A new feature documentary about the saga of Canadian band Nickelback is headed for the big screen.
Hate to love: Nickelback will play for two nights only in cinemas around the globe March 27 and March 30, Trafalgar Releasing, Gimme Sugar Productions and Submarine Entertainment announced Thursday. Tickets go on sale Feb. 22.
Directed by Leigh Brooks and produced by Ben Jones of Gimme Sugar, the film offers an intimate look at the career of the hugely successful rock band that everyone loved — and then loved to hate.
After becoming a global sensation in 2001 and remaining a force throughout that decade, Nickelback came under fierce attack. Hate to Love exposes the personal impact it had on each of the band members and their decision to take a five-year break. They later regrouped, released a record and embarked on a successful world tour that introduced their music to a new generation of fans.
“We are very excited to finally bring this film to theaters this Spring. It’s been a long road to get this project across the finish line and we must thank Ben Jones and Leigh Brooks for all of their hard work. We hope everyone enjoys our story, fans, friends or otherwise,” the band said in a statement.
Added Trafalgar senior vp of programming and content acquisitions Kymberli Frueh, “Nickelback has been such an influence on our music culture throughout the years.”
Hate to Love, which made its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last fall, intends to play in 1,350 cinemas in 30 countries.
Along with behind-the-scenes footage of the band and concert footage, Hate to Love includes interviews with supporters including Ryan Reynolds and Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, while band members Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair don’t shy away from the band’s topsy-turvy legacy as they discuss what they endured.
“We are both really excited to finally share this film with the fans around the world in such a huge and special theatrical event. We think their patience will be worth the wait,” Jones and Brookes said in a statement.
Nickelback was named the most successful rock band of the decade by Billboard in 2009 following such hits as “How You Remind Me,” “Photograph,” “Far Away” and “Rockstar.” Among numerous other honors, it was a 2023 Canadian Music Hall of Fame recipient.
