NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE (THE REVIEW)

Every film festival you hope to find something that restores your faith in movies. Something that makes you feel happy to be alive, something that shows you how far the medium can be pushed with the right visionaries behind it.
For SXSW 2025, that movie is Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, a followup to the Canadian mockumentary web series and sitcom. Once again Matt and Jay are scheming to get a show at the Rivoli with a classic (and massively absurd) plan involving the CN Tower. But when things go terribly wrong, the gang finds themselves launched back to the year 2008, risking the course of their lives, and friendship.
I don’t remember the last time I’ve been at a screening with an audience that engaged with what they were seeing. Even people unfamiliar with the work of Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol, and Jared Raab were fully in on the ride once they understood the magic. I don’t know how they lived up to what they’ve already done with the show but they did, and so much more. The opening of this movie rivals some of the greatest in the history of cinema.
I’m really not someone to go to for written thoughts, so here’s me and two pals ranting about our love for this beautifully hilarious movie. It delivered on everything I could have possibly wanted as a fan, and a Canadian.