Matt Johnson’s first 2026 outing turns cult classic TV show into a charming Back to the Future parody writes Carter Smith
You never really know how to react when people are telling you that a movie based on a cult TV show out of Toronto is up there with not only the funniest but best films of the year. What am I supposed to do with that? I tried finding it at the cinema but Leicester is determined to never show any films and if they do screen it only at 9pm. So I had to wait until it was on streaming and I was left with many questions.
How much context do you need going in? Is it actually funny or will this a case of humour not translating to the English channels? Do I need to watch the show? God, how do I find this show to watch?
Do not fret, I have the answers to these questions; as long as you watched Back to the Future you will be fine for context; you can watch the show, but its not a necessity to get enjoyment from the movie – I still have no idea where you find the show –, and no, this film can actually be quite funny.
From that point onwards, Imagine Canadian Back to the Future with witty writing and heavy self awareness from Matt Johnson. The pair are charming. It wasn’t quite laugh-out-loud humour, but there was enough to trigger a chuckle throughout.
At it’s core, its definitely a love letter to fans of the show – the way they tie in the archival footage from the first episode to now is excellent – but also a surprisingly good lesson on the importance of friendship. You may become a world renowned singer or a massive celebrity, but if you’re not enjoying the success with your friend what’s the point?
- Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is available to buy on various streaming platforms
