The Wasteland Reviewer

Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2026) Written Review

Are you prepared for one of the most unhinged, creative, and unexpected cinematic experiences of the year? That is a high bar to set but the creative combo of Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol. Nirvanna the Band the Show was a creative venture for the duo from 2017-2018 which highlighted the shenanigans of two aspiring musicians who desperately wanted to play at Toronto’s Rivoli to make it big. That venture has now made its way to the silver screen with the cinematic spinoff film, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. Their mission is the same…but time begins to warp for them as Johnson and McCarrol takes audiences on a hilarious mockumentary, science fiction adventure. 

Does this bigger and bolder twist on Johnson and McCarrol’s story grab you? This is one of the most inventive ways you will see a comedy show make the leap to cinemas. The heart of the series is still there as the friendship between Matt and Jay is the core of the journey. The writing is so strong that you can feel the years of friendship even if you haven’t watched the show. This is essential as the film explores a relatable and real problem that can destroy a friendship, outgrowing each other. That is the tension between Jay and Matt (who is too dense to notice this divide happening right in front of his face). The film also explores the frustrations and grind of being successful musicians which reflect well on anyone who pushed for years to chase their dreams. The surprising depth is just the tip of the iceberg as there are plenty of great meta-contextual homages as well as some impressive amounts of humor thrown in. The parallels to Back to the Future Part II are clear and leveraged well to give this film its time travelling twist. There are some truly shocking narrative moments that will make your jaw drop (especially in a film like this). The humor is so sharply written with plenty of meta gags related to its documentary style and how that flies inside a time travel film. 

Does Johnson’s direction match the writing? This is such a sharply crafted film that leverages the found footage, documentary style of filmmaking so well. There is an interesting mixture of camera types that make sense from a narrative perspective as well. The music (both the compositions from McCarrol and the needle drops) works so well to craft the right vibes that Johnson wants for this film. There is a surprising amount of heart and soul to this film which will get you behind the shenanigans of these two aloof pals as well as invest in getting their fracturing friendship back on track. The pacing is fantastic as this film flies by as it keeps you on your toes with its clever execution. The most important element is just how funny this film is. There are so many hilarious moments (some of which are the funniest moments in recent cinematic history). You can wish for more comedies in general in cinemas but especially ones that are so clever.

Do Johnson and McCarrol deliver in front of the camera as well? One of these two is not like the other. McCarrol is doing a fine job with what he is working with and generally a rock-solid straight man. It is Johnson who is the true standout of the film. His big energy performance is the driving force behind this whole cinematic experience. His comedic timing is on-point, and his manic energy is what makes the film so much fun and propels it forward. His ability to be so believably aloof to so many things and deliver on the physical comedy is on point. As a duo, they work so perfectly together and provide the needed dynamic to make this bonkers concept work. They were also able to find a crew of fun supporting players who lean into their fun sides and find the frequency that Johnson and McCarrol are radiating. 

Does Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie live up to the hype? Yes…yes it does. Johnson and McCarrol have found some comedic gold in their hands with this wild genre bending ride that has some wild stunts, shenanigans, and homages. This is certainly one of the best cinematic spinoffs from a series you are going to find, and it gets you excited to see what can be next from up their creative sleeves.