Portland Is the New Portland

Jesse Corwood is a 31-year-old man living with his mother in Portland, New York. Obsessed with music and driven by a desire to create, but lacking a thriving local scene, Jesse records numerous songs by himself, invents 17 fictional bands, and meticulously documents their imaginary stories in his notebooks. Jesse's plan works when Rolling Stone takes interest in his label, Portland Records, but he struggles to maintain the illusion when the magazine requests photos and interviews with the bands.

Directed by Christopher Scamurra, Portland Is the New Portland leans on a strong ensemble — Creed Bratton, Matthew Danger Lippman, Siobhan Fallon Hogan — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 2024.