Nimrods (2026)
For many young men, the idea of performing in front of sold-out crowds with their band is a dream. This is the case for best friends Tommy (Mason Thames), Fred (Kylr Coffman), and Chad (Ryan Foust) in Lee Kirk's teenage coming-of-age road trip film, Nimrods. A collaboration between Kirk and Green Day, Nimrods follows the teenage band Analog Dogs who give their demo to Green Day during a meet-and-greet. A prank leads to the band believing they have been personally chosen by Green Day to open for them at a New Year's Eve concert in Los Angeles, so the trio must find a way to travel from their home in Kansas City all the way to California to live their dream.
While on paper this sounds like a quite simplistic and predictable narrative, make no mistake that the film is not trying to majorly subvert any expectations; Nimrods succeeds in its sincerity. Drawing from Green Day's time before their fame, the film has an infectious warmth. Capturing the point in their lives right before they must start to make the transition into adulthood, the central trio is a full display of youthful innocence, knowing that this is their time to take risks and try to achieve their dreams. Thames, Coffman, and Foust are all fantastic, with an incredible amount of chemistry together and unique strengths as individuals. Thames is the emotional core of the film, stubborn not to give up hope and keep the band together and on the same page. Coffman is a ball of punk energy, causing trouble but never in a malicious way. Foust's energy is completely opposite of the other two, proving comedic gold as his rigidity is put against the chaos of the trip. These three feel like real friends, and their dynamic is easily the brightest part of the film.
While energetic and sometimes far from the most logical in their decision-making, they are teenagers after all; the trio is never annoying or ignorant of what is at stake for them. They are aware of how life is starting to catch up with them and their carefree attitudes, with Chad making it clear that he might not even be in the band next year. Their journey is a conscious last effort to make it, which adds a greater emotional core to the trip.
Just as the main characters are likeable, so is the world they travel through. As the boys travel from Missouri to California, a warm tribute to America is painted, as those in various bars and stops help support the trio. In a time where society can feel so divided, specifically due to geography and politics, it feels refreshing to have a film that celebrates the connective ability of music and reminds us that there is still a shared humanity between us. Each brief stop offers something new, from a creepy hotel that might be run by a murderous host to a young woman named Olivia (McKenna Grace) with whom Tommy forms a quick connection; no break from the trip takes up too much space but instead consistently adds to the experience. While there are more creative spins on the road trip genre out there, Nimrods plays the hits and finds results that are strong enough to craft a highly enjoyable journey.
In all of this, it can be easy to forget about one of the key influences on the film: Green Day. While Green Day's hits do play throughout the film and the band is a catalyst for the plot taking place, the band fades largely into the background. This is not a selfish project or one meant to paint a certain image of the band, but rather stands on its own. Because of this, the film is completely accessible to even those with no connection to Green Day. This choice is commendable, with the band putting the film first over ego, unlike plenty of other artists who craft their own films.
Nimrods is a great road trip mixtape. Totally wholesome, the film is a wonderful tribute to friendship, music, and youth. While the film will not reinvent the road trip genre, this coming-of-age story has plenty of great moments, with a perfect trio of core performances elevating the material even further.
While on paper this sounds like a quite simplistic and predictable narrative, make no mistake that the film is not trying to majorly subvert any expectations; Nimrods succeeds in its sincerity. Drawing from Green Day's time before their fame, the film has an infectious warmth. Capturing the point in their lives right before they must start to make the transition into adulthood, the central trio is a full display of youthful innocence, knowing that this is their time to take risks and try to achieve their dreams. Thames, Coffman, and Foust are all fantastic, with an incredible amount of chemistry together and unique strengths as individuals. Thames is the emotional core of the film, stubborn not to give up hope and keep the band together and on the same page. Coffman is a ball of punk energy, causing trouble but never in a malicious way. Foust's energy is completely opposite of the other two, proving comedic gold as his rigidity is put against the chaos of the trip. These three feel like real friends, and their dynamic is easily the brightest part of the film.
While energetic and sometimes far from the most logical in their decision-making, they are teenagers after all; the trio is never annoying or ignorant of what is at stake for them. They are aware of how life is starting to catch up with them and their carefree attitudes, with Chad making it clear that he might not even be in the band next year. Their journey is a conscious last effort to make it, which adds a greater emotional core to the trip.
Just as the main characters are likeable, so is the world they travel through. As the boys travel from Missouri to California, a warm tribute to America is painted, as those in various bars and stops help support the trio. In a time where society can feel so divided, specifically due to geography and politics, it feels refreshing to have a film that celebrates the connective ability of music and reminds us that there is still a shared humanity between us. Each brief stop offers something new, from a creepy hotel that might be run by a murderous host to a young woman named Olivia (McKenna Grace) with whom Tommy forms a quick connection; no break from the trip takes up too much space but instead consistently adds to the experience. While there are more creative spins on the road trip genre out there, Nimrods plays the hits and finds results that are strong enough to craft a highly enjoyable journey.
In all of this, it can be easy to forget about one of the key influences on the film: Green Day. While Green Day's hits do play throughout the film and the band is a catalyst for the plot taking place, the band fades largely into the background. This is not a selfish project or one meant to paint a certain image of the band, but rather stands on its own. Because of this, the film is completely accessible to even those with no connection to Green Day. This choice is commendable, with the band putting the film first over ego, unlike plenty of other artists who craft their own films.
Nimrods is a great road trip mixtape. Totally wholesome, the film is a wonderful tribute to friendship, music, and youth. While the film will not reinvent the road trip genre, this coming-of-age story has plenty of great moments, with a perfect trio of core performances elevating the material even further.