Montage of Heck
"Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck," the documentary about the late Nirvana frontman, will get a theatrical release starting April 24. HBO

In 1991 a song called “Smells Like Teen Spirit” hit the airwaves and suddenly a small Seattle grunge band called Nirvana became the biggest band in the world. “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck,” the new documentary about the tortured Nirvana frontman, is following a similarly dramatic upward trajectory. After receiving rave reviews at festivals such as Sundance and South by Southwest, the documentary -- originally intended to be released exclusively on HBO -- will get a shot at the big screen.

According to Vulture, before “Montage of Heck” drops on HBO on May 4, the movie will get a brief theatrical run starting on April 24. The release will be limited, showing only in select cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Seattle. However, any theatrical release at all is rare territory for documentaries outside of art house theaters and surpasses expectations for a film made for premium cable.

Watch the trailer for “Montage of Heck” below:

The theatrical release will make “Montage of Heck” eligible for a possible Oscar nomination in 2016. Does the film have a shot? Reviews have been extremely positive, but music documentaries have struggled to take home the Oscar, often losing to films about weightier subjects. However, just two years ago “20 Feet from Stardom,” about backup singers, earned a rare win in the category.

Can “Montage of Heck” win an Oscar? It will be almost a full year before fans find out, but judging from reviews it should stand a strong chance. Fans can see the documentary when it premieres in select theaters on April 24.

Do you think “Montage of Heck” has a chance to win an Oscar? Tweet your thoughts to @Ja9GarofaloTV.

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