Only a small number of people ever really get to live out their dreams. Most settle for things they’re good at, something they can live with, or whatever pays the bills. Dreams become hobbies or pastimes you remember fondly. Meanwhile, regrets fester and stain everything that comes after. So, if you have a chance to shoot your shot, you have to take it. In Nimrods, a garage band does just that and travels halfway across the country for what could be their big break.
High schoolers Tommy (Mason Thames), Fred (Kylr Coffman) and Chad (Ryan Foust) are in a punk band called Analog Dogs. Tommy and Fred are run-of-the-mill troublemakers trying to bring buttoned-up Chad over to the dark side. When they fail to sneak into a Green Day concert, they settle for the next best thing. They go to the band’s record store signing to give them Analog Dog’s demo tape. After a later disagreement, Tommy’s older brother (Keen Ruffalo) takes revenge by tricking the band into thinking Green Day wants them to open their New Year’s Eve show. Completely unaware they’re being duped, the boys pack up their equipment and start the journey from Kansas City to Los Angeles.
The film, then called New Year’s Rev, had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. But Green Day, who are also co-producers on the film, suggested renaming it after their blockbuster 1997 album. Given the story is largely inspired by the real band’s pre-breakthrough touring misadventures, it’s a fitting change—particularly given the foolhardiness of the fictional trio.
The narrative checks all the boxes of a classic and chaotic road trip movie. The teens have car trouble, find creative solutions to their money problems, rely on the kindness of strangers, run from a sketchy motel in the middle of the night, and survive a paranoid hallucinogenic trip. The Analog Dogs also recruit new fans of all ages along the way via an impromptu, multi-stop tour.
Tommy, Fred, and Chad have very different personalities, but ingenious casting gives them a recognizable bond. Tommy is the designated leader, determined to get Analog Dogs on stage at any cost. Fred is a force of optimism, using a canary-yellow hand puppet to break any tension with inappropriate jokes. Chad is their straight-laced polar opposite and a punk work in progress. Yet, their chemistry makes their friendship believable whether they’re fighting or having the time of their lives.
It’s not surprising the Dogs’ music sounds similar to Green Day’s given the real-life band’s influence on- and off-screen. But the on-screen trio aren’t a cover band, despite a lively rendition of “Dominated Love Slave” for a potentially hostile audience. There is a small selection of spirited original tunes here, plus a soundtrack that consists of 22 songs spanning Green Day’s career. There’s also a new track, “I’m Never Gonna R.I.P.”, written specifically for the film. The concentrated collection keeps the story focused on the boys’ goal of opening for their musical heroes. It also ensures this road trip has a robust playlist.
Nimrods is not a remarkable addition to any genre, but the music enhances the story and keeps audiences head-banging along. In fact, the trio’s infectious energy and the familiar track list ensure there’s never a dull moment. Early 1990s skater punk culture also drives the picture’s aesthetic, from the casual and comfortable wardrobe to the positive vibes at grungy field concerts. And even though viewers know the road trip will end in disappointment, it’s an entertaining coming-of-age journey. In fact, their maturity in handling obstacles is impressive. These underdogs demonstrate an adaptability that inevitably appeals to viewers rooting for them to get to the gig and for Tommy to get the girl (Mckenna Grace), because there’s always a girl. Together, all the elements deliver on the movie’s promise of fun and eventful exploits.
To close out the adventure, Green Day treats fans to several live recordings. They perform “American Idiot,” “Know Your Enemy,” and “Auld Lang Syne” at the Los Angeles Palladium, as well as “Going to Pasalacqua,” which plays over the credits.
Nimrod opens in theatres on August 14.
