AB2 Media Group and Abramorama have acquired the Eraserheads documentary Combo on the Run, fast-tracking it for a North American theatrical release. For many Filipino music fans, signature tracks like “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and “With a Smile” remain cultural touchstones. While the band may not be widely known in North America, their impact in the Philippines is undeniable, and this film explores the depth of that legacy.
Director and producer Maria Diane Ventura calls the partnership with Abramorama a natural fit. Known for distributing culturally significant music documentaries, the company brings experience and reach to a story that extends beyond music. Ventura notes that although the film centers on the band’s catalog, it also speaks to division, reconciliation, and healing during politically turbulent times.
Though rooted in the Philippines’ social realities, the themes of unity and rediscovery resonate globally.
From the Press Release:
Eraserheads: Combo on the Run chronicles the full arc of the Eraserheads phenomenon — from their formation as UP Diliman students in 1989, in the wake of the EDSA People Power Revolution that restored democracy in the Philippines, to becoming the defining soundtrack of a generation and staging a historic reunion run that drew nearly a quarter of a million fans. This marks the first Philippine music documentary distributed by Abramorama.
“The Eraserheads’ story is one of extraordinary music,” said Abramorama’s Karol Martesko-Fenster, CEO/President, and Damon G. Smith, SVP Business Growth and Creative Strategy. “But it’s also about belonging, healing, and finding your way back to each other. Maria Diane Ventura has captured the interpersonal dynamics with depth and heart, and we’re excited to bring this film to North American audiences for the first time.”
The documentary has already achieved notable milestones. It became the first Filipino music documentary to receive the widest theatrical release in the Philippines through Warner Bros., and the first Filipino film screened at San Diego Comic-Con. On the festival circuit, it won Best International Documentary at the Ierapetra International Feature Documentary Festival in Greece and screened at the Hawaii International Film Festival, Doc Berlin, and the Liverpool Film Festival.
Blending intimate interviews, archival footage, and behind-the-scenes access, examines fame, fracture, growth, and legacy. Set against the Philippines’ shifting political landscape, the film situates the band’s journey within a nation grappling with polarization, reflecting how their music became intertwined with cultural memory.
This documentary joins Abramorama’s slate of music documentaries, including Ron Howard’s The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years, Paris Barclay’s Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It, and Fiona Prine’s You Got Gold: A Celebration of John Prine.
About Eraserheads
Formed in Quezon City in 1989, the Eraserheads consist of Ely Buendia, Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, and Raimund Marasigan. They are widely regarded as one of the most influential acts in Original Pilipino Music and are often referred to as “the Beatles of the Philippines” for their cultural impact. Their 1993 debut album Ultraelectromagneticpop! was followed by acclaimed releases including Circus and Cutterpillow. Blending alternative rock, pop rock, punk, and experimental influences, the band helped define modern Filipino rock and inspired a new generation of artists.
Their catalog continues to resonate globally, surpassing one billion streams on Spotify. In 1997, they became the first Filipino artist to win MTV Asia’s Viewers Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards, expanding their presence beyond Southeast Asia.