Naming your film Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie sets a high bar – it’s a mouthful! Thankfully, the creators, Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol, have delivered a truly original and funny film, and surprisingly, it’s also a clever take on time travel. Despite all the fun they seem to have playing themselves in the movie, making it was just as challenging as remembering the title.
If you’re not familiar with them, Johnson and McCarrol started with a Canadian web series called “Nirvana the Band.” It was so popular, it became the sitcom Nirvanna the Band the Show, both of which humorously followed the real-life adventures of the two creators. They then made a movie, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, which continued their story of trying to play a gig at the Rivoli in Toronto. However, this time around, their misadventures accidentally cause a tear in time, sending them back to 2008.
In an interview with MovieWeb, the filmmakers discussed the movie and revealed they shot scenes from several different versions of the story before settling on the final one. Johnson explained what those early, abandoned ideas were:
The first version of the movie was set entirely in the US and followed a road trip. The only thing we kept from that original idea was the RV. We decided to make the time machine an RV simply because we already had it built for the earlier version of the film.
Basically, after seeing the first cut of the movie, we realized it felt more like a TV series than a typical 1980s action film in terms of its length and story. It was a tough call, especially since we were independently making the movie in Canada without any studio oversight. Ultimately, we decided to scrap that version and instead release it as episodes for a TV show.
An Evolving Experience
Just like the story changed from its first idea, the filmmakers kept making small adjustments even after the movie was finished and shown at the South by Southwest Film Festival. They watched how audiences reacted to different parts and continued to refine it. Johnson explained how much the film had changed since those early showings.
If you saw the film at South by Southwest and then in a theater, you might not even notice any differences. That pretty much answers your question. But technically speaking, the theatrical version is five minutes shorter. Any filmmaker would agree that removing five minutes of footage requires a significant amount of editing and changes.
It’s all about the small details, like numerous audio adjustments. Jay reworked much of the music. These kinds of refinements really only become clear after seeing a film with an audience, and we kept making them even after the premiere in Toronto. That’s just our process – we enjoy it, and I’d still be tweaking things if I could.
As a film enthusiast, I really connect with what McCarrol said. We always aim for incremental improvements – the idea being that one small tweak doesn’t drastically alter a film, but ten of them can subtly elevate it. Honestly, the best projects are the ones where we’re constantly challenged and pushed to our limits. It’s definitely stressful letting go of a film once it’s done, but it ensures we know we’ve explored every possible avenue and given it absolutely everything we had. That’s a good feeling.
A Secretive Shoot
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Despite filming many scenes indoors, like those in the couple’s apartment, the filmmakers used a spontaneous, on-location style to shoot in Toronto, often capturing real reactions from people passing by. A particularly memorable scene takes place at the CN Tower and includes interactions that are truly surprising. The filmmakers may not reveal exactly how they managed to film these moments, keeping some of the details a mystery.
McCarrol expressed of their methods:
Let me tell you, making this film was a real tightrope walk. We constantly debated how much of our artistic vision we could actually keep – what we were willing to fight for. But it wasn’t just a creative battle; we were also navigating a minefield of legal concerns and producer expectations. We had to make sure all that hard work didn’t end up lost in some legal limbo. The shoot itself was incredibly challenging, almost like we were operating in secret. We poured everything into the technical aspects, meticulously crafting each shot, and honestly, it felt less like filmmaking and more like a perfectly choreographed ballet – a delicate dance where one wrong move could bring everything crashing down.
We’re excited for everyone to see the movie and, once it’s out, we plan to share a behind-the-scenes look at how it was made. But for now, we want you to simply enjoy the experience and be surprised by how it all comes together – that’s where the real magic happens!
A Message From the Future to the Past
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A central idea in The Movie involves Matt and Jay meeting their younger selves. Because they’ve been filming each other for years, the filmmakers were able to incorporate genuine, previously unreleased footage of their past selves into the film. The movie also explores how the filmmakers think they would react if they could meet their younger selves, as Johnson explained:
To be honest, the events in the movie reflect my own beliefs. I wouldn’t alter my past because, like the character Matt, I’m content with who I’ve become. I embrace my imperfections and wouldn’t want to risk changing any part of my journey, even the difficult parts.
I was really struck by what McCarrol said. He explained that he wouldn’t want to go back and alter past decisions, because those experiences have shaped who he is today – and he likes who he is. He put it like, once something is done, it’s done, and you have to learn from it and move forward. If he could send a message to his younger self, he’d probably just say, ‘You’re doing alright, try not to stress so much.’ Honestly, I totally get that – a little less worry would probably do us all some good, but he really emphasized that he wouldn’t trade his journey, even with all its ups and downs.
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Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie lands in theaters on Feb. 13.
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2026-02-12 03:34