Explore every episode of the podcast The Franchise Files

Join The Franchise Files for their 2026 Oscar Predictions Special

As Sinners and One Battle After Another tussle for victory, which should actually win? Is Sean Penn doing MORE ACTING better than Stellan Skarsgård’s subtlety? Has Timothee Chalamet been undone by ballet? And how the hell did F1 get nominated? The Franchise Files have the answers

The Franchise Files celebrate Christmas with 1988’s festive classic Die Hard

Join the team plus a special guest as they ponder if they would have been fooled by Hans Gruber’s American accent, how much of the film Bruce Willis is shirtless for, and whether Al learning to kill again is really a happy ending. Fire up the files and welcome to the party pals!

The Franchise Files unleash their 2025 Halloween special!

What are the 10 scariest things in film? What’s the nastiest kill, the screamiest jump scare? And what’s the greatest horror movie ever made? Join The Franchise Files as they turn out the lights, step into the pentagram and summon the demons of horror’s highpoints

After a 19 year absence, Superman returns in 2006’s does-what-it-says-on-the-tin Superman Returns

With a film no one loves but no one hates, and lots of set up for a sequel that never came, has time been kind to this cinematic one-off? And is anyone involved NOT cancelled? Join The Franchise Files as they stay awake for the whole podcast but not the whole film. Fire up the files!

Freddy goes postmodern in 1994’s Wes Craven's New Nightmare

In the last movie Freddy died – but it’s the meta-90’s, so who even is Freddy? Aren't we all Freddy really? (No). What's a movie? And why is Wes Craven making a movie about Wes Craven making a movie. Confused? No, it’s postmodernism! Join The Franchise Files as they pretend to understand. Fire up the files Freddy!

Christopher Reeve bows out with 1987’s Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

With the budget slashed, Milton Keynes replacing New York and Reeve insisting on a political plotline, the Quest for Peace flirted with disaster. Can The Franchise Files find anything to love in this bizarre swansong? It can’t be THAT bad, can it? Fire up the files!

Freddy meets his end in 1991’s Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare.

After five movies, the Elm Street producers decide to kill Krueger. Will he go out in glory? Or will he murder someone with a Nintendo power glove then defy gravity by dressing as the Wicked Witch of the West? Join The Franchise Files as they bid Freddy goodbye - before he returns for another three movies. Fire up the files Freddy!

The Superman movies try replacing their lead with 1984’s Supergirl.

Join The Franchise Files as they ask why Supergirl turns brunette, how Lawrence of Arabia ended up as a wizard, and whether the film takes place underwater (still unclear). Fire up the files!

Freddy is the daddy in 1989’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child

You like bikes? Freddy turns you into a bike. Like comics? Freddy sucks you into a comic. Like swimming? Freddy becomes a diving board. The Franchise Files shake their heads as Elm Street goes completely off the rails. Fire up the files Freddy!

The Superman movies ruin their run of brilliance with 1983’s bewildering Superman III.

Join The Franchise Files as they try not to get scared by the robot lady, wonder why Richard Pryor is in every scene, and question how this franchise went so wrong so quickly. Fire up the files!

Freddy hits the mainstream with 1988’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

So there’s a writers’ strike, you’ve started filming without a director, and your lead actor refused to return. What can go wrong!? The Franchise Files unpick how things went from horror classic to Freddy eating people on a pizza. Fire up the files Freddy!

Superman gives up his powers for love just as General Zod arrives in 1980’s Superman II

Join The Franchise Files as they explain a complex production, ponder why camp villainy is the best villainy, and try desperately to avoid giving the film 100% from the off. Fire up the files and kneel before Zod!

Freddy starts wisecracking with 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

Things have changed on Elm Street: the kids have superpowers, Nancy has a PhD and the final girl has an Oscar. Plus Freddy puppets someone by their veins like they’re a goat in The Sound of Music. The Franchise Files discover whether the one everyone likes is really the best. Fire up the files Freddy!

With the Terminator franchise completed and ranked, join The Franchise Files as we round-up the series overall: highs, lows, where it could go next and why James Cameron ignored it in favour of blue cats. Fire up the files!

The Files complete their first Franchise with 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate

Join us as we welcome back Sarah Connor, give up on the nonsensical timeline, and consider whether anyone has mentioned this film since 2019. Fire up the files!

In honour of James Gunn's new Superman movie, we unfurl a fresh franchise and return to 1978 with Richard Donner’s Superman

Join us to commend glorious film making, marvel at perfect casting and explore how a film with such a tortured production ever reached the screen. If you’ve got us, who’s got you? Fire up the files!

Freddy returns (but Wes Craven doesn’t) in 1985’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge

Is it a masterpiece of queer cinema or baffling disaster? Why is it not about dreams anymore? Why does the parakeet explode? Join The Franchise Files as we ponder how it all went wrong so quickly. Fire up the files Freddy!

The Franchise Files have their first fallout over 2015’s Terminator Genisys

Join us as half the team defend terrible CGI, nonsense plotting and hopeless casting. Can you pronounce the title? Neither can we. Fire up the files!

A new franchise begins with 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street

Join The Franchise Files as we start our journey through this iconic slasher series, confessing childhood trauma and reliving 80’s horror (including the fashion) as we go. Fire up the files Freddy!

With Arnie off governing California, The Terminator franchise goes to the future with 2009’s Terminator Salvation

Join The Franchise Files as we attempt to figure out the plot (unlikely), ponder why we’ve had four John Connors already, and prevent Christian Bale from shouting at us (OH GOOD). Fire up the files!

After two masterpieces, scores might start slipping with 2003's Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines

The new terminator is a lady in leather - progressive feminism or noughties sexism? (spoilers - the latter). Can Arnie wear disco glasses AND avert nuclear war? (spoilers - no). Fire up the files!

We need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle as The Franchise Files arrive at 1991's Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Is it that rare sequel that improves on the original? Or a betrayal of the franchise's horror roots? Hasta la vista (maybe)

The Franchise Files begin their journey through the Terminator franchise with 1984's The Terminator. Does James Cameron's original movie still stand up on its metal skeleton legs? Come with us if you want to live (and find out)