The Big Picture

It’s a recommendations episode! Sean breaks down 10 intriguing new movies that you can watch right now on a variety of streaming services (1:00). Then, he’s joined by David Cronenberg to discuss the legendary director’s new film, ‘Crimes of the Future,’ starring Viggo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart (42:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: David Cronenberg Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Movies are back, Maverick is back, Tom Cruise is back, and Sean and Amanda are back to dive deep into the movie phenomenon of this young summer: ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It. Is. Here! Tom Cruise’s Maverick flies again, after a years-long wait. Sean and Amanda break down the exhilarating arrival of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (1:00). Then, Joseph Kosinski, the film’s director, joins Sean to discuss, in great detail, how they made this action-packed return to the skies (41:00). Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Joseph Kosinski Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a whole darn week of Tom Cruise on The Big Picture, because Cruise is returning to the big screen after four long years with ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ To celebrate, Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to choose 10 key films and construct the Tom Cruise Hall of Fame. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean is joined by Joanna Robinson to discuss the beguiling movies of writer-director Alex Garland, including his latest, the eerie folk-horror film ‘Men.’ (1:00) Then, Garland talks with Sean about his work and where his career is headed (52:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Alex Garland and Joanna Robinson Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are drafting again! And Amanda is back! She and Sean are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 1992. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan Producers: Bobby Wagner and Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is a new adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Firestarter’ out this weekend, which got us thinking about King movies and how they never really go away. Sean is joined by Matt Gourley and Paul Rust of the With Gourley and Rust podcast to build a shrine comprised of 10 Stephen King adaptations. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Matt Gourley and Paul Rust Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let’s dig into the mailbag! Sean answers your questions about the year in movies so far, film book recommendations, what a producer actually does, and a lot more. Host: Sean Fennessey Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s one of the year’s most anticipated movies, the first MCU entry of 2022, and the first movie in almost 10 years from the great Sam Raimi. Joanna Robinson and Chris join Sean for a non-spoiler conversation, followed by a spoiler-filled breakdown of the new ‘Doctor Strange’ film. Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week sees the release of ‘Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’ which is directed by one of our favorite filmmakers, Sam Raimi. Adam Nayman talks with Sean about Raimi's expansive career and style, before ranking his 15 features (38:00). Then, Sean is joined by Tom Gormican, the director of ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,’ to discuss his Nicolas Cage meta-action vehicle (1:11:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Adam Nayman and Tom Gormican Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Of all the movies we saw in 2021, the one we keep returning to is Guillermo del Toro’s modern noir about a mysterious carnival worker. To dig deep into the movie and how its themes connect to our time, Sean is joined by comedian, actor, and certified movie freak Patton Oswalt. Patton shares his deep knowledge of film noir, his favorites in the genre, and where ‘Nightmare Alley’ fits in its history. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Patton Oswalt Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Nic Cage season! To celebrate, Van Lathan and Rob Mahoney join Sean to talk about the new meta-action-comedy ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ (1:00) before building a shrine to Cage in the form of his Hall of Fame (35:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey Guests: Van Lathan and Rob Mahoney Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The breathtaking new action-adventure epic from Robert Eggers, the director of ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse,’ is here. Chris Ryan joins to dive into this Viking epic (1:00) before Eggers talks with Sean about the making of the film (56:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan and Robert Eggers Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, and Joanna Robinson to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 2003. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Joanna Robinson, Mallory Rubin, and Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re diving deep into Daniels’ multiversal extravaganza ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ one of the year’s most acclaimed and thrilling movies. Sean is joined by Adam Nayman and Joanna Robinson to break down the film, its bold style, and why it’s become such a sensation (1:00). Then, they share their favorite, zany, audacious movie swings (39:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Adam Nayman and Joanna Robinson Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Bay is back on the big screen with 'Ambulance,' a thrilling, nonstop cornucopia of explosions, car chases, shoot-outs, bank robberies, and emergency bullet-removal surgeries. Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to talk about Bay (1:00) and our favorite action movie sequences of all time (38:30). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s time for another movie swap! It’s a 1996 showdown as Sean sends Amanda the Coen Brothers’ thriller ‘Fargo’ and Amanda returns volley with Anthony Minghella’s Best Picture winner, ‘The English Patient.’ They talk 1996 movies, the year’s Academy Awards, and how these two modern classics hold up. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the release of ‘Morbius,’ Van Lathan joins Sean to discuss the new Spider-Man-adjacent Jared Leto vampire thriller (1:00). Then, they share their five favorite bloodsucker movies (25:00). Then, Sean is joined by Charlie McDowell to discuss ‘Windfall,’ his pivot back to film, and the art of the all-in-one-setting movie (48:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Van Lathan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been a couple of days since one of the most shocking moments in Oscars history. Sean reflects on the Will Smith–Chris Rock incident, what the future holds for Smith, and how the Academy could respond (1:00). Then, it’s a post-Oscars mailbag extravaganza (10:30). Finally, Sean is joined by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert to discuss their extraordinary new movie, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (55:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 94th Academy Awards is in the books, and Sean and Joanna Robinson are here to break down all the winners, the ceremony, the hosts, and of course that shocking Will Smith- Chris Rock confrontation. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Joanna Robinson Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s almost time for the 94th annual Academy Awards, so Sean and Joanna Robinson are making picks in all 23 categories. Don’t fill out your Oscar ballot until you’ve listened. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Joanna Robinson Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Oscars right around the corner, Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to draft their favorite Oscar winners from the 1990s (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Drive My Car’ writer-director Ryusuke Hamaguchi to discuss his Oscar-nominated film (1:13:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan and Ryusuke Hamaguchi Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a recommendations episode! Sean talks about 10 movies from 2022 that he likes, where you can watch them, and why you should (1:00). Spoiler alert, one of those movies is ‘X,’ the new horror movie from director Ti West. Ti joins Sean to talk about making his first horror film in nine years and why he isn’t done yet (38:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Ti West Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let’s talk movie music. Writer Jayson Greene joins Sean to talk about the art of the film score, the giants of the form, this year’s Oscar nominees, and their top five scores ever (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by legendary composer Hans Zimmer to discuss his Oscar-nominated work on ‘Dune’ and his career (1:07:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Jayson Greene and Hans Zimmer Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are in the home stretch of a very long award season. On this episode, Sean is joined by Joanna Robinson and they are finally digging into Jane Campion’s widely praised revisionist western ‘The Power of the Dog’ and why it has remained the presumptive Best Picture favorite for months. Then, Sean and Joanna share their favorite Best Picture winners ever. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Joanna Robinson Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

That’s right—we are watching ‘Free Guy,’ one of the biggest hits of 2021 and a very divisive movie. Chris joins Sean and Amanda to discuss the Ryan Reynolds action-comedy for its entire running time. The movie is now available on HBO Max and Disney+, so you can stream along with 'The Big Picture.' Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean is joined by Van Lathan and Rob Mahoney to take a deep dive into Matt Reeves’s ‘The Batman’ and have a spoiler-filled conversation (1:00) before ranking all 14 Batman movies (47:00). Then, Sean is joined by director Kogonada to discuss his new film, ‘After Yang’ (1:12:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Van Lathan, Rob Mahoney, and Kogonada Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Holy reaction podcast, Batman! Chris Ryan and Joanna Robinson join Sean to break down ‘The Batman,’ the most-anticipated movie of the year so far (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘The Batman’ director and cowriter Matt Reeves to talk about how and why he made the film (58:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson, and Matt Reeves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Award season is (finally) in full swing. Joanna Robinson joins Sean to break down the SAG Awards, the state of Best Picture (1:00), and to let Sean get some takes off his chest (34:30). Then, directing duo Coodie & Chike join Sean to talk about ‘jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,’ Netflix’s new three-part documentary film series tracking the rise of Kanye West (1:02:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Joanna Robinson, Coodie & Chike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in another hotly contested draft of a memorable year in recent movie history: 2018. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re looking at the latest chapter in the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ story, now available on Netflix, and the history of extreme, depraved, disgusting, and shocking movies with writer, director, and returning champion Alex Ross Perry. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Alex Ross Perry Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shea Serrano joins Sean to break down the landscape of action moviemaking. With ‘Uncharted’ in theaters, featuring two generations of action hero—Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland—we ask: What does it mean to be an action star in the 21st century? Sean and Shea build out the Hall of Fame with 10 excruciating picks. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Shea Serrano Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Robinson joins Sean to break down the Super Bowl movie trailers and ‘Death on the Nile,’ Kenneth Branagh’s latest Agatha Christie adaptation, which was released last week (1:00). Then, Sean talks with Chuck Klosterman about his new book, ‘The Nineties,’ and the movies that played a key role during that decade (31:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Joanna Robinson, Chuck Klosterman Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2020, Chris Ryan and Sean identified a key subgenre in American movies—garbage crime—and laid out what makes it great. Today on the show, a sequel of sorts. With the release of Roland Emmerich’s interstellar disaster movie ‘Moonfall’ in theaters and Steven Soderbergh’s techno-anxiety thriller ‘Kimi’ now streaming on HBO Max, we are digging into a beloved sister category: junk sci-fi. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The nominations for the 94th annual Academy Awards are here, and Amanda and Sean are breaking down all of them. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Ryan joins Sean to break down the new trailer for Netflix’s 2022 movie lineup (1:00), and then celebrate the new movie ‘Jackass Forever’ (14:00) and the greatest stunts in the history of the franchise (36:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the virtual 2022 Sundance Film Festival wrapped, Amy Nicholson rejoins Sean to discuss their experience from the couch, the big acquisitions, and their top 5 favorite movies at the fest (:44). Then, Sean is joined by the Norwegian director Joachim Trier to talk about his critically acclaimed new film ‘The Worst Person in the World.’ (1:14:10). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda hit on the Producers Guild, Writers Guild, and ACE Eddie nominations, key bellwethers of award season, and what they mean for the Academy Awards (0:35). Then they share some streaming recommendations for you (35:00). And finally, since we’re getting down to our final days with Amanda for a little while, we figured it’s time to get as much of her as we can, so we’ve got an Ask Amanda mailbag for the Dobb Mob (51:18). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Bobby Wagner Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're hopping in a time machine back to 1992. Why? It’s been 30 years since Quentin Tarantino’s debut film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival along with other movies from a memorable class of other filmmakers. Adam Nayman joins Sean to discuss 'Dogs' and what it means now and how some of those other films were remembered, or not. Hosts: Sean Fennessey Guest: Adam Nayman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re auctioning off movies again, this time with a fresh slate for 2022. Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to discuss the new ‘Scream’ sequel (1:00), before revisiting their 2021 draft auction results (16:00), and digging into a new round of competitive auctioneering (22:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda discuss Joel Coen’s ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth,’ the latest Shakespeare adaptation, which stars Denzel Washington and is the director’s first without his brother, Ethan. They talk about how the story has been updated, and how it hasn’t (1:00), where it stands in the awards race (33:00), and how it stacks up in the Coen brothers filmography (1:12:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A surprising SAG Awards nomination has got Sean and Amanda thinking about Bradley Cooper’s unusual path to superstardom. In this episode, they discuss the rest of the surprises and snubs of the nominations (5:00), the incredible legacy of the late Sidney Poitier (1:00), and then finally build a hall of fame for Cooper on the eve of a potential ninth Academy Award nomination (36:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s time for a very important conversation about a very important film: Paul Thomas Anderson’s ninth feature, ‘Licorice Pizza.’ Joining Sean and Amanda to break it all down—including favorite performances, scenes, and needle drops, and how it fits into PTA’s filmography—are Chris Ryan and Wosny Lambre, a.k.a. Big Wos. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Wosny Lambre Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amanda and Sean are gearing up for a fun 2022 at the movies … if they can go to the movies. On this episode, they pick their 11 most eagerly awaited films (20:00), discuss Steven Soderbergh’s annual media list (1:00), and break down George Clooney’s new film, ‘The Tender Bar’ (10:00). They also celebrate the life and work of the late filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, who died at 82 this week (17:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda look at a debate that has been roiling the movie industry for nearly 15 years: Should the Academy Awards more accurately reflect the interests of moviegoers? And if so, should franchise films be regularly competing for Best Picture? The campaign for the new ‘Spider-Man’ movie raises new questions as the theatrical movie business endures a historic period of transition (1:00). Then, they discuss Maggie Gyllenhaal’s feature directorial debut, ‘The Lost Daughter,’ now available on Netflix (42:00) and power-rank the Best Picture contenders (59:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s our last episode of the year and Sean and Amanda are celebrating 2021 by naming their 10 favorite performances on the big screen (1:00) before opening up the mailbag to answer your questions ahead of the new year (38:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy Greenwald joins Sean to discuss Disney’s latest achievement in animation, ‘Encanto,’ and share some tips for how to be a dad who wants to introduce their child to movies (1:00). Chris Ryan swings by to talk about Paul Verhoeven’s sexy nuns movie, ‘Benedetta’ (38:00). Then, Adam Nayman and Sean list their 10 most underrated, underseen, or underdiscussed movies of 2021 (51:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan, and Adam Nayman Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘The Matrix Resurrections’ is out in theaters and streaming on HBO Max. Sean and Amanda talk about the film, the franchise (1:00), and the Wachowskis cinematic experience (43:00). Joining them is Ringer staff writer Rob Mahoney. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Rob Mahoney Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alan Siegel interviews the cast and crew of ‘Scream’ and uncovers what it took to get the iconic horror film made.You can read the written version of this piece at theringer.com. Host: Alan Siegel Producer: Steve Ahlman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda hit the stunning box office success of ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (1:00). Then they circle back to the Oscar race because this week sees the release of some serious contenders, including Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Being the Ricardos’ and Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Nightmare Alley’ (12:00). Then, Sean talks with Sean Baker, director and cowriter of ‘Red Rocket’ (1:00:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Sean Baker Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices