Joey Magidson
To see Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is to become a part of a wonderful inside joke of sorts. So, getting to talk about the film with the creators of said inside joke is a real treat. Co-writer/co-star and director Matt Johnson, along with co-writer and co-star Jay McCarrol, have taken their web series, then television show, and turned it into one of the more insane movies in recent memory. I spoke with them both earlier on in the week, and with the flick hitting theaters today, it’s a perfect time to share a mildly spoiler-y discussion.
In my rave review of the film (here), I praised the insanity of it all like so:
I can not believe that this movie exists. There has never been a film quite like Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, which is saying something considering how it’s directly riffing off of a cinematic classic. This one of a kind flick is the kind of genius lunacy that independent cinema can produce at its best. Will it be for everyone? No. Is it still the most creative thing I’ve seen in a very long time? For sure chutzpah and cinematic bravery, as well as just crafting an instant cult classic, this is the pinnacle of 2026 releases for me so far.
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie defies easy description (you can hear me slowly hook Myles Hughes with a bit of a tease, before revealing more here on the latest episode of the Awards Radar Podcast). You literally could tell someone the entire plot of the film and it would spoil nothing, because seeing is believing here. Then again, even after seeing the movie, I can’t believe they got away with it, let alone that it turned out as phenomenal as it did. Am I being vague up front? Sure. Below, I’ll get into more. However, if just shouting from the rooftops that this is a must-see is good enough for you, stop reading now and check this one out. You can thank me later.
Matt Johnson directs while co-writing with Jay McCarrol and Jared Raab. This is not quite as controlled as BlackBerry (which I reviewed fondly here), but it does very much build on his earlier found footage efforts The Dirties and Operation Avalanche. While smaller than BlackBerry, it’s easily Johnson’s most complicated shoot to date. When you see what Johnson, McCarrol, and Raab not just came up with, but were able to have Johnson film while he and McCarrol act it all at, you’ll be stunned. There’s a moment where Johnson turns to address the cameras about the improbability of anyone ever seeing this film, which is not just hilarious, but one of the moments of the year for me, in terms of cinematic joy.
Below, you can see my chat with Johnson and McCarrol. Again, there are some spoilers contained within, but nothing you wouldn’t have already heard during my podcast conversation about the flick last week here. Mostly, I wanted to know how they hell they pulled this off. That leads to a discussion about what makes film worth doing in the first place, as well as some other fun bits. They’re great, they’ve crafted a wild movie that’s one of a kind, and it’s an absolute must see. Give a chance to Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie and it will reward you in spades, take my word for it.
Here now is my interview with Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie filmmakers/co-stars Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol. Enjoy:
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is now in theaters!
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