Combo On The Run brings the band’s story to its widest overseas theatrical audience yet
Maria Diane Ventura’s Eraserheads: Combo On The Run opened in more than 100 cinemas across the United States and Canada on April 24, marking what has been described in reports as the widest theatrical release for a Filipino documentary in North America to date.
The film follows the Eraserheads, tracing their formation at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1989, their commercial peak in the 1990s, their breakup, and their later reunion.
Distributed in North America by Abramorama, the 101-minute documentary features interviews with band members, archival footage, and behind-the-scenes material documenting the group’s trajectory and legacy.
Ahead of its wide release, advanced screenings in select North American cities sold out. Director Maria Diane Ventura and frontman Ely Buendia attended select screenings in California for post-screening discussions.
Ventura said the film’s early reception has been marked by strong audience engagement.
“It’s incredibly humbling. I feel a deep sense of gratitude to the audiences, to the critics, and to Abramorama for believing in the film and helping bring it to a wider audience,” she said.
She added that viewers have responded to the film in personal ways.
“What’s been most meaningful… is the way people have responded on a personal level. I’ve had people come up to me and share that they found a sense of healing in watching it or that it made them feel proud to be Filipino.”
Buendia also acknowledged the response from audiences and critics.
“To be embraced by the fans is proof that the film did something right. We didn’t want to let them down because this is their story too,” he said.
The North American rollout follows earlier international screenings, including festivals in Hawaii, Berlin, and Liverpool. The film was also featured in a panel at SXSW in Austin, Texas, where it was later cited by Esquire Magazine as one of “The 5 Best Things We Saw at SXSW 2026.”
Produced by DVent Pictures, the documentary situates the band’s history within a broader social context, drawing on interviews and archival material to present different perspectives on their career.
Eraserheads: Combo On The Run continues its theatrical run across select cinemas in the United States and Canada.