Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman to share their respective lists of the five best movies released in 2023, including titanic works from master filmmakers, blockbuster hits that captured the zeitgeist, and smaller movies that challenged viewers to consider their artistry deeply.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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The Top Five Movies of 2023

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more, featuring a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons.

TV & Film

Sean and Amanda are joined by Midnight Boy and resident hater Charles Holmes to discuss a trio of less-than-ideal movies out right now: John Krasinski’s semi-animated ‘IF’ (1:00), the Amy Winehouse biopic ‘Back to Black’ (45:00), and Jerry Seinfeld’s nightmarish directorial debut, ‘Unfrosted’ (1:07:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Charles Holmes
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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May Movie Massacre: ‘IF,’ ‘Back to Black,’ and ‘Unfrosted’

We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the coolest scenes in action movie history.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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The Action Movie Scene Draft

Sean and Amanda are joined by Van Lathan to discuss the new installment in the ‘Planet of the Apes’ franchise, the enduring power of the ‘Apes’ IP, and how it relates to modern IP storytelling (1:00). Finally, they rank the 10 films in the franchise (1:05:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Van Lathan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ and the 'Apes' Movie Rankings

Sean and Amanda answer your questions about the 2024 box office, roasts, YouTube movie clips, repertory theaters, and more (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Mean Pod Guy Adam Nayman to discuss an exciting new release, Jane Schoenbrun’s ‘I Saw the TV Glow,’ and its unique blend of body horror, nostalgia, and identity (1:15:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Schoenbrun to discuss the making of the movie, growing up hooked in to television, and what kind of films they’re interested in making moving forward (1:45:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Jane Schoenbrun and Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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An Ask-Us-Anything Mailbag, and ‘I Saw the TV Glow,’ with Jane Schoenbrun

Sean and Amanda share some exciting announcements about the show (1:00), then dig into their experience at four different premium large-format movie theater experiences over the last few weeks (4:00). They later discuss the weekend’s biggest streaming film, the Anne Hathaway vehicle ‘The Idea of You’ (1:00:00). Does the movie work, should it have been in theaters, and what does this signal for Hathaway—one of their favorite stars in Hollywood.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Top Five Movies of 2023

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