After the first slice became an unexpected smash hit at the box office, Universal Pictures was quick to greenlight a sequel. Screenwriter Adam Herz once again decided to draw from his own life experiences, this time recalling that awkward transition between high school and college, and how growing and changing can affect even the most loyal group of friends.

The class of East Great Falls High have gone their separate ways, but with summer vacation starting, the gang is eager to make new memories, rekindle old flames and make the most of the time they have left together, all while staying at one legendary lake house.

This is AMERICAN PIE 2 (2001).

Does this second helping of raunchy laughs and wholesome friendship prove as charming as the first? Grab a beer, turn up the Sum 41 and join Nick and Scott for some FRANCHISOGRAPHY summer fun!

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Dueling Genre Associate Producer:
Matt Bennett
Mark Ybarra
Harley Winfrey

We interrupt the American Pie franchise with yet another Bonus Feature!

Marvel’s First Family has returned to the silver screen, this time in the creative hands of Marvel Studios and WandaVision director Matt Shakman. Will a comic book adaptation about adventurers and explorers with a midcentury aesthetic appeal to modern audiences? Do we finally have the definitive takes on Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben?

Join Nick and Scott as they discuss 2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and why the answer to those questions is a resounding YES.

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Mark Ybarra
Harley Winfrey

Inspired by the success of Scream in 1996, young screenwriter Adam Herz set out to do for 80’s sex comedies like Porky’s and Bachelor Party what Wes Craven’s masterpiece did for the slasher. The result was an unexpected smash hit that would define a generation of comedy and introduce a new class of heartthrobs to moviegoers everywhere.

This is 1999’s AMERICAN PIE.

Join Nick and Scott as they find unexpected sweetness behind the gross-out laughs in this outrageous and unrated episode of FRANCHISOGRAPHY

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Dueling Genre Associate Producer:
Matt Bennett
Mark Ybarra
Harley Winfrey

We continue to interrupt your regularly scheduled next franchise with yet another Bonus Feature!

After the failure of the DCEU, Superman is back to kickstart a brand new DC Universe with writer/director James Gunn taking the creative reins. Can a movie with this many characters and a plot this convoluted really stick the landing in a way that feels natural and satisfying? The answer? A resounding YES. So get in on this group hug of a movie that feels like the Superman movie the world needs more than anything right now.

Join Nick and Scott as they gush about the movie that genuinely recreates the feeling of reading a comic book in the best way imaginable while it dares to ask the question, what’s so punk rock about a big blue boy scout?

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Dueling Genre Associate Producer:
Matt Bennett
Mark Ybarra
Harley Winfrey

We interrupt your regularly scheduled next franchise with a Bonus Feature!

It is unlikely that anyone believed the Jurassic franchise was dead after the mega success of the almost universally derided Dominion, but the assumption seemed to be that there would be a bit of a break before another entry in the Jurassic World series and we all seemed fine with that.

However, Universal Pictures and Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp had other ideas though and three years later those ideas have culminated in the release of 2025’s JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH. This time, it’s a Dino-DNA “heist” on an island of misfit mutants starring Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey that isn’t nearly as fun as that sounds like it should be.

Join Nick and Scott as they come to terms with the latest entry in the franchise many say they want to end, while box office receipts continue to tell another story entirely.

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Dueling Genre Associate Producer:
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Harley Winfrey

It’s a Betweenisode!

Join Nick & Scott as they discuss the end of the Mission: Impossible franchise, what directors we wish we could have seen make entries in the past, reveal our personal rankings, dream about where the franchise could go in the future, and of course, reveal our next franchise.

Next week: Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)

FRANCHISE POTENTIAL: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

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Dueling Genre Associate Producer:
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Harley Winfrey

Good evening, Mr/Ms. Listener. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us… one last time.

In the fallout of Dead Reckoning’s muted release, a final (but maybe not so final?) Mission was given a greenlight by Paramount to finish up the story of the evil AI known as the Entity. But not wanting to repeat themselves, Cruise and McQuarrie decided on yet another tone (their fourth tonal shift in as many films): this time, the impossible mission was going to be treasure hunt. With the entire planet on the line against the ticking clock of nuclear annihilation, will Ethan and the IMF be enough to save the world? Or will the need a little help from friends old and new?

Join Nick and Scott as they try to decide if this “one last” mission sticks the landing.

The film? MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING. The exposition? Heavy. The underwater sequence? Tense. The reception? Mixed. 

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Dueling Genre Associate Producer:
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Harley Winfrey

Good evening, Mr/Ms. Listener. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us for the most expensive entry in the entire franchise.

After the success of Fallout, another Mission was greenlit quickly with writer/director Christopher McQuarrie returning yet again. This time, Cruise and McQ had big plans to produce not one but TWO Mission films back-to-back that told one epic, globetrotting story.

However, a global pandemic had other plans and after only a few weeks of production, the film was shut down as the world shutdown in March of 2020. Six months later in September, the film would take on it’s most important mission yet: restarting production by creating many (if not all) of the covid-19 protocols used for every live action production made during the pandemic. The arduous process would lead to the 7th Mission to be the most expensive in the series history, and one of the most expensive films ever made. 

The film? MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING. The female characters? Distinctly badass. The box office results? Less than ideal.

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Dueling Genre Associate Producer:
Matt Bennett
Mark Ybarra
Harley Winfrey

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Impossible Mission with a bonus Scheme!

After the unexpectedly contentious response to 2023’s Asteroid City, Anderson returns with a simple, crowd-pleasing comedy about the relationship between an industrialist who has survived multiple assassination attempts and his estranged daughter who is studying to become a nun.

Join Nick and Scott as they return to the world of Wes Anderson with his latest film to hit theaters: 2025’s THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME!

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Dueling Genre Associate Producer:
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Harley Winfrey

Good evening, Mr/Ms. Listener. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us for the first direct sequel in the franchise and one of the greatest action movies ever put to film.

While Rogue Nation was only a modest success, there was no other director that Tom Cruise wanted behind the camera on his sixth Mission than Christopher McQuarrie. After some mild coaxing, McQ returned to the IMF to helm the next entry with a focus on Ethan’s character and a plan in place to make a movie that felt totally different from his last film in the franchise. 

The film? MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT. The director? Returning for the first time in the franchise’s history. The stunts? Un-top-able. Cavill’s fists? Fully loaded.

Join Nick and Scott as they find a way to explain why this is not their favorite Mission film despite fully recognizing and respecting its rightful place in the pantheon of all-timer action cinema.

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick & Scott!

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Dueling Genre Associate Producer:
Matt Bennett
Mark Ybarra
Harley Winfrey