It is 2026, and somehow, we are still talking about "Volcano Man." If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the last few years, you’ve seen the clips. Will Ferrell in a silver spandex suit. Rachel McAdams looking like a Nordic goddess. A giant hamster wheel rolling off a stage into the abyss. Honestly, when Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga first dropped on Netflix back in the chaotic summer of 2020, people didn't know what to make of it. Was it a parody? A love letter? Or just a very expensive excuse for Ferrell to wear a lot of sequins?
Actually, it was all three.
Most Americans didn't even know what Eurovision was before this movie. They thought it was some weird, fictional fever dream created by the guy who gave us Anchorman. But for Europeans, the eurovision song contest movie was a cultural reset that managed to be both incredibly insulting and deeply moving at the same time. Fast forward to today, and the film has transitioned from a "lockdown watch" to a genuine cult classic.
What Everyone Gets Wrong About the Eurovision Song Contest Movie
One of the biggest misconceptions is that the movie is "making fun" of the contest. If you talk to die-hard Eurofans—the ones who can tell you who won in 1974 without blinking—they’ll tell you the film is actually surprisingly accurate in its spirit.
Sure, the physics of the boat explosion that kills the entire Icelandic delegation is... questionable. And yes, the "Speorg note" doesn't exist. But the campiness? The political voting? The way a Russian superstar like Alexander Lemtov (played by a scene-stealing Dan Stevens) is basically a "stranger to buttons"? That is 100% real Eurovision energy.
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The Accuracy Check
A lot of the jokes are actually deep-cut references. That giant hamster wheel Lars gets stuck in? That’s a direct nod to Ukraine’s 2014 entry, "Tick-Tock," where a man literally ran in a hamster wheel for three minutes. The "Lion of Love" performance is a mix of every flamboyant pop-opera act that has ever graced the stage in the last twenty years.
Even the casting was a wink to the fans. You’ve got actual winners like Conchita Wurst, Netta, and Loreen appearing in the "Songalong" scene. It’s basically the Avengers: Endgame of European pop music.
Why Húsavík Is Now a Pilgrimage Site
The movie didn't just stay on our screens. It changed a literal town. Húsavík, the tiny fishing village in Iceland where the movie is set, became an overnight sensation. Before the film, it was known for whale watching. Now? It has a dedicated Eurovision museum.
The song "Húsavík (My Hometown)" was even nominated for an Oscar. Think about that for a second. A movie featuring a song called "Ja Ja Ding Dong" produced an Academy Award-nominated power ballad. It's wild. People still travel to Iceland specifically to find the "elf houses" from the movie, which, by the way, are based on real Icelandic folklore where a huge chunk of the population still believes in the huldufólk (hidden people).
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The Broadway Shift
The biggest news for 2026 is the transition to the stage. It was confirmed that a Broadway musical adaptation is in the works, with Alex Timbers directing. It makes total sense. The movie was always a musical wrapped in a comedy’s clothing. Bringing Lars and Sigrit to a live stage is the most "Eurovision" thing that could possibly happen.
The Lemtov Effect: Why the Villain Wasn't Really a Villain
Let’s be real—Alexander Lemtov is the best part of the movie. In any other Hollywood flick, he would be the arrogant jerk trying to steal the girl. But The Story of Fire Saga flipped the script. Lemtov is actually... kind? He genuinely likes Sigrit's voice. He wants her to succeed.
His character subtly addressed the real-world tension surrounding Russia and Eurovision, specifically regarding LGBTQ+ themes. When Lemtov says, "There are no gay people in Russia," with a pained look on his face, it’s the most grounded, serious moment in an otherwise ridiculous film. It gave the movie a layer of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) that most parodies lack. The writers actually understood the culture they were satirizing.
Is There a Sequel Coming?
The rumor mill has been spinning since 2020. Is there a second eurovision song contest movie on the horizon?
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As of right now, Netflix hasn't greenlit a direct sequel, but the "Fire Saga" universe is expanding through the Broadway show and the various real-life Eurovision cameos. At the 2021 contest, the "Ja Ja Ding Dong" guy (actor Hannes Óli Ágústsson) even appeared as the Icelandic spokesperson to demand the song be played. The line between the movie and the real contest has blurred so much that we don't really need a sequel—we're living in it.
Your Fire Saga Action Plan
If you haven't revisited the film since it premiered, you're missing out on the "2026 perspective." Here is how to actually enjoy it like a pro:
- Watch with the subtitles on. You’ll catch half a dozen jokes about "Americans" and "elves" that are buried in the audio mix.
- Look up the "Songalong" cast. Identifying all ten former Eurovision contestants in that one scene is the ultimate test for any fan.
- Listen to the soundtrack on high-quality speakers. "Double Trouble" and "Volcano Man" were produced by Savan Kotecha—the guy who writes hits for Ariana Grande and The Weeknd. They aren't "bad" songs; they are expertly crafted "fake" pop songs.
The eurovision song contest movie succeeded because it didn't punch down. It embraced the glitter, the wind machines, and the sheer absurdity of a continent trying to find peace through three-minute pop songs. It reminded us that even if you're a "fisherman's son" from a town of 2,000 people, you can still hit that Speorg note if the elves are on your side.
Stop waiting for a sequel and just go listen to the soundtrack again. You know you want to.
Pro Tip for Travelers: If you actually visit Húsavík, the "Jaja Ding Dong" bar is a real place now. Just don't ask the locals to play the song more than once—they’ve heard it enough for three lifetimes.