‘Nirvanna’ a clever love letter to cinema
Published 1:23 pm Saturday, July 25, 2026
Jay McCarrol (right) and Matt Johnson appear in a scene from “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.”
(Courtesy Neon)
With “The Odyssey” dominating the box office and very little in the way of new releases this week, now is a perfect time to enjoy something in the confines of your home
What better choice than one of 2026’s best films to date, “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” This comedy based on a web series that <a href="https://todaytrendnews7.com/hollywood-co-stars-who-became-real/” title=”Hollywood co-stars who became real”>became a short-lived TV show starring and written by Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol (with Johnson also directing) is one of the year’s hidden gems. It’s side-splitting funny and very smart, a love letter to one of 1980’s most iconic films, “Back to the Future.”
For those unfamiliar with theed by the two leads (who play fictionalized versions of themselves). Matt and Jay hope to secure a gig at a local Toronto club called the Rivoli. Matt concocts a stunt to skydive off the CN Tower into the Rogers Center in the middle of a Blue Jays game as a publicity stunt
When the attempt goes awry and Jay secretly books an open mic night in Ottawa, Matt puts a time machine much like the one in “Back to the Future” on the duo’s RV — only for the time machine to actually work and send both back to 2008
From there one interaction between the present day duo and the past duo causes a ripple effect that completely changes the present day timeline — leaving them desperate to find a way back to 2008 to restore the timeline properly
I went cold into the film, not knowing much on the background of the series it is based on, but that did not stop me from enjoying this immensely
Johnson, whose previous work behind the camera was the delightful surprise “Blackberry,” once again shows a deft comic touch behind the camera — staging some inspiring sequences that don’t just play off “Back to the Future,” but manage to give them a unique spin that makes them fresh and exciting
The film also meshes footage from the original web series (filmed 2007-08) so seamlessly it is almost like this was planned all along
The opening sequence with the CN Tower is so absurd that I’m still not sure how they got it (let alone how it was given the OK to be used)
The “Back to the Future” tie-in builds to a fun (and often hilarious) final act that is as creative as any summer blockbuster currently in theaters
The film is so effective it not only left me wanting a future film, but also wanting to revisit the original material (which is being released on streaming at the same time as the film)
“Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” is available on Hulu starting today
Grade: A-
About Micheal Compton
I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News
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