Somewhere around the mid-1970s, Hollywood studios realized that the summer months were the perfect launching point for their most-expensive, highest-profile projects. With kids out of school, families needed something to do. The prestigious Oscar-bait timeframe was half a year away. And people welcomed an opportunity to get out of the sun and into a dark, air-conditioned room to watch grown men get eaten by dinosaurs whilst using the toilet, and countless cars exploding for no discernible reason. Billions of dollars have been made by summer blockbusters, and even a few awards have ben won by them. So for the first of our 2025 Summer Specials, we want to look back at those mega-grossing pictures and try to determine the best Summer Blockbuster Film of all time.

Movies discussed: Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Ghostbusters, Grease, Shrek, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, The Dark Knight, The Lion King, Twister, Barbie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, Independence Day, Iron Man, Back to the Future.

Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Karissa Kloss, Kate Racculia, and Michael Schwarz as they discuss 16 of the most-loved, most-successful movies of all time.

Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!

For an extended version of this episode, featuring 20 more minutes of movie discussion, as well as the warm-up in which we discuss even more summer blockbusters that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.

Looking for more reasons to become a Patreon supporter? Check out our Top 10 Patreon Perks.

Subscribe to find out what’s new in pop culture each week right in your inbox!

Check out our Open Polls. Your votes determine our future debates!

Then, vote in our Future Topic Polls to have a say in what episodes we tackle next.

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelists: Karissa Kloss, Kate Racculia, Michael Schwarz

Producer: Derek Mekita

Editor: Eric Rezsnyak

Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch

#blockbuster #movies #summermovies #jurassicpark #jaws #starwars #barbie #thedarkknight #ironman #ghostbusters #twister #thelionking #backtothefuture #independenceday #piratesofthecaribbean #grease #et #ettheextraterrestrial #indianajones #raidersofthelostark #shrek #popcornmovies #boxoffice

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Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our 2025 Summer Special devoted to the best blockbuster movies released between Memorial Day and Labor Day, from 1975's "Jaws" through 2023's "Barbie" -- and walks you through the Round 1 match-ups. The main episode will release on Tuesday, July 15, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any upcoming episodes:

https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/subscribe

And if you love pop culture, sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep up on all the new movies, music, and TV shows dropping every week!

CREDITS:

Intro/outro music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

⁠⁠⁠https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/blog/top-10-reasons-to-join-great-pop-culture-debate-patreon

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Writer, director, actor, and artist John Waters has been making avant-garde cinema since the 1960s. His movies have pushed boundaries and shocked audiences with their wild characters and surreal storylines, even as they offer piercing insights into popular American culture and society. While he experienced mainstream crossover success by the 1980s and into the 2000s, and has been embraced by many in the entertainment industry, John Waters is inherently an outsider –- and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He is a unique, visionary queer voice in American cinema. So for one of our 2025 Pride specials, the Great Pop Culture Debate looks back on 8 of The Pope of Trash’s most notable movies and attempts to name the Best John Waters Film.

Movies discussed: Hairspray (1988), Serial Mom (1994), Pink Flamingos (1972), Cry-Baby (1990), Female Trouble (1974), Mondo Trasho (1969), Polyester (1981), Pecker (1998).

Join host Eric Rezsnyak, GPCD panelist Jonny Minogue, and special guests Erin Marlow from the It’s a Fandom Thing podcast, and Joshua Grannell AKA Peaches Christ, alternative drag icon and host of the Midnight Mass podcast, as they discuss 8 of the most notorious John Waters films.

Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!

For more exclusive content, including the warm-up in which we discuss the other John Waters films that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.

Looking for more reasons to become a Patreon supporter? Check out our Top 10 Patreon Perks.

Subscribe to find out what’s new in pop culture each week right in your inbox!

Check out our Open Polls. Your votes determine our future debates!

Then, vote in our Future Topic Polls to have a say in what episodes we tackle next.

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelists: Jonny Minogue

Guest Panelist: Erin Marlow, It’s a Fandom Thing podcast

Guest Panelist: Joshua Grannell AKA Peaches Christ

Producer: Bob Erlenback

Editor: Eric Rezsnyak

Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch

#johnwaters #johnwatersfilm #johnwatersfilm #movies #pinkflamingos #hairspray #serialmom #femaletrouble #pecker #crybaby #mondotrasho #polyester #divine #divinedragqueen #70smovies #80smovies #90smovies #podcast #moviepodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our 2025 Pride Special episode devoted to the best John Waters film -- and walks you through the Round 1 match-ups. The main episode will release on Tuesday, June 24, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any upcoming episodes:

https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/subscribe

And if you love pop culture, sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep up on all the new movies, music, and TV shows dropping every week!

CREDITS:

Intro/outro music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

⁠⁠https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/blog/top-10-reasons-to-join-great-pop-culture-debate-patreon

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While comic books have traditionally been defined by heroes that reflect the extremes of masculinity and femininity, and aimed at a primary straight-male audience, a notable shift has happened over the past 20 or so years. Where queer characters were once merely hinted at, or when included portrayed as grotesque stereotypes, since at least the 2000s comics have become increasingly more inclusive. Now it’s common for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual and other gender nonconforming characters to be featured in even the biggest comic-book franchises, and to even helm their own solo books. So join us for our 2025 Pride Month Special as the Great Pop Culture Debate attempts to name the Best LGBTQIA+ Super Hero.

Characters discussed: Batwoman, Black Cat, Midnighter, Wiccan, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Miss America (America Chavez), Northstar, John Constantine, Apollo, Deadpool, Mystique, Iceman, Dreamer, Superman (Jon Kent).

Join host Eric Rezsnyak, GPCD panelists Bob Erlenback and Brendan Hay, and special guest Steve Orlando, prolific comic-book writer for Marvel, DC Comics, and other publishers, as they discuss 16 of the most-popular out super-heroes in comics.

Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!

For more exclusive content, including the warm-up in which we discuss even more gay super-heroes that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.

Looking for more reasons to become a Patreon supporter? Check out our Top 10 Patreon Perks.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our 2025 Pride Special episode devoted to the best LGBTQIA+ superheroes featured in comic books -- and walks you through the Round 1 match-ups. The main episode will release on Tuesday, June 17, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any upcoming episodes:

https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/subscribe

And if you love pop culture, sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep up on all the new movies, music, and TV shows dropping every week!

CREDITS:

Intro/outro music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

⁠https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/blog/top-10-reasons-to-join-great-pop-culture-debate-patreon⁠

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Few rock bands have had a greater global impact than Queen. The British act, whose core line-up included Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon, and absolutely iconic frontman Freddie Mercury – emerged from scrappy prog-rock band in the early 1970s, to pop-rock superstars in the late 70s, to arena-rock gods in the 1980s, selling out shows on almost every continent. Queen’s Greatest Hits album from 1981 remains the best-selling album in United Kingdom history, and as of late 2024, has spent more than 600 weeks on the United States Billboard 200. Queen’s set at 1985’s Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium is regarded as one of the greatest rock performances of all time. While Queen’s golden age ended with the tragic death of Mercury in 1990, its legacy lives on more than 30 years later, and if there is any justice, will never diminish. So join us as the Great Pop Culture Debate attempts to name the Best Queen Single of all time.

Songs discussed: “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Under Pressure,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “We Are the Champions,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Somebody to Love,” “Killer Queen,” “Fat-Bottomed Girls,” “I Want to Break Free,” “Bicycle Race,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “I Want It All,” “Flash,” “The Show Must Go On.”

Join host Eric Rezsnyak, GPCD panelists Derek Mekita and Zack Derby, and special guest John Higgins, archivist and legacy consultant for Sir Elton John, as they discuss and debate 16 of the most revered songs by iconic rock band, Queen.

Download the Listener Bracketand see if your picks match up with ours!

Subscribe to find out what’s new in pop culture each week right in your inbox!

Check out our Open Polls. Your votes determine our future debates!

Then, vote in our Future Topic Polls to have a say in what episodes we tackle next.

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelists: Derek Higgins, Zack Derby

Guest Panelist: John Higgins

Producer: Curtis Creekmore

Editor: John Higgins

Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our episode devoted to the best musical singles released by British rock legends Queen -- and walks you through the Round 1 match-ups. The main episode will release on Tuesday, June 10, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any upcoming episodes:

https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/subscribe

And if you love pop culture, sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep up on all the new movies, music, and TV shows dropping every week!

CREDITS:

Intro/outro music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/blog/top-10-reasons-to-join-great-pop-culture-debate-patreon

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Video games made their way into American homes as early as the 1970s. But it wasn’t until the console wars in the 1990s that in-home video-game consoles became nearly ubiquitous. Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft were all pumping out quality machines that played increasingly awe-inspiring games, and that trend has continued ever since. As Nintendo prepares to kick off the next generation of console releases with the imminent arrival of the Switch 2, the Great Pop Culture Debate wanted to look back at the slickest systems from the past and name the Best Video-Game Console.

Systems debated include: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Game Boy, NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sega Genesis, Sony PlayStation 3.

Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Andrea Guerrero, David Silbert, and Jim Czadzeck as they discuss 16 of the most legendary video-game systems of all time.

Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!

For more exclusive content, including the warm-up in which we discuss even more video-game consoles that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.

Looking for more reasons to become a Patreon supporter? Check out our Top 10 Patreon Perks.

Subscribe to find out what’s new in pop culture each week right in your inbox!

Check out our Open Polls. Your votes determine our future debates!

Then, vote in our Future Topic Polls to have a say in what episodes we tackle next.

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelists: Andrea Guerrero, David Silbert, Jim Czadzeck

Producer: Bob Erlenback

Editor: Bob Erlenback

Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our episode devoted to the best video-game consoles, and walks you through the Round 1 match-ups. The main episode will release on Tuesday, June 3, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any upcoming episodes:

https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/subscribe

And if you love pop culture, sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep up on all the new movies, music, and TV shows dropping every week!

CREDITS:

Intro/outro music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

⁠https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/blog/top-10-reasons-to-join-great-pop-culture-debate-patreon⁠

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.