Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Popcorn Culture

We review F1, a high‑octane, Hollywood‑polished Formula 1 drama starring Brad Pitt as a washed-up racer turned mentor, and Jurassic World Rebirth, where Scarlett Johansson leads a team to a forbidden island to extract DNA from colossal, mutated dinosaurs for a miracle drug. And then on Take 2, inspired by the original wonder of turning the corner and seeing the brachiosaurus for the first time, we talk about movie moments that filled us with awe.

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We bring you a double bill of Pixar's latest space-venture, Elio, and the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon. In the former, Pixar bring us a socially alienated boy who's obsessed with aliens and finds himself abducted and having to navigate an intergalactic conflict. In the latter, we have Dean DeBlois, who directed the original animated trilogy, returning to bringing Hiccup and Toothless’ story into a new visual era. Then on Take Two, we discuss children's movies we still love as adults.

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In this episode, we’re reviewing Ana de Armas’ entry to the John Wick universe, as a ballerina trained to be an assassin in the - obviously named - Ballerina. We talk about whether it’s a worthy spinoff, and as stylish as the original franchise, before going on to talk in Take Two about violence on screen, and where the limits and appeal are, from bone-crunching, blood-gushing fights and sequences, to the power of implied acts of violence.

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Anwari Ashraf – the man behind the hit series Project: High Council – brings the iconic 90s comedy animated superhero Keluang Man to life on the big screen. But does he do Malaysia’s OG superhero justice? Separately, Mountainhead is the new HBO film from Succession creator Jesse Armstrong. It’s a satirical look at tech billionaires grappling with guilt and ego as the world collapses around them. We review both these films and then on Take Two discuss some of our favourite characters from our childhood.

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Brace yourselves for a weird and wild double bill on Popcorn Culture this week as we review the second season of The Last of Us, which sees the survivors of the cordyceps zombie apocalypse continue to deal with grief, tribalism, and of course, said cordyceps zombies. Then we pair that up with Disney’s latest live action remake of a beloved animation, Lilo & Stitch. After that, we extend the discussion by talking about adaptations as a whole - what are the pitfalls and joys of translating stories to the screen from a variety of mediums (and sometimes, even from another film?)

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With Tom Cruise’s final outing (or is it) as Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning making its blockbuster-y way to every Malaysian cinema, we talk about the movie, where it fits into the larger franchise, and whether it’s a fitting end to the adventures of the IMF. After that, we ponder the changing nature of movie stardom, especially with Tom Cruise often touted as one of the last old school movie stars in the Hollywood mould.

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In this episode, we catch up with the second (and as it turns out, final) season of Andor, completing the transformation of Cassian Andor into the rebel leader we see in Rogue One. We discuss whether it lives up to the expectations set in Season 1, as well as how the compressed production and story schedule affects the show. Then, we're taking the opportunity to geek out about all the people, things and places that have played a role in making the stories of a galaxy long time ago, and far far away so compelling, by asking: what are your favourite moments of Star Wars? And then we close off with a dive into the music of Andor, and how it pulls away from the iconic orchestral template set by John Williams.

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In this Round Robin edition of Stuff We Missed, we’re each taking turns to recommend a recent release that's worth watching and catching up with. First up, a local film helmed by Abhilash Chandra & Syafiq Yusof. It has grossed over RM 62 million so far and is one of the most successful local films ever made. Then, we talk about a Polish satire that blends questions surrounding UFOs and extraterrestrials, with the history of martial law in the country. And finally, a review of Emmy Award-winning series Hacks, detailing the complicated (and very funny) relationship between an ageing comedic powerhouse and an up-and-coming young writer. After that, we continue the conversation about comedy, and discuss our favourite funny performers.

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We review Thunderbolts, an antihero ensemble that brings together the likes of Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian and US Agent—basically, the chaotic neutral Avengers. We discuss whether this morally grey squad can inject fresh energy into a superhero universe many feel is running on fumes. Then on Take Two, we ask: Is the MCU still exciting for you? And what’s your favourite Marvel movie post-Endgame?

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Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther) reunite for Sinners, a period vampire thriller set in the 1930s. Jordan delivers dual performances as twin brothers who are trying to leave their troubled life behind and return to their hometowns only to be greeted by a greater evil. We review the film and then on Take Two, we discuss our most memorable IMAX experiences.

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2 years after its last outing, Black Mirror is back with its 7th season, promising a return to its roots, as well as sequels and companion pieces to earlier episodes. But of course, as real life has gotten more surreal, Black Mirror has also had to expand and experiment to keep up - so does this latest season manage to land its punches? We discuss, before then talking about the best science fiction representations on screen.

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White Lotus is back with another season, this time set in one of if not the most popular tourist destinations in this side of the world, Thailand. As you'd come to expect from the series, there are of course shenanigans involving privileged and eccentric characters and a mystery brimming underneath the surface. We discuss if it lives up to the previous seasons, and then on Take Two explore the various portrayals of wealth on screen.

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Based on the hit video game, A Minecraft Movie explores what happens when a bunch of misfits find themselves in a cubic world that thrives on imagination, and set out on a quest. Starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Danielle Brooks in an ensemble cast, the film has had a long production journey, but has finally made it to the big screen! We discuss whether it’s a film that works even if you’re not a fan of the OG video game, and then pivot to talking about video game adaptations (of which there are many!).

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We’ve got a double bill of TV reviews in this episode, starting with Severance Season 2! Now that the innies have discovered the truth about their outies, what do they do next? Will Helly R, Mark S and Irving B ever be liberated from their never-ending nine-to-five? We discuss if season 2 is just as addictive as the first. Next, we discuss the most talked-about miniseries on Netflix right now – Adolescence. The harrowing but relevant series follows a 13-year-old teenage boy, Jamie who is arrested for the murder of his classmate, Katie. Each episode is one long continuous take, offers different perspectives and focuses on themes such as alienation, bullying, and the influence of toxic online sexist subcultures. And then on Take Two, we talk about the best and worst workplaces in film and TV.

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It's a double bill of reviews tonight, kicking off with what is - at the moment - the most successful animation films ever, Ne Zha 2. We talk about whether the film is worth the hype, and what it signals about international animation. After that, we move on to RaMell Ross’s Nickel Boys, which is about a friendship that forms between two boys who’ve been sent to a notoriously abusive reform school, and how that echoes through the rest of their lives. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, and garnered plaudits for its first-person POV. We talk about whether this is a successful and innovative approach, and if it works for us, before discussing whether movies about difficult subjects keep us away or draw us in, on Take Two.

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Bong Joon-ho, acclaimed director of Parasite, is back with Mickey 17! This sci-fi thriller stars Robert Pattinson as a disposable worker on a colonization mission, one who keeps getting replaced every time he dies. We discuss if this is another win for Bong Joon Ho (and Pattinson) and then, on Take Two, talk about desperate protagonists in film and TV.

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As Oscar-nominated films continue to grace Malaysian theatres, the latest in the list is James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. With Timothee Chalamet filling the lead role, the movie charts a very specific time in Dylan’s life, as an up-and-coming folk musician in New York, and his electric turn. We talk about the movie and whether it deserves the fanfare it’s getting, before pivoting in Take Two to ask: is there a biopic you’d like to see made, and who would you cast in the lead role?

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The highly anticipated Robert Eggers gothic not-Dracula film, Nosferatu finally hits Malaysian cinemas. We review this remake and discuss why Eggers is one of the best auteurs today, and then on Take Two, talk about our favourite vampire movies and shows then on The B-side, tbc.

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We’ve got a double bill for you this week! Starting with A Real Pain, directed and written by Jesse Eisenberg,a buddy comedy road movie that looks at the (mis)adventures of two cousins exploring Poland after the passing of their late grandmother. Lauded for its performances and bittersweet tone, the movie is also up for two Academy Awards. And on a separate note and just in time for Valentine’s Day, the latest installment of Bridget Jones is out on the big screen, seeing our heroine tackle middle age and widowhood. We review both films, before pivoting into a Take Two question about the We discuss the movie, and whether it works for us, before pivoting into a Take Two that’s all about caustic and stressful on-screen family dynamics, and why they’re so compelling.

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Captain America is back on the big screen! But if you’ve been following the MCU, you’ll know it’s no longer Chris Evans wielding the shield, but Anthony Mackie. With Marvel on a slump, could this be the film that revives the franchise? We review the film and then on Take Two, discuss iconic characters from the big screen and small, before ending with the B-side, where we talk about Cap’s heart pounding theme by Alan Silvestri.

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Ke Huy Quan returns to the big screen with Love Hurts, where he gets to flex his action chops alongside Ariana Debose, Daniel Wu and Marshawn Lynch. Ke plays a former hitman pulled back into his old life when he finds out his brother is hunting him. We talk about whether this action-comedy (from the producers of Nobody) succeeds on both fronts, before heading into a longer conversation about what it takes to be a successful action star in this day and age, and how that’s changed over time, or is affected by different cultural mores.

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To commemorate Chinese New Year, we’re throwing back to a 2011 Hong Kong film, A Simple Life, directed by Ann Hui. It stars Andy Lau and and Deannie Ip and explores a middle-aged man’s bond with his domestic helper. After that on Take Two, we explore the best Chinese New Year movies before wrapping up with the B-Side, where we dive into the music of Wong Fei Hung, who was a Chinese martial artist, physician and folk hero in the 19th and early 20th century.

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Following the sweet and spectacular successes that were the first two Paddington films, this third installment finds everyone’s favourite little marmalade-loving bear adventuring in Peru. We get into whether this movie lives up to the charm set by its predecessors, and then segue into talking about our favourite movies and films from childhood, and how they’ve continued to shape our tastes. We then close off with a little musical treat from Paddington. 

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Leigh Whannell returns following his 2020 critical and commercial hit, The Invisible Man. This time he’s tackling another ‘Universal Monster’, Wolf Man. It stars Christopher Abbott as Blake, a man who, after moving his family to his childhood home, is attacked by a werewolf and that transforms him into something horrifying. Does Whannell deliver the goods? We review the film and then on Take Two discuss the scariest on-screen creatures and finally on the B-Side, unpack the music of Ennio Morricone’s Wolf.

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In this double header edition of Stuff We Missed, we’re catching up with a couple of releases from late 2024. First up, what some are dubbing Clint Eastwood’s final film, Juror #2, which stars Nicholas Hoult in a courtroom thriller about a juror grappling with a moral dilemma in a high-profile murder trial. Then, we discuss a movie that’s been making waves more for its off-screen controversy - It Ends With Us, the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (who also directs). Meanwhile, in Take Two, we get into courtroom dramas and why they offer such rich storytelling opportunities.

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On the first episode of Popcorn Culture of 2025, we’re reviewing the second season of the highly popular Korean series, Squid Game. We discuss if the second season is a step up from season 1 and if it's worth the binge. Then in Take Two, we ask you if hype influences your decision to watch something or not.

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On the final edition of Popcorn Culture this year, we’re reviewing the latest in Disney’s relentless lineup of remakes and prequels - Mufasa: The Lion King. With an all-star cast and crew (Barry Jenkins directing, Lin-Manuel Miranda songwriting, voices like Mads Mikkelsen joining the original cast), expectations are high. In our chat, we unpack whether the movie is worth a school holiday watch, and whether it enriches the larger story arc of Mufasa as a character. Then in Take Two, the question is simple: What were some of your favourite movies of 2024?

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This week, we review another double bill of Stuff We Missed – TV edition. First up is the gritty crime-thriller set in Matt Reeves’ Gotham City and centred around the iconic Batman villain, The Penguin. And then, we move on to the most expensive animated series of all time, Arcane, an adaptation of the hit video game League of Legends. After that on Take Two, we discuss some of our favourite TV shows of 2024, before we close off on The B-Side with a listen to Enemy by Imagine Dragons.

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8 years after the first movie, Moana 2 is hitting the big screen, and sees our heroine reunited with some familiar faces, while fighting new foes. With Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprise their roles as Moana and Maui respectively, this was a movie that was originally conceived as a limited series - so how does it fare as a feature film? We discuss that, before continuing to ask a larger question about Disney, and whether its golden age has passed, or is yet to come, before closing out with a deep dive into the music of the Moanaverse.

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Based on the famed musical that tells the story of Glinda and Elphaba (the Good Witch of the North, and the Wicked Witch of the West respectively) in the Land of Oz, Wicked: Part I is a much-anticipated movie, not least because of the musical firepower in its cast and the credentials of its director Jon M. Chu. We kick things off by reviewing the film, and whether we’re looking forward to Part II, before then discussing the best and worst of musicals. And finally, we close things off with a deep dive into the music of Wicked, written by Stephen Schwartz.

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Ridley Scott returns with Gladiator II, a sequel to his 2000 classic that nobody asked for but we’re all excited for nonetheless. Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington, the film promises a fresh and intense journey into the brutal and captivating world of ancient Rome. We discuss if it lives up to the original, then on Take Two, talk about some of our favourite sequels of all time and finally on the B-Side, we explore the epic theme by Hans Zimmer from the original film.

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Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans team up for Red One, an action-packed Christmas-themed film from Jumanji director, Jake Kasdan. Johnson stars as the North Pole’s Head of Security, who teams up with a rebellious “naughty list” tracker played by Evans to save Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons) from a mysterious kidnapping. We review the film and then on Take Two discuss our favourite action-comedies and finally on The B-Side, we talk about a Christmas classic, You're A Mean One, Mr Grinch.

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With the 4th season of OMITB newly wrapped up, we share our thoughts on the latest instalment of the cosiest murder crime podcast show around. From its jam-packed cast of Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd, Jane Lynch (and even more guest stars), to its clever writing, there’s a lot to love. Then on Take Two, we discuss what are some of the movies and shows that have proven to be a truly pleasant surprise, especially with so much out there to watch at the moment. And then we close off with that signature Only Murders in the Building theme for The B-Side.

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It’s the week of Deepavali! In light of that, we’re reviewing a Tamil film, specifically director Ram’s 2019 family drama, Peranbu. It stars Mammootty and follows the journey of a single father raising his daughter with cerebral palsy. After that on Take Two, we discuss what we like to watch during festival seasons and close off with the B-Side, where we look at one of composer Yuvan Shankar Raja’s most celebrated songs, Rowdy Baby.

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After the success of 2022’s Smile, writer-director Parker Finn is back with a sequel in which Naomi Scott plays Skye Riley, a pop star working through trauma and a difficult past, who finds herself ensnared and haunted by a series of increasingly horrifying and disturbing events. We start off by reviewing the movie, and discuss whether - in essence - we found it scary. Then, we move on to asking which central performances have been so integral to a movie that they were make or break, before closing off with a song that’s gone viral from the movie.

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This week, we’re reviewing a double bill of Stuff We Missed: movies that premiered earlier in the year, that we didn’t get to at the time. First up, the Thai tearjerker How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, Pat Boonitipat’s film about a university dropout who cares for his dying grandma with ulterior motives. And then we move on to Inside Out 2, which sees Riley at the age of 13, dealing with new situations and new emotions. After that on Take Two, we discuss movies and shows that make us cry, before we close off on The B-Side with a listen to Michael Giacchino’s music for Inside Out.

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Joaquin Phoenix is back reprising his role as the iconic DC Comics villain in Joker: Folie A Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to 2019’s Joker, which received critical acclaim, smashed the box office and was celebrated by fans too. The sequel which also stars Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, promises to be just as quirky, thrilling and deeply disturbing as the first. We discuss if we agree with the 12-min standing ovation the sequel received at the Venice film festival, before exploring how everyone feels about movies and shows that take a walk on the dark side, and finally on The B-Side, doing a deep dive into the music Hildur Guðnadóttir composed for these films.

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Based on the book series of the same name, The Wild Robot explores the themes of survival, discovery and connection, through the story of Roz, a robot that’s shipwrecked on a deserted island, who then has to adapt to these new surroundings. We discuss this critically acclaimed movie, that’s also likely to be the last Dreamworks movie done in-house, before expanding the conversation to look at other animation classics that exist outside the Disney/Pixar studio system. Finally, we close off as always with The B-Side, a deep dive into the music of the big and small screen.

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Blumhouse is back with another horror outing, this time it’s Speak No Evil, a remake of the 2018 acclaimed Danish film. The 2024 film is directed by James Watkins and stars James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis. We discuss if the film lives up to the original, and then in Take Two talk about remakes that worked (or didn’t) and finally on The B-Side explore the music of horror trailers.

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After a very long and circuitous road to being made, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is out! The sequel to the original 1988 film sees the return of Tim Burton (of course), but also most of the main players: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, along with new additions Jenna Ortega and Willem Dafoe, among others. We discuss this much-anticipated sequel and whether it’s a return to form for Burton, before turning our attention to cult classics in Take Two. Finally, we close off with a deep dive into Danny Elfman’s original score for the movies, and a shout-out to Harry Belafonte.

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It’s a slow week in cinema releases, but there’ve been a slew of movies that either never made it to the big screen here in Malaysia (or that we didn’t get to review), including The Holdovers, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, so we’re discussing them all and dissecting which one is worth watching and re-watching. Then on Take Two, we’re looking at the movies we wish would return to the big screen, since there’ve been a number of re-releases recently, including Sepet. And of course, we’re concluding with The B-Side, which is about the music of Mad Max.

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With Merdeka just around the corner, we’re having an all-Malaysian episode today! Kicking off with a review of Amanda Nell Eu’s much-lauded Tiger Stripes, in its full form on Netflix, before segueing into a discussion about the best that Malaysian film has to offer, before we close off with The B-Side as always.

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The Alien franchise rolls on with its latest instalment, this time as a standalone interquel that takes place in between the events of Alien and Aliens, when young space colonists encounter a xenomorph, while scavenging on an abandoned space station. Helmed by Fede Alvarez, it’s a highly anticipated movie especially following the (relative) disappointments of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. We discuss if it’s lived up to the hype, and then in Take Two, cover some of our favourite on-screen extraterrestrials, before closing off with a very old track, You Are My Lucky Star on The B-Side.

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M. Night Shyamalan’s back with his latest high-concept thriller: this time about a serial killer trapped at a concert with his daughter, as the walls and law enforcement close in. We discuss whether this Josh Hartnett-led vehicle works, and whether the nepo baby accusations are warranted. Then on Take Two, we discuss the directors who are either the main draw for watching something, or the reason we avoid a project. Finally, on the B-Side, in honour of father-daughter duos in movies, we’re closing it out with Aerosmith’s classic tearjerker, I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.

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The second season of House of the Dragon is done and dusted, with the tensions between the Greens and the Blacks at an all time high and more glorious dragon battles. We discuss the entire season before getting into the question of on screen kings & queens on Take Two and closing it off with another one of Ramin Djawadi’s iconic themes from the franchise on B-Side. 

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Carmy and the gang are back, cousins! Each season of The Bear has had its own unique flavours and travails, and Season 3 picks up exactly where we left off, with the crew of the newly formed restaurant on the search for their menu, and a good review. We discuss how this season stands up against the earlier ones, and then since the awards (and some viewers) keep insisting that The Bear is a comedy, Take 2 is all about the shows and movies that manage to straddle that fine line between drama and comedy, before we close off on The B-Side with some Taylor Swift.

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Everyone’s favourite motor mouthed masked hero is back, partnered (for real this time) with a well-loved cigar-smoking Adamantium-clawed member of the X-Men! In other words, this week we’re reviewing Deadpool & Wolverine, and discussing whether this heavily anticipated reuniting of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman lives up to the hype. Then on Take Two, we discuss the moments when other actors have been perfectly matched with iconic roles. Finally, we close off with the B-Side, focusing on that legendary X-Men animated theme.

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New FBI agent Lee Harker finds themselves tangled in the dark web of a Satanic serial killer known as Longlegs, played by the ever eccentric Nicolas Cage. We review the film, before reflecting on our favourite horror films on Take Two and then closing it off with Bernard Herrmann’s iconic score from Psycho.

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House of the Dragon is back with its second season, and with all the hallmarks that have come to characterise Westeros: intense, twisted relationships, endless battles both literal and figurative, and more dragons than you can shake a stick at. We catch up with HotD Season 2 - or at least all the episodes that have dropped so far - before getting into the question of power struggles on screen in Take Two, and closing it off with Ramin Djawadi’s famous theme on B-Side.

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Popcorn Culture is back, with some changes in the lineup and the show, and we’re kicking things off with a review of the latest installment in the A Quiet Place series, A Quiet Place: Day One. After that, we move on to hearing from folks about the movies and shows they've enjoyed the most in 2024 - so far at least - before capping off with a deep dive into Bobby Darrin’s Beyond The Sea, which played a significant role in this movie series (and also Finding Nemo, among other films).

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