Pizza Movie: Nick Kocher & Brian McElhaney on Directing & Sketch Comedy

Sketch comedy duo BriTANicK – Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney – are discussing their feature film directorial debut, Pizza Movie, a stoner comedy now streaming on Hulu. The pair appeared on the Filmmaker Toolkit podcast to discuss the film, which has been described as visually inventive and a unique take on the genre.

Pizza Movie premiered at the SXSW festival in March 2026, alongside another film from the duo, Over Your Dead Body, a dark dramedy. According to Variety, McElhaney and Kocher’s collaborative process is often marked by spirited debate. “I want option A and Brian wants option B,” Kocher explained to Variety. “We fight for a week straight, and neither of us gives up. So we finally come up with option C, which is better than both A and B.” McElhaney added, “We’re both incredibly stubborn. We don’t relent. We want to win over the other person.”

A Hallucinatory Quest for Pizza

The film centers on college friends Jack (Gaten Matarazzo) and Montgomery (Sean Giambrone) who, after taking a hallucinogen, embark on a seemingly endless journey down a single flight of stairs to retrieve a pizza delivered to their dorm. Paste Magazine describes the film as “overstuffed and cheesy,” comparing it to a “drug-fueled sketch fest” that may not appeal to all viewers, but offers “a few tasty toppings here and there.”

Despite the absurd premise, Variety notes that the film tells a “surprisingly heartfelt story about friendship.” McElhaney explained to Variety that BriTANicK aims to ground their sketches in “emotional truth,” starting with dramatic themes like jealousy, love, and fear before venturing into “crazyland.” Matarazzo, speaking to Variety via email, said the script stood out because of the duo’s “unique worldview.”

From Sketch Comedy to Feature Films

Kocher and McElhaney, performing under the moniker BriTANicK, are well-known for their sketch work, having written for Saturday Night Live, FunnyOrDie, and CollegeHumor. Their short-form sensibility is evident in Pizza Movie, which delivers jokes and gags at a rapid pace. Paste Magazine likened the film’s format to “aimlessly scrolling through TikTok,” suggesting it can be both engaging and somewhat unproductive.

The duo’s approach to comedy involves a willingness to break conventional rules. As noted in a review by Paste Magazine, they “throw caution to the wind—and every conceivable idea at the wall to see what sticks.” This willingness to experiment is a defining characteristic of their work, and appears to be a key element in their transition from sketch comedy to feature filmmaking.

Pizza Movie is currently available for streaming on Hulu. BriTANicK’s other SXSW debut, Over Your Dead Body, also received attention, highlighting the duo’s versatility and potential to reshape the comedy landscape, according to reporting from Variety.