back in time to 2008. Unlike Back to the Future – where Marty McFly pretty quickly realizes 1955 is basically another planet because the styles and slang are so different – if you were to pop into 2008 right now, it would not be immediately noticeable. Cars don't look that different. There's not a style trend that immediately jumps out as something that could only be worn in 2008. People even had iPhones in 2008, just not to the extent they have them now. (They do eventually realize they are in 2008 when they are at what they think is a repertory screening of The Hangover. When the audience starts laughing hysterically at jokes containing slurs that no modern audience would laugh at, they realize they have traveled to the late aughts.)

Matt and Jay eventually come into contact with their younger selves and Jay accidentally slips his younger self some information that will completely change the trajectory of his life one he returns to the present.

I'll stop here. By now you should be able to make up your mind if this is a movie that interests you or not. Again, I think you should buy a ticket and see Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. It's the hardest I've laughed in a theater in a really long time. Unfortunately, I can no longer make the claim you will never get to see this movie, unless that's the choice you decide to make. But people like what they can't have. Not being available was this movie's best asset (other than being good), but not being available is also terrible for box office. But you do have it. Though, I think it's remarkable that's possible considering the direct references and plot points to an established franchise owned by Comcast. But, if you decide not to see Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (aka Back to the Future Part IV), I just wanted to point out what you are missing.

Grade: A

You can and should contact Mike Ryan at mikethehardpass@gmail.com, where you can submit questions for future mailbag posts