For die-hard cinephiles, a true love of film goes far beyond just watching movies. The passion extends to soaking up reviews, in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes stories, impassioned debates, and getting a glimpse into the inner workings of both the creative process and entertainment business behind the silver screen.
If you find yourself routinely craving more movie discussion to feed your insatiable film fandom after the credits roll, then tuning into some of the best podcasts about movies is a must. From hilarious takes on the latest releases to deeply insightful critic commentary and insider industry scoops, these top movie podcasts are like having a veritable celluloid lecture hall providing endless education and entertainment at your auditory fingertips.
The Rewatchables
For The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and his roundtable of raucous film fanatics, merely watching a movie once is tantamount to cinematic celibacy. That’s why they’ve joyfully committed themselves to The Rewatchables – a devoutly indulgent podcast endeavor celebrating the pure pleasure of watching truly great films over…and over…and over again.
We Hate Movies
Rotten Tomatoes be damned – for the delightfully deranged crew behind We Hate Movies, there are no guilty pleasures, only cinematic glory holes to be plowed with reckless abandon. Since 2010, comedic curators Andrew Jupin, Stephen Sajdak, Eric Szyszka, and Chris Cabin have been jackhammering apart the forgotten, the insane, the nostalgic, and the blockbuster from every gonzo era of filmmaking history.
Blank Check
This isn’t your typical “riff and rip” affair mocking cinematic misfires. Instead, Blank Check takes a comprehensive deep dive into the complete body of work from directors who parlayed early triumphs into a carte blanche from Hollywood to indulge their most outlandish creative visions and idiosyncratic obsessions.
How Did This Get Made?
Listen to How Did This Get Made?
The creme de la crap of Hollywood’s most catastrophic cinematic bungles would be mere forgettable straight-to-VHS dreck without the life-giving ridicule of Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas. For this unholy trinity befouling the hallowed temples of Comedy Bang Bang and Earwolf, no blockbuster bomb, big-budget bed-shitter, or Z-grade ZZZfest is too sacred to be torn asunder amid wave after wave of merciless mockery.
The Big Picture
Immerse yourself in an uncompromising cinematic discourse as esteemed film savants Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins meticulously unpack the must-see silver screen offerings. This dynamic duo’s perceptive critiques and in-depth dissections elevate their insights far beyond pedestrian viewing recommendations.
You Must Remember This
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Dive into the obscured annals and faded footprints of Hollywood’s inaugural century with You Must Remember This – an immersive audio expedition unearthing Tinseltown’s clandestine foundations. This richly-layered narrative venture is the brainchild of Karina Longworth, whose passion for excavating truth from myth fuels each masterfully-crafted episode.
Films To Be Buried With
Listen to Films To Be Buried With
From the cosmic bookends of birth and the infinite beyond, our transient existence finds profound expression and existential resonance through the cinematic. Certain celluloid voyages transcend mere entertainment to etch their indelible marks upon our psyches, fundamentally sculpting who we become. This is the revelatory wellspring from which comedian, actor, writer, and aquatic aficionado Brett Goldstein draws each week on Films To Be Buried With.
The Film Vault
Immerse yourself in an audiophilic treasure trove unearthing cinema’s overlooked gems and sounding the klaxons on its potential landfills. Hosts Anderson Cowan and Bryan Bishop, veterans of Loveline and The Adam Carolla Show respectively, engage in a perpetual cinematic duel of contrasting tastes and perspectives. Their forum? A rotating carousel of finely-curated top 5 film lists and in-depth screening dissections.
Unspooled
Embark on an incomparable cinematic odyssey each week as acclaimed thespian and comedic virtuoso Paul Scheer and esteemed film critic Amy Nicholson deconstruct the most exalted and enduring masterworks committed to celluloid. From the hallowed classics that have stood the test of time to the boundary-pushing indies and hotly-anticipated new releases shattering the zeitgeist, no corner of the silver screen’s sacred canon is off-limits to their meticulous examination.
Beyond the Screenplay
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Venture beyond the surface delights as “Beyond the Screenplay” mastermind Michael Tucker and his astute cohorts embark on an immersive exploration of the narrative architectures buttressing celebrated cinematic journeys. Each episodic deep dive acts as a portal to not just witness the brilliant strokes that compose timeless cinema, but to inhale the very inspirations and creative philosophies that first sparked such indelible works into existence.
The Flop House
Prepare to bathe in the snarky, irreverent dissection of cinema’s most egregious recent atrocities. The Flop House is an unabashedly mirthful safe space where comedic agitators Elliott Kalan, Dan McCoy, and Stuart Wellington fearlessly subject the big screen’s most questionable offenders to a ritualistic roasting.
The Cine-Files
Embark on an immersive journey beyond the silver screen as The Cine-Files serves as an audio-touring exhibition traversing cinema’s hallowed realms. Each episodic sojourn ventures deep into the transcendent worlds manifested by the medium’s preeminent visionaries and masterworks.
This Had Oscar Buzz
Take a hilarious and insightful journey through the dustbins of cinema history with “This Had Oscar Buzz.” Each episode, hosts Joe Reid and Chris Farnsworth exhume a critically-acclaimed movie from years past that was once believed to be an Academy Award shoo-in, only to be ignominiously shut out come Oscar night.
Medium Popcorn
While diminishing aspirations of genteel cinematic discourse, “Medium Popcorn” embraces its unrepentantly raucous revelry in all things celluloid. Craig Lindsey deems this the AV Club’s most side-splittingly movie musings around. From the fecund minds of film fanatics Brandon Collins and Justin Brown arises a weekly gushing torrent of unrestrained commentary.
Filmspotting – Movie Reviews
Listen to Filmspotting – Movie Reviews
For over 15 years, Filmspotting has delivered an oasis of deeply insightful yet grounded movie discussion. Hosts Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen bring a palpable passion to each episode, guiding listeners through in-depth reviews, riveting top 5 lists, and lively debates covering the entire cinematic landscape.
The Movies That Made Me
Listen to The Movies That Made Me
Pull back the velvet curtain and step into the sacred realm where Hollywood’s preeminent creatives unpack the cinematic spellcasts that first ignited their artistic flames. The Movies That Made Me sees Oscar-nominated screenwriting luminary Josh Olson and visionary director Joe Dante hold court over an unfiltered rite of passion and revelation.
The A24 Podcast
Without a moderator, host or ads, this podcast comes at you from the creative minds responsible for the films Everything Everywhere All At Once, Midsommar, Uncut Gems, the HBO series Euphoria, and the movies Hereditary, Moonlight, among other acclaimed works.
The Projection Booth Podcast
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The Projection Booth podcast has been lauded as a premier cinematic discussion platform by esteemed publications like The Washington Post, The A.V. Club, IndieWire, Entertainment Weekly, and Filmmaker Magazine. Boasting nearly 700 episodes to date and an ever-expanding audience, The Projection Booth frequently welcomes celebrated guest talents eager to dive into their past masterpieces.
Scriptnotes Podcast
Scribes John August and Craig Mazin engage in discourse revolving around the craft of screenwriting and associated subjects within the realms of cinema and television. Their discussions encompass a comprehensive range of topics, from the intricacies of the writing process to the intricate nuances of copyright legislation and work-for-hire legal frameworks.
The Next Picture Show
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Exploring the contemporary cinematic landscape through the lens of its historical origins. The Next Picture Show is a biweekly roundtable discussion hosted by the former editorial contingent of The Dissolve, scrutinizing how classic films have influenced and shaped modern motion pictures. Each episode goes into an in-depth analysis of a classic film and its enduring legacy in the first segment, subsequently juxtaposing and contrasting that cinematic work with a contemporary successor in the latter portion.
The Bechdel Cast
The Bechdel Cast is a podcast that examines and dissects the depiction and representation of female characters in the realm of cinema, hosted by the duo of Caitlin Durante and Jamie Loftus.
Little Gold Men
Little Gold Men is an in-depth exploration of the inner workings of the Hollywood entertainment industry, diving into the behind-the-scenes narratives of prestigious award ceremonies, glamorous red carpet premieres, and the relentless efforts and covert campaigns that propel individuals to such heights.
Hollywood Gold
Hollywood Gold is a conversational program that unveils the behind-the-scenes intricacies involved in the creation of some of the entertainment industry’s most legendary cinematic productions, achieved through engaging dialogues with prominent producers and filmmaking visionaries.
The Film Comment Podcast
Listen to The Film Comment Podcast
The Film Comment Podcast, helmed by editorial figures Devika Girish and Clinton Krute, serves as a weekly platform for critical discourse surrounding the art of cinema. It explores topical matters, scrutinizes newly released films, and examines the broader cinematic landscape through a discerning lens.
Classic Movie Misfits
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A quartet of unconventional individuals, armed with a serendipitous cinematic selection apparatus, embark on a quest to challenge the conventions of Hollywood and the elite critical establishment by offering their critiques on the American Film Institute’s esteemed list of the Top 100 films, as well as other celebrated classic motion pictures.
Cows in the Field
An audio discourse on cinema, sparked by the words of Werner Herzog: “We must express ourselves, lest we become mere bovines grazing in the pasture.” Hosted by Justin Khoo, a professor of philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Laura Khoo, an art historian turned philanthropic advocate.
Disaster Girls
Amanda Smith maintains the conviction that not every cinematic endeavor depicting catastrophe is inherently disastrous. Whether the narrative involves an esteemed thespian endeavoring to outpace a torrential lava flow, or a lesser-known performer engaging in fisticuffs with a mutated shark, Amanda will uncover something to appreciate – or, at the very least, derive amusement from.
Linoleum Knife
Linoleum Knife is a podcast that takes a sharp and incisive look at the world of film, peeling back the layers to examine movies from unique perspectives. Hosted by a rotating panel of astute critics and cinephiles, each episode carves out a thought-provoking discussion and in-depth analysis of a particular film or cinematic theme.
Do you know of another Movie podcast that you think should be on this list? Let me know.
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