Explore every episode of the podcast Filmspotting
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campy and Creeping Dread Horror, plus The Movies That (De)Formed Us | SVU | 27 Oct 2026 | 01:32:36 | |
For the final episode in Spook-tober, Jordan and Matt share the defining scares of their childhoods and respond to listener requests for campy and creeping dread horror movies. And then — the horror! — Jordan takes a turn hosting America’s fastest growing game show: Portmanteau-To-Toe. Intro (00:00:00–00:03:07) The Movies That (De)Formed Us (00:03:08–00:39:56) Listener Request Seg: Campy and Creeping Dread Horror Movies (00:39:57–01:09:09) Notes / Game: Portmanteau-To-Toe (01:09:09–01:24:09) New to Streaming / Credits (01:24:10–01:32:31) Show Notes Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (available now!): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Matt’s book tour! Bazooga jingle by Andy Wilkowske https://www.andrewwilkowske.com/ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| "There is a distinct difference between suspense and surprise" with Bilge Ebiri | The Movie Racket | 26 Oct 2026 | 00:54:13 | |
Film critic Bilge Ebiri (Vulture, New York Magazine) joins Michael Phillips to test one of Alfred Hitchcock's most famous assertions: "There is a distinct difference between suspense and surprise." Drawing on Hitchcock classics including Sabotage, Rear Window, Notorious, and Psycho, Michael and Bilge explore why the 'Master of Suspense' believed audiences should dread an explosion more than simply be startled by one. They discuss Hitchcock's notorious "grave error" in Sabotage, the enduring power of the night-vision sequence in The Silence of the Lambs, the unresolved terror of Zodiac, and what contemporary filmmakers such as Jordan Peele and Zach Cregger have learned from Hitchcock's approach. Join the conversation by emailing themovieracket@filmspotting.net. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Sense & Sensibility (2026), plus Fatherland and Whalefall | #1086 | 23 Oct 2026 | 01:33:27 | |
How do you reimagine a beloved novel like Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility without losing what people love — and expect — from an Austen adaptation? Whatever it is, director Georgia Oakley appears to have figured it out. Adam and Josh praise Oakley’s earthy and unfussy film. Plus, a recap of their weekend at the Chicago International Film Festival, which included a screening of Pawel Pawilkowski’s Fatherland, and — for Josh — a 30th anniversary screening of Cheryl Dunye’s Watermelon Woman. Also, Josh’s review of Whalefall, and listeners rank the most anticipated movies of the fall. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:03:08) Sense & Sensibility (00:03:09-00:25:34) Filmspotting Family (00:25:35-00:30:35) Sense & Sensibility, cont. (00:30:36-00:46:38) Fatherland (00:46:39-01:07:00) Watermelon Woman, Whalefall (01:07:01-01:13:34) Polls (01:13:35-01:25:35) Credits / New Releases (01:25:36-01:31:25) Notes: -Refocus Film Festival https://refocusfilmfestival.org/ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more. -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Zuck Dynasty, Pt. 1 — The Social Network | 22 Oct 2026 | 01:05:32 | |
Aaron Sorkin has said his new The Social Reckoning is not a sequel so much as a companion piece to David Fincher’s The Social Network, which Sorkin also scripted. Whatever you call it, though, these two films are undeniably linked, not just by Sorkin’s involvement, but especially by their interest in the tech-bro enigma that is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. So this week we’re returning to 2010 and The Social Network to consider how the film’s depiction of Facebook’s then-recent origin story plays from our social-media-saturated present; how Sorkin’s script and Jesse Eisenberg’s performance as Zuckerberg find humanity, and maybe even sympathy, in a pointedly unlikable protagonist; and how Fincher made it all work on screen, from the instant-classic Facemash montage to a final shot we’ll be forever refreshing in our minds. Then in Feedback, a longtime friend of the show shares some thoughts prompted by our recent episode on William Friedkin’s Sorcerer. Please share your thoughts about The Social Network, The Social Reckoning, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Top 5 Sofia Coppola Scenes | Archive | 21 Oct 2026 | 00:28:08 | |
Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette is back in theaters this week for its 20th anniversary. In 2017, along with a review of Coppola's The Beguiled, Josh and guest host Angelica Jade Bastien shared their Top 5 Sofia Coppola Scenes. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Apple TV’s Matchbox The Movie Is a Movie For No One, plus Slow-Burn Horror Movies | SVU | 20 Oct 2026 | 01:34:13 | |
From none of the people who brought you Barbie comes a new film inspired by (or mandated by?) the Mattel corporation. It’s Matchbox: The Movie! And it stinks. But in what ways exactly does it stink? The answers may surprise you. Matt and Jordan discuss. Plus, Jordan’s thoughts on the conclusion of Prime Video’s Carrie limited series, which was reviewed on last week’s show; a Rec Seg featuring titles — one adapted from a video game, the other from a toy — that fare better than Matchbox; a listener request for slow-burn horror movies; and the return of Portmanteau-to-Toe: a Movie Trivia Game. Intro / Carrie recap (00:00:00–00:08:41) Matchbox: The Movie (Apple TV) (00:08:42–00:33:42) Rec Seg! (00:33:43–00:47:41) Listener Request Seg: Slow-Burn Horror Movies (00:47:42–01:05:33) Game: Portmanteau-To-Toe (01:05:34–01:24:55) New to Streaming / Credits (01:24:56–01:34:08) Show Notes Jordan: “What 6 Different Versions of This Sex Comedy Say About the Countries That Made Them” https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/04/review-the-invite-film-international-versions/ Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (available now!): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Matt’s book tour! Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| "I wonder what percent of people ever actually encounter a work of art that changes them" with Manohla Dargis | The Movie Racket | 19 Oct 2026 | 00:57:51 | |
Can a movie change your life? In a 1960s interview, Stanley Kubrick posed a deceptively simple provocation: "I wonder what percent of people ever actually encounter a work of art that changes them." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Fall Movie Preview and The Social Reckoning | #1085 | 16 Oct 2026 | 01:45:56 | |
With the fall film festival season (mostly) in the rearview and release dates set through the end of the year, Adam and Josh hold a Fall Movie Preview Draft that sees them largely ignoring obvious picks like Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three in favor of battling over some of the most intriguing indies still to come. Plus, a review of Aaron Sorkin's The Social Reckoning and Massacre Theatre. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:25) ‘26 Fall Preview Draft (00:02:26-0:25:19) Filmspotting Family (0:25:20-00:31:25) Preview Draft, cont. (00:31:26-1:02:41) The Social Reckoning (1:02:42-01:30:58) Massacre Theatre (01:30:59-01:36:46) Credits / New Releases (01:36:47-01:44:01) Notes: -Yes, for some reason James Caan appeared on a Fall Preview cast list for “Cliff Booth” along with his son. No, it didn’t occur to Adam that he was dead. (He is.) -”The Family Guy” has the famous “It insists upon itself” joke – not “The Simpsons.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYAi5aI_NPc -Refocus Film Festival https://refocusfilmfestival.org/ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more. -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Trial By Media, Pt. 2 — Primetime | Next Picture Show | 15 Oct 2026 | 01:01:23 | |
Primetime is a far-from-straightforward take on a true story, using the mid-aughts TV phenomenon To Catch a Predator and especially its host, Chris Hansen, for a darkly comic exploration of the morally murky place where ambition and justice overlap. It’s a tonal high wire act that gets a lot of mileage out of Lance Oppenheim’s expressively stylized direction and strong performances from Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever, and Skyler Gisondo, but whether that all adds up to a satisfying film is up for debate this week. Then we bring 1957’s Sweet Smell of Success back in for Connections to discuss how it and Primetime both navigate protagonists who punch down from their moral high ground, and the bygone media environments that enable them, all while maintaining a sense of humor. Then, for anyone looking for a fuller picture of To Catch a Predator’s rise and fall, we offer a Your Next Picture Show for David Osit’s 2025 documentary Predators. Please share your thoughts about Sweet Smell of Success, Primetime, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Next pairing: Aaron Sorkin's The Social Reckoning and David Fincher's The Social Network. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Top 5 of 1991 | Archive | 14 Oct 2026 | 00:28:08 | |
The 1991 movie year turns 35 this year. T2, Barton Fink, Boys in the Hood. In 2014, Adam and Josh looked back a mere 23 years for their Top 5 of '91. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Is Prime’s Carrie Remake Too Much of a Good Thing? | SVU | 13 Oct 2026 | 01:39:01 | |
Stephen King’s Carrie has been adapted for film twice, has endured a sequel and even a Broadway musical, and now Mike Flanagan has brought the writer’s debut novel to the small screen in a limited series for Prime Video. Flanagan is a peerless adapter of King’s work, but does any version of Carrie need to be eight hours? Matt and Jordan discuss. In the Rec Seg, recommendations for a classic of ‘70s German cinema and an underseen King adaptation from the ‘90s. Plus, a listener writes in for some under-the-radar horror comedies, and Producer Sam hosts a King-themed movie game. Intro (00:00:00–00:02:26) Carrie (Prime Video) (00:02:27–00:31:45) Rec Seg! (00:31:46–00:50:55) Listener Req Seg! (00:50:56–01:06:42) Game: If You Come at the King, You Better Not Miss (01:06:43–01:26:40) New to Streaming / Credits (01:26:41–01:38:55) Show Notes Stephen King Wants You To Watch Maximum Overdrive (Trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IniwjSfs4fs Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (available now): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Matt’s book tour! Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| "Hollywood's like Egypt, full of crumbled pyramids" with Laura Friedman & Ron Falzone | The Movie Racket | 12 Oct 2026 | 00:46:54 | |
Hollywood has been dying for more than a century. At least, that's what people keep saying. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Digger and Primetime, plus Chicago International Film Fest Preview | #1084 | 09 Oct 2026 | 01:48:03 | |
Not everyone hates Digger. The big swing from star Tom Cruise and director Alejandro González Iñárritu was met with chilly box office and hostility from critics, but Adam and Josh (yes, even Iñárritu skeptic Adam!) found lots to like — especially after the film’s bold transition from politically-charged farce into something completely different. Plus, Josh on Primetime, previews of two regional fests, and listeners pick their favorite “Comedy Boom” movies. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:23) Digger (00:02:24-0:33:35) Filmspotting Family (0:33:36-00:37:20) Spoiler Talk: Digger (00:37:21-1:11:00) Primetime (1:11:01-01:16:21) Chicago / Refocus Film Fest Previews (01:16:22-01:31:21) Polls (01:31:22-01:42:54) Credits / New Releases (01:42:55-01:46:33) Chicago Film Festival Picks – Josh: -Citizen Osama https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/film/citizen-osama/ -Eight Bridges https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/film/eight-bridges/ Chicago Film Festival Picks – Adam: -The Debut https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/film/the-debut/ -The Girl with the Leica https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/film/the-girl-with-the-leica/ Notes: -Refocus Film Festival https://refocusfilmfestival.org/ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more. -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Trial By Media, Pt. 1 — Sweet Smell of Success | Next Picture Show | 08 Oct 2026 | 01:02:53 | |
Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime paints problematic TV phenomenon To Catch a Predator — and especially its host, Chris Hansen — as an enterprise fueled by ambition, amorality, and a tenuous grasp of journalistic ethics. Those qualities put us in mind of the cursed collaboration between desperate press agent Sidney Falco and influential columnist J.J. Hunsecker in 1957’s Sweet Smell of Success, so this week we’re digging into the twisted loyalties and razor-sharp dialogue of Alexander Mackendrick’s blisteringly cynical portrayal of a very different era in tabloid journalism. Then in Feedback, a listener helps flesh out a bit of William Friedkin trivia that came up during our recent Sorcerer discussion. Please share your thoughts about Sweet Smell of Success, Primetime, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Top 5 Tom Cruise Performances | Archive | 07 Oct 2026 | 00:54:10 | |
With Cruise back in ac-tor mode in Alejandro González Iñárritu's Digger, we're sharing our 2017 consideration of the long and storied career of "the last movie star." Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Low-Budget Gumption of Shudder’s Goody Goody | SVU | 06 Oct 2026 | 01:25:12 | |
For the first show of Scare-tober, Jordan and Matt take a look at the Shudder Original Goody Goody, a low-budget home-birth horror tale from first-time feature director Raymond Creamer. For a seasonally appropriate streaming watch, you could do worse. You could also do better, which is why Matt and Jordan use this week’s “Rec Seg” to suggest a couple of titles inspired by Goody Goody — one which exploits the very real horror of childbirth for laughs, and another which brilliantly captures the horror of being the only one who knows something terrible has happened. Then, listener Matt (no relation to host Matt) writes in asking for an entry-level horror film for his 9-year-old. And Matt hosts another round of Portmanteau-to-Toe for this week’s game Intro (00:00:00–00:04:32) Goody Goody (00:04:33–00:22:03) Rec Seg! (00:22:04–00:36:55) Listener Req Seg! (00:36:56–00:57:18) Game: Portmanteau-to-Toe (00:57:19–01:11:15) New to Streaming / Credits (01:11:16–01:25:08) Show Notes Bazooga jingle by Andy Wilkowske Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Matt’s book tour! Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Halloween ('78) vs. A Nightmare on Elm Street | Movie Death Match | 05 Oct 2026 | 01:45:29 | |
Chris Klimek convenes a showdown between arguably the two most influential slasher films ever made: John Carpenter's "Halloween" and Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street." One helped define the modern slasher, introducing audiences to the silent, implacable force of Michael Myers and transforming suburban streets into sites of terror. The other revitalized the genre six years later with Freddy Krueger, a wisecracking dream stalker who turned sleep itself into a death sentence. Arguing for "Halloween" is Jason Zinoman (Shock Value, The New York Times), who contends that Carpenter's film remains the genre's most influential and enduring achievement. Defending "Nightmare" is Deirdre Barrett, a Harvard dream researcher, psychologist, and author, who makes the case that Freddy Krueger taps into some of our deepest and most universal fears. Choose your winner at moviedeathmatch.com. (Times will not be precise with ads.) More From Jason: -‘Halloween’ 1978: The Times Finally Reviews a Horror Classic https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/movies/halloween-1978-review.html -Book: Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143121367 More From Deidre: -deirdrebarrett.com http://www.deirdrebarrett.com/ -Book: Pandemic Dreams https://www.amazon.com/dp/0982869533 Follow Chris: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Freshman (1925) with Sean Crosson | Field of Scenes | 04 Oct 2026 | 01:06:10 | |
For the debut episode of their new sport and film podcast, Adam Kempenaar and University of Iowa Journalism and Mass Communication colleague Travis Vogan, PhD, are joined by scholar Seán Crosson, PhD, to discuss Harold Lloyd’s 1925 silent comedy The Freshman. Together, they explore the massive box-office hit’s treatment of masculinity and football, and how the film helped shape the underdog and American Dream narratives that remain central to the genre a century later. Next Episode: –Hoop Dreams with Samantha Noelle Sheppard, PhD, Cornell University Links: –Email the show at fos@filmspotting.net. –Learn more about Seán Crosson Theme Music: –King of the Corpse Flowers by Oxykitten | Spotify See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Mulholland Drive at 25, plus If I Go Will They Miss Me and You Had to Be There | #1083 | 02 Oct 2026 | 01:36:56 | |
Two weeks after their Pantheon Project review of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, Adam and Josh take on the director’s 2001 mind-bender, Mulholland Drive, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. For a film with a reputation for being impenetrable, they find it surprisingly rich with clues while retaining all of its singular power. Plus, a Golden Brick nomination for If I Go Will They Miss Me, and thoughts on the new doc You Had To Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution. Notes: -David Lynch Ranked | Adam https://boxd.it/Xk5q6$rM7TfIkSmbYwC11L -David Lynch Ranked | Josh https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm/list/david-lynch-ranked/ -Golden Bricks https://www.filmspotting.net/bricks -New Podcast! Field of Scenes https://www.filmspotting.net/fieldofscenes Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more. -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Hazard Pay, Pt. 2 — The Weight | 01 Oct 2026 | 01:17:27 | |
There’s a lot to enjoy about The Weight: the tactile 1930s Oregon setting, strong performances from Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, a premise that allows for multiple suspense sequences. But Padraic McKinley’s directorial debut is arguably lacking in thematic heft and visceral grit, particularly when compared to the other film in this pairing. So after considering how The Weight succeeds and struggles on its own terms, we bring William Friedkin’s 1977 cult classic Sorcerer back in to consider how these two films about desperate men given a deadly opportunity differ in their approach to flawed protagonists, bridge-based action scenes, and lone female characters of consequence, and the one plot hole they have in common. Then our returning guest, Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi, offers a Your Next Picture Show recommendation for another 2026 film involving the transportation of dangerous cargo, The Rivals of Amziah King. Please share your thoughts about Sorcerer, The Weight, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Next Pairing: Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime and Alexander Mackendrick’s Sweet Smell of Success This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Avengers: Endgame | Archive | 30 Sep 2026 | 00:46:58 | |
Ahead of December's Doomsday, Avengers: Endgame is back in theaters. Here's Adam and Josh with their original 2019 review—including spoilers. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Netflix’s Unabomber Is the Worst Law & Order Episode Ever Made | SVU | 29 Sep 2026 | 01:39:29 | |
Starring Russell Crowe and an all-grown-up Jacob Tremblay (“Room” “”Wonder”), Netflix’s Unabomber was a promising title on the fall streaming slate. Unfortunately, director Janus Metz’s exploitative biopic about the notorious domestic terrorist (and manifesto author) comes up well short of expectations. But Matt and Jordan use the film as an excuse to recommend a couple of films as alternatives—one, an underseen, decade-old indie about a controversial mid-20th century social scientist; the other a stone-cold classic from the ‘90s. Plus, a listener request for contemporary films that look like the period in which they take place. And a ‘90s crime thriller game hosted by Jordan. Intro / Blumhouse Cheetos (00:00:00–00:07:44) Unabomber (00:07:45–00:32:46) Rec Seg! (00:32:47–00:51:27) Listener Req Seg! (00:51:28–01:06:25) Game: LLLE (01:06:26–01:23:58) New to Streaming / Credits (01:23:59–01:39:02) Show Notes Bazooga jingle by Andy Wilkowske Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Matt’s book tour! For what film should Alison Willmore make her triumphant return to SVU? Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| "Be Natural" with Marya E. Gates | The Movie Racket | 28 Sep 2026 | 00:49:46 | |
Film critic and author Marya E. Gates joins Michael to explore perhaps the simplest, most influential direction ever given to an actor: "Be natural." Links: -There is one Murnau, Borzage, and Fox Box available on Amazon… for $1,336. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Resident Evil and Top 5 Comedy Boom Movies, plus The Incomer | #1082 | 25 Sep 2026 | 02:34:45 | |
Adam and Josh welcome Filmspotting SVU co-host Matt Singer for the Top 5 Comedy Boom Movies. Singer’s new book, “Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever” documents the Frat Pack era of studio comedies that dominated the box office from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s—and gave a generation a lifetime’s worth of movie quotes. Plus, reviews of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil and the new Scottish indie The Incomer. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:17) Top 5 Comedy Boom Movies (00:02:18-1:01:58) Filmspotting Family (1:01:59-01:05:34) Top 5, cont. (01:05:35-01:38:31) Polls (01:38:32-01:52:09) Resident Evil (01:52:10-02:23:50) The Incomer (02:23:51-02:27:36) Credits / New Releases (02:27:37-02:32:25) Notes: Matt Singer’s “Funny Business" https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more. -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Ethan Hawke | Archive | 23 Sep 2026 | 00:25:40 | |
With Ethan Hawke back in theaters in the period adventure The Weight, we're sharing Adam's 2018 interview with the always thoughtful and insightful actor. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Netflix’s Best of the Best is Actually Kind of the Best | SVU | 22 Sep 2026 | 01:26:43 | |
The new Netflix comedy Best of the Best introduced Matt and Jordan to the world of collegiate competitive Bollywood dance, and they left converts: to the dancing, to stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia, and to director Lena Khan’s winning movie (which has a joke-filled script written by comedian Hassan Minhaj and writing partner Prashanth Venkataramanujam). In the Best of the Best-inspired Rec Seg, they recommend an entry-level Bollywood classic and an obscure NYC-set dance movie. Then it’s a pair of single-setting (“bottle”) movies for listener Steven, and Producer Sam hosts a “Let’s Dance!” round of trivia. Intro (00:00:00–00:02:28) Best of the Best (00:02:29–00:20:55) Rec Seg! (00:20:56–00:36:45) Listener Req Seg! “Bottle Movies” (00:36:46–00:52:14) Game: Let’s Dance! (00:52:15–01:08:55) New to Streaming / Credits (01:08:56–01:26:39) Show Notes For what film should Alison Willmore make her triumphant return to SVU? Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Hazard Pay, Pt. 1 — Sorcerer | 22 Sep 2026 | 01:04:13 | |
Padraic McKinley’s The Weight isn’t a remake ofThe Wages of Fear, though it feels deeply indebted to the H.G. Clouzot classic in its thrilling depiction of a group of outlaws on a near-impossible mission across deadly terrain. William Friedkin’s 1977 cult favorite Sorcerer technically isn’t a Wages remake, either — Friedkin insisted it was his own adaptation of the original Georges Arnaud novel — though it’s similarly difficult to watch without thinking about its predecessor. So you’ll forgive us if this week’s revisitation of Sorcerer takes a few detours into Wages as we consider how Friedkin put his own distinctive stamp on this juicy premise, whether the film’s extended prologue works toward or against its narrative momentum, and how much of Sorcerer’s notoriously arduous production comes across on screen. Then in Feedback, a listener provides a recommendation for a recent under-the-radar road movie that follows in the tire tracks of Paris, Texas and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Please share your thoughts about Sorcerer, The Weight, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| “A picture that stays with you is made up of a hundred or more hidden things” with Alonso Duralde | The Movie Racket | 21 Sep 2026 | 00:56:16 | |
Film critic and author Alonso Duralde joins Michael Phillips to explore a piece of filmmaking wisdom from Vincente Minnelli: that a picture which stays with an audience is built from “a hundred or more hidden things.” Notes: "I Wake Up Screening: What To Do Once You've Made That Movie" by John Anderson and Laura Kim https://www.amazon.com/dp/0823088987?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Books by Alonso Duralde I'll Be Home For Christmas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Blue Velvet at 40: Beneath the Surface | #1081 | 18 Sep 2026 | 01:38:52 | |
As David Lynch's Blue Velvet turns 40, Adam and Josh revisit the film that shocked audiences and helped define modern American cinema. Is it Lynch's masterpiece? Plus: Massacre Theatre and Josh’s thoughts on Practical Magic 2 and Paul Greengrass's The Uprising. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:03:09) Pantheon Project: Blue Velvet (00:03:10-01:16:00) Filmspotting Family (01:16:01-01:19:03) Practical Magic 2, The Uprising (01:19:04-01:27:11) Massacre Theatre (01:27:12-1:33:05) Credits / New Releases (1:33:06-1:37:01) Notes: - Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more. -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Top 5 David Lynch Scenes | Archive | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:40:37 | |
Blue Velvet turns 40 this month—Adam and Josh have a Sacred Cow review coming later this week—so we're going back to 2014 for our Top 5 David Lynch Scenes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Existential Zones, Pt. 2 — It Ends | 15 Sep 2026 | 01:02:50 | |
Alexander Ullom's It Ends is a daring little piece of microbudget drama about four friends at transition points in their lives, who find themselves in a place where life and death no longer hold any meaning. Whether it’s a film about despair, about the afterlife, about the human condition, or all of the above, is up for discussion this week, as well as how It Ends fits into this current moment in independent horror cinema. After that, we bring Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris back in for Connections to discuss these two films’ respective existential journeys, the baggage their characters are bringing with them, and how each movie uses its genre premise to explore a big central metaphor. Then for Your Next Picture Show, we take a quick look at how Steven Soderbergh’s 2002 version of Solaris compares to Tarkovsky’s. Please share your thoughts about Solaris, It Ends, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Next Pairing: Padraic McKinley’s The Weight and William Friedkin’s Sorcerer This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| We Can’t Look Away From Netflix’s Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly | SVU | 15 Sep 2026 | 01:00:22 | |
For a few days in the summer of 2024, the world’s attention was focused on Dr. Rachel Gunn — and not for anything good. Gunn, aka “Raygun”, was representing Australia at the Paris Olympics in the inaugural breakdancing competition, when her infamous performance became the subject of mockery, outrage, and even conspiracy theories. That’s the subject of the new Netflix documentary Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly. Matt and Jordan have a review, and use the film as an opportunity to recommend a film from the dawn of on-screen breakdancing and a sports doc about a ‘90s-era rivalry. Plus, streaming recommendations for a listener looking for movies with adrenaline-rush-inducing twists. Intro (00:00:00–00:07:20) Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly (00:07:21–00:23:38) Rec Seg! (00:23:39–00:40:27) Listener Req Seg: Movies With Twists (00:40:28–00:52:47) New to Streaming / Credits (00:52:48–01:00:16) Show Notes For what film should Alison Willmore make her triumphant return to SVU? Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| "All you need to make a movie is a girl and a gun" with Rachel Walther | The Movie Racket | 14 Sep 2026 | 00:58:48 | |
Film noir expert Rachel Walther joins Michael Phillips to test a quote commonly attributed to Jean-Luc Godard. But whether it belongs to Godard, Howard Hawks, or someone else entirely, it points to a persistent question about what audiences really want from movies. From Gun Crazy and Double Indemnity to Jackie Brown, No Country for Old Men, and the James Bond franchise, they consider the enduring appeal of sex and danger and whether the famous formula still holds up more than a century after it was first proposed. Join the conversation by emailing themovieracket@filmspotting.net. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Coyote vs. Acme and The Rocky Horror Picture Show | #1080 | 11 Sep 2026 | 01:36:40 | |
When Coyote vs. Acme was shelved in 2023 for a corporate tax write-off, the response from film fans was as swift as a roadrunner and as explosive as a pile of TNT. When it was picked up by another distributor (Ketchup Entertainment), the outrage turned to anticipation – justifiably so, say Adam and Josh. Plus, they honor the late Tim Curry with a review of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and listeners weigh in with their favorite ‘90s movie villains, and more. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:36) Coyote vs. Acme (00:02:37-00:33:49) Filmspotting Family (00:33:50-00:39:12) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (00:39:13-01:11:45) Notes / Polls (01:11:46-01:30:30) Credits / New Releases (01:30:31-1:34:25) Notes: Filmspotting’s Top 5 Needle Drops Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more. -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Top 5 Music Docs | Archive | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:46:29 | |
With the new Oasis doc Don't Look Back in Anger coming soon to theaters—and inspiring this month's Movie Death Match (The Last Waltz vs. Stop Making Sense)—we're sharing Adam and Josh's Top 5 Music Docs from 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Kenneth Branagh Can’t Rescue Apple TV’s Mayday | SVU | 08 Sep 2026 | 01:11:35 | |
From the writer/directors of Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Apple TV’s Cold War comedy Mayday was a promising title on the 2026 streaming movie calendar. Unfortunately, Matt and Jordan agree that the film isn’t the equal to those earlier films (no thanks to a phoned-in performance from Ryan Reynolds), despite a clever premise and the presence of Kenneth Branagh, who is having the time of his life. Matt digs into Branagh’s strange career in the Rec Seg, suggesting an early Branagh effort (as both director and star) as an alternative, and Jordan answers with a film that finds Christian Bale as a fighter pilot caught behind enemy lines. Plus, Bran-agh Flakes!, a Jordan-hosted game. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00–00:05:43) Mayday (00:05:44–00:26:32) Rec Seg! (00:26:33–00:44:40) Game: Bran-agh Flakes (00:44:41–01:02:24) New to Streaming / Credits (01:02:25–01:11:29) Show Notes Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Existential Zones, Pt. 1 — Solaris (1972) | 08 Sep 2026 | 01:08:27 | |
Alexander Ullom’s feature debut, It Ends, has been billed as a horror movie, but it’s more of an existential exercise wrapped inside a genre premise. That same description could be applied to Solaris, though Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1972 science-fiction classic takes nearly twice as long to ponder the nature of life in a situation where death has no meaning anymore. So this week we’re discussing whether Solaris’ deliberate pace and opaque symbolism work toward or against its emotional core, its relative accessibility compared to Tarkovsky’s other work, and what about the film invites its reputation as the “anti-2001.” Then in Feedback, a listener brings an alternative reading to our recent discussion of War of the Worlds as a response to 9/11. Please share your thoughts about Solaris, It Ends, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Stop Making Sense vs. The Last Waltz | Movie Death Match | 07 Sep 2026 | 01:36:03 | |
Chris Klimek convenes a battle of the bands between two of the most acclaimed concert films ever made: Jonathan Demme's Stop Making Sense and Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz. One is a lean, propulsive document of Talking Heads at the height of their powers, transforming a live performance into something theatrical and strangely transcendent. The other is a star-studded farewell to The Band that expands beyond a single concert into a sweeping elegy for an era of rock and roll itself. Arguing for The Last Waltz is Steven Hyden (Is This It: The Never-Ending Rise and Fall of The Strokes and Rock and Roll), who contends that Scorsese's film is more than a concert movie: it's the definitive cinematic statement on rock music and its mythology. Representing Stop Making Sense is Elizabeth Cantwell (Bright Wall/Dark Room), who makes the case that Demme's film remains the more immersive, inventive, and enduring work of cinema. Is the greatest concert film about a band, or about rock and roll itself? Which movie best captures the power of live music on screen? Choose your winner at moviedeathmatch.com. CHAPTERS Intro / Meet the Advocates (00:00:00-00:09:55) Rd. 1 The Movies in Their Time (00:09:56-00:45:03) Rd. 2 The Movies in Our Time (00:45:04-01:14:53) Rd. 3 The Movies for All Time (01:14:54-01:29:55) The Verdict / Credits (01:29:56-01:35:42) More From Elizabeth: -One Must Imagine Talking Heads Happy -Bright Wall/Dark Room Podcast https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/podcast/ -Assault on Precinct 13 and Schrödinger's Cat More From Steven: -Indiecast https://art19.com/shows/indiecast -Evil Speakers | Substack https://stevenhyden.substack.com/ -There Was Nothing You Could Do https://www.dacapopress.com/titles/steven-hyden/there-was-nothing-you-could-do/9780306832062/ -Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me More From Chris: Reviewing the opening of David Byrne’s 2008-9 Everything That Happens Will Happen Today tour for the Washington Post Pop Culture Happy Hour: David Byrne’s American Utopia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Ridley Scott Draft with Roxana Hadadi and Filipiñana | #1079 | 04 Sep 2026 | 02:06:32 | |
With The Dog Stars in theaters, Adam and Josh invited Vulture’s Roxana Hadadi to the show for a Ridley Scott Draft. Picks one and two are easy: Alien or Blade Runner. But what about the third pick? And will divisive Scott films like Prometheus and Kingdom of Heaven get any love? Plus, a Golden Brick nomination for the new Filipiñana, thoughts on the passing of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, and Massacre Theatre. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:08) Ridley Scott Draft, Pt. 1 (00:02:09-01:05:14) Filmspotting Family (01:05:15-01:11:14) Ridley Scott Draft, Pt. 2 (01:11:15-01:42:50) Brickspotting: Filipiñana (01:42:51-01:46:50) RIP Dolly Parton, Tim Curry (01:46:51-01:53:04) Massacre Theatre (01:53:05-01:59:42) Credits / Releases (01:59:43-1:48:48) Notes: -Who won the Ridley Scott Draft? https://www.filmspotting.net/top-5-lists-archive/1079-ridley-scott-draft -"Eva Green rules the much longer, much better director’s cut of Kingdom of Heaven" https://www.avclub.com/eva-green-rules-the-much-longer-much-better-director-s-1846466625 -"Alexander Siddig Answers Every Question We Have About Kingdom of Heaven" https://www.vulture.com/article/alexander-siddig-tells-us-everything-about-kingdom-of-heaven.html Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more. -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting: Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm: Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Blade Runner with Michael Phillips | Archive | 02 Sep 2026 | 00:35:25 | |
With Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars in theaters and our own Ridley Scott Draft (with Vulture's Roxana Hadadi) coming Friday, we're sharing this 2017 Sacred Cow review of Scott's sci-fi classic. Michael Phillips joined Adam and Josh. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| What Is Hulu’s Desert Warrior and Who Is It For? | SVU | 01 Sep 2026 | 01:42:26 | |
When the story of a movie’s financing and troubled post-production are more compelling than the movie itself, you’ve got problems. And in this case, you’ve got Desert Warrior, a 7th-century, Saudi Arabia-set — and financed — epic starring Anthony Mackie along with Sir Ben Kingsley and Sharlto Copley. Matt and Jordan review the Rupert Wyatt-directed curiosity, and use the film to recommend an American desert-set indie from the early 2000s and another (undeservedly) unloved Rupert Wyatt film. Plus, a listener request for “sad man” movies on the Criterion Channel, and a game that has Matt and Jordan remembering — or trying to remember — summer movies from the year 2012. Intro (00:00:00–00:04:10) Desert Warrior (00:04:11–00:31:57) Rec Seg! (00:31:58–00:48:14) Listener Request Seg! (00:48:15–01:08:01) Game: Mark My Words! (01:08:02–01:32:32) New to Streaming / Credits (01:32:33–01:42:15) Show Notes Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ The Best and Worst Movies of Summer 2012 (According to Us) https://screencrush.com/best-worst-movies-summer-2012/ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Family That’s Prey Together, Pt. 2 — The End of Oak Street | 01 Sep 2026 | 01:01:57 | |
The Platt family is barely surviving, and that’s before their neighborhood is inexplicably dropped millions of years into the past and overrun by hungry dinosaurs. The End of Oak Street isn’t nearly as concerned with explaining that premise or exploring its characters as it is with facilitating dino mayhem and nostalgia for the films of writer-director David Robert Mitchell’s youth. That can be to the film’s benefit and detriment, both of which we cover in this week’s discussion, before bringing Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds back in to see how these two family survival narratives compare in their respective ideas about flawed parents, imperiled children, and the universal human desire to not get eaten. Then in Your Next Picture Show we consider a couple of possible alternate pairing for Oak Street, one featuring aliens, one featuring dinosaurs, and both underrated. Please share your thoughts about War of the Worlds, The End of Oak Street, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Next Pairing: Alexander Ullom’s It Ends and Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| "Pictures are for entertainment, messages should be delivered by Western Union" with Robert Daniels | The Movie Racket | 31 Aug 2026 | 00:54:48 | |
Film critic Robert Daniels (RogerEbert.com, The New York Times) joins Michael Phillips to test one of Hollywood's most enduring bits of studio wisdom, attributed to producer Samuel Goldwyn: "Pictures are for entertainment, messages should be delivered by Western Union." From I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, High Noon, and The Best Years of Our Lives to Origin, Don't Look Up, and Triangle of Sadness, Michael and Robert discuss why some films are elevated by their ideas while others collapse under them, and whether the most effective message movies are the ones that never look like message movies at all. Join the conversation by emailing movieracket@filmspotting.net. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Top 5 Needle Drops (Pt. 2) | 30 Aug 2026 | 01:01:41 | |
Adam and Josh return with guest Rico Gagliano (MUBI Podcast) for Part 2 of their Top 5 Needle Drops. This episode brought to you by Anderson, Linklater, Fincher, and Scorsese. Notes: -The Sigur Rós song “Starálfur” means "staring elf," not "little elf." Josh harmar mistökin. Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Use code “summer” for 20% off a Filmspotting Family membership (thru 8.31) -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting: Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm: Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Top 5 Needle Drops (Pt. 1) and It Ends | #1078 | 28 Aug 2026 | 01:39:53 | |
Rico Gagliano (MUBI Podcast) joins Adam and Josh for the Top 5 Needle Drops, a conversation so robust we split it in half. Plus, the new It Ends earns a Golden Brick nomination, and listeners tell us the best third feature since 2020. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:37) Rico Gagliano Welcome / Top 5 Intro (00:02:38-00:24:52) Top 5 Needle Drops (#5-4) (00:24:53-01:02:51) Filmspotting Family (01:02:52-01:07:33) Golden Brickspotting: It Ends (01:07:34-01:18:20) Polls (01:18:21-01:33:27) Credits / Releases (01:33:28-1:37:57) Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Use code "summer" for 20% off a Filmspotting Family membership (thru 8.31) -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting: Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm: Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Family That's Prey Together, Pt. 1 — War of the Worlds (2005) | 27 Aug 2026 | 01:05:01 | |
David Robert Mitchell’s The End of Oak Street drops an ordinary family into extraordinary circumstances, forcing them to focus all their energy on surviving— and maybe, just maybe, learning to understand each other along the way. That structure, combined with Oak Street’s Spielbergian spectacle, pointed us toward 2005’s War of the Worlds, which fuses H.G. Wells’ 1898 novel to images and emotions that draw on the attacks of 9/11. How that approach holds up a quarter-century removed from the events that inspired it is up for discussion this week, along with where War of the Worlds falls on the Steven Spielberg Alien-Encounter Continuum, and just how close that sentimental ending comes to ruining the movie entirely. Then in Feedback, a listener, with an assist from Orson Welles, invites us to get galaxy-brained on the nature of homage as it relates to cinema generally and this podcast specifically. Please share your thoughts about War of the Worlds, The End of Oak Street, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Midnight Run | Archive | 26 Aug 2026 | 00:46:34 | |
In 2023, Adam and Josh took another look at 1988's Midnight Run for its 35th anniversary. The Robert De Niro/Charles Grodin action comedy was an early and somewhat controversial inductee in the Filmspotting Pantheon, a decision they use their conversation to defend. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family. Promo code: summer for 20% off through Aug. 31. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Don’t Say Good Luck and the Evolution of Happy Madison Productions | SVU | 25 Aug 2026 | 01:11:37 | |
Happy Madison Productions is now cranking out movies starring two generations of Sandlers: paterfamilias Adam and daughters Sadie and Sunny. Earlier this year, Sadie starred in Netflix’s college-set Roommates, and now it’s Sunny’s turn in Don’t Say Good Luck, a tear-jerker that pairs family drama with high school musical drama. And it’s a pairing that Matt and Jordan agree works pretty well, thanks to the director Julia Hart (Fast Color, I’m Your Woman), solid work from Sandler, and a great performance by Melanie Lynskey as Sunny’s mom. Plus, a “Nepo Baby” streaming rec from Matt, and one from Jordan for a forgotten Oscar-winning Canadian film from the early 2000s. And Matt hosts another round of Portmanteau-to-Toe. Intro (00:00:00–00:03:16) Don’t Say Good Luck (00:03:17–00:24:27) Rec Seg! Nepo Babies and Canadian Oscar-winners (00:24:28–00:39:07) Game: Portmanteau-to-Toe (00:39:08–00:58:57) Mailbag / New to Streaming / Credits (00:58:58–01:11:25) Show Notes Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| "The hardest thing in film scoring is to know when to start and when to stop" with author Tim Greiving | The Movie Racket | 24 Aug 2026 | 00:44:47 | |
Film music historian and journalist Tim Greiving, author of John Williams: A Composer's Life, joins Michael Phillips to explore one of the foundational dilemmas of movie music, courtesy of legendary composer Max Steiner: "The hardest thing in scoring is to know when to start and when to stop." From King Kong and The Adventures of Robin Hood to Jaws and Star Wars, Michael and Tim trace the history of film scoring through competing philosophies: wall-to-wall music versus strategic restraint, foreground versus background, spectacle versus psychology. And yes, even The Odyssey enters the conversation They discuss Williams's lasting influence, memorable director-composer partnerships, and whether the best movie music tells us what we're seeing or reveals what the characters themselves cannot say. Join the conversation by emailing movieracket@filmspotting.net. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The End of Oak Street, plus Tony and Late Fame | #1077 | 21 Aug 2026 | 02:14:25 | |
Is The End of Oak Street the best Spielberg movie of 2026? Or is one of your hosts committing movie heresy? Adam and Josh review David Robert Mitchell's dinosaur-filled family adventure and consider whether there's more on its mind than blockbuster thrills. Plus: thoughts on the Anthony Bourdain biopic Tony, Willem Dafoe in Late Fame, and Adam's conversation with the creators of the Table Read podcast. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:23) The End of Oak Street (00:02:24-00:49:09) Spoiler Talk: The End of Oak Street (00:49:09-01:10:34) Filmspotting Family (01:10:35-01:17:04) Tony (01:17:05-01:22:22) Late Fame (01:22:23-01:41:26) MLB at Field of Dreams on Netflix (01:41:27-01:45:52) Introducing: Table Read Podcast (01:45:53-01:59:42) Massacre Theatre (01:59:43-02:08:57) Credits / Releases (02:08:58-2:11:44) Notes: -Myth of the American Sleepover Review | Ann Arbor Observer https://annarborobserver.com/myth-of-the-american-sleepover/ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Use code "summer" for 20% off a Filmspotting Family membership http://filmspottingfamily.com -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: https://youtube.com/filmspotting -Adam/Filmspotting: Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky -Josh/LarsenOnFilm: Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||