Title – Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie (2025)

Director – Matt Johnson (The Dirties)

Cast – Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol

Plot – After years of attempting to finally get a musical gig at the famed Rivoli theatre, long-term friends/musicians Matt (Johnson) and Jay (McCarrol) unwilling transport themselves back to 2008, setting in motion a series of outlandish events as they attempt to make it back to the present day.  

“If you’ve got a best friend, you won’t even notice getting older”

Review by Eddie on 08/07/2026

One of 2025’s little films that could, swathed with great critical reviews and audience receptions, Canadian comedians/filmmakers Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol prove that with a dream and some determination anything is possible in the world of film as they successful turn their cult TV series web series into the feature that is Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie.

A meta-comedy that utilises the well-proven mockumentary format alongside a mix of scripted and unscripted occurrences, for all intents and purposes Nirvanna shouldn’t work in the slightest, especially for those like me who are viewing the film as a non-aficionado of the series previously, but there’s so much good-will and inventive DIY energy present here that you can’t help but enjoy Johnson’s film as he and McCarrol successfully craft their own story around a Back to the Future homage.

Centred around the duo’s long-standing desire to play a gig at the famed Rivoli venue, Nirvanna takes a turn for the obscure when Matt and Jay find themselves and their trusty RV transported back to 2008 very Back to the Future style, setting in motion a series of events as the duo try and figure out how they can make it back to the present day without messing with the world order.

There’s a lot of swings throughout Johnson’s film, with the director utilising his not insignificant skillsets his refined across an impressive career so far behind the camera with the likes of Blackberry and The Dirties, and will soon reach the big-time with his upcoming Anthony Bourdain biopic Tony, and not all of the various attempts at humour and drama work throughout the energetic affair but there’s certainly enough that does, making Nirvanna a very likely candidate for long-lasting cult film fandom over the coming years.

Key to all of this success is the unquestionably chemistry between Johnson and McCarrol who have been partnering together for the better part of the last few decades and their back and forwards and minor and major interactions help establish this feature with a lot of goodwill and heart, filling the film with the type of heart and soul that can’t be manufactured when key players aren’t on the same page or merely fulfilling a contractual obligation.

Far more enjoyable that most big-budgeted comedies and full of artistic expression, Nirvanna is a fun and joyous little film that doesn’t see itself as one, making this an absolute must for long-term fans of the duo and a perfectly accessible outing for newbies who are none the wiser.

Final Say –

A warts and all experience that is rough around the edges, not always able to stick its various landings, Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie is a constantly enjoyable offering that showcases what can be done when the right amount of passion and energy combine to overcome any other shortcomings.

3 1/2 concerned salespeople out of 5