You Had to Be There
A documentary about the legendary 1972 Toronto production of the musical about the life of Jesus, which launched many illustrious careers and ignited a comedy revolution. (NR, 98 min.)
Showtimes
Friday, September 25, 2026
(TBD)
You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way)
Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, Paul Shaffer, and other entertainment icons got their start in a 1972 Toronto production of the musical Godspell. Featuring interviews with the surviving cast members, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mike Myers, and more, the film recounts a pivotal moment in comedy history, in hilarious, moving, and inspiring detail. Executive produced by Judd Apatow.
Cast: Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Paul Shaffer, Stephen Schwartz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mike Myers, Heidi Gardner, Gary Gulman, James Austin Johnson, Janeane Garofalo, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Dave Thomas, Jayne Eastwood, Valda Aviks, Avril Chown, Don Scardino, Rudy Webb
Director: Nick Davis
Genres: Documentary, Comedy, Musical
"It’s a joyous experience."
— Matthew Carey, Deadline Hollywood Daily
"The documentary offers a hugely entertaining record of Canadian cultural history worthy of time and celebration."
— Pat Mullen, POV Magazine
"The most incredible thing about You Had to Be There is that this film makes you feel like you were there, and these friends are your friends too."
— Kristy Puchko, Mashable
"Warm and genuine, You Had To Be There is a highly entertaining look at comedy and Canadiana. Davis’ documentary makes it clear: you really did have to be there – but thanks to this film, now we all kind of are."
— Rachel West, That Shelf
"Getting an insight into how people like Martin Short and Eugene Levy started their careers off, and seeing the camaraderie of what this experience was like for this group makes this a heartwarming documentary for any comedy fan."
— Ross Bonaime, Collider
"The niftiness of Davis’s film is that it’s about Godspell, and it’s about something bigger than Godspell -- a pop movement that didn’t have a name yet, a cultural spirit that found its way into existence almost like (laughing) gas gathering in the air."
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
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