The Next Best Picture Podcast

For Episode 487, I am joined by Lauren LaMagna, Dan Bayer, and Will Mavity as we give our reactions to the lineup for the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. For this week's poll question, for the announcement of the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival lineup, we're asking everyone: "Which Films From The 2026 Cannes Film Festival Are You Most Looking Forward To?" and reveal the winner of last week's poll for the release of Steven Soderbergh's newest film, "The Christophers," where we asked "Which Is Your Favorite Ian McKellen Performance?" We also share our reactions to the trailer for "The Invite," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, subscribing, and supporting us. We hope you enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson and Dan Bayer join me to discuss "You, Me & Tuscany," starring Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page, Lorenzo de Moor, Isabella Ferrari, Aziza Scott, Marco Calvani & Nia Vardalos. Directed by Kat Coiro and written by Ryan Engle, it takes place in Italy and tells the story of a young cook who squats in an abandoned Tuscan villa owned by a man she barely knows, and she meets the owner's cousin. A POC-led American romantic comedy, the film has been saddled with expectations to perform well at the box office so that other similar projects can be greenlit. Is this fair? What is the current state of the rom-com genre for theatrical exhibition? Why isn't Regé-Jean Page a bigger star, and what will become of Halle Bailey's still young and blossoming career? Did we enjoy this film despite its flaws? Please tune in as we discuss the story, comedy, romantic chemistry between the two leads, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Stranger" is a 2025 drama film written and directed by François Ozon, based on Albert Camus's 1942 novel "The Stranger". Benjamin Voisin stars in the lead role of Meursault, alongside Rebecca Marder, Pierre Lottin, Swann Arlaud, and Denis Lavant. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion. Ozon was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in NY, LA, San Francisco, Washington DC, Portland, Indianapolis, Baltimore, with a national expansion to follow from Music Box Films. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Faces Of Death" is a 2026 American horror film and reimagining of the 1978 film by John Alan Schwartz. Directed by Daniel Goldhaber and co-written with Isa Mazzei, it stars Barbie Ferreira, Dacre Montgomery, Josie Totah, Aaron Holliday, Jermaine Fowler, and Charli XCX. The film premiered at the Beyond Fest in Chicago as a 35mm screening and received positive reviews for its performances and direction. Goldhaber and Mazzei were kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters on April 10th from Independent Film Company. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Exit 8" is a 2025 Japanese mystery psychological horror film directed by Genki Kawamura, who co-wrote the screenplay with Kentaro Hirase, based on the 2023 video game "The Exit 8" developed by Kotake Create. The film had its world premiere in the Midnight Screenings section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received widespread acclaim from critics and has already been a financial success overseas. Kawamura was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters on April 10th from NEON. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's second podcast review, Ema Sasic, Dan Bayer, Lauren LaMagna, and Larry Fried join me to discuss Kristoffer Borgli's "The Drama" starring Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, Zoë Winters & Hailey Benton Gates. The dark romantic comedy follows a happily engaged couple who get put to the test when an unexpected revelation sends their wedding week off the rails. The film's marketing by A24 brilliantly held back the big reveal that propels the story and sparks a ton of conversation, forcing audiences to go to the theater to find out for themselves. What did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the shocking reveal, the performances from Zendaya, Pattinson, and the supporting players, how Borgli handles the controversial subject matter, the editing, its shifting perspectives, any awards potential it may have later in the year, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Drama" is an American romantic dark comedy film written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a happily engaged couple whose relationship is tested by an unexpected revelation during the week before their wedding. It also stars Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, and Hailey Gates in supporting roles. The film has received positive reviews from critics for its acting, direction, and screenplay. It has been a hit for A24 at the box office, driven especially by the audience's desire to know the big "reveal" that the film's marketing has brilliantly kept hidden. Haim, Athie, and editor Joshua Raymond Lee (who cut the film using Adobe Premiere) were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work and experiences on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from A24. Please note that there are SPOILERS throughout these two interviews. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Episode 486, I am joined by Josh Parham and Ema Sasic as we look ahead to April 9th, and the announcement of the lineup for the 79th Cannes Film Festival, and discuss which films we think will be announced for this year's festival. For this week's poll question, for the release of Steven Soderbergh's newest film "The Christophers," we're asking everyone: "Which Is Your Favorite Ian McKellen Performance?" We also reveal the winner of last week's poll asking "Which Has Been Your Favorite Film Of Q1 2026?", share our reactions to the trailers for "Backrooms," "Deep Water," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, subscribing, and supporting us. We hope you enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Josh Parham, Giovanni Lago, and Daniel Howat join me to discuss "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," starring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Glen Powell, and Brie Larson. The film is the sequel to "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," which was released in 2023, with many of the same voice actors returning and new additions of Safdie, Glover, Powell, and Larson as Bowser Jr., Yoshi, Fox McCloud, and Princess Rosalina, respectively. With the creative team of directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and screenwriter Matthew Fogel all returning after the massive success of the first film, how does this intergalactic sequel hold up for fans of the popular Nintendo property and newcomers? Please tune in as we discuss the action, story, characters, animation, score, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Blue Trail" is a dystopian drama film directed and co-written by Gabriel Mascaro. Starring Denise Weinberg and Rodrigo Santoro, the film follows the 77-year-old Tereza, forced to retire from her job and placed under the guardianship of her daughter, who defies a government order to relocate its growing elderly population, embarking instead on a personal journey through the Amazon. It had its world premiere at the main competition of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize. Mascaro was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, now playing in New York at the Angelika Theatre and in Los Angeles at the Landmark Nuart Theater, from Dekanalog. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL EPISODE. Please check out the full podcast episode on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture The Next Best Series Podcast is back as Megan Lachinski, Giovanni Lago, Nadia Dalimonte, and Amy Kim join me to discuss the latest series, shows, and awards season updates for all things television! On this return episode, we discuss the shows which did or did not receive an early boost from the Critics Choice, Golden Globes and Actor Awards that will be competing in this year's Emmy Awards season including "Pluribus," "Task," "Black Rabbit," "All Her Fault," "The Diplomat," and more! Please tune in as we examine which ones might be serious Emmy contenders, who we feel are the early frontrunners, and we also go over other shows we've been catching up on since the last time you heard from us! We’ll be posting new episodes every two to three weeks this year (depending on how the scheduling works out), and on our next episode we’ll talk about all the new shows contending for Emmy gold. Thank you for your continued support. It feels good to be back. We hope you enjoy this episode and all the others still to come this Emmy Awards season. Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Fantasy Life" is an American comedy film written and directed by Matthew Shear in his directorial debut. It stars Amanda Peet, Shear, Alessandro Nivola, Judd Hirsch, Bob Balaban, Andrea Martin, Zosia Mamet, Jessica Harper, Holland Taylor, and Sheng Wang. It had its world premiere at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, where it received positive reviews for Shear's writing and direction, as well as Peet's performance. Shear was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Greenwich Entertainment. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices